S2 E5 Remnants of War

[Ocras Abisa]

[Maintenance Bay Deck 10]

"Mark." Ocras spoke, and they moved in almost mechanical lockstep, tightening the coil 2mm. As they did, the characteristic hum of the coils deepened. Looking at the panel, Ocras grinned. "We have it. 5,600 neutrinos per cubic centimeter. The Challenger's warp signature. Let's lock it in place and move on to the Tempest-probe. It will be 5,800 per cm3, so about 0.10mm tighter."

From above, Ocras saw the Romulan rubbing at his temple, and guessed that the chief was striving to keep his mind closed and shielded.

It seemed wrong to Ocras that someone would strive against their nature so determinedly. It was obvious that Rayek had a more potent telepathy than most Vulcans could dream of, and due to the similarities between their species, it was likely most Romulans would not develop this kind of telepathy either. What Rayek was demonstrating was much more like Betazoid telepathy in its scope. The chief was currently trying to keep a bubble inside a box, and while the bubble might confirm to the cube's shape for a time, eventually the bubble will either pop or break free from the cube.

Because his openess was likely distracting the chief, Ocras pulled his thoughts and feelings back. He didn't seal off his mind, but he retreated a bit, giving the chief room to breathe.

[Rayek trLhoell]

SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Hallways to Engineering]

[Hallways to Engineering]

Lek heard his friend Rayek speak, but only peripherally. He had so to do that his mind was racing with how to get them done in the time they had, but regardless of what he had to do, he wasn't going to ignore his best friend.

"I'm not a command sort Rayek, chief engineer has always been by goal. Nog is the Ferengi with the lobes for command and he's doing that. The only hurdle left to clear and that's the half pip of a lieutenant commander and I will be as happy as a razor-toothed gree-worm in fresh mud."

Lek then eyed Rayek sidelong to try to get a feel for what he was thinking, which was notoriously difficult as the Romulan was no different than the rest of his species when it came to wearing a mask over their thoughts.

"What about you? Doctor Vaugn is brilliant in her field, but she's not a tactical sort, she may not have the knowledge to deal with all the things that could go wrong with your mission. You know, if it is a trap, we will not be able to help you. Odds are, we won't be able to save ourselves. Please be careful Rayek, I don't want to have to break a new best friend."

Rayek's longer stride caught him up to the Ferengi quickly and from there he kept pace so the two could talk before the mission took them each in different directions.   He smiled at hearing Lek comment on his career goal.  "I'm certain if you asked Commander Briggs what his goal was when he was a junior officer he would have said just the same.  Goals change, my friend."

When Lek eyed him sidelong, Rayek offered a slight questioning look back.  "What?"

He didn't expect Lek to question Commander Vaughan's ability as the mission lead so openly.  Rayek bristled momentarily at the man's doubt, though he had felt the same not 10 minutes earlier when he'd heard that Liz was going to be leading... before Solluk confirmed him to be going as well.

Rayek glanced about to be sure that Lek's words hadn't been overheard by any others in the hall before replying. "Commander Vaughan will do well as lead officer.  She knows to use the experience of others and won't make a rash decision.  We'll be fine." he asserted then looked to the Ferengi with a smirk and a confident grin.  "You too better be careful.  Don't make me have to save the ship using just a shuttle craft.  I'm good, yes... but no one is supposed to know just 'how' good." He laughed making a joke out of his comment.

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[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

[Maintenance Bay Deck 10]

"Mark." Ocras spoke, and they moved in almost mechanical lockstep, tightening the coil 2mm. As they did, the characteristic hum of the coils deepened. Looking at the panel, Ocras grinned. "We have it. 5,600 neutrinos per cubic centimeter. The Challenger's warp signature. Let's lock it in place and move on to the Tempest-probe. It will be 5,800 per cm3, so about 0.10mm tighter."

From above, Ocras saw the Romulan rubbing at his temple, and guessed that the chief was striving to keep his mind closed and shielded.

It seemed wrong to Ocras that someone would strive against their nature so determinedly. It was obvious that Rayek had a more potent telepathy than most Vulcans could dream of, and due to the similarities between their species, it was likely most Romulans would not develop this kind of telepathy either. What Rayek was demonstrating was much more like Betazoid telepathy in its scope. The chief was currently trying to keep a bubble inside a box, and while the bubble might confirm to the cube's shape for a time, eventually the bubble will either pop or break free from the cube.

Because his openess was likely distracting the chief, Ocras pulled his thoughts and feelings back. He didn't seal off his mind, but he retreated a bit, giving the chief room to breathe.

Rayek made the 2mm adjustment on Abisa's mark, reading the command in the Betazoid's mind at the same time as Abisa spoke it. His headache increased but ignored it to focus on listening to the hum of the coils.

Rayek could hear the difference in the hum now and it reminded him of the ambient noise that was usually present in Main Engineering. Hopeful, he waited on Abisa to check the signature reading and let out a laugh of relief when the Lieutenant confirmed that it was a match for the Challenger.

"Locking in place." he acknowledged as he set the coil locks.  Then he resealed the warp coil compartment before sliding out from under the probes torpedo casing.  One down...six to go.

Rayek had noticed Abisa's withdrawal during this time and couldn't keep from commenting as he wiped his hands on nearby towel.  "A bubble in a box.  Really?  I assure you I am made of sterner stuff - I will not break."

[Ocras Abisa]

[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

Ocras moved over to the next probe while Rayek began sealing the first. The compartment opened easily, and Ocras began to think through the alterations they would need to make to change this probe into a facsimile of the Tempest.

"A bubble in a box.  Really?  I assure you I am made of sterner stuff - I will not break." The Chief said while wiping his hands on a towel.

The silence stretched for a moment, while Ocras thought about what to say. He kept his mind close, choosing to only use his words.

"When I was younger, secondary school, a girl came to live with us for a time. Her parents had been colonists on a federation planet where they were the only Betazoids. The planet was a mining world, and her parents were there as safety experts. They died during an earthquake. The girl was adopted by family friends, humans, who did their best. They just did not understand what it was to raise a telepath. When her powers began to emerge, they taught her that it was wrong, that she should never violate the minds of others by touching them, that she had to keep her thoughts and emotions to herself, never use her gifts. They built a box of social mores and rules, and tried to force her to keep her talents within them... and she did, for as long as she could. Until something broke inside her. She lost control. Her quietest thoughts were broadcast to everyone around her. The whispers of her emotions flooded the humans. They sedated her and sent her home to Betazed, where we were able to help her re-learn control."

He paused. "I've read about people who tried to suppress their talents who lost them all together, or who became telepathically mute, only receiving for the rest of their lives. I would hate if your gift were lost to you."

After a moment, he turned to the second probe. "Shall we?"

[Lek]

SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Hallways to Engineering]

Rayek's longer stride caught him up to the Ferengi quickly and from there he kept pace so the two could talk before the mission took them each in different directions.   He smiled at hearing Lek comment on his career goal.  "I'm certain if you asked Commander Briggs what his goal was when he was a junior officer he would have said just the same.  Goals change, my friend."

When Lek eyed him sidelong, Rayek offered a slight questioning look back.  "What?"

He didn't expect Lek to question Commander Vaughan's ability as the mission lead so openly.  Rayek bristled momentarily at the man's doubt, though he had felt the same not 10 minutes earlier when he'd heard that Liz was going to be leading... before Solluk confirmed him to be going as well.

Rayek glanced about to be sure that Lek's words hadn't been overheard by any others in the hall before replying. "Commander Vaughan will do well as lead officer.  She knows to use the experience of others and won't make a rash decision.  We'll be fine." he asserted then looked to the Ferengi with a smirk and a confident grin.  "You too better be careful.  Don't make me have to save the ship using just a shuttle craft.  I'm good, yes... but no one is supposed to know just 'how' good." He laughed making a joke out of his comment.

[Hallways to Engineering]

Lek chuckled as his friend's confidence and it made him feel marginally better, but there were so many unknowns in play that it wasn't possible to determine the odds and that usually led to things going very, very badly.

"I'll trust your spin on the Doctor as you work with her more than I do. All I know is since I've been aboard, she's never been to engineering. Good luck on your mission Rayek, the Challenger will need her share, but at least we're not in an eggshell, so looks like you're going to need fortune more than we do."

[Rayek trLhoell]

 SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Hallway to Engineering]

[Hallways to Engineering]

Lek chuckled as his friend's confidence and it made him feel marginally better, but there were so many unknowns in play that it wasn't possible to determine the odds and that usually led to things going very, very badly.

"I'll trust your spin on the Doctor as you work with her more than I do. All I know is since I've been aboard, she's never been to engineering. Good luck on your mission Rayek, the Challenger will need her share, but at least we're not in an eggshell, so looks like you're going to need fortune more than we do."

Rayek nodded understanding that Lek's words were well-meant even if Rayek thought the idea of luck rather ridiculous. "Neep-gren" he replied back, thanking Lek in Ferengi.   Rayek had done a little bit of studying of his friends language in his free time while on Beta Ursae Minor II.  As yet he hadn't yet found the phrase that would be synonymous with the Romulan saying Glohhaasi' mnekha but he'd learned few new cusses and phrases he hoped would be useful in the future.

"As for the Commander not visiting engineering - if you are going to complain I can always request she accompany me on a security tour of your department when this is all over. Scheduling such is easily done."  Rayek stated with a slight smirk as they turned the corner and arrived at their destination - Main Engineering.

While Lek did his thing, Rayek gathered the tools needed to access the warp coils on the Type 8 sensor probe casing, and then headed out to meet with Lt. Abisa.  He'd already said what he needed to say to Lek.
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[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

Ocras moved over to the next probe while Rayek began sealing the first. The compartment opened easily, and Ocras began to think through the alterations they would need to make to change this probe into a facsimile of the Tempest.

"A bubble in a box.  Really?  I assure you I am made of sterner stuff - I will not break." The Chief said while wiping his hands on a towel.

The silence stretched for a moment, while Ocras thought about what to say. He kept his mind close, choosing to only use his words.

"When I was younger, secondary school, a girl came to live with us for a time. Her parents had been colonists on a federation planet where they were the only Betazoids. The planet was a mining world, and her parents were there as safety experts. They died during an earthquake. The girl was adopted by family friends, humans, who did their best. They just did not understand what it was to raise a telepath. When her powers began to emerge, they taught her that it was wrong, that she should never violate the minds of others by touching them, that she had to keep her thoughts and emotions to herself, never use her gifts. They built a box of social mores and rules, and tried to force her to keep her talents within them... and she did, for as long as she could. Until something broke inside her. She lost control. Her quietest thoughts were broadcast to everyone around her. The whispers of her emotions flooded the humans. They sedated her and sent her home to Betazed, where we were able to help her re-learn control."

He paused. "I've read about people who tried to suppress their talents who lost them all together, or who became telepathically mute, only receiving for the rest of their lives. I would hate if your gift were lost to you."

After a moment, he turned to the second probe. "Shall we?"

There was silence from Abisa immediately after Rayek addressed the bubble in a box imagery, and for once Abisa's mind was closed to him. Finally!  Rayek set the towel aside and using the maintenance bay crane, moved the sensor probe from the two A-frames holding it in place back onto the anti-grav trolley for loading into the torpedo tubes once they were done.

As Rayek did this, Abisa began a bit of a tale... Rayek listened as he worked, unsure where the man was going with this story until it came to an end.  Really?  That was the moral?  'Use it or lose it'?  Rayek almost felt a bit disappointed - he'd been hoping for something...  deeper.

At the Lieutenant's prompt, Rayek nodded and joined Abisa at the second sensor probe already on a set of it's own A-frames, so that they could access the top coils and bottom coils simultaneous.  Using a screwdriver that worked using sonic harmonics, he loosened the access hatch on top for the Lieutenant before laying himself underneath the torpedo casing and began loosening the fastners on the underside's access hatch.

"Thank you for that parable, Lieutenant. Very inspiring."  Rayek remarked drily as he lay on his back working on getting access to the coils.  "It's not that I don't want to use my ability; but.." He paused a moment to consider the ramifications of what he was about to say, "I'm going to be honest with you sir, since you are being  open with me.  I am trusting that what I say will be kept between you and I.  Despite what you might have heard, my ability is not 'new' nor am I untrained.   Out of practice is more the term I would put to it.  However, given that my only training in its use thus far has been as an espionage tool and a weapon, I'm sure you can appreciate how I may not want to inflict such telepathic skills on those I'm trying to work alongside in good faith.  However, since my injury my control has been less than ideal."

With the hatch open, he moved the panel aside.  There above him were the coils.  "I'm in.  What are we setting the coils to this time?  5,800 per cm³ you said?  So the last probe had a total correction of .... " he quickly worked out the back and forth adjustments they'd made over the course of an hour... in his head "1.95 cm. So 1.96 for this one.  Let's give it a try... we will have to do the adjustments slowly.. no more that 5 mm at a time then wait a minute or two for the coil to settle."

[Lek]

SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Hallway to Engineering]

Rayek nodded understanding that Lek's words were well-meant even if Rayek thought the idea of luck rather ridiculous. "Neep-gren" he replied back, thanking Lek in Ferengi.   Rayek had done a little bit of studying of his friends language in his free time while on Beta Ursae Minor II.  As yet he hadn't yet found the phrase that would be synonymous with the Romulan saying Glohhaasi' mnekha but he'd learned few new cusses and phrases he hoped would be useful in the future.

"As for the Commander not visiting engineering - if you are going to complain I can always request she accompany me on a security tour of your department when this is all over. Scheduling such is easily done."  Rayek stated with a slight smirk as they turned the corner and arrived at their destination - Main Engineering.

[Outside Main Engineering]

Lek shrugged as he replied.

"A statement of fact is not a complaint. I merely pointed out that since I've been aboard the Challenger, Doctor Vaughn has never visited engineering. My comment isn't an indictment, it just is, but that is immaterial at the moment. And just to let you know, your pronunciation is actually pretty decent, you learn the Rules of Acquisition and master how to play Tongo and we'll make a Ferengi out of you yet."

Lek added as he entered engineering and began assigning crew to the tasks at hand.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

Conference Room

Solluk arched a brow.   He hadn't expected tr'Lhoell to suggest an actual cloaking device.

"My opinion is that the treaty was a rather one-sided one, and was ill-advised.  I am also of the opinion that I won't be breaking quite that many regulations today.  We'll proceed with less legalistically problematic stealth techniques.  Thank you, Chief."

Glancing around to be sure there were no other comments or concerns, he nodded.

"You have your assignments.  Dismissed."

Conference Room

Lizzie gave a nod and stood up.

"I'll be in Sickbay if you need me Captain." She said, before taking her leave.

She headed out of the Conference Room and took the turbolift straight to Sickbay.

Sickbay

Lizzie stepped into Sickbay and after greeting the duty nurse with a nod, went into the equipment storeroom. There, using her PADD for reference, she began assembling the things she would need, and there was a lot if them.

Once she had collected everything, she began replicating the parts for a chair that turned into a bio-bed, complete with full restraints. In the middle of her task, she thought of another precaution they could make. She tapped her com-badge.

Vaughan to Lek. Would be possible to install a security field in the shuttle and than transport Captain Torngate behind it?

[Lek]

Sickbay

Lizzie stepped into Sickbay and after greeting the duty nurse with a nod, went into the equipment storeroom. There, using her PADD for reference, she began assembling the things she would need, and there was a lot if them.

Once she had collected everything, she began replicating the parts for a chair that turned into a bio-bed, complete with full restraints. In the middle of her task, she thought of another precaution they could make. She tapped her com-badge.

Vaughan to Lek. Would be possible to install a security field in the shuttle and than transport Captain Torngate behind it?

[Engineering]

Lek had already dispatched the engineers that would modify the shuttle to make it as stealthy as was possible when he heard the first officer page him. He paused in handing out assignments and tapped his commbadge.

"The shuttle doesn't have security field emitters, but it would be a trivial task to set up a portable force field generator Commander. I already have a team on the way to work on the shuttle, I'll just have them set up a pair for you."

[Ocras Abisa]

[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

"Thank you for that parable, Lieutenant. Very inspiring. It's not that I don't want to use my ability; but.." He paused, "I'm going to be honest with you sir, since you are being  open with me.  I am trusting that what I say will be kept between you and I.  Despite what you might have heard, my ability is not 'new' nor am I untrained.   Out of practice is more the term I would put to it.  However, given that my only training in its use thus far has been as an espionage tool and a weapon, I'm sure you can appreciate how I may not want to inflict such telepathic skills on those I'm trying to work alongside in good faith.  However, since my injury my control has been less than ideal."

Ocras sighed at having a story from his life called a parable, but he stopped caring about that as the Chief explained more. By the end, his irritation had formed into a telepathic phrase common among uncouth Betazoids that roughly translated to murky-muddy-shitty-waters-obscuring-foul. There wasn't a verbal component. "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have been bothering with beginning exercises," he muttered. His emotions were not hidden, showing irritation at wasted time, foolishness at attempting to solve the wrong problem, and a bit of wary respect. "When we're done with this little covert operation, perhaps we can work on practice instead? And I'll stop worrying about you like a mother gebhna." He couldn't help but imagine the creature. A native of Betazed, it was similar to terran whales and dolphins, but instead of echolocation, it had developed empathic abilities. The creatures were known to 'adopt' stray orphans of any species, even non-aquatic species.

With the hatch open, he moved the panel aside.  There above him were the coils.  "I'm in.  What are we setting the coils to this time?  5,800 per cm3 you said?  So the last probe had a total correction of .... " he quickly worked out the back and forth adjustments they'd made over the course of an hour... in his head "1.95 cm. So 1.96 for this one.  Let's give it a try... we will have to do the adjustments slowly.. no more that 5 mm at a time then wait a minute or two for the coil to settle."

Reaching into the coils from above, Ocras checked their current settings. "We're at 1cm now, so 1.96 should take 20 minutes. If we can keep at that pace, we'll still finish just under the three hours quoted." He set his tools in place. "Are you ready for a 5mm adjustment tighter?"

Settling into the work, Ocras was able to relax, letting go much of the subconscious worry he'd been holding about an untrained telepath. The fact that Rayek had been a telepathic spy was a little worrisome, but that appeared to be behind him. An unwilling and untrained telepath could wreak havoc on a starship.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Engineering]

Lek had already dispatched the engineers that would modify the shuttle to make it as stealthy as was possible when he heard the first officer page him. He paused in handing out assignments and tapped his commbadge.

"The shuttle doesn't have security field emitters, but it would be a trivial task to set up a portable force field generator Commander. I already have a team on the way to work on the shuttle, I'll just have them set up a pair for you."

Sickbay

This caused Lizzie to smile.

Thank you Mr Lek. I'll also be bringing down a device to flood the area behind the field with gas, in case we need to subdue Captain Torngate. I should be done with everything in a few hours and then I will bring it all to the shuttle. Vaugha  out!

Closing the channel, Lizzie returned to her task of building the bed. It was a simple, though time consuming procedure. She also made a mental note to herself to use Neurozine for the knock-out gas.

[Jettis Jyur]

[Conference Room]

As everyone got the opportunity to voice their ideas, the Captain came to a solution that incorporated all of them. But first, a light preamble about how Starfleet would be kept in the dark about this mission - it was for the best, nobody knew who was compromised. In fact, anyone in this room could be compromised, but judging by their attitudes and actions, Jettis had no issues trusting that they were not.

"Once that is complete, you will begin work on our Type 11 shuttle, the Scobee, with Jyur."

"Your goal with the Scobee will be to rig her for silent running.  This will include the installation of subspace baffles, an energy-scattering hull sheath, and anything else you can think of to make her undetectable on long range sensors.  The Scobee isn't as good as a proper runabout, but she isn't far off.  Powerful and robust, swift as a shuttle might hope to become, she is the best platform we have to make the jaunt across into contested space.  She's armed with both phasers and micro-torpedoes if things become problematic, and she has the capacity to place a full team aboard."

Duties were doled out, and the meeting was soon brought to a close, after asking for futher questions. With none of his own, and nobody he needed to speak to, he made a quick move to stand up. Hesitating for a moment, his eyes scanned over Solluk. This was a peculiar situation, of course, and though a million words surfaced to try and express his support, none of them came forth. Biting his tongue, he straightened, leaving the room.

[Hallway]

Striding towards the shuttlebay, Jettis tapped his commbadge, hoping to reach Lek.  "Once you're done with creating our imaginary fleet, Lieutenant Lek, would you be able to meet me in shuttlebay 1 to work on the Scobee?" Waiting for a response, he determinedly headed for said shuttlebay to make arrangements.

[Rayek trLhoell]

SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

Ocras sighed at having a story from his life called a parable, but he stopped caring about that as the Chief explained more. By the end, his irritation had formed into a telepathic phrase common among uncouth Betazoids that roughly translated to murky-muddy-shitty-waters-obscuring-foul. There wasn't a verbal component. "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have been bothering with beginning exercises," he muttered. His emotions were not hidden, showing irritation at wasted time, foolishness at attempting to solve the wrong problem, and a bit of wary respect.

The telepathic phrase that Rayek picked up from Ocras' mind, surprised the Romulan with its imagery and crudeness.  Rayek would have found the Betazoid equivalent to swearing amusing if the telepathic connection didn't cause the pain behind his eyes to intensify.  Despite the headache, Rayek didn't force the connection closed.  Some of what Abisa had said in his tale did make sense.  He would in essence 'lose' his ability if he didn't use it and learn to either cope with the headaches, or figure out what was causing them and find a work around.

While Rayek wasn't empathic, Abisa's annoyance was clear to see.  Rayek felt a slight twinge of conscience for not having explained before his exact reasons for needing the training.  But then his past telepathic training by his Reman teacher was very much entangled with his classified past.  He wasn't supposed to be sharing it was anyone.

Mindful suddenly that Abisa could be following this line of thought, Rayek turned him mind away from his past and focused on what Abisa was saying.

"When we're done with this little covert operation, perhaps we can work on practice instead? And I'll stop worrying about you like a mother gebhna." He couldn't help but imagine the creature. A native of Betazed, it was similar to terran whales and dolphins, but instead of echolocation, it had developed empathic abilities. The creatures were known to 'adopt' stray orphans of any species, even non-aquatic species.

As Abisa's spoke, Rayek was 'treated' to an image of the aquatic creature the man had mentioned.  The visual caused another spike of pain and Rayek had no choice but to withdraw from the man's mind and close himself off, turning his focus back to his work - where it ideally should have been the entire time. The flare of pain faded away.

"Sure." he answered Abisa's offer, "After the mission. Until then, would it be an imposition to ask you to refrain from projecting?  Imagery especially."

With the hatch open, he moved the panel aside.  There above him were the coils.  "I'm in.  What are we setting the coils to this time?  5,800 per cm3 you said?  So the last probe had a total correction of .... " he quickly worked out the back and forth adjustments they'd made over the course of an hour... in his head "1.95 cm. So 1.96 for this one.  Let's give it a try... we will have to do the adjustments slowly.. no more that 5 mm at a time then wait a minute or two for the coil to settle."

Reaching into the coils from above, Ocras checked their current settings. "We're at 1cm now, so 1.96 should take 20 minutes. If we can keep at that pace, we'll still finish just under the three hours quoted." He set his tools in place. "Are you ready for a 5mm adjustment tighter?"

Settling into the work, Ocras was able to relax, letting go much of the subconscious worry he'd been holding about an untrained telepath. The fact that Rayek had been a telepathic spy was a little worrisome, but that appeared to be behind him. An unwilling and untrained telepath could wreak havoc on a starship.

With his mind kept focused on the task of tightening the warp coils, Rayek managed the rest of the time in the Maintenance Bay with no further telepathic incident.  Working together, he and Ocras had managed to alter all seven Type VIII sensor probes as requested.   After that first probe, the others proceeded smoothly and the pair managed to meet their 3 hour deadline.

The probes were in queue, programmed with the flight details the Captain had specified during the briefing, ready to be loaded and sent off at the Captain's order.

[Ocras Abisa]

[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

For the remainder of the work, Ocras kept his mind reined in. When the Chief asked him to stop projecting images, Ocras almost projected the image of himself walking across a floor littered with eggshells. Then held the thought in, keeping it from leaving his own mind by sheer force of will.

"Can do." The next hour and a half went smoothly, the two of them working well together, even without telepathic connection.

When they re-sealed the seventh probe, Ocras wiped his brow and began putting tools away. "I'm going to go report the task completed to the Captain." he paused. "It was a pleasure working with you, Rayek."

He waited a beat to see if there was a reply before leaving the maintenance bay and heading for the turbolift.

[Bridge - Challenger]

By the time Ocras arrived at the Bridge, his uniform was straight and you couldn't tell he'd spent the last three hours hunched over a probe making precise, minute changes and checking to see if he hadn't broken everything after each adjustment.

He found the Captain where he expected him to be, and began his report. "Sir, seven probes completed. One to represent the Challenger and six more as the Task Force you requested."

[Lek]

[Conference Room]

As everyone got the opportunity to voice their ideas, the Captain came to a solution that incorporated all of them. But first, a light preamble about how Starfleet would be kept in the dark about this mission - it was for the best, nobody knew who was compromised. In fact, anyone in this room could be compromised, but judging by their attitudes and actions, Jettis had no issues trusting that they were not.

Duties were doled out, and the meeting was soon brought to a close, after asking for futher questions. With none of his own, and nobody he needed to speak to, he made a quick move to stand up. Hesitating for a moment, his eyes scanned over Solluk. This was a peculiar situation, of course, and though a million words surfaced to try and express his support, none of them came forth. Biting his tongue, he straightened, leaving the room.

[Hallway]

Striding towards the shuttlebay, Jettis tapped his commbadge, hoping to reach Lek.  "Once you're done with creating our imaginary fleet, Lieutenant Lek, would you be able to meet me in shuttlebay 1 to work on the Scobee?" Waiting for a response, he determinedly headed for said shuttlebay to make arrangements.

Lek had planned to send Lieutenant Gianetti to modify the shuttle as he worked on the Challenger's warp and shield harmonics, but Gianetti could work on the harmonics. Lek stopped before entering engineering and smiled to the science officer.

"Why not? I haven't tinkered with a shuttle in awhile, might as well keep those skills sharp too."

[Rayek trLhoell]

SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

[Maintenance Bay - Deck 10]

When they re-sealed the seventh probe, Ocras wiped his brow and began putting tools away. "I'm going to go report the task completed to the Captain." he paused. "It was a pleasure working with you, Rayek."

He waited a beat to see if there was a reply before leaving the maintenance bay and heading for the turbolift.

Rayek responded with a nod to Abisa's statement of informing the Captain. At the unexpected compliment, the Romulan said nothing for a long moment, unsure if the comment was merely a Betazoid farewell pleasantry - and thus not requiring a reply, or sincerely meant. As the Lieutenant turned away to continue on with his duties, Rayek offered up a reply in parting."We work well together."

[Primary Shuttle Maintenance Hanger - Deck 19]
With the task of the probes complete, Rayek turned his attention to what he would need to secure Captain Torngate during the return trip.  While Rayek hoped for the best scenario, where there would be clear evidence that Captain Torngate had been brain-washed but was free of the influence now, it was highly unlikely; which meant Rayek needed to consider Torngate as a threat and prepare security measures that would keep the man restrained.

However when Rayek arrived at the Shuttle Maintenance Hanger where the Scobee was having her warp coils adjusted- similiar to the sensor probes Abisa and he had just finished with, Rayek found that other engineers were at work inside the shuttle adding a portable force field generator.  He frowned slightly.

"Excuse me, sir" He interrupted the higher ranked ensign overseeing the work. "Who put in the request for the force field generator? And may I see what other adjustments have been requisitioned?"  It wasn't that the work wasn't what he might have requested himself ... he just wasn't sure who had ordered it without informing him.

The ensign glanced over towards the Romulan a moment before passing over the padd he had in his hand. "The orders came from Lieutenant Lek, Chief.  We also have orders to install some sort of  device to flood the secured compartment with some sort of gas - Lieutenant Commander Vaughan is supposed to be bringing that down soon."

Liz.  Rayek nodded.  That explained much.  "Thank you, sir.  I'll leave you to your work, while I await her arrival."