S2E6 A Plague on Both Your Houses

[Dylan Torngate]

CMO's Office
Bridge

Lizzie entered the Bridge and saw Dylan sitting in the command chair. Since Solluk was elsewhere, she sat down next to him.

"You still need to get more rest Captain." She informed him lightly. "And these delays are just the time to get it. We know you can get to the Bridge in under two minutes if you need to, so why not use the time?" She asked, trying to shake him out of his pensive mood.

Dylan had been through a lot over the last month and he had not recovered as much as she would have liked. And being Dylan, he had fought her almost every step of the way.

[Bridge]

Dylan hadn't been paying much attention. His mind had been... elsewhere, but he eventually snapped out of it. "Hmm? Oh. Right. I guess I'd rather be seen than be in hiding... the crew's morale is as important to me as my own health, and if I can't be seen doing my job people will think I'm not fit for it," he said, shrugging and leaning back. "Besides, if sitting in a chair is too taxing, I don't know what else I could be doing, get my drift?" he said, though his face belied a certain stress and worry.

"At least Convoy duty is usually pretty dull," he admitted, leaning back and letting his feet splay out a little more before he drifted off into his thoughts some more.

By the time he'd processed and shook himself up again to respond to Solluk, the work had already begun. Plastering a smile on his face he nodded to the man. "Call who you need, I'm sure some of the more scientific minds here could greatly use the work. There's only so many times they can study spacedust around here," he joked, trying to inject a little humor into the atmosphere. Regardless, something was still off. With the mention of people being unhappy with their accommodations, his face darkened and he glowered before he hid it behind a visual mask and looked up.

"Send in more security if you have to, but if it comes down to it put the safety of your own men first. Gas 'em if you have to, but I leave when that point is to you Chief. It's not like they have any other options as to the ride," he said, sighing. "What are they mad about anyways, the beds not as soft as they want?"

Civillians he thought to himself. Civilians don't like hearing they can't take a bath, wash their clothes - or sleep in their own beds with private rooms. So needy. So entitled.

[Lek]

[Engineering]

Lek stood at the 'pool table' and absently monitored the power flow. At least it appeared that's what he was doing, but in reality, even though his eyes were pointed at the display, he was thousands of lightyears away looking at nothing.

Knowing Rayek was gone had left a hole in his day, routine, and life and he had yet to figure out how to fill it. He'd allowed himself one good drunk, but only one. After that, he filled his personal time reading the novels by Agatha Christie that featured Hercule Poirot. It was a decent distraction and he found he enjoyed trying to figure out the murders on his own.

However, that was about all he did. He worked. He ate. He read, but he'd withdrawn socially. He was polite and friendly to those he had to interact with, he believed the engineering staff thought as well of him as he thought of them. Yet, the best you could call his current status was existing. He'd stopped living in the fullest meaning of the word. He was adrift, knew it, and didn't have the slightest idea of how to change his situation.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO3 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck 4 - outside mess hall]

The extra security teams arrived on scene outside of the mess hall, ready to make their entrance when Petty Officer Shurile contacted again and ordered them to hold fast and wait for Chief Cleroux.

Yessir. If you're sure... I mean we're just outside the mess hall now. We could just get her done before the Chief arrives -could we not? Lahr replied in an attempt to be helpful, but his suggestion was rejected and his orders to wait for Chief Cleroux were repeated.

Yeah I heard you the first time, sir.  We'll wait." Lahr acknowledged with a roll of his eyes.

Lahr looked to the riot-ready security teams and gave a shrug.  "Anyone wanna bet that this gets resolved without us being needed?"

Danjar lowed softly and commented back.  "Those would be some pretty short odds. Besides, betting while on duty is against Starfleet regs, you know that Lahr, I think we'll pass".

Lahr just gave his partner a bit of a disappointed look before settling in to wait for the Chief's arrival.

[Solluk]

USS Challenger - Bridge

Solluk arched a brow when the Captain suggested gassing the refugees, but made no comment on it.

"Well," he said, "I had better go down and see what the grievances of the refugees are."

Nodding to the Captain and Commander, he then made his way to the turbolift.

*** Outside Mess Hall, Deck 4 ***

A short turbolift ride and brief walk later, Solluk joined the security teams amassed outside of the mess hall.  He noted the riot gear- an unfortunate necessity likely to exacerbate the riotous mood.

"Is there any word from the refugees regarding what they want, or what has them so irate," he asked of the closest crewman, who happened to be ch'Verret.

It might be as simple as frustration regarding their lost homes, possessions, and lives.  But perhaps there was something the Challenger crew could provide that would ease the tensions on this journey.  Far better to placate them than to tranquilize them, as far as Solluk was concerned.  It was important- to his mind- to remember that these were victims of a terrible injustice.  Federation citizens betrayed by elements of their own security apparatus.  They were not enemy forces.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO3 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck 4 - Outside Mess Hall]

Lahr looked up from his distracted musings - to see Commander Solluk's approach.  Oh crap.  The youthful Andorian straightened, antenna and all, and called his troop to attention as the Commander questioned him about the goings on inside.

Relaxing a bit since it didn't seem that the Commander was there to dress the troop down for not already dealing with the situation, Lahr's antenna dipped as he gave the Commander a bit of a shrug. "Sorry sir, Petty officer Shurile didn't mention what their complaints were just that we were to assemble here in riot gear and wait for the Chief."

He regarded the First Officer a moment.  "Are you planning to go in, sir, to talk to them? You should take some backup with you -  yeah I understand not all... but at least some of us."

[Scott Bradley]

[Bridge, U.S.S Challenger]

Scott entered the bridge with his usual brisk pace, making his way to the helm console. He relieved the ensign who had been stationed there and assumed control. He maintained the Challengers formation with the other ships, but soon realized there wasn't going to be a great deal of piloting needed.

He couldn't help but overhear the trouble with the refugees. This was the biggest tragedy of the war, people being displaced, cramped into unfamiliar surroundings, it was little surprise they were agitated.

[Solluk]

Outside the Mess Hall

Solluk nodded, "Very well.  This is not a show of force.  You're with me, Petty Officer.  Select a crewman to join us.  No phaser rifles.  Crickets only, and keep them palmed until you need them."

The 'cricket' was a colloquial term for the Type I hand phaser.   A tiny device used as more of a holdout weapon for low-visibility work, it still had enough power to stun a dozen people before its energy cells went dry.  More importantly, it did not shout aggression... and so perhaps its use would become less necessary.

With those orders, Solluk proceeded into the refugee holding area, tapping his badge as he made entry.

Computer, tie my comms into regional intercom, maximum volume.

ACKNOWLEDGED.

Solluk looked over the teeming masses, and glanced to the security forces present before speaking.

"Fellow Travelers, I grieve with thee.  Lost homes.  Lost Lives.  This is not what you were promised.  This is not what your lives were meant to be.   Such turmoil belongs in tales of the past.  Not in tragedies of the present.  I grieve with thee, for you have lost all you value... except this.   You live.  And where there is life, there is hope." 

He took a breath, hoping that his words would have the desired effect.

"I am Commander Solluk, the Executive Officer of the Challenger.  The Captain is on the bridge, guiding this convoy to safety.  But I am here for you.  We are about to send people among you.  They will meet you.  They will learn your names.  Your stories.  If you have a need of something, tell them.  We will find a way to get it to you.  We can not restore what you have lost.  But we can take your hand, and help you forward with a first step.  Please... let us help you." 

[Dylan Torngate]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Dylan had still been grumbling on the Bridge when he got a notification that the last of the refugees had been transported from the surface to the ships. He stood, straightening his tunic before he looked to the Operations station, manned by Ensign Oftex. "Open a channel to the fleet," he said, before facing the transmission area.

"This is Captain Torngate, prepare to depart on my mark. Divert from planned course to Bravo, due to enemy activity."

He stepped back, nodding as the channel was cut and he sat back down. The fleet responded that they were ready, and Dylan nodded to the helm. "Take us to warp, best possible speed," before another incoming alert blared on his chair arm. Looking down, he saw an encrypted databurst from Starfleet command. Frowning, he looked around to the most senior officer on the bridge. "You have the bridge," he said before he walked away toward his ready room.

[Ready Room]

Dylan frowned as he decrypted the databurst. It came right from Starfleet Intelligence, which was never a good thing, and especially not to a ship on Convoy duty. What had they done to make SFI take interest? He finally decrypted the message, and read it. It was bad news. Federation Intelligence had reason to believe that an Andoran - and the message made clear it wasn't Andorian spy - was likely on one of the ships... and had a biological weapon of sorts with them. Dylan frowned, before pressing his commbadge.

The Andorans were a race that was not part of the Federation, but wasn't a major galacitc player. It appeared several had been on the colony world, living among the Federation races.

Doctor Vaughan, begin a medical quarentine of the whole fleet. he said, before closing that channel and opening another.

XO, this is the Captain. Your orders are to secure and detain an Andoran, by the name of Katas. Bring him to the Brig. he said, before pressing a few buttons and accessing the whole-ship intercom, which also linked him to all the other ships.

Attention all hands, this is the Captain. General Quarters, Condition Blue.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO3 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Deck 4 - Outside the Mess Hall]

The Commander's agreement to his suggestion was a bit unexpected.  Lahr nodded when ordered to take only the Type-1's, passing off his rifle to the crewman behind him, and selected Crewman Torra to go with.  She was easily the calmest person he knew.  She exuded calmness with her seemingly slow and passive demeanor, but beneath that was a firmness was surprising.

[Mess Hall]
The two security followed the Commander in flanking him on either side, like a kind of honor guard.  Lahr could 'feel' through his antenna the tension throughout the room.  There was aggression and anger too.  To keep his hands from his phaser, as they first enter, Lahr folded his arms behind his back much like as if he were standing at ease.  It would take longer to react to a problem but was much less threatening than hovering his hand over his weapon like he initially wanted to do.

He glanced over to Danjar-Torra but if she felt the tension at all it didn't show in her calm face.  She was looking towards a knot of angry looking men who seemed to be surrounding the handful of security that had been assigned to the Mess Hall.  Petty Officer Shurile was among them.   Lahr couldn't make out what was being said because of the sheer volume of those who were speaking but their tone was not happy.

Then the Commander spoke.  His voice being spread throughout the mess hall via intercom speakers - letting all hear him over the din of the room.   His words were - dare he say? -  heartfelt.   Lahr was moved.   And it seemed that it moved much of the crowd as well, as their angry murmurs quieted down.

One voice however rang out over the others.  "Our families have been torn apart..  We want to rejoin the others!" From this cry rose other voices of agreement. "Where's my daughter?!" "We just want to find our kin" "They're keeping us here against our will!"

Lahr knew that Starfleet staff were doing their best to evacuate families together but sometimes mix-ups happen.  With an evacuation this large with several ships involved... it would be nearly impossible to keep everyone together.  But how to explain that to a mob of angry refugees?

"If I may speak, sir?" the soft voice was Danjar-Torra.  She looked towards the Commander awaiting his permission before stepping forward and calling out in her loud yet gentle voice.  "Throughout this ship alone there are thousands of your fellow people, friends and family, displaced like you.  We want to bring you together but it must be done safely for all involved.   Leaving these designated areas will only make locating people that much harder.   Please be patient and work with us to reunite families.  To start, can those who are seeking young children come with me to the side here... I will take your information and pass it along to the other areas and other ships so we can locate your children and get them back to you safely."

Her soft lowing words and the Commanders presence and willingness to be there with them seemed to melt away the remaining tension.  Lahr felt relief and messaged the remaining riot team to stand down and return to their normal duties.

It was then that Lahr over heard the Captain's orders to the Commander - his antenna perked with interest.  A second later Condition Blue was called.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Dylan had still been grumbling on the Bridge when he got a notification that the last of the refugees had been transported from the surface to the ships. He stood, straightening his tunic before he looked to the Operations station, manned by Ensign Oftex. "Open a channel to the fleet," he said, before facing the transmission area.

"This is Captain Torngate, prepare to depart on my mark. Divert from planned course to Bravo, due to enemy activity."

He stepped back, nodding as the channel was cut and he sat back down. The fleet responded that they were ready, and Dylan nodded to the helm. "Take us to warp, best possible speed," before another incoming alert blared on his chair arm. Looking down, he saw an encrypted databurst from Starfleet command. Frowning, he looked around to the most senior officer on the bridge. "You have the bridge," he said before he walked away toward his ready room.

[Ready Room]

Dylan frowned as he decrypted the databurst. It came right from Starfleet Intelligence, which was never a good thing, and especially not to a ship on Convoy duty. What had they done to make SFI take interest? He finally decrypted the message, and read it. It was bad news. Federation Intelligence had reason to believe that an Andoran - and the message made clear it wasn't Andorian spy - was likely on one of the ships... and had a biological weapon of sorts with them. Dylan frowned, before pressing his commbadge.

The Andorans were a race that was not part of the Federation, but wasn't a major galacitc player. It appeared several had been on the colony world, living among the Federation races.

Doctor Vaughan, begin a medical quarentine of the whole fleet. he said, before closing that channel and opening another.

XO, this is the Captain. Your orders are to secure and detain an Andoran, by the name of Katas. Bring him to the Brig. he said, before pressing a few buttons and accessing the whole-ship intercom, which also linked him to all the other ships.

Attention all hands, this is the Captain. General Quarters, Condition Blue.

Bridge

Lizzie had been sitting on the Bridge when Dylan had gone to take the message. She wondered briefly what it was before settling back in the command chair.

No sooner had she done so than she got an urgent call for a fleet wide medical quarantine. knowing that panic was never a good thing, so she did a handover of the Bridge and headed straight for Sickbay.

Sickbay

Lizzie entered Sickbay and the senior nurse came up to her.

"What's going on Doctor?" She asked, her face a mask of professionalism.

"We have to quarantine the whole fleet. I've not been told why. Call in all medical personnel and begin full quarantine procedures. I'll brief the ship then speak to the fleet."

The nurse nodded and turned to get on with her assigned tasks while Lizzie headed to her office.

CMO's Office

Lizzie went into her office and sat behind the desk. After taking a couple of deep breaths, she opened the shipwide medical channel.

Dr Vaughan to all Hands. We are now in full quarantine mode and all level 1 medical quarantine procedures are now in place. If you experience ANY new medical symptoms from this point forward, report them to your direct supervisor. They will then forward the information to the medical team who will decide on action to take place. Movement around the ship is restricted for all non-essential personnel. Any crew member not on duty will be restricted to either their mess hall or sleeping quarters. Any personnel who are discovered away from their assigned areas will be immediately detained and isolated. Further information will be provided on a need to know basis. Vaughan out!

Closing the ship wide channel, she then opened another to the whole fleet.

=/\=Challenger to the fleet. As of this moment the fleet is under medical quarantine. No person is to enter or leave any ship without both being medically and security cleared. Each ship is to initiate level 1 quarantine procedures and restrict their crew's movements. All ships are to respond at once that they have received this message and are implementing quarantine.

She called up the quarantine system and watched as each ship sent back a message that they had received the orders and confirmed that they were now under quarantine. Once she had all the responses in, she opened another channel.

Vaughan to Torngate. The fleet is under full quarantine are have confirmed that they are implementing their own quarantine procedures. In order to make the quarantine more effective, I need to know what the suspected disease or pathogen is.

[Lek]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Dylan had still been grumbling on the Bridge when he got a notification that the last of the refugees had been transported from the surface to the ships. He stood, straightening his tunic before he looked to the Operations station, manned by Ensign Oftex. "Open a channel to the fleet," he said, before facing the transmission area.

"This is Captain Torngate, prepare to depart on my mark. Divert from planned course to Bravo, due to enemy activity."

He stepped back, nodding as the channel was cut and he sat back down. The fleet responded that they were ready, and Dylan nodded to the helm. "Take us to warp, best possible speed," before another incoming alert blared on his chair arm. Looking down, he saw an encrypted databurst from Starfleet command. Frowning, he looked around to the most senior officer on the bridge. "You have the bridge," he said before he walked away toward his ready room.

[Ready Room]

Dylan frowned as he decrypted the databurst. It came right from Starfleet Intelligence, which was never a good thing, and especially not to a ship on Convoy duty. What had they done to make SFI take interest? He finally decrypted the message, and read it. It was bad news. Federation Intelligence had reason to believe that an Andoran - and the message made clear it wasn't Andorian spy - was likely on one of the ships... and had a biological weapon of sorts with them. Dylan frowned, before pressing his commbadge.

The Andorans were a race that was not part of the Federation, but wasn't a major galacitc player. It appeared several had been on the colony world, living among the Federation races.

Doctor Vaughan, begin a medical quarentine of the whole fleet. he said, before closing that channel and opening another.

XO, this is the Captain. Your orders are to secure and detain an Andoran, by the name of Katas. Bring him to the Brig. he said, before pressing a few buttons and accessing the whole-ship intercom, which also linked him to all the other ships.

Attention all hands, this is the Captain. General Quarters, Condition Blue.

Bridge

Lizzie had been sitting on the Bridge when Dylan had gone to take the message. She wondered briefly what it was before settling back in the command chair.

No sooner had she done so than she got an urgent call for a fleet wide medical quarantine. knowing that panic was never a good thing, so she did a handover of the Bridge and headed straight for Sickbay.

Sickbay

Lizzie entered Sickbay and the senior nurse came up to her.

"What's going on Doctor?" She asked, her face a mask of professionalism.

"We have to quarantine the whole fleet. I've not been told why. Call in all medical personnel and begin full quarantine procedures. I'll brief the ship then speak to the fleet."

The nurse nodded and turned to get on with her assigned tasks while Lizzie headed to her office.

CMO's Office

Lizzie went into her office and sat behind the desk. After taking a couple of deep breaths, she opened the shipwide medical channel.

=/\=Dr Vaughan to all Hands. We are now in full quarantine mode and all level 1 medical quarantine procedures are now in place. If you experience ANY new medical symptoms from this point forward, report them to your direct supervisor. They will then forward the information to the medical team who will decide on action to take place. Movement around the ship is restricted for all non-essential personnel. Any crew member not on duty will be restricted to either their mess hall or sleeping quarters. Any personnel who are discovered away from their assigned areas will be immediately detained and isolated. Further information will be provided on a need to know basis. Vaughan out!

Closing the ship wide channel, she then opened another to the whole fleet.

=/\=Challenger to the fleet. As of this moment the fleet is under medical quarantine. No person is to enter or leave any ship without both being medically and security cleared. Each ship is to initiate level 1 quarantine procedures and restrict their crew's movements. All ships are to respond at once that they have received this message and are implementing quarantine.

She called up the quarantine system and watched as each ship sent back a message that they had received the orders and confirmed that they were now under quarantine. Once she had all the responses in, she opened another channel.

Vaughan to Torngate. The fleet is under full quarantine are have confirmed that they are implementing their own quarantine procedures. In order to make the quarantine more effective, I need to know what the suspected disease or pathogen is.

[Engineering]

The klaxon startled Lek back to the here and now as he listened to the command chatter with interest and immediately thought of something that might help.

"Engineering to bridge. Given the reaction most beings have to being confined in a close space, not of their choosing, while under threat of an unknown contagion is panic. I suggest the Challenger in coordination with our shuttles is to flood the local space with tetryeon particles. That will prevent anyone from unauthorized use of transporters. It will complicate our operations, but it will greatly enhance our ability to maintain control of the refugees."

[Solluk]

Challenger - Mess Hall Refugee area

Solluk nodded to Crewman Torra, and was soon rewarded with eloquent and empathic speech that helped to further calm down the anxiety among the refugees.   He made a mental note to have her marked for additional de-escalation training, so that she could be made into a negotiation specialist for hostage situations.  She had a knack, and it should be fostered.

Just when things seemed to be settling down, the Captain's voice came over Solluk's com, in close succession with a Condition Blue Alert.  A Blue Alert could mean a lot of things, but in this case it was probably related to the request to apprehend an Andoran.

Before he could dwell on that possibility overlong, Doctor Vaughan transmitted on a medical channel, with attention to all hands.  Medical Quarantine?  He wondered what manner of medical issue had managed to evade the transporter filters.  Something exotic and new, he supposed.  Something they were not programmed to intercept.

Either way, the words coming from his badge and the badges of everyone else present were audible to the entire retinue of refugees.  The calm which had recently prevailed became a new storm.  Worse, one Andoran in the crowd apparently caught wind that he was wanted.  No surprise, considering that the order for apprehension had just blared from Solluk's communicator.

The Andoran grabbed a young human woman, pulling her into a tight embrace and pressing a sharp implement to her neck.  A small knife?   A medical instrument?  The difference mattered.  Even if the Andoran cut the woman's throat, a site-to-site transport to medical would allow the Doctors there to save her before she could bleed out and die.

But if this sharp implement was somehow related to the medical quarantine?

That was a different matter entirely.

Meanwhile, pandemonium was erupting all around.

"ALL NONCOMBATANTS PLEASE LAY DOWN UPON THE DECK!"

Solluk shouted the order with enough force that the intercom PA system was hardly necessary, but it was still in effect.  The bulkheads vibrated with the force of his order.   Many screamed.  A few cried.  But most complied.  The majority fell prone, leaving the Andoran standing in a mostly clear field with his hostage.

Now, in a softer tone, Solluk spoke again.  "Katas, I presume.   How can I help you, today?"

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO3 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Deck 4 - Mess hall]

Condition Blue was an alert used for many things - most of which didn't seem to be applicable at the immediate time, at least not to the young Andorian petty officer.  Regardless of the reason for the alert, Lahr was concerned - because once more the mob of refugees were agitated again.  Lahr stepped forward, placing himself ahead of the Commander as he attempted to bring things back down.

"If everyone would please just calm down. Alerts such as these are used all the time for standard maneuvers like docking and undocking...  There is no need for alarm."   He was just getting through to those nearest him with his smooth-talk... because that's what it was.  Lahr knew that this was no docking alert - but if he could get the refugees to settle down on that misdirection.. he was good with it.

Two things happened then.

One, the doctor made her ship-wide quarantine announcement.  Lahr groaned, as a fresh wave of panic swept the crowd.

Two, a scuffle near the middle of the crowd drew Lahr's attention.

A man - an Andoran to be specific - had grabbed a woman hostage and was holding something sharp to her throat.  The Andoran the Commander had been ordered to detain.

Lahr considered going for his phaser but with the quarantine warning, Lahr couldn't be certain if what the Andoran held was a biological weapon or not.  It was then that Commander took over.

Challenger - Mess Hall Refugee area

"ALL NONCOMBATANTS PLEASE LAY DOWN UPON THE DECK!"

Solluk shouted the order with enough force that the intercom PA system was hardly necessary, but it was still in effect.  The bulkheads vibrated with the force of his order.   Many screamed.  A few cried.  But most complied.  The majority fell prone, leaving the Andoran standing in a mostly clear field with his hostage.

Now, in a softer tone, Solluk spoke again.  "Katas, I presume.   How can I help you, today?"[/size]

From his peripheral vision, Lahr could see Torra to his left, also holding off of drawing her phaser, and to his right Shurile and the other security assigned to the Mess Hall.  All together there were 6 security crew all watching and waiting for an opportunity to take down the Andoran hostile; and the man knew it.

"Have them drop their weapons... or I'll kill her.  I'll kill them all!" 

[Solluk]

USS Challenger - Mess Hall Refugee Area

Solluk could hear his heart pounding in his ears.  He had not been mentally prepared for a hostage situation.  But then, situations did not tend to clear themselves as emotionally acceptable before they revealed themselves.

He did his best to remain impassive.  Professional.  In-control.

At least on the surface.

"No one here will raise weapons upon you," he said, both an advisory to the Andoran and an order to the security staff present, "But there is a danger that must be dealt with."  He pointed to the corners of the room.  "This space is monitored by security.  I need to tell my Security Chief not to storm in here with an assault team, okay?"

He did not really wait for permission before tapping his badge.

"Commander Solluk to Lieutenant Lek.  Lieutenant, I realize you have been monitoring our situation here in the Mess Hall.  Despite the hostage situation, I don't want anyone to intrude into this space.  It may exacerbate the situation.  Also, please relay to Chief Engineer Cleroux that I want a special eye kept upon the inertial dampeners as the convoy moves forward.  We have an Andoran man holding a sharp weapon upon a human woman's throat in here.  Even a slight tremble would be disasterous in this situation.  So make it clear to the Chief Engineer that the dampeners must be kept perfectly calibrated so that we are all motionless.  Solluk out."

With that message sent, Solluk took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "Now, Sir.  We are at your disposal.  Please tell us what it is that you want.  I will see what I can do to give it to you."

[Lek]

USS Challenger - Mess Hall Refugee Area

Solluk could hear his heart pounding in his ears.  He had not been mentally prepared for a hostage situation.  But then, situations did not tend to clear themselves as emotionally acceptable before they revealed themselves.

He did his best to remain impassive.  Professional.  In-control.

At least on the surface.

"No one here will raise weapons upon you," he said, both an advisory to the Andoran and an order to the security staff present, "But there is a danger that must be dealt with."  He pointed to the corners of the room.  "This space is monitored by security.  I need to tell my Security Chief not to storm in here with an assault team, okay?"

He did not really wait for permission before tapping his badge.

"Commander Solluk to Lieutenant Lek.  Lieutenant, I realize you have been monitoring our situation here in the Mess Hall.  Despite the hostage situation, I don't want anyone to intrude into this space.  It may exacerbate the situation.  Also, please relay to Chief Engineer Cleroux that I want a special eye kept upon the inertial dampeners as the convoy moves forward.  We have an Andoran man holding a sharp weapon upon a human woman's throat in here.  Even a slight tremble would be disasterous in this situation.  So make it clear to the Chief Engineer that the dampeners must be kept perfectly calibrated so that we are all motionless.  Solluk out."

With that message sent, Solluk took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "Now, Sir.  We are at your disposal.  Please tell us what it is that you want.  I will see what I can do to give it to you."

[Engineering]

Lek frowned in confusion at the request to keep the inertia dampeners steady as the ship was running as smooth as was possible to make her run. If there was anything that changed that, it would be external and would be more of a situation for flight than engineering.

Lek was even more perplexed that they didn't use the anesthezine gas to subdue the whole compartment. That or beam the Andorian directly to the brig, or beam the hostage to sick bay, or beam in a stun grenade, but he wasn't there, so he changed his display to monitor the dampeners for what little he could do beyond what was already being done.