From: Justin Owens (teddy276_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Apr 03 2008 - 22:00:56 PDT
“All things must end”
(Continued from “ “)
Location: USS CHANTICO
Scene: Transporter Room
Stardate: [2.8]0404.0055
The small three personnel away team had finally been assembled in the transporter room of the CHANTICO. Their clothing had to be replicated to try and hide the fact that, well they were Starfleet Officers. As each stood there, the single thought of why they were carrying tricorders and phasers with them ran through their heads before Commander Kor, who was leading the small team tapped her hidden commbadge.
"Kor to Bridge, Mr. Chricton once the away team has beamed to the surface begin the one hour count down before deactivating the duonetic field emitters on the satellites," she said breathing deeply and watching the other officers faces change with understanding now.
[["Commander you are aware that if you need any assistance before that one hour is up you will not be able to contact the CHANTICO?]] Chricton responded with concern in his voice.
The commander nodded before breathing deeply, "I am fully aware of the situation Lieutenant, but hopefully if the other two teams have survived this long without contacting the CHANTICO and they meet us at the rendezvous as scheduled then we can last one more hour, Kor out."
Stepping onto the small transporter padd Commander Kor and her team stood there for a moment fixing their clothing to ensure proper hiding of their equipment. Looking around and with a nod the word was given, "Energize."
Location: Andara
Scene: Clearing outside Vut'ra City -> Vut'ra City
As the team materialized in the clearing surrounded by trees Commander Kor looked around and shook her head smiling as the other two officers reached for their tricorders before remembering the field was still active and leaving them be. Twitching her antenna from side to side trying to get anything from their surrounds, all motion stopped when a twig snapped behind them. Turning slowly the team breathed deeply as an engineer from one of the two away teams came into view.
"Ensign, where is Lieutenant Varn and the others? You were suppose to meet us here as a full team," Commander Kor states bluntly and cautiously incase the Ensign had been captured and was used as bait.
"Yes, mam; however, once we got into the city to try and find the location for further information we were followed by Jem'Hadar. The Lieutenant and the others managed distract them long enough for me to slip down an alley way and come meet you here. He has asked me to bring you to the city so we can meet there in a local trader establishment," the young engineering officer said showing no signs of deception or worry.
Nodding once and sighing the commander motioned, "Then we have no choice to meet the Lieutenant."
The small team now with a fourth addition walked through the dense woods which reminded those that had been to Earth of its forests. As they made their way through a small trail made by the engineer everyone remained on their guard for the chance that a Jem'hadar, Vorta, or even a Founder had followed and found them.
The trek took only ten minutes to transverse back to the city itself. Standing there looking around it was almost ironic to those that thought about. Vut'ra City was one of the largest and most advanced cities on the planet, and yet it looked like a large farming town in comparison to cities on other planets. The buildings were simplistic and made of almost of an earthen material, but never seem to grow higher than two or three stories. Truly the sight was almost something out of what was once called small town America.
Location: USS CHANTICO
Scene: Bridge
Time Index: Twenty Minutes Later
The air on the CHANTICO'S bridge was thick with tension even though the assignment of watching the satellite was relatively easy for anyone. Kate now sitting in the captain’s chair looked around the bridge before thinking to herself. Her mind was going over the various ways that treatment could be given to those children on the planet that had been affected by signal.
Tapping her commbadge Kate shifted in her seat, “MacNeil to sickbay report.”
[[Commander, we are making progress on producing a chemical that can react with the Andaran children’s chemical makeup to reverse the affects of the signal naturally.]]
“How long Doctor?” Kate asked.
[[Hard to say Commander, the chemical make-up is something interesting but at a best guess I’d say forty minutes.]]
Location: Andara
Scene: Traders Outpost à Backroom
Time Index: Ten Minutes Later – Forty Minutes until Field shutdown
As the combined team of Eishnala, Mowree, and the two engineering officers Thomas slowly walked up to them. Motioning with his hand Thomas led them to a room that was in the back of the building. Walking into the room Thomas turned and closed the door before was met face to face by Eishnala who was staring him in the eyes.
“Lieutenant you were ordered to rendezvous at the pre-determined coordinates not here in a building that is in the city,” she stated bluntly.
Nodding Thomas just stared back, “Yes, mam but as soon as we entered the city the increase of uncloaked Jem’Hadar we were soon followed. If the nine of us were to leave the city together and go some where how long do you think it would take for us to draw attention to ourselves. Plus, it gave us time to locate the building that Lieutenant Chriction pinpointed the signal was coming from.”
Nodding once and taking a step back Eishnala looked around before nodding, “Lieutenants Varn, Nurunyun and I are going to go to the signals location. The rest of you are to go back to the three devices and deactivate them in twenty minutes.”
The group waited in intervals of five minutes before heading to each objective it would take that time for each group to reach the ground emitters. Thomas’ group was the last to leave as they were the ones that would remain in the city and need to be the ones last to go as hopefully the others would draw attention if any was given.
Scene: Outside Unmarked Building
Time Index: Fifteen Minutes Later – Twenty Five Minutes left until field shutdown
The building was small in comparison to those that surrounded it, to the point where it would stick out to someone over processing the sight. Only standing at a one story level the building seemed relatively new to the older ones. As the small team of three moved forward everyone noticed that there were no external markings that would either identify the building as a business or any of the small touches that the homes in the area have. No motion or sounds seemed to be emitting from anywhere inside the building, but the door was open.
Slipping inside Thomas, Eishnala, and Mowree stood there looking around at the unusual sight. There was furniture in the room that seemed to indicate that someone had set the building up to be a small business, but nothing seemed used. Tables, chairs, and small bookshelves, were all turn over thrown across the room into utter dismay.
"Someone was here recently and it doesn't seem like they cared who noticed," Thomas said leaning down seeing the partial dirt track that looked like a boot impression.
Nodding before moving into the only other two room Eishnala looked around before calling to the others, "There seems to be a passage here under the floor boards that someone didn't mind ripping up to find."
Bending down Mowree takes a piece of fabric in his paw and before narrowing his eyes, "Mr. Varn does this look familiar to you?"
Walking over Thomas took the fabric and nodded, "Looks like the Dominion got here before we did. How much time before the field is taken offline?"
Looking at a small watch that was replicated to keep the time Commander Kor breathed, "Ten Minutes and that's if the CHANTICO hasn't run into trouble or our other teams."
Looking down the whole the three officers looked to one another before stepping down into passageway one at a time. Standing there and going in last Thomas shook his head, "Into the rabbit whole Alice."
Location: USS CHANTICO
Scene: Bridge
Time Index: Ten Minutes Later – Fifteen Minutes until Field shutdown
It had been about five minutes since the ship had appeared on sensors, which disturbed Chricton. It either meant they had an impressive stealth technology or that they were capable of cloaking.
"Tactical report?" Kate called out.
"Their hull is reflecting my scans back; obviously they don't want us to know who or what is inside. I can't get a good read on weapons or any other systems for that matter," Chricton stated turning to Kate who now sat with her hands clenched together.
It only took a few moments before the ships intentions were, as they began firing at one of the satellites creating the field. At he first weapon discharge Jake turned quickly about to shout to Kate but she was already standing and giving out commands.
“Red alert, decloak and hail the vessel,” Kate said moving forward, “Unknown vessel this is the Lieutenant Commander Kate MacNeil of the starship CHANTICO. You are attacking a defenseless planets technology, desist or I will open fire.”
There was no response from the vessel and Kate narrowed her eyes before making good on her promise, “Fire a warning shot off their starboard side.”
Scene: Hidden Passageways beneath Unmarked Building
Time Index: Five Minutes Later – 15 Minutes left to field shut down
Mowree lead the way as the light was very dim, and the other two hoped his cat like nature would make it easier for him to see in darker places than they could. It didn’t take long before the tunnel began to open up and show a small and far more advanced room where the door here was open as well. Slowly placing their backs to the wall Mowree and Eishnala take a point position while Thomas took position in the door. Moving slowly inside and scooping the area they were yet again surprised, and disappointed to see the room in disarray and most of the equipment destroyed.
Looking at the computer system that was present Thomas shook his head, “This is far more than the Andarans have and from the shape of the machinery it looks like it could still be in good working order once the field is shut down.”
Nodding Eishnala looks around, “When the field goes down we need to try and get a team down here to remove these devices. Anyone of them could be the one that creates the signal.”
“I’m afraid you will not find that device here any longer, and I believe it is thanks to you that we are not able to find those that are carrying it,” a voice said causing the team to look behind them seeing a founder and team of Jem’Hadar stepping in the room.
Location: USS CHANTICO
Scene: Bridge
Time Index: Five Minutes Later – Ten Minutes left to field shut down
The bridge to the CHANTICO shook as the unknown vessel began another attack run. The crew was not prepared for a battle but it was high time this little ship showed its teeth.
“Their aft shields are buckling it seem like their power grid can’t handle the weapons fire and keeping up with us at the same time,” Jake shouted.
“Lock all weapons on their aft shields and fire. Over tax their systems and maybe we can cause an overload,” Kate shouted.
The CHANTICO’s engines flared to full impulse as the ship moved behind the small vessel before turning about and firing. With each shot the ships shields dropped until a photon torpedo was fired taking out the aft shielding and sending a power surge through the ship internally. One by one each of the unknown vessels systems began to shut down and Kate sat back in the captain’s chair.
“Hail the vessel, inform them we will beam their crew aboard to save their lives,” she said clutching her hands together.
As the communications officer sent out the communication this ship began to experience explosions all across its hull and inner decks. Jumping up Kate looked to the officer manning the weapons console, “What happened?!”
“We didn’t do it mam, our weapons just shut down their systems,” the officer stated.
“The explosions indicate well placed charges. It seems like an internal self destruct,” Jake stated turning back to Kate.
Sitting back a bit disappointed Kate nodded, “if there is any debris beam it into the ship we need to make sure we look at everything.”
Location: Andara
Scene: Hidden Room under Unmarked Building
Time Index: Five Minutes Later – Five Minutes until Field Shut down
Standing there no one moved and the Jem’Hadar stood still at the command of their founder. Within the five minutes a small truce of sorts had been brought together after an exchange of information. Walking forward the founder stood proud, “We suspect the Federation of starting the signal but your presence and expressions shows me other wise.”
Nodding Eshinala stepped forward, “and the fact that you are investigating here shows me the Dominion has a strong presence here but was not responsible for the children.”
“Hurting children gains nothing,” the founder stated.
As the two teams stood there a Jem’Hadar turned his head sharply causing everyone else to look in that direction. Just as their heads turned they managed to catch a glimpse of what looked to be a man running from another door in the room down a third passage way.
Motioning with his head the Founder sent the Jem’Hadar down the corridor and the rest slowly followed suit. Moving in a quicker pace than a walk Eishnala and the other along with the found came to a halt seen the three Jem’Hadar dead from massive stab wounds.
Picking up a rock Thomas threw it into the corridor waiting to see if something were to happen, but nothing did. Slowly moving forward the founder walked without incident or care about the Jem’Hadar leaving the others to wonder what could have killed them. As the rock walls gave way to an opening on a face of a cliff over looking the sea everyone looked around before making their way up the small trail to the top.
Location: USS CHANTICO
Scene: Bridge
Time Index: Five Minutes Later
With the CHANTICO once again cloaked the bridge crew had gone back to their regular duties. Monitoring the emitters closing Jake nodded as the clock finally wound down, “Time to shut these blasted things off.”
Using the remote connection Jack began shutting down the field system. Kate finished a report on the battle before looking up at the view screens, “Mr. Chricton, I thought you were shutting the field down.”
“So did I, but the remote connection is not responding,” he said frantically moving his fingers across the control, “the ships attacks must have damaged the receiver.”
“Is there any other way to shut down the field down,” Kate asked standing up and walking over.
“Yeah, but we will have to find the main control satellite for the communications network and destroy it as it is being used to piggy back the field,” he stated beginning the search for the main satellite out of the twenty present.
Location: Andara
Scene: Cliff over Looking Sea
As the team along side the founder stood there in they waited and watched as a crew of six made of different species frantically loaded a space ship they shook their head. It wasn’t until one of the crewmen loading the ship dropped a crate and pointed to them that the rest stopped and began drawing near.
“Anyone got any ideas,” Mowree asked as the group stood there.
“Solids unable to think without their technology,” the founder stated walking forward and beginning to change shape into a large beast much like an elephant. Charging the group the founder found it easy to scatter the group into the grass before a sharp pain was felt in his back ankles. Standing there was a large Naussican carrying two very large swords that dug into the shape shifted founders skin.
“So that’s how they died,” Thomas said in interest.
Location: USS CHANTICO
Scene: Bridge
Time Index: Ten Minutes Later – Ten Minutes Past Due
The entire crew was now looking for a way to shut down the fields that were still active. The three other local generators had been shut down revealing loop holes in the system once again and allowing the CHANTICO to beam up the devices and their crew members.
“Found it!” Jake shouted.
“Good now what do we do?” Kate asked
Smiling softly Jake turned to face Kate, “Blow it up or pull it out of orbit, but pulling it out of orbit wont shut down its emitters they’ll keep transmitting.”
Turning Kate nodded, “Target that satellite with a tractor beam and pull it out of orbit and keep us far enough away to keep the emitters from affecting us.”
As the tractor beam pulled the satellite out of orbit the entire field network was disabled sending a flurry of the simplistic technology to start up on the planet below. As the CHANTICO and the satellite move far from the planet Kate nods.
Sitting back in the captain’s chair she breathes, “blow that blasted thing up and have medical personnel beam to the planet to begin treating the children.”
Location: Andara
Scene: Cliff over Looking Sea
The hand to hand combat had been going one for quite sometime with Thomas and the others facing the six crewmen and the founder tangling with the Nausican. Mowree had pulled his phaser out previously trying to fire it as the field should had been down but the device did not work. As the counselor struggled against the crew member he was fighting his tricorder was knocked from its resting place opening.
Flying backwards onto the ground from being knocked down Mowree landed next to his tricorder and saw that I was active. Reaching back into his belt he pulled his phaser and fired hitting the unknown crewman dead in the chest stunning him. Standing up he took aim at another and began firing, “Commander!”
Eishnala who had been fighting along with Thomas turned to see Mowree firing his phaser and she pulled her. Together they began driving the men back toward their ship before the Nausican came flying over them into the crates that were still on the ground. As the men stood there they soon realized that they too could use their weapons and began firing back.
The fire fight ensued and Mowree was obtained a strike in the arm from one of the attacker’s weapons. Falling to the ground Mowree clutched his arm in reflex but soon again resumed firing. As the rest of the men were stunned the Nausican refused to go down and boarded a small flight craft that looked like a shuttle without a top. Taking off the Nausican laughed as Thomas scanned the area.
“That craft has the signal device on it Commander, my tricorder got a lock on the readings before the Nausican took off,” he said turning to Commander Kor then the founder who began running towards the cliff edge.
“What are you doing?!” Eishnala shouted to the founder.
“You solids may be locked to the ground without the help of a machine, but I am not,” he shouted changing shape into a large bird.
Taking one of the attacker weapons Thomas began running towards the cliff and shedding his coat and leaping into the air, “That’s what you think.”
This was the first time that both Eishnala and Mowree saw Thomas fly, but their sights were changed when a team of Jem’Hadar and a Vorta beamed around them.
Stepping forward the Vorta smiled, “What a pleasure it will be to send out the communication that the Federation was responsible for the mind altering signal on Andara intent on changing the minds of Andaran children to have them fall under their control. Won’t they also be surprised to know that we found a large and horrid collection of sexually explicit material staring the children of various worlds.”
“Excuse me,” Eishnala shouted all the pieces coming together, “I’m sorry but you will not pin this on us as those fellows are the owners of the signal.”
Looking down the Vorta saw the unconscious crew of the ship behind them. Turning around she smiled thinking of ways to twist this scene but was amazed only to see the signs of a federation transporter beam dissipating.
“Trace that transport!” the Vorta shouted.
Scene: Over Sea inside small craft
As the founder and Thomas fought the Nausican and the craft the founder while in mid flight the Nausican used every trick in his book to shake them. Firing a weapon at Thomas the Nausican was distracted and taken by surprise when a large tentacle wrapped around his body and crushed him to death. Flying down Thomas took control of the vehicle and the signal device.
Dropping the lifeless body of the Nausican into the water the founder turned his sights to Thomas and his true goal a device capable of wining this war quickly. Thomas wasn’t too surprised as the founder began to attack the shuttle and finally wrapped at tentacle around Thomas, who had grabbed the signal device when he felt something touch him.
“Foolish solid, you may be able to take flight, but I will kill you all the same,” the founder stated as the two hovered there in the air.
Wiggling in the tentacles Thomas managed to wiggle free and fire the Nausican’s weapon striking the founder. As the shape shifting fiend let go and fell backward Thomas tapped his commbadge, “Varn to CHANTICO, a ride please.”
Location: USS CHANTICO
Scene: Bridge
With Thomas aboard Eishnala who had taken command of the CHANTICO turned to the helms men, “Beam the device to the coordinates, recall all personnel.”
With that order the transporter chief beamed a small device to the planet surface and began beaming back up the medical crew who had treated the children below with chemical that would reverse the chemical stimulations in their body. Luckily Poe had enough time to study the boy that she had operated on and create the simple solution instead of operating.
“All medical teams on board,” Kate stated now taking a position at a console.
“Set course for home and engage,” Eishnala ordered feeling the relief in the air.
NRPG: Ok…I hope that helps…I kinda ran out of steam at the end but it makes sense to me…
Tag Everyone…
Justin Owens
Lt. Jg Thomas Varn
Science Officer
Gateway Station
a.k.a
Lt. Jg Jolem Blackstone
Junior ACT Instructor
Starfleet Academy
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