USS PATRIOT: KESTREL: Corridor * USS PATRIOT: Bridge * Clarkson's Office ("Hornet's Nest")

From: naomi_lara_at_optusnet.com.au
Date: Thu Apr 19 2007 - 22:26:42 PDT



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"Hornet's Nest"

=/\=
Location: KESTREL
Scene: Corridor
=/\=

Practor harried Legion mercilessly as they traversed a corridor; their boots marching out an
oppressive beat on the metal decking plates.  Anyone that saw the pair approaching would
duck for cover.  Practor was on dangerous ground and Legion's temper was fraying.  There
was murder in his eyes.

"If they find out we're here, we're done for!"  Practor swore bitterly,
his hand brushing over the stubble that crusted his face.  He ducked to avoid a pipe
protruding into the corridor, and had to stride to keep up with Legion.

"They won't find us."  The ship's captain muttered under his breath.  

"That shuttle did."

Legion swung down a ladder to the deck below.  The Kestrel was a good ship for running and
fighting, but naught much else.  Lifts, or stairs were nowhere to be found.  She was a rough
ship, but one suited for her tasks.

"Yeah, and we destroyed it."  He grunted as his feet landed on the deck below and
he continued stalking away.  Practor, the weapons expert, wanted to hunt down the wreckage
and dispose of it.  Erasing its very existence.  Legion just wanted to put as much distance
between it and him as he could.

"And more will come!"  Practor protested strongly, stabbing at the air with a
grimy finger.  "That was a short-range shuttle, so there is a starship just outside the
nebula!  They'll come looking."  He knew it to the very marrow of his bones.

Legion snapped.  The big man spun around, grabbing Practor by the front of his vest and
pinned him against the wall, planting his phaser against the man's head.  "The
chances of them finding us in this pea soup are one in a million.  So shut up and do your
work, before I use you for target practice!"  With a last threatening snarl, Legion
released the weapons op and stormed away.

=/\=
Location: USS PATRIOT
Scene: Bridge
=/\=

Jones had alternated between a restless pacing around the Bridge, and sitting down in her
chair, deep in thought.  She knew the situation was well out of her hands, but it didn't
mean she had to like it.  All she needed was a sign, a hint that they were close.

She actually was missing Kenta's silent, sturdy presence.

Maverick was all hot fire, and blazing action.  Ben was different, he was a slow, smolder in
contrast.  Quiet and reserved, when he spoke, she knew it was after intensive thought on his
behalf.  He was a good foil for her more impulsive nature.

"Anything Tellah?"  Jones asked softly.

Aside from the piece of metal that the Star Rider found from the Columbia, there was scant
little.  "Nothing to report, Captain."  The Operations officer replied, her eyes
glued to the various readouts that she was getting from the ship's sensors.

The Bridge of the Patriot had been linked via communications with the Star Rider.  It would
help with the speed of the transmission of information and reduce any chance of
miscommunication.  [[If I can, Lieutenant, what are you looking for?]]  T'ial asked
Tellah.

Jone's smirked at Maverick's almost silent, sharp intake of breath.  

Instead of an eruption, or even scorn as only Tellah can do it, the woman simply didn't.
 "Metal particulates, ionised atoms, biological residue."  She replied evenly.

[[Maybe we should look for what isn't there, but should be?]]  T'ial suggested
thoughtfully.

"Meaning?"

The woman began to explain.  [[Engines run on hydrogen atoms.  I think you should be able to
find a path based on the lack of hydrogen atoms.]]  She suggested.  It was a novel way to
approach such a problem.  [[Diffusion doesn't happen in space, it simply doesn't
have the entropy to do it.]]

Tellah nodded.  It just might work.  It was scientifically sound, and it annoyed her that
she didn't think of it.  "I'll start looking."  She promised the young
ensign without a trace of rancor in her voice. 

"Mr. McKlellan, did you hear that?"  Jones asked as Maverick slowly released the
breath he had been holding.

[[Tam's already keying in the sensors]]  Kel replied quickly.

The marine shook his head, sure that something just escaped him.  "That girl's
either has balls or is totally oblivious to Tellah."  He muttered softly so that only
Helice could hear him.  He couldn't figure out why Tellah didn't go ballistic. 
Maybe Tam and T'ial knew something that he didn't.

In the end though, he dismissed the theories.  In the grand scheme of things, it didn't
matter, therefore, he chose not to care.

As he was contemplating, Tellah had overlaid a sensor grid on the main viewscreen and had
toggled in the sensors to search for low amounts of hydrogen compared to surrounding space. 
What they saw was breath-taking.

The nebula was literally criss-crossed with lines.

[[Are you seeing this?]]  Kel gasped incredulously.  They could be chasing their tails for
months sorting out all of the various paths.  They had no idea where to begin with this
Everest sized task.

Jones grimaced ever-so-slightly.  "It seems Lieutenant, that we stumbled across a
hornet's nest.  Bring the Star Rider back close to the Patriot.  I think we're going
to have to do this together."  She felt like she had wandered into this quadrant's
bad neighborhood and by poking around, was begging to get beaten up by the local thugs.  In
this case, there would be safety in numbers.

"Think we found someone's hide out."  Maverick muttered under his breath. 
This changed things a little.

"Perfect place for it."  Jones replied.  "Question is, who are they, and how
many weapons do they possess?"

[[They're still here?]]  Tam asked over the communication's system.

"Yep." She nodded.

=/\=
Scene: Clarkson's Office
=/\=

"Major."  Daniel shot onto his feet as Maverick entered his office and called him
by his rank.  He had so much adrenaline, he nearly left the ground.

"Yes, sir?"

Mav returned the salute.  "Saddle up, things have gotten a little more complicated.  We
might need to scramble the fighters to help us cover more ground."  He said gravely as
Daniel relaxed ever-so-slightly.  Although the moment he said the word
'complicated', Daniel coiled again.

"Yes, sir."  He replied gravely.  And turned to exit when Maverick had a change of
heart.

"Wait.  Hold on a minute."  The marine sighed.

"Sir?"

Mav gestured for him to sit down at his desk.  "Sit down and relax.  We have time.  We
can't do anything until Jones gives us the green light."  He waited until Daniel
had settled before settling down himself.  "It is a little ironic.  Last time it was
you, this time it's her.  I think we should ban the both of you from going on
missions."  He told Daniel with a faint smile.

The Major sighed softly.  "The Commander actually invited her.  I think he felt sorry
for her.  And then this happened."

"We'll find them."

~~~~~~~~~
NRPG:  Keep it going

Thanks Rahul

Naomi Lara

Lt. Cathering Stering Jade
ILO
USS PATRIOT

Lt. Tellah Cal
Ops
USS PATRIOT 

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