From: V. Rahul Chandra (vrccan_at_gmail.com)
Date: Tue Feb 19 2008 - 12:55:07 PST
======== “Bait and Switch” Con’t from Alix’s “Sneaking Around” ======== Location: USS PATRIOT Stardate: 2424 [2.8] 0219.1459 Scene: Observation Lounge “I don’t like it,” Jeff muttered to himself, staring at the plan that was on the screen. He was currently standing in the observation lounge with the Chief Operations Officer and the Flight Control Officer for the USS PATRIOT, the three of them having been tasked with choosing between the two possibilities for rescue plans that had been presented. “That’s the third time you’ve said that,” Tanith replied, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “Look Commander, there are risks either way. Unless you have another idea that we haven’t heard of, we either need to go with one of these two plans or sit here and do nothing.” “I’m aware of that Lieutenant,” Jeff answered, shooting Tanith a look before looking back at the simulations they’d run. “Let’s run a few more simulations, then we’ll present the plan that has a higher likelihood of success to the Captain.” “They both seem very unlikely,” Lieutenant Sanba observed, although she proceeded to reset the parameters for another simulation trial. “No kidding,” Jeff answered with a sigh. ========== Location: DOMINION BATTLESHIP Scene: Interrogation Room “What are the shielding capabilities of your starship?” the Vorta asked, looking down at Daniel who had been forced into a chair in the interrogation room. “I have no clue,” Daniel replied. “I’m not an engineer.” The Vorta smiled. “You’re lying,” he said. “Even marines know something about the ships on which they serve.” “Some marines, maybe,” Daniel answered. “I, however, am more interested in the study of medicine than I am in the study of starship specifications.” “You are beginning to aggravate me, marine,” the Vorta replied. “Perhaps I should kill one of your associates in order to loosen your tongue. Perhaps that unfortunate human that lost his arm…” Daniel gulped, but remained firm. “I can not give you information I do not possess,” he answered. The Vorta was about to reply before a Jem’Hadar soldier entered the facility. “Starfleet forces from the planet have beamed onto the ship sir,” he reported. “What?” The Vorta looked at him in shock. “How is that possible?” “It appears that the soldiers on the planet were not vigilant and did not include everyone in their initial capturing of the away team,” the Jem’Hadar soldier replied. “So beam them back to the planet,” came the reply. “We cannot sir,” the Jem’Hadar soldier replied. “This whole area of space is interfering with our internal sensors and we can not get an appropriate lock on them to beam them off the ship.” The Vorta massaged his temple, closing his eyes slightly. “I hate this planet,” he muttered to himself. He opened his eyes, looking over at Daniel. “Friends of yours?” he asked. Daniel shrugged, not saying anything. The doors to the interrogation room opened once again and both the Jem’Hadar soldier and the Vorta bowed their heads. “You honour us with your presence, Founder,” the Vorta said, bowing his head even lower. “Get up human,” the Founder said, ignoring the other two for the moment. Daniel turned in his chair and stood up, his eyes for the moment riveted on the sight in front of him. The Founder regarded him for a moment, before smiling. “First time you’ve seen a changeling, young man?” he asked. “You could say that,” Daniel replied, looking the Founder up and down. Presently and right before his eyes, the form of the Founder began to change, eventually coalescing into an exact replica of himself. The changeling Daniel smiled back at the man whose form he’d taken, before turning to the Vorta. “Secure this marine in the holding cell at the far end of the ship,” he instructed. “I will help engineer the escape of the marines that are currently in their holding cells and we will rendezvous with the personnel that have transported themselves to this ship.” “As you wish, Founder,” the Vorta replied. “Once we have all escaped from the ship in one of the shuttles,” the changeling continued. “I will find a way to incorporate a homing signal onto the PATRIOT. You will be able to find them in the nebula even without your sensors working. Do not hesitate to attack swiftly and decisively. The Federation must not be allowed to establish a presence so close to Dominion space.” “You can’t do this!” Daniel shouted, lunging for the weapon that the Jem’Hadar was carrying. Daniel’s speed was no match for the soldier’s however and he rammed his fist right into the marine’s midsection, knocking the wind out of him and causing him to fall to his knees. “I believe I’m about to Major,” the changeling answered, looking down at the doubled over marine. “Don’t worry. After this battle is over you’ll be taken to one of our prison colonies, where you will remain until the Federation sees reason and surrenders to the superior might of the orderly Dominion.” ========= Location: USS PATRIOT Scene: Bridge “This plan doesn’t seem like it has a high probability of success,” Kenta commented, looking over the PADD he’d been given. He directed his gaze away from the PADD and to his new first officer. “And it doesn’t seem like you’re very confident in it either, Commander.” “I’m not,” Jeff answered wryly. “But it’s the best we could come up with, given our rather tenuous position at the moment.” “The only problem with the plan,” Sanba reported from her seat at the ops position. “Is what happens if we get a rescue team on the planet and find that everyone has been taken to the Dominion ship.” “Assuming we get the shuttle to the planet or even off the PATRIOT in the first place,” Jeff commented. “That is correct sir,” Sanba answered. Kenta frowned, not liking it, but admitting silently to himself that they had precious few options at the moment. “Alright Commander. Prepare one of the shuttles for launch. We’ll go as soon as you’re ready.” “Aye sir,” Jeff answered, getting up out of the chair. “You’re with me Lt. Corwin,” he added. “We’ll be getting another look at your flying skills after all.” ========== Location: DOMINION BATTLESHIP Scene: Corridor Outside Holding Cells The changeling that had taken Daniel Clarkson’s form edged his way around the corner leading into the holding cells, a Jem’Hadar rifle cradled in his hands. He looked around, noticing with satisfaction that the Vorta had made things easy for him by leaving just two Jem’Hadar soldiers guarding the holding cells. He edged his way back around the corner, his back to the wall as he powered up the rifle silently. Taking a few breaths, he then edged back around the corner and fired two quick shots, taking out both Jem’Hadar soldiers before they knew what hit them. A few minutes later, all of the marines were free from their holding cells and quite a few of them were holding Jem’Hadar weapons. “What’s the plan sir?” one of the marines asked, coming up to Clarkson once the area had been secured. “Some of the people from the planet have made it onto the ship,” Daniel answered. “We need to find them and then get the hell out of here as soon as possible. I was lucky to be able to get from the interrogation room to here without being blown away. Some of us might not be so lucky if we’re not fast in finding the others.” “Aye sir,” chorused the rest of the marines, as they prepared to move out of the detention area. =========== NRPG: Well well well, the plot thickens! So, we’ve got many sets of plotlines to follow (for the moment the bunch of Starfleet NPCs on the planet appear to be out of the loop) and a little under two weeks left to get to them all. Have fun! =========== Rahul Chandra <vrccan_at_gmail.com> Playing… Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Gorman, MD Executive Officer USS PATRIOT & Major Daniel Clarkson, MD Marine Executive Officer USS PATRIOT No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.8/1287 - Release Date: 19/02/2008 10:55 AM From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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