USS Cherokee 
"Infinity's Child" Part 10
11409.14

Ship's Log, Stardate 11409.14, Captain Ayidee recording.  Our Chief Tactical Officer is continuing efforts to follow the attacker, but I am still trying to find out for certain whether this is part of a bigger picture we cannot yet see or simply a "bump in the night".  It does not feel right to me, however.  Or at least not "isolated".

Starring_
Lea as Guest Producer and Nadi 
Steve Weller as CO_Ayidee
Topper Loghry as CTO_Ens_Q’ten
Dawn Freeman as OPS_Cmdr_Nash
Zach Farland as CNS_Ens_Daniels 

Absent
Trish Yarborough as Executive Producer
Andrew Cotterly as CMO_Lt_Talora

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Begin Mission>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
::Scans the cloak with the Tricorder::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::Stands with the others, watching Q'ten work and still wondering what is happening here.::

Host Nadi says:
::Stays quietly near Nash, almost protectively, while watching and waiting::

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
::Standing in the gutter with the rest of the crew, waiting and wondering::

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
ALL: I've got him!  Now I just have to find footprints with matching DNA and follow them.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
::standing with the others, staying close to Nadi.::

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
::Starts scanning the roadway looking for matching readings::

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
::Being quiet so CTO can do his detective work::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::Looks about, into the darkness, trying to see any signs of anyone watching us or just moving through the darkness.::

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
::Growls lowly:: ALL: This is impossible!  Unless the Korin has sprouted wings and flown away, there must be a trace of him somewhere.  Goes back to where the boots were found and adjusts Tricorder to see if there are any recent transporter signals.::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Nothing, Ensign?  Given the nature of the pursuit and the trip through the water, that would not be hard to believe.  Even the best tracker needs something to track.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: The trail disappeared just like the victim's body.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
::Looks at the CO with a puzzled look on his face:: CO: I can't explain it sir. It's as if he simply vanished.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Isn't that the first rule of beating a tracker?  Go through the...
CNS: You think that could be related?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: The Korin have no transporters but, what about the other visitors to this planet?

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CNS: Exactly. But I'm not picking up any signs of any recent transporter activity.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Someone has some good non-detection technology maybe.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Possible, but how much biological residue remains after a trip through water to begin with?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: If they were the guy’s boots, he must have worn them many times before, I'd think his DNA would be saturated within the material.  A Tricorder should pick up something.
CTO: Unless he's wearing industrial strength socks.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO/CNS: Everything leaves a trace. Whoever this guy is, it's like he reached this spot, and then POOF he was gone.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Zapped right out of his boots?

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CNS: That's what it looks like.  But even if he were vaporized, there would be some sort of residual  trace.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: So what is it about the boots that they didn't go too?

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
::Starts scanning the boots once again::

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Why would he take off his boots, especially if being chased?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Boots left a set of prints, wet prints, tracking lake residue behind.  Take a while to dry.  Barefoot, with the cellular residue rinsed away, I'd guess far easier to slip away unnoticed.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: I wouldn't take off my boots if I were being chased.

Host Nadi says:
::Whispers to Nash:: OPS: Will this hurt our possibilities of joining the Federation?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Perhaps he received or carried a second pair, or perhaps it was part of a larger plan.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
Out loud:  Synthetic animal hide, well worn, but relatively new, and no sort of biological residue that cannot be explained by the lake water.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Any chance of pursuit now?  With the events of this evening, I am not comfortable with us sitting out in the open like this.  Nor am I comfortable discussing certain things in the open out here.  Things that may help us figure things out here.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
Nadi:  I'm not sure.  It all depends on how this turns out and who or what was involved in this matter.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: We could theorize all day, Sir.  I'm just trying to think like our prey.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: Sir this just doesn't make any sense. The boots are obviously worn, but according to the Tricorder, other than being dipped in the lake water, they've never been worn.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: We could, and trying to think like the prey is a very useful hunters trick.

Host Nadi says:
::Sighs slightly, for a brief moment demonstrating her young age:: ::Mumbles:: OPS: Why must everything always fall apart?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: This is wrong, wrong in many ways.  And we need to make it make sense.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: As much as I hate to admit it sir, I have to agree with you. We are too exposed out here.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
Nadi:  From my experiences, life's lessons are learned better through hardships and such.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: perhaps we should return to our quarters, and get some rest.  Look at this from a fresh perspective afterwards.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
ALL: The trail is probably as cold as it gets.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CNS: The trail is not cold, it just does not exist.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: We call that a Dead End.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CNS: We just have not figured out how to track the trail.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
Nadi: I am sorry if I am butting in, but I see nothing here to endanger your entrance to the Federation.  We were just in the wrong place at the right time...perhaps...but nothing that leads me to question your membership.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Could we get our hands on a complete listing of just who else, non Korin, are here at this time visiting?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Let us return to our rooms then.  There is something I need to brief you on, which may or may not be related.  Either way, you need to know sooner than later.

Host Nadi says:
::Quietly:: I hope so...

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CNS: We can speak with Korin Customs. I'm sure they can tell us.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Nadi may be able to help with that, if the information is not in fact public record.  I believe the festival is what they call "the story of the day".

Host Nadi says:
::Hears her name and nods:: CO: I know who to ask at the embassy.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Aye, Sir.  I just thought it would be nice to know all the players in this mystery.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
Nadi: Many thanks.  Not convinced it is another foreign power, but it is possible. Too much risk involved...and a human victim?  Maybe outside to this system, however.

Host Nadi says:
CO: If he, or the attacking human, came through customs, they'd have a record. I could get a list of all humans known on world right now.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: We have a few things to discuss, but let us return to our rooms first?  A little privacy would make it safer I think.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
Nadi: Not just human, there may be other species here too, right?

Host Nadi says:
CNS: I could... Are there others that look like you?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Klingon and Cait...and that's just counting our own group.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
Nadi: Humanoid, sure...and none of them look as good as me.

Host Nadi says:
::Blushes slightly, and sort of drifts back behind Nash::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::Starts moving back towards the rooms, motioning for the others to follow.::  All: Let us get back and figure out where we actually are.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
CNS:  You may think you're good looking but none of you can compare to my husband.
::begins to follow the Captain.::

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
::Walks with the CMO, who is very silent on the trip back to the rooms.::

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
::Follows along keeping an eye open for any further surprises::

TIME WARP: The Cherokee team, guided as needed by Nadi, winds their way through the narrow streets to return once more to their rooftop penthouse, without incident.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Now that we have returned, I need to bring you up to speed on a secondary part of our mission.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
::All ears::

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
::Throws himself down on a sofa and gives his attention to the CO::

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
::listens to the Captain.::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: You all know that the energy barrier surrounding this system is unique, without any other objects like it known to us, right?

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: Aye sir

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
::Nods an affirmative::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Starfleet wants to know exactly what is behind it. More precisely, they want to know who is behind it as I do not believe this barrier could be natural.  But if it's artificial, we need to know where it is from.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: Hasn’t the barrier always been there?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Now what this makes me question is not who was behind the attack, but rather I have to wonder if Starfleet figured out the answer...or will figure out the answer, and send a team to deal with it.  Of course I could be jumping to the wrong conclusion, but I can't help but think this attack is related to the barrier.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: The answer to what, Sir?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO/ CNS: Nothing in the universe is immortal, and from my experience nothing is unique.  I am wondering if Starfleet found the answer to who created this barrier.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Are they more interested in the technology or the ones behind the tech?

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: If someone created it, then it was an ancient race, and they are no longer around.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: The technology.  As a defensive system it is of immense value.  Picture the defense of Betazed, with this barrier in place, our job would have been far easier.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Yes, it would but, the technology may not be offered to us by whoever has it.  What then?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Then we weigh the need for the technology versus the need for new Federation members I suppose.  But if they were to join the Federation, it would make access to the technology easier I would think.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: It might not be Korin technology.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: If it is from an ancient race, then the technology would be somewhere.  And from reports some members of their society have more ability to transverse the field than others.  That is something else that may prove important.
CNS: Again, the technology would then exist.  Reverse engineering is typically easier than building from scratch.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: You'd know about that better than I would, Sir.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Does this knowledge of Starfleet's interest alter any or your ideas about what we ran into, or am I just combining two things with no commonality?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: It could be that someone doesn't like Starfleet looking into things, like the barrier, and wanted to detour our interest.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: If Starfleet truly thinks that this energy barrier is artificial, and are looking into how it was created, and another power has wind of this, then this may, in fact all be a set up.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
ALL:  Maybe the barrier is the reason we got stuck with Ambassador Krellit.  Something is not right with her, at least that is what my instincts are telling me.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: I would agree with Commander Nash.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Me too.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
CO: It seems as if the Ambassador has been trying to disrupt the crew since her arrival on board the Cherokee.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: the fact that the last ambassador passed of a brain aneurism also makes me question the nature of said barrier.  The Ambassador may be an independent variable, however.  Her record is impressive, but not without conflict.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
ALL:  None the less, I don't trust her.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Hitler’s record was impressive too.

CTO_ENS_Q`ten says:
ALL: Nor do I.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: The outside interest may be a legitimate theory, but if so, who was the human and what was he doing here?  Before he died and walked off of course.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Maybe the human was working for the Ambassador and the guy who got killed was with them but then turn against them and so they killed him before he could reach us.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Pause USS Cherokee: "Infinity's Child" Part 10>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Time Lapse: Seven Hours>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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