Previously on the Seleya ...

A mission of peace and possible future unification to the homeworld of the Moriddians has turned into a mystery for the Seleya crew.

In the midst of a social gathering, the CNS seemingly vanished ... off the sensors and into the depths of ancient tunnel-work.

Now, the crew has set out to find their missing comrade.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< "Not So Little Things" IX >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::shimmers into existence with SecTeam Gamma, hoping they're not too unsure about all this::

CO Capt Gomes says:
::sitting at a table looking around and sipping one of the colourful fruit juices. In truth she is quite anxious to hear from the away teams and the ship::

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::enjoys his stay at 'home'::

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#::Moving a few meters behind their assigned escort, observing their surroundings::

# ACTION: The smell of very old air permeates the space around the CIV and his team.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::approaches the door:: Lt Nameless: Alright, let's get this door open.

Lt. Nameless says:
@CTO: Aye, sir. ::produces a charge and starts setting it on the door::

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%Self: I know this isn't real, but I do like it.

Guard Gasper says:
# ::Moving ahead, shining a light into the darkness and being very cautious::

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#Escort: I thought you said the door's lock is in pristine condition, as if it was recently maintained? ::Sniffs the air with distaste:: Smells like no  one's been here for decades.

CO Capt Gomes says:
::looks around and excuses herself from the guests, going to a nearby balcony and tapping her badge:: *Seleya*: Gomes to Seleya

Guard Gasper says:
# CIV: We have 'smiths who are capable of creating locks and doors and chairs that last millennia.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::moves everyone a safe distance from the door, and gives the nod to the Lt. to blow it open::

Guard Gasper says:
# CIV: Maintenance is not always necessary.

SO Hakkinen says:
$*CO*: Hakkinen here Captain, Lt Pandora is busy

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#::Frowns:: Gasper: Last time I asked you about it you were as surprised as I was about the lock's condition.

@ ACTION: KRAKABOOM! The door blows open quite impressively.

Guard Gasper says:
# CIV: I was surprised because it is unusual ... against the norm.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::raises his phaser rifle and motions for the team to follow him:: SecTeam: Move slowly, and check your corners; no mistakes, people.

CO Capt Gomes says:
*SO*: I want an update on the sensor log search. It might be crucial for our away teams

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#Gasper: Right. ::Nods slowly, clearly not believing anything the guard is trying to sell him:: How deep do those caverns go anyway?

Guard Gasper says:
# ::As if recalling something from long ago:: CIV: Some say unto infinity they go. I believe in actuality the deepest is a half mile beneath the surface. At least the deepest as far as I know ...

SO Hakkinen says:
$*CO*: I am working on it with Pandora. It is not easy to track down a single item on the logs, especially since we don't know its exact mineral composition or any other sort of signatures. I will keep you informed if we have anything news

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#Gasper: Ah, you've been here before? ::Raises an eyebrow in surprise:: I thought you've said those caverns haven't been used in decades.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::switches on his rifle's beacon, shining it into the darkness as he proceeds::

Guard Gasper says:
# CIV: Why do you take things literally? No, I haven't been here. Just because I may have heard of how deep they go does not mean I have traveled them.

CO Capt Gomes says:
*SO*: Thank you Mr Hakkinen. Do you still have a lock on the away teams?

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::walks the garden of the house he lived in when he was younger::

SO Hakkinen says:
$*CO*: Yes ma'am, we do

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#Gasper: No need to get all defensive on me. ::Sighs and turns back to the CMO's direction, making sure he's keeping up with the pace::

CO Capt Gomes says:
*SO*: That is one thing going as planned ::looks around:: *SO*: The party seems to be dying off. Once I find the King I will be returning to the ship. Meanwhile keep me informed of any news. Gomes out

CO Capt Gomes says:
::sips her juice again and returns to the main room, observing the different Moriddians interacting. She feels a bit strange in this short bunch::

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#::Pauses, grabbing hold of Gasper's elbow:: All: Hold it. ::Narrows his eyes in concentration:: Do you hear that? ::Holds his hand up, stopping them from replying:: I hear.. Footsteps, a lot of them.. ::Turns to Gasper's direction:: Gasper: I thought you said those caverns were unused?

Guard Gasper says:
# ::Narrows eyes:: CIV: Hrhm. There shouldn't be ...

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#::Frowns, hitting his communication badge:: *CO*: Maor to Gomes. ::Says so quietly::

CO Capt Gomes says:
::returns to the balcony as her badge chirps, speaking low as well:: *CIV*: Gomes here, go ahead

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#::Continues to whisper:: *CO*: We've detected the presence of someone in the caverns, Captain. We haven't made contact with them yet.

CO Capt Gomes says:
*CIV*: Proceed with caution and coordinate with the CTO's team. Remember, you have permission of the Moriddian King to be there but please avoid any violent act. The ship has a lock on you so far so if needed you can ask for an emergency beam out

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#::Pulls his traicorder off, trying to determine what they're facing against:: Gasper: Is there any way to go around them? A detour perhaps?

Guard Gasper says:
# CIV: Yes. If I recall the maps correctly, there is a path ... ::Gestures for them to follow::

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::has no clue about time::

CO Capt Gomes says:
::straightens her back as the com is cut and proceeds once again to the reception. Wondering if Maor told her everything:: self: Maybe I should have gone there myself....

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::taps his combadge, speaking softly:: *CIV*: Sumner to Maor. Nothing so far on this end. Yours?

CO Capt Gomes says:
::notices again the lack of the red group. They left shortly after (or was it before) Gnav disappeared. It’s unlikely they have nothing to do with this. If only the King would acknowledge this::

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#*CTO*: We've encountered a group of about 17 Moriddians, Lieutenant. ::Moves to follow Gasper:: What’s your current location?

@ ACTION: As the CTO's group moves into another tunnel, they suddenly find there is a massive current of cold air pushing through it. A pungent smell accompanies the hard wind, which makes it hard to walk.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@*CIV*: About 100 meters or so- ::cough hack:: That's not a good sign. Fall back about 10 yards, Gamma!

CO Capt Gomes says:
::decides its time to start taking direct responsibility for these investigations. She goes to find one of the King's aids to leave him a note::

# ACTION: Gasper leads the CIV's team up the new path, which turns into a ledge overlooking a large cavern, lit only by lantern-light and fluorescent mould. The CIV can now see the 17 Moriddians ... of the red variety. They wear robes of a sort, and are marching. A chanting can be heard.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::taps his combadge again:: *Seleya*: Sumner to Seleya.

CO Capt Gomes says:
::the note essentially thanks the King for the reception and says she is needed on the ship and will keep in touch regarding the investigations. It also asks the King to keep her informed of the progress of his side of the investigations::

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::picks up flashes of things happening out of the place where he is, but can't keep those flashes longer than a few parts of seconds::

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#Gasper: A religious ceremony of some sorts? ::Glances around:: How odd. ::Taps his badge again:: *CO*: Maor to Gomes. In private, please. ::Adds in an afterthought::

SO Hakkinen says:
$*CTO*: Hakkinen here

CO Capt Gomes says:
::nods at the King's aid and exits the palace, only then she taps her badge::*CIV*: Gomes here. I am alone

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@*Seleya*: We need 6 breathers down here; is there any way you can beam some down for us?

% ACTION: There is a knock on the door to the CNS' abode.

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::lays down in a bed and gets some sleep::

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::opens his eyes:: Self: Who would that be? ::gets up again and opens the door::

SO Hakkinen says:
$*CTO*: Acknowledged, I'll beam them to your location

SO Hakkinen says:
$::beams the breathing devices to the CTO's location::

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#*CO*: 17 red Moriddians, Captain. They appear to be in the middle of some sort of a religious ceremony. They don't look very friendly.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@*Seleya*: Thank you.

% ACTION: As soon as the CNS opens the door, he feels a shift in himself ... and finds himself facing a red-skinned Moriddian.

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::startles:: Moriddian: Eh, hello?

CO Capt Gomes says:
*CIV*: Do you have any signs of the Counsellor? Visual or otherwise?

Moriddian says:
% CNS: Hello. Are you rested?

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%Moriddian: You could say that. I enjoyed the quietness around the home I had when I was young.

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
#*CO*: Not yet, we're about to go past them and continue on our search. Maor out. ::Closes the channel and gestures for Gasper to continue walking:: Gasper: Let's go.

Moriddian says:
% CNS: You're home?

CO Capt Gomes says:
::sighs and lets Maor do his job, then she asks the ship to beam her up::

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::looks around:: Moriddian: Well, not anymore. It was like I was at the home I grew up. I saw the house, I could touch the furniture and I saw my parents.

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::picks up one of the breathers:: SecTeam: Everyone take one, and don't breathe through the nose. ::puts his breather in place and proceeds forward::

ACTION: The CO is beamed up to the ship.

CO Capt Gomes says:
::materializes in transporter room 1 and makes her way to the bridge::

CO Capt Gomes says:
::arrives at the bridge looking around. Immediately Hakkinen turns to her::

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::taps his badge once more:: *CIV*: Sumner to Maor; we encountered some bad odour. We've got breathers now, and are proceeding. Status?

SO Hakkinen says:
CO: You arrived just in time Captain. We tracked down the dagger but I am afraid it won't help much

CO Capt Gomes says:
SO: Go on

SO Hakkinen says:
When the dagger disappeared there was a slight burst of theta tachyon radiation. Then the dagger just disappeared. It doesn't match our sensors at all

% ACTION: The CNS has determined what that "shift" meant ... his "home" is gone, replaced by a small cave that he was apparently resting in.

Moriddian says:
% CNS: Ah. Well, are you good to travel? We must leave.

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::looks confused as he no longer finds himself at the home he was previously::

CO Capt Gomes says:
SO: Was there anyone near it when it disappeared?

CIV Cmdr Maor says:
@*CTO*: Continuing on our search, stay alert for any red Moriddians and keep me posted on your status every five minutes. Maor out. ::Closes the channel::

CNS LtJG Gnav says:
%::blinks his eyes a few times:: Moriddian: I think so, there's nothing wrong with me. But why do we need to leave? And what happened?

SO Hakkinen says:
No but ... the tachyon burst was the same we registered when the reds left the ship ....

CO Capt Gomes says:
::shakes her head and sits down:: SO: Contact the away teams ...

CTO LtJG Sumner says:
@::leads his team down the new tunnel, keeping his eyes open and his rifle ready::

Guard Gasper says:
# ::Starts to lead Maor and company along the ridge path, paralleling the Moriddians, but moving a bit faster::

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Pause >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lília Perfeito is Captain Alexandra Margarida Gomes (CO – Commanding Officer)
C.J. Short is Lieutenant Junior Grade Henry James Sumner (CTO – Chief Tactical Officer)
Rob van den Dungen is Lieutenant Junior Grade Vonir Gnav (CNS – Counselor)
Eldad Ben-Tovim is Commander Maor (CIV – Starfleet Intelligence Specialist)
Mike Jones is Guard Gasper and the Moriddian.
Lília Perfeito is SO Hakkinen.
C.J. Short is Lt. Nameless.

Stardate: 10805.18
Arc Title: Not so little things
Part: Ninth
Mission Number: 518
Guest Ship Manager: Mike Jones
Arc Creator: Karriaunna Scotti

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