USS Apache - Away Team - 10509.16 - "In the Shadows," Part XVII

The Away Team shuttle is currently on a heading for Romulus, in search of Dr. Powers... or, at least, the original Dr. Powers... with the clone in their possession, they must head for Romulus to find out why he was created... 

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ACTION: The shuttle has been at high warp for the past 8 hours...

CSO_Marsland says:
::sitting at the meager science console on the ship, scanning passively for enemy targets on the long-range sensors.::

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::sitting in the shuttle as they speed along::

MO_Turok says:
::Viewing the readings on the CO and the cloned monstrosity of the CMO::

Dessican Third Minister says:
::yawns, as he stretches a bit... suddenly realizing where he is:: All: Where am I? Where are we?

EO_Daniels says:
::Sitting in the shuttle  monitoring communications and systems.::

CNS_Solaa says:
::at the helm, piloting the ship into yucky Romulan space::

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
Third: Onboard a shuttle heading to Romulus.

CNS_Solaa says:
ALL: Somebody clock him for me, will ya?

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: How could he fall asleep at a time like this??? Are we that boring?

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Easy counselor.  ETA to Romulus?

ACTION: In a chair in the corner rests the clone of John...

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: We should have all taken some rest.  He's allowed.

CSO_Marsland says:
::scans for Romulan and Starfleet vessels in the vicinity as a priority, then for others::

EO_Daniels says:
::Yawns a bit wishing she had taken a nap.::

CNS_Solaa says:
::looks on her console:: XO: Two hours....

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::nods:: CNS: Thank you.  Keep on the lookout for Romulan ships, scout ships, War Birds, you know the type.

ACTION: Space is quiet... war birds at great distances from the shuttle, but no one is paying much attention to them...

CSO_Marsland says:
::blinks, and looks at his console again::

Dessican Fifth Minister says:
XO: I hope your cloak is functioning well.

CSO_Marsland says:
XO: Commander, picking up Romulan vessels many, many light-years away.. Also of note is a Starfleet signature past Romulus, headed for the Belak system.

CSO_Marsland says:
XO: I cannot tell what it is at this range.

EO_Daniels says:
CSO:  Do you need any additional power to systems, Sir?

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
Fifth: It should be working well enough

MO_Turok says:
::Looks over at the clone::

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: Keep on it, Tom.  Let me know if we need to activate the cloak again.

ACTION: The clone is not moving... barely breathing... dormant, in stasis...

CSO_Marsland says:
EO: Not right now, but you could do me a favor and look up information on the Belak system, Cadet.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: I don't have a very good feeling about all this... its like... its like their going to pounce on us any second and we're dead.

CSO_Marsland says:
::nods to the XO:: XO: Aye, Commander.  I don't think we'll be able to get anything at this extreme range.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::nods::CSO: Understood.

EO_Daniels says:
::Nods to him.::  CSO:  Aye, Sir.  ::Digs into the computer's library to dig up any information she can on the Belak system.::  Accessing now.

ACTION: All of a sudden, on their sensors shows a Romulan war bird several light years ahead as they head directly for it... or is it a Romulan ship? It was not visible on sensors before, but suddenly at close range it is...

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Counselor, just pilot the shuttle.  We'll be fine.  We're the finest crew in Starfleet.

CSO_Marsland says:
XO: Sir, vessel dead ahead, recommend engaging cloak.

EO_Daniels says:
::Reads the data being pulled up on her console.::

ACTION: The war bird is not moving... stationary in space... there is an odd energy fluctuation in her warp nacelles...

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: Do it.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Oh my god.

CSO_Marsland says:
::engages the cloak, and continues scanning::

EO_Daniels says:
CSO:  Not much information on Belak, I'm afraid.  Let's see .. ::scans through a few screens.::

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
MO: Do you have a relaxer you can give the counselor, Doctor?  One that won't affect her piloting ability, but will calm her down?

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: No, I don't need drugs.

EO_Daniels says:
CSO:  There is a Romulan military presence there ..  Self:  Hmm?  CSO:  This is interesting .. There’s not much more at least not in the shuttle's database.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Then calm down.

MO_Turok says:
XO: Nothing can calm her down.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::raises eyebrow:: MO: What makes you say that?

ACTION: As the shuttle gets closer towards the war bird, they can see the reason for their difficulty... the ship is dropping in and out of cloak... not entirely, but it is a significant fluctuation...

CSO_Marsland says:
XO: Recommend slowing... getting odd data on the ship.

MO_Turok says:
XO: She's easily "stimulated".

CNS_Solaa says:
CSO: Tom, any life signs? Is it Korata's ship?

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
MO: True enough.

CSO_Marsland says:
ALL: Having difficulty penetrating their bulkheads, but it does appear to have a small, very small crew, onboard... and they do have the Tal'Shiar markings.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: Define odd, Lieutenant.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO/MO: You know... I can hear you talking about me. I'm only right next to you...

ACTION: As the shuttle gets closer, they can see the cause of the cloak fluctuation... there is a fluctuation in the warp nacelles, as if the war bird was having difficulty breathing... an irregular fluctuation...

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Well, calm down then.  We are on a mission.

MO_Turok says:
CNS: Excitable with good hearing also. Very nice.

EO_Daniels says:
::Wonders if the crew cares about the war bird that is having energy fluctuations.::

CSO_Marsland says:
ALL: Recommend dropping from warp.

CNS_Solaa says:
MO: Ha ha, very funny. You should be a comic, Turok...

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Drop from warp, Lieutenant.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Okay, commander. ::takes the ship to impulse::

EO_Daniels says:
::Adjusts the shuttle's power from warp to impulse.::

ACTION: The ship drops to impulse, several million kilometers away from the war bird...

MO_Turok says:
CNS: Let me make a note of that in your medical record, biting sarcasm.

CSO_Marsland says:
::scans the war bird again::

CSO_Marsland says:
ALL: I cannot distinguish all the life signs, but I can pick out two distinct Trills, Commander.

CNS_Solaa says:
::shrugs:: MO: Sounds good to me.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: I hope one of them is the REAL Dr. Powers.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Seven million kilometers away from the war bird.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Acknowledged

ACTION: Sensors are detecting a vast amount of alpha-wave activity aboard the War bird...

CSO_Marsland says:
ALL: Recommend laying in an intercept course to the War bird, and... Wait, hold on.  I'm picking up... Alpha waves?

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: Will they interfere with sensors?

CSO_Marsland says:
::looks in the computer banks::

CSO_Marsland says:
XO: I don't believe so, ma'am.

ACTION: The war bird is not moving... even considering the proximity...

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: Then keep scanning.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Can we get a little closer?

CNS_Solaa says:
::speeds up the craft a bit:: XO: Indeed.

ACTION: Sensors pick up a Klingon...

CNS_Solaa says:
CSO: Wait... alpha waves...? Is someone in stasis?

CSO_Marsland says:
Self: What the...?

CSO_Marsland says:
::double checks his sensors::

EO_Daniels says:
CSO:  Is that a Klingon life sign?

CSO_Marsland says:
::blinks at the EO:: EO: Yes.. It is, but maybe you should be watching your console, Cadet.

CNS_Solaa says:
CSO: ...Or are all the Romulans asleep?

CSO_Marsland says:
ALL: Final tally.. I hope. 15 unconscious Romulans, 2 Trill, and a Klingon.

MO_Turok says:
CNS: All asleep? At once? Rather unusual.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: Unconscious?  How?

CNS_Solaa says:
CSO: Aha. I knew it. Asleep.

ACTION: The shuttle receives a hail... from the war bird.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Incoming hail.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: From the Romulans who are supposedly asleep...

ACTION: A familiar voice on the other end of the line... but authoritative...

CSO_Marsland says:
XO: I would speculate the Alpha-waves are putting them to sleep, Commander. Interfering with the occipital lobe and cortical activity.

Quintorax says:
COM: Shuttle: This is the Tal'Shiar vessel Quintorax.  State your vessel's name and authorization code.

EO_Daniels says:
CSO:  It's a small shuttle, Sir ::blinks her eyelashes at him.::  Hard not to see your console and mine too.

CSO_Marsland says:
::listens to tell who the voice is:: EO: Watch your console, Cadet, and I'll watch mine.

EO_Daniels says:
Self:  Grump!

CNS_Solaa says:
::looks behind her at the Dessicans:: Dessicans: One of you, get up here and work your magic.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
COM: Quintorax: We are a shuttle from Dessica.  We have a delivery for one Korata.

Dessican Third Minister says:
CNS: Do you not remember that we had no such code?

ACTION: There is silence on the other end...

EO_Daniels says:
::Her eyes return to her console reviewing the primary systems, glancing CSO's way and then quickly looking back at her console when he looks at her.::

Quintorax says:
COM: Shuttle: Who is your commanding officer?  And you have yet to provide proper authorization.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Can we remember who the minister was that we met on Dessica?

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::motions to the Dessican Third to join her and whispers:: Third: Answer as best you can.

CSO_Marsland says:
::sighs, shaking his head at the EO, then looks at the XO, hoping he can speak::

CNS_Solaa says:
Third: Just name YOUR superior. They’re bound to know him.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::nods to the CSO and says softly:: CSO: Do you have something?

Dessican Third Minister says:
::nods:: COM: Quintorax: Romulan vessel... ::he looks around:: I am a representative of Dessica with an important delivery for Korata Amygda... we are being held hostage, capture this vessel immediately!

CSO_Marsland says:
::whispers to the XO:: XO: They're bluffing.... all the Romulans are knocked cold.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::nods::

CSO_Marsland says:
::punches the Third on the word 'held'::

CNS_Solaa says:
ALL: Somebody tie him up with the Andorian in the trunk.

ACTION: The Third collapses to the deck plating...

CSO_Marsland says:
::speaks in a clearly Marsland tone:: COM: Vessel: Identify yourself.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::whispers to Tom:: CSO: It's Ryushi, Tom.

ACTION: The war bird continues to do nothing...

CSO_Marsland says:
::takes a leap of faith, trusting the XO:: COM: Vessel: This is Marsland, War bird... Identify yourself.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: What the hell???!!! Ryushi???

CSO_Marsland says:
::sighs at the CNS::

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Quiet, Counselor.

ACTION: A pause...

CSO_Marsland says:
COM: Vessel: Oh c'mon, dang you.... we pick up alpha waves, 15 knocked out Rommies, a Klingon, and 2 trill.. Who else could it be?

Quintorax says:
COM: Shuttle: Marsland... you have permission to dock your shuttle.  I await you in the shuttlebay.

MO_Turok says:
CSO: Orion pirates, Nausicans, Ferengi raiders.

CSO_Marsland says:
COM: Vessel: So.... ::tries to sound mad:: ... WHERE the hell... is our ship?

CSO_Marsland says:
COM: Vessel: Acknowledged.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Well, let’s go!

CSO_Marsland says:
::reaches over and closes the channel:: XO: Well.. This is our only real lead...

ACTION: The channel is closed.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CSO: Agreed.  CNS: Dock the shuttle.

CNS_Solaa says:
::lays in the coordinates and engages with a smile::

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: I just know it’s them.

ACTION: The War bird’s shuttlebay doors begin to open slowly...

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Empathic, are you now, Ryn?

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Of course!

CSO_Marsland says:
ALL: Get your phasers out, just in case.

CNS_Solaa says:
XO: Trill female intuition, you know.

CSO_Marsland says:
::moves to the back of the shuttle::

MO_Turok says:
CNS: I hope so, it would be a nice trap to step into.

CNS_Solaa says:
MO: You're such a pessimist, Turok. Lighten up!

CNS_Solaa says:
::feels like laughing::

CSO_Marsland says:
EO: Cadet... with me, please. Phaser on stun.

MO_Turok says:
CNS: Said Colonel Custer to Major Reno before the Bighorn trip.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
All: Agreed. Be armed and ready when we go out.

CNS_Solaa says:
::docks the shuttle:: XO: Docking...

CNS_Solaa says:
MO: Who?

EO_Daniels says:
::Grabs a phaser, setting it to stun and gets up and follows the CSO to the back of the shuttle.::  CSO:  Yes, Sir.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
CNS: Acknowledged.

XO_Naegle-Marsland says:
::sets her phaser to stun:: CSO: I'm ready.

CSO_Marsland says:
::checks atmospheres.. Once good, he opens the airlock door, and steps out and to the right, brandishing his phaser, and if there are any alive hostiles, shoots::

CNS_Solaa says:
CSO: Wait wait, gimme a phaser! ::gets up from the console, without doing proper shut-down procedures::

MO_Turok says:
CNS: Earth history, the ancient west. Huge massacre. Would like to avoid same type of action here.

ACTION: As the shuttle doors open, the crew can see, in front of them, two familiar individuals... Lt. K'Tracht and Lt.JG Ryushi...

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