Cast of Characters:

CO    Cmdr. Joshua Grey-feather                             played by     Ted Wharton
CIV  Commander Mrlr                                               played by     Beth Kelley-Wharton
FCO Commander Hope Lane                                   played by     Pam Bruyere
CTO Lieutenant Wolf                                                 played by     John Flory

NPCs:
Various                                                                       played by     Rich Robbins 
 
Prologue: The Apache after having helped probably the only honest Ferengi in the galaxy has had an uneventful trip since then. They are now about 5 day from Giddeon V at their present speed. Will the rest of the trip be as uneventful or will there be some other hazard along the way?
 
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CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
:: on the bridge in the captains chair ::

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: at the helm holding course for Giddeon V :: CO: Still holding course sir, warp 7.

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::kicking back on the bridge reading through a few reports.  Yawns and stretches::

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
FCO: Very good, lets not tear the old girl apart getting there.

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Report

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::strides onto the bridge in his Tac suit:: CO: Skipper the landing team is prepared and ready

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: nods to the Captain and smiles to herself ::

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: You have native clothes as well as prosthetics replicated

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Yes sir. The Doc is ready to make the necessary adjustments

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Excellent, lets not try to repeat the mistakes the Dewdrop made

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CIV: Mrlr have you found any further information on the planet or its people?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: Still checking the databases.  not much to go on.

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: plots their course to be sure to come around to the backside of the Giddeon moon ::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::begins reviewing the details of the communications gear::

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CIV: If it was easy you wouldn’t get paid the big money :: grins at her before turning back to the view screen::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: We get paid?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::makes her eyes all kitty wide:: CTO: You didn't know that?

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::smiles::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: So I’m wondering who’ll answer when we send our message

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::checks a few incoming messages from the equipment and flicks and ear at it:: Out loud: This cannot be true...
 
FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: looks over at Mrlr :: CIV: Commander?

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::looks over at the CIV::

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
:: turns around in the chair :: CIV: What can't Mrlr

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::can't hide her grin:: All: We're getting data from the planet.  They are fairly old...around 7-8 years. ::chuckles:: has anyone ever seen those old Earth holo-vids about secret agents and code words and secret gadgets?

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: You mean television?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::nods:: CTO: Yes....that little square box that humans used to stare into.

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: remembers something from a visit she once had to a local museum ::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
All: Well take the worst holo-vid you have ever seen and multiply it by three...that's what I'm reading here. ::her tail twitches in amusement::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: That’d be it

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
:: Chuckles at the little square box line, looking up at the view screen:: Himself: Guess something’s don’t change

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CIV: Is all the data like this or did we just catch a bad show?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
All: Here's a message to "All operatives....the codeword of the day is 'Smelly Monkey'."

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: chuckles at the words ::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::shakes her head:: CO: It's all like this.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::on a hunch prepares the sensor sweep to run a long range scan::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
FCO: now how are you supposed to work the phrase "Smelly Monkey" into normal conversation?

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
Aloud: Smelly Monkey?  If that was my codeword I would be too embarrassed to use it

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Captain, suggest we proceed with caution. If they are paralleling earths development they may have surveillance satellites deployed that may pick us up

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Agreed.  Take us to yellow alert

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CIV: Are you sure about the phrase?

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Aye sir ::initiates yellow alert::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
FCO: It's right here in black and white...and that's the least obnoxious of them. ::grins::

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: They may have more than satellites in orbit

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CIV: I can't imagine that these people really talk like that.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: As soon as we are in range I’ll run a full sensor sweep

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::continues reading and then sits up:: CO: Hold on...now this proves more promising...

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
::gets up and moves to where he can look over Mrlr's shoulder at the data:: CIV/FCO/CTO: This is like someone left a cheap spy novel as light reading.

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
:: looks closer, trying not to lean on her as he looks at the screen ::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
Self: Wonderful

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: Every so often the same message picked up by Starfleet keeps reappearing.  But these are different than the first one.  It is the same except for this last part: "Please hurry, straying from library..." ... then it goes back to the original message again.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Captain recommend we ready a recon probe, its visibility is lower and it should give us a good preview of what to expect

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CIV: Mrlr, is there anything there that makes sense?

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Agreed, class 9...full sensor package

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: Are you detecting any other emissions from the planet?

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: looks puzzled :: All: There must be some kind of malfunction.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Aye sir ::issues the orders to ready a class 9 probe with full sensor package::
 
CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::starts to run through the messages quicker, scanning them:: All: There appear to be four distinct codes they use - "Smelly Monkey", "Black Umbrella Won't Open", "The Dog Walks Backward" and "Drowned Cat is Back"...::growls:: I take exception at that one...

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Thermal variances, EM scanning, Planetary analysis, and Remote life-form analysis are to be primary scan priorities for the probe

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: Are those for real? ::looks bewildered::
 
CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Aye sir. ::inputs the info into the probes programming::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CTO: No emissions...just radio waves.

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: And it looks like the message to Starfleet is set on a 3 hour loop.  What do they mean that they are straying from the library?  Is this another case of that planet the original Enterprise went to...where they lived their society based on a book that was left behind.  What was it...Sigma Lotia II?

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Preliminary sensor data is coming in. I’m  detecting satellites. Once were closer I’ll be able to tell more

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
All: As I recall, Starfleet was the cause of contamination to that planet, and it took decades to right the wrong.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Probe is ready skipper

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
All: Or the planet Ekos where the Prime Directive was ignored and the race developed into a Nazi like society

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Launch probe, max warp

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Aye skipper

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::launches the probe::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::continues to read:: CO: here's something even more interesting....the messages to Starfleet tend to originate from one set of the four codes.  "The Dog Walks Backward"

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Skipper i suggest we stand off a distance and use the probe as a relay

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CO: Sir, even if these messages are years old, Mrlr says they are radio waves. If that is true then they can't have developed far beyond that stage in so short a time.

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: That is why we are coming in on the back side of the moon lieutenant.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: A most wise decision skipper

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
FCO: Not necessarily commander, you ever hear of Twin speak?

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CO: Twin speak sir?

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO: Skipper it will be approximately 1.5 days before the probe is in range and we begin to receive decent data

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
FCO: A set of twins will speak in words or sounds that only make sense to them, nobody else has a clue...but it is the way they are most comfortable in communicating.  The Giddeons may feel that this is the way they should communicate with others

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CO: Of course, this is purely speculation right Captain?

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Very good, monitor its power and fuel consumption, don’t want to lose it.  They might take it out of my pay :: grins ::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::smiles:: CO; Aye skipper

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
FCO: Of course

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: looks over at Wolf and smiles ::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
All: It sounds as if there is a library they are drawing from.  One that has some story with four different factions.  But some of them are straying from the library so the one faction with the backward dog is seeking help.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::begins to review the initial long range data from the probe::

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: turns to look at Mrlr :: CIV: None of this is making sense Commander.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
Self: hmmm

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::rechecks his results::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: Commander, does your data appear to be about 5 yrs old?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::shakes her head, her tail twitching idly back and forth as she reads:: FCO: it all depends on what was left behind.

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CIV: If that’s true it could be the beginning of a civil war for this planet, that’s bad...every profiteer and want to be emperor will be trying to exploit that

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CTO: Actually it appears to be a little older...I'd say around 8 years old.  Why?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::nods:: CO: Especially the Ferengi. ::sneezes just out of reflex::

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: decides it might be better to stay of this and let the Captain handle it ::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: I’d expect what were getting to be a tad more recent than that
 
CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CTO: they might be...it takes a few minutes for the equipment to decode them.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CIV: The time discrepancy doesn’t quite make sense

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CTO: ::flicks and ear over towards him as she studies what is on her screen:: How so?  As we get closer the radio waves would be newer...

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO/CIV: Have either or you tried dumping those transmissions through the comm equipment the admiral gave us

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::begins reviewing his findings again::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::looks up at the CO::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: That's what I'm using.

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CIV: Decoded it sounds this bad, yikes.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::runs the data again looking for embedded data::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::chuckles and continues to read:: CTO: here we go...the newer messages are coming through.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
ALL: Anyone for popcorn?

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: Only with lots of butter and salt

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: Well aside from the codes changing, the messages are basically all the same...that in itself is odd.  Who sends out the same memo to your operatives stating the same things?  Just different code words.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
Self: Amateurs

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
:: leans over Mrlr’s shoulder and watches the incoming data :: CIV: Someone that is calling to all their operatives for help maybe?

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
CO/CIV: Could they be activating sleeper cells?
 
CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CTO/CO: More like they are using the same script over and over.

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
All: Perhaps the code changes the meaning of the words.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
FCO: Like an old enigma machine?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::her tail stops twitching as she reads something else:: CO: Now the message to Starfleet has changed...it states what the last one said...but now has an addition: "Condor are you coming?" ::points to the new part of the message for him to see::  I suppose we are Condor.

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CTO: I'm just guessing here.

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CIV: How long are these message taking to reach us now, is the data continuing to get newer

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
:: glances at the FCO :: FCO: You and the lieutenant might be on to something, hopefully the probe can shed some light as well

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::looks up at Lane::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: The ones from the probe are at least 5 years old.  but the probe is closer than we are.

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
CIV: Are you sure about the point of origin of the messages?

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
FCO: ::nods:: They are definitely radio signals coming from the planet.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
ALL: I know this may sound funny, but are there any temporal anomalies in the area that could explain the time discrepancy

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: begins to look over the star charts for any charted anomalies ::

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CTO: I think you will find that as the probe continues to out run us the data will get more recent.  Its the distance between the probe and us causing the time discrepancies.  Aloud: I hate dealing with temporal issues

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::begins to look over the data again. ::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: The big question is...are they still using the same script...or have they deviated so far from it that there is utter chaos?

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
CIV: Without knowing where the scripts started, calculating the deviations would be harder than herding cats...whoops sorry Mrlr :: shifts his favorite parts out of clawing range ::

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
All: Nothing on the star charts indicating anomalies or other disturbances.

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::growls at him::

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::chuckles::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
CO: I'm going to cross check the database with any references to holo-vids, shows or books with the original code words, plus Condor in it.  It might give us a clue as to what was left behind.

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::stands and walks to the replicator and orders and ice cold cola::

CO_Cmdr_Grey-feather says:
:: figures he will not be invited for dinner with the CIV after that comment for a long time :: CIV: Good idea, both operatives and/or organizations

CTO_Lt_Wolf says:
::takes the mug back to his station and sips as he works::

FCO_Cmdr_Lane says:
:: looks at Wolf again and then goes back to her monitoring her helm ::

CIV_Cmdr_Mrlr says:
::whispers to him:: CO: We'll discuss the 'herding cats' comment later tonight. ::grins showing her fangs and turns back tot he console with an innocent expression::
 
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