<Brett>
 Summary: With the Hideki Maru alongside, the Delphyne
engineers continue to make repairs to the damaged vessel.  The
freighter's crew is responding to radiation therapy and all are now
stable and out of danger.  The freighter Captain, Shagira, is meeting
with the Delphyne's CO, CMO and Chief engineer to discuss what
happened.

<Brett>
 <<<<Resume Mission: "ALiiTRA" - Part 3>>>>

<Brett>
 <CO_Shagira> ::Sitting in the conference room::

<CO_Mordane>
 ::sitting at the head of the conference table with
Captain Shagira, the CMO and CEO::

<CO_Mordane>
 CMO: Doctor, how are the crew of the Maru handling recovery?

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 ::in the briefing room, still not convinced that his
fur is not thinning::

<CMO_P`Trell>
 CO: They are going to recover in a couple of days,
presently they are stable... but still have a long way to go before
they are completely healthy again

<CO_Mordane>
 CMO: Good news.  CEO: Commander, how are repairs fairing?

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 CO: they are currently progressing as expected

<CO_Mordane>
 ::nods in response::  Shagira: Ok Captain, it sounds like
things have finally settled down.  Let's see if we can't get to the
bottom of this problem.  You mentioned something about the Ferengi...

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::antennae wave a bit as she listens to what all is said::

<Brett>
 <Shagira> All: Yes.  Our ship docked at New Caledonia three
weeks ago.  We took on the cargo we now carry.  At the time, we were
having some trouble with the Plasma Regulator Coupling in our
Starboard engine; our Chief engineer... ::Closes his eyes as he thinks
of the loss of his friend:: ... was not sure he could repair it.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> All: There was a Ferengi Trader docked there as
well, and apparently Hoshi, our engineer, struck up a conversation
with their engineer in a bar.  When Hoshi told the Ferengi of our
trouble, the Ferengi offered to sell us a new coupling... cheap.  I
assumed the deal was because he and Hoshi had become friends, but I
should have known not to trust a Ferengi who does not try for a profit.

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 ::glad the captain was please with answer, cause he would
hate to say things were going extremely well, that they're ahead of
schedule... better to keep that close until they're done lest Mr Murphy
strikes and puts them behind schedule::

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: Do you have any idea of the Ferengi's ship's
registry... or where they were headed to after New Caledonia?

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CO: The ship was the "Cash and Carry".  I don't
recall where they were going.  Hoshi didn't tell me and I did not
speak with any of them at the time.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> All: I cannot believe our bad luck; my ship is well
maintained and Hoshi runs diagnostics on the vessel all the time. The
engines were fine when we docked at Mars, before going to New
Caledonia.  ::Looks suddenly horrified::  Oh!  I forgot...

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::looks at Shagria curiously, but waits for the Captain
to ask the obvious question::

<Brett>
 <Shagira> All: After seeing his maintenance report when we
docked at Mars, I told him to take the weekend for relaxation... he did
not perform the normal inspection he would have.  ::Puts his face in
his hands::  Ohhhh, I killed him... all of them.  ::Begins sobbing::

<CO_Mordane>
 ::looks particularly interested in Shagira's outburst::

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 Shagira: It is very possible even an inspection would not have
found the problem before hand...

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::feels bad for Captain Sagira, frowns in sympathy for him::

<CO_Mordane>
 ::closes his eyes briefly::  Shagira: Captain... I
understand your feelings of guilt, and the responsibility you feel for
your crew, but this situation is not your fault.  There are too many
variables to place the blame on any one person, but surely the
majority of the blame rests with the Cash and Carry...

<Brett>
 <Shagira> All: I do not understand why they sold us
sub-standard parts.  Hoshi was always a good judge of character. He
never let them trick him. He even won 200 credits plaing Jango on Mars
against one of their Freighter Captains.

<CNS_Selin>
 ::walks slowly toward Shagira and gives a soothing smile::

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 All: It possible the Feringi are unware of the defect part.

<CO_Mordane>
 CEO: I don't know any Ferengi that isn't aware of the
lack of performance of their parts.

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: I wouldn't be surprised if the freighter captain
on Mars knew the captain of the Cash and Carry and arranged for the
"friendly sale"... the Ferengi take advantage whenever they can.

<Brett>
 Action: The comm channel chimes and an engineer asks for the CEO.

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 All: Excuse me a second ::gets up and goes to the
corner of a room and taps his commbadge::  EO: Jake here.

<Brett>
 <Shagira>  ::Shakes his head, obviously still distraught::

<CNS_Selin>
 CO: sorry I'm late sir, so many people so little time

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::wondered the same as the Captain suggested::

<CO_Mordane>
 CNS: That's quite all right Counselor, I'm sure you have
your hands full.

<Brett>
 <EO_Smith> *CEO*: Chief, we finished the molecular scans of
the failed coupling.  There are signs of micro-fractures in the
housing.  But, they are odd... they seeem symetrical.  Collins
thinks they might be machine made.

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 ::lowers his voice::*EO*: Are you telling the coupling
appears to be design to fail?

<CO_Mordane>
 ::listens intently to the discussion between Engineering
and the CEO::

<Brett>
 <EO_Smith> *CEO*: That's what it looks like, sir.  It is good
work, too; Collins says it is like a time bomb.  He figures a good
engineer could have probably made this thing to fail within a week or
so of a certain day.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> All: What is he saying?  ::Having not really heard
much of the comm conversation, turns around to listen now, drying his
eyes.::

<CO_Mordane>
 *EO_Smith*: Are we sure that this part was designed to
fail, or could it have been post-production sabotage?

<Brett>
 <EO_Smith> *CO*: That is hard to tell, sir.  With the damage
to the unit from the explosion, we're lucky we got this much.

<CO_Mordane>
 CEO: I want you to look into that, I want as detailed a
timeline as we can get out of this.

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: It would appear this was more than mere coincidence.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CO: What?  Are you suggesting this was planned?  Sabotage?!

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 CO: I doubt that be possible, sir

<CO_Mordane>
 CEO: Something not possible for you?  Where does the
problem lie then?

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: I wouldn't rule it out.  Your contact on Mars,
the rendezvous at New Caledonia... I tend to be a bit of a conspiracy
theorist... but then I'm usually right, too.

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 CO: As you heard the part is damage we lucky to have
gotten what we have.  I am a engineer, sir, not a seer

<Brett>
 <Shagira> All: But...why?

<CO_Mordane>
 CEO: Commander, I'm not asking for a psychic... but the
lifetime of that part, and all its been through is in there somewhere.
I realize the damage may have erased some of that history, but
between the part itself, the Captain's story, and the housing the part
went into on the Maru... I trust that you and your Engineers can come
up with something more than the fact that it was designed to fail.

<CMO_P`Trell>
 Shagira: Ferengi are opportunists... I wonder if there
will be a Ferengi ship coming here to "help" you...

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: That I'm afraid only you... or the Ferengi will
be able to answer for us.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CMO: Yes, I see.  Well, they should have been here
by now, right?

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CO: I have told you all I know.

<CO_Mordane>
 CMO: They may have been scared off by our presence...

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::shrugs:: Shagira: It's possible the presence of the
Delphyne has kept them at bay... I dont know.

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 CO: Perhapes, but unless there something in the ship
log I am not sure we find any more information that be useful, unless
we can find another part like that one

<CNS_Selin>
 ::shakes her head:: CMO: If the Ferengi invested so much
into this incident to gain something from it, they wouldn't give up so
easily

<CMO_P`Trell>
 CO: Sir, are we going to investigate this further? It
seems an almost deliberate attempt at murder.

<CMO_P`Trell>
 CNS: Are the Ferengi prone to revenge? ::antennae form
into subsconscious question marks::

<CNS_Selin>
 CMO: not so much, but they are, as you say, oportunists

<CO_Mordane>
 CNS: Perhaps we've just set them on their toes, and
they're re-evaluating the situation.  Regardless we need to act
quickly or this path will run cold.

<CNS_Selin>
 CMO: if they were involved in a scandle of sorts, they
would be around to collect. They have engaged vessels before to gain
things of interest.

<CMO_P`Trell>
 CNS: What would they have to gain from this act then?

<CO_Mordane>
 CMO: I don't think we have much choice... the emergency is
over, but this is far from a situation that we can let go unattended.
We'll contact the Carter and see if they can stand a delay.

<CNS_Selin>
 CMO: with the ferengi, it could be anything. I wouldn't
rule them out just yet,

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::nods:: CO: Aye Sir. ::gives him a smile::

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: Captain, I realize you and your crew have been
through a lot, but we are going to need to set up interviews.  We'll
need to get all the informaiton we can about what happened since your
stop at Mars.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CO: Captain, I do not in any way mean to imply I am
not greatful for your assistance.  But, I do have a cargo to deliver.
If I am too long overdue, I will not be paid... nor will my crew.  How
long do you think we will need to remain here?

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: I believe we can get through the majority of our
investigation within the next day or two.  After that, as long as we
know where to find you, you can continue with your business... though I
would stay out of the way of any Ferengi...

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CO: ::Smiles, though thinly as he recalls the loss
of his crewmembers::  Thank you Captain, a couple of days will not
matter much.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> ALL: I will make certain my crew gives you their
full cooperation.

<CO_Mordane>
 Shagira: The Counselor can assist you in setting up and
conducting crew interviews.  We'll start with those that had contact
with the Ferengi.

<Brett>
 <Shagira> ::Nods::

<CNS_Selin>
 CO: Captain, if I may, sir?

<CO_Mordane>
 CEO: Commander, keep looking into that part... I want the
most detailed analysis you can give me.  And search the Maru for any
other tampered systems.

<CO_Mordane>
 CNS: Yes, Counselor?

<CNS_Selin>
 Shagira: How many of your crew were in direct contact with
the ferengi?

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 CO: I will do what i can, sir

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CNS: ::Frowns as he thinks:: I am not sure... Hoshi
and... maybe three others.  Why do you ask?

<CNS_Selin>
 Shagira: The lower the number the fewer interviews. ::smiles::

<Brett>
 <Shagira> CNS: Ah.  ::Nods::

<CO_Mordane>
 CNS: Consider these to be top priority.  Clear your
schedule if need be.

<CO_Mordane>
 CMO: Keep me posted on the progress of the crew
recovery... though it sounds like everything is in hand, as usual.

<Brett>
 <DUTY_SO: *CO* Bridge to the Captain.

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::nods:: CO: Yes sir.

<CO_Mordane>
 *Bridge*: Mordane here, go ahead.

<Brett>
 <Duty_SO> *CO*: You might want to come out here, sir.

<CO_Mordane>
 ::mutters::  I hate messages like that... ::at a normal
level::  *Bridge*: On my way.

<CO_Mordane>
 All: Well it seems like we're done here anyhow.
Dismissed.  ::gets up and heads out to the bridge::

<CO_Mordane>
 ::walks straight to his chair and sits down without
paying much attention to his surroundings::  SO: What is it?

<Brett>
 <Duty_SO> CO: Well sir, we just finished recalibrating our long
range sensors.  That floating reactor pile next to us really messed
them up.  But anyway, I was confirming our position on the charts,
scanning ahead for any new obstacles, you know, just checking the
sensors out.... ::Shows signs he will continue for awhile if left
to do so::

<CEO_Jakuharrr>
 Shagira: would it be possible to get access to your
engineer logs and the logs of your engineering personal?

<CMO_P`Trell>
 ::follows the Captain out onto the bridge::

<Brett>
 <CO_Shagira> CEO: Yes, commander.

<CO_Mordane>
 SO: The point, ensign...

<Brett>
 <Duty_SO> CO: Oh!  Right right.  Anyway, I was scanning our
path as I said... and I scanned the Draken System...

<CO_Mordane>
 SO: Should that mean something to me?

<Brett>
 <Duty_SO> CO: The Carter sir...she's not there.

<Brett>
 <<<<Pause>>>>