Talks Recessed, Plot Thickens...

Posted on Mon Apr 13th, 2015 @ 6:43pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Commander Jonathan Roebuck IV & Sogh Varn Son of M'ron & La Ch'Tal Son of Ren'al & Major T'Lana & First Ramata`tar & Fleet Admiral Sevlek & Admiral Deela T'Lar & Lieutenant General Jewel 'M'lara' Dartt & Commodore Andrew Clifford & Commodore Leon `Lee` Pike & Captain R'nard Lokran & Lieutenant Commander Holly Gillo & Commodore Alexandra Harrison & Sergeant Maal son of Torg & Ensign Vortek & `Doctor` & Mörder

3,943 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Mission 87 - Disaster
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD2 1545 hrs, Following 'Talks Part Two'

ON:

Ops

"Captain, the talks are in recess again. The Krazzle are returning to their ship for a short time." Roebuck reported to Clifford.

"Ok, Thanks Mr Roebuck", Andrew was still thinking about the missing security personnel. "This may give us a little leeway to find our missing staff", he added.

The Krazzle and Starfleet delegations made their way from the Conference Room to the turbolifts in Ops, descended two levels to Level Three and emptied into the corridor before the group started to make their way toward Transporter Room One.

Things still didn't sit easy with Mike though, he just felt there was something more to it, something more in that system that the Krazzle were willing to give up so much to get back in their possession. He had a bad feeling that, before long they would know just what that was too.

As the group, Krazzle and Federation alike walked down the corridor, Graline walked a little faster and took the lead. His Staff remain behind him several meters, clearly allowing him to lead. Bremer didn't want Graline to feel like he was superior to everyone else, so he passed by the rest of the Krazzle in the corridor and caught up with Graline.

"So tell me, what's your impression of our Station Ra'?" Bremer asked Graline, trying to start some idle chit chat to keep Graline off guard so he wouldn't feel above anyone else.

Graline was in fact taken a little off guard by the question and he relaxed his posture a little. "Imprresssive. Larrgerr than I though it would be, but too comforrtable and too few warrriorsss."

Bremer smirked, he wasn't about to tell Graline that most of his Marines were off on a relief mission right now. "I'll take that as a compliment then."


Ops

"Captain, I'm picking up some odd readings from Transporter Room One." Roebuck reported. "It appears that either internal sensors in that area are out, or a damping field just activated."

"Yellow alert and shut the transporter down. If somebody is doing something there I don't want them to get off that way. Lt Baratan, we need people down there stat!". Having given his officers their orders he left them to get with their work.

"Yellow alert initiated Captain." Robuck replied.


Corridor outside Transporter Room One

Graline then had a question of his own, "Why doesss the Federration carre about the C'hakiliansss? They arre weak, you sshould attack them and take theirr terrritory for yourr own."

"The Federation is a peaceful alliance of member planets, not conquerors. Our Prime Directive prevents us from just taking from another in that manner." Bremer replied.

Graline cocked his head, but in his mind that seemed to be a weak answer. "Arren't you half Klingon?"

As the group neared the transporter room, Bremer took notice that the Security Personnel assigned to this part of the corridor weren't at their posts. He glanced back to mention it to Lokran, but his Security Chief was shadowing the Krazzle and Mike didn't want to give his position away.

'Red Alert' was sounding in the back of Mike's mind, be he'd counted all of the Krazzle in the delegation, and no one was missing or uncounted for. Upon arriving at the door to the transporter room, Mike's guard was up. The rest of the Krazzle were still several meters behind with SB400's Staff behind them. Time seemed to slow down as the door slid open for Graline. Suddenly, Mike here a metallic 'tick tick' from just inside the door. Instinctively, Bremer tackled Graline...

"Bomb!"

At the same instance, an explosion filled the air with smoke and vapor and shook the deck. The shock of the explosion forced Bremer and Graline against the bulkhead with the Krazzle leader taking the brunt of the impact. Mike's chest felt like it was going to explode itself from the shock of the actual explosion. Couple that with the sound and ringing in his ears and Mike was disoriented as he stood.


Ops

"Captain, there's been an explosion outside Transporter Room One! I still don't have full sensor resolution in that area, but readings suggest a chemical explosion, I'm reading traces of old style RDX and TNT.

Andrew spun back to Roebuck.. "Red Alert, shields up and shut down every access to and from the Starbase. Lt Gillo, notify all ships not to try to transport on or off the station. Mr Roebuck contact the two sovereigns and get them on route to SB 400 max warp. If the Krazzle Battleship starts acting up I want them nearby. Lt Baratan. I want people there yesterday and I want full coverage of the entire station. .... Oh and if somebody can get me Admiral Bremer on the comm, so much the better".

"Aye sir, deactivating transporters and locking down the docking bay." Robuck replied.

Holly was quick to work her panel and carry out the order to inform the ships of no transport on or off station. The station was well on it's way to locking down and the transporters would soon be locked out on the station itself. "Yes, Captain." Is all that he got out of her as she worked the panel and informed every starship out there that there was going to be no transporting of personnel on or off station and to make the appropriate plans. She made sure to keep her mind on lock out as she didn't want to become another person involved in this round of what was looking all too well like a terrorist attack.


Corridor outside Transporter Room One

Mike shook his head, trying to clear it, but before he could he was knocked back to the deck...not by another explosion but by someone. Mike's Klingon Warrior instinct took over and he quickly got back to his feet. As he did, he caught a quick glimpse of someone approaching, kicking at him. In a defensive move, Mike grabbed the attacker's leg and threw him against the bulkhead.

The attacker quickly got back up and grabbed a blade from his belt. Using the smoke and vapor to conceal his attack, the man quietly made his way behind Bremer, but as he thrust with the blade, Bremer heard the movement and was able to turn just in time to avoid being stabbed. He grabbed the man's arm, but still couldn't quite make out his face. He knew he wasn't Krazzle, he seemed to be much more Human than anything.

With a sudden move, the attacker kicked Bremer in the right knee, dropping him to the deck and breaking the hold Bremer had on his arm. As Mike tried to get back to his feet he felt an odd sensation in his lower abdomen and after a moment it felt wet, then the pain set in. Mike grabbed the spot and realized he had blood on his uniform and hand. He'd been stabbed.

As Bremer dropped to the deck, he heard several foot steps rushing over while he also heard another set of foot steps rushing away. He heard someone say something about having to get passed the Krazzle to come to his aid, something about the Krazzle thought the explosion was a Federation assassination attempt on Graline's life until they realized Bremer was also caught in the explosion and he was fighting with someone who managed to run away. Mike wasn't sure who was telling him this. Was it T'Lar, K'Temoc, Pike...he had no idea. All he knew was he was getting cold...

K'Temoc slapped his commbadge, "K'Temoc to Sick Bay, medical emergency outside Transporter Room One, it's Admiral Bremer and Graline, both are down!"

A second later a slight shimmer of light and the EMH was present.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency." The EMH Mk IV asked. The Mk IV was the newest version of the Emergency Medical Hologram, and even though it had the appearance of the old Mk I, its personality and 'bed side manner' sub-routines were improved over the original.

"An explosion, then someone attacked them." K'Temoc replied. He wanted to say more but it had all happened so fast no one was entirely sure what really happened yet.

The EMH quickly scanned both Graline and Bremer. "The Krazzle will be fine, he is simply unconscious and should awaken soon. Admiral Bremer has been stabbed in the abdomen by a bladed weapon about eight point five centimeters deep. None of his vital organs are damaged but the blade had some form of anticoagulant applied to it. I'm unable to stop the bleeding here."

The EMH tapped his commbadge, "EMH to Sick Bay, medical transport required for two patients. Energize." A moment later Bremer and Graline were transported to Sick Bay One while the EMH transferred his program back there to treat them.

K'Temoc looked back at T'Lar, "I'll be in Sick Bay."

T'Lar nodded, "You do what you need to do."

Hurd rushed over to where Mike and Graline was, well, as fast as she could anyways since her enlarged stomach. She got worried about Mike. She looked at T'Lar after she heard K'Temoc say he would be in sickbay. She looked at K'Temoc before he left. "Keep us informed as to his condition please?" She asked him looking at him.

K'Temoc nodded, "You better tell Janice."

After he left she looked at the others that were there, "What had just happened? How could someone do this?" she asked T'Lar then looked at Lokran. "Where were Security?" She asked as her marine mind kicked in instead of her Diplomatic mind.

T'Lar answered very calmly, "First of all, I need you to calm down. I wouldn't want you to go into labor. To answer your questions, we are not sure. What we need to do now is see if we can find out the what, who and why." T'Lar looked at Lokran first, "You were shadowing the Krazzle. You had to see something."

R'nard shook his head. "Frrom what I saw, he came out of the Transporrter rroom. How he got in there is anybody's guess. I have alrready contacted my people to access the trransporter logs. I am purrsuing the attacker." He vanished, having given the security alert. He was on the hunt, following the footsteps and scent of whoever it was.

T'Lar continued, "Pike, Harrison, I need you to use all of our resources to find out how this person got onto this Starbase without us knowing. For all we know, he might be still here somewhere. Check out any new arrivals to the base. I do not want any stone unturned." T'Lar couldn't help but wonder who the intended victim was.

She sighed for a moment, Deela was right, she needed to take a deep breathe. But in reality only time would tell when she would. She looked at R'nard as he then vanished, she ran thoughts over and over in her mind trying to figure this out. After that she left the group to go talk to Janice privately.

Lee nodded to T'Lar, "Understood Admiral, come on Captain we got work to do." He turned and headed off stopping to wait for Alex.

Alex nodded and followed him. She was very concerned about Bremer and she would do anything to find who did this to him.

Security rushed to the scene and found two security officers in Transporter Room One, dead of a nerve agent. The conspiracy seemed to be wider than first thought. Sickbay was called and the bodies beamed there.

Sevlek was just finishing up a subspace communication in his office when the explosion occurred. He tapped his combadge, "Sevlek to Bremer and T'Lar. Status report, please."

T'Lar answered, "T'Lar here. I am sorry but Bremer is not able to respond for he is in Sickbay with injuries as we speak. He was attacked by an unknown assailant after the explosion. According to the EMH, it was a bladed weapon about eight point five centimeters deep with an anticoagulant agent applied to it. He is trying to stop the bleeding."

"Understood, Admiral. Do you require any assistance from me or my team?" Sevlek asked.

T'Lar thought for a moment, "I have Pike and Harrison as well as R'nard looking for the person responsible. So, if you would like to assist them, I am sure that they would appreciate it. I want this guy found."


Sick Bay One

When K'Temoc arrived, he saw Graline had already awoke and was standing behind the EMH, watching Bremer. The EMH glanced at K'Temoc but continued his work.

"I'm trying to neutralize the anticoagulant now."

Graline then looked at K'Temoc, "Thisss isss an honorrable warrriorr...he will be no one'sss prey tonight."

K'Temoc wasn't exactly sure what to make of Graline's statement, but it seemed the Krazzle Leader was at least thankful Mike had protected him after the explosion. The big question was, was the attacker after Bremer or Graline?

The bodies of the two security officers were beamed to the morgue section of sickbay.


Corridors

R'nard knew that after something like this, SB 400 would be under total lockdown. There was no way to get away. He was following the scent of blood, as Mike's blood would be on the attacker, and being an animal who didn't have the acute sense of smell bred out of them like humanoids, he had an excellent trail to follow.

His senses were up, his ears were perked up for anything out of the ordinary, and his training, both at the Tralazar monastery and that of Black Ops, Special Forces was with him. He moved silently and swiftly in pursuit of the perpetrator.

Mörderin made his way between decks. As he came to an access way on Level Eleven, the pulled out a small C'hakilian tricorder and scanned the area. The corridor was clear and he exited the access way and onto the deck. Looking around, he made his way toward the Marine Armory. As he approached, he saw only one guard stationed outside the Armory. He silently made his way closer, then he struck. He jumped toward the Private in a similar way to how he attacked Bremer, but the Private wasn't the warrior Bremer was. The kick knocked the Private against the bulkhead and knocked him out.

Using the Private's palm, he gained access to the Armory and drug the incapacitated Marine inside too. He grabbed two Type-2f phasers and one Type-4b Phaser rifle.

Mörderin then left the armory, walked a few meters up the corridor, set one of the Type-2f phasers to overload and placed it just outside the turbolift. He then quickly returned to the access way he'd used before and climbed backside before the phaser exploded.

Mörderin, the half Human half C'hakilian, a former member of Clark's Pirate group turned Assassin for hire, ascended to Level Ten, checked the corridor, then made his way to the Marine Deployment Transporter Room. He bust in and quickly stunned the Transporter Operator. Mörderin then found the unit locked down, as expected. He quickly ripped off an access panel and pulled out a handful of opticable, then used the Type-4b Rifle's power supply to bring it back online. He set the controls, and beamed the Transporter Operator to one of the Station's Mustang class Runabouts as a distraction.

Mörderin then disappeared back into the access way...

As R'nard was in pursuit, reports were coming in to him of the explosion on Level Eleven and the transporter activity on Level Ten. It appeared to him he had a nemesis, and Master B'roo long ago told him that he should expect somebody to be even more clever than he was. And now he had found the nemesis his master had told him about. He sent officers to the two levels and continued the pursuit on his own. He guessed his foe would not be on those two levels, so he kept up the tubes to Level Nine, then had second thoughts and went to Eight. He would have to be even more resourceful than he had ever been.


Ops

Lee and Alex stepped off the lift and onto Ops. Lee looked around a minute "Report!"

Andrew looked briefly at the second officer, "We are currently on full lock down, with shields up to prevent anyone being beamed off the Starbase, Captain. The trouble is whoever is trying to get away has managed to reactivate a transporter and beam themselves away from our search teams. They seem to know this station better, or at least as well as we do. I also have two Sovereign Class starships on route back here in case the Krazzle decide to get upset. Other than that we are watching and waiting."

Lee nodded "That's good" He walked over to where Andrew was "Admiral Bremer has been attacked."

Andrew looked up, then replied, "Is he injured?". He had wondered why the Admiral was not available to talk over the comm, now e knew.

Lee turned to Andrew:"Admiral Bremer was attacked with a knife and is currently in surgery"

Andrew nodded, but said nothing. The Admiral was in the best place, and now it was only a case of time. Words at this point were useless.


Deck 4, Secured Office Suite

Sevlek responded to T'Lar, "I will see what assistance we are able to offer those searching. Sevlek out."

The Vulcan Admiral moved from his office to the central operations area of the Strategic Intelligence suite, which was recessed below this level. In reality, the suite took up the same sections on Deck 4 and 5. The entire section of the station was specifically sealed off and then largely modified and refitted to serve as the Strategic Intelligence command center for all of the operations being performed in Klingon, Romulan, C'hakilian and Krazzle space. In addition to approximately 1/5 of the Federation itself.

Sevlek looked around at his people, "I want a rendering of this station on a deck-by-deck detail level. Show all lifeforms, all individuals equipped with a combadge, any bio-signature and any bio-signatures being masked." The intelligence suite was equipped with its own independent sensor systems that were extremely precise.

The lieutenant at one of the holographic interfaces nodded as a 3D rendering of the station appeared and then had its outer hull removed to show individual decks and the life-signs aboard.

Sevlek looked at the display, "Narrow view focus to decks 2 through 12. Filter out any non-security and non-marine personnel." After a few seconds the number of colored dots were reduced to only around 100."

The Vulcan activated the holographic console in front of him and gave a series of commands to the display that would locate and focus on any indistinct signatures. In addition to that, he also ordered that the life-signs of Captains Pike and Harrison and Lt. Commander Lokran were highlighted. Another command highlighted any security of marine units dispatched by either of those three individuals.

After a few seconds the console chirped, the resolution scan was complete and one indistinct life-sign was moving from deck 7 to deck 6 via a Jefferies tube. He tapped his combadge, "Sevlek to Pike, Harrison and Lokran." A pause as he read some data from the large 3D holographic display, "We have located an indistinct lifesign moving from deck 7 to deck 6 via Jefferies tube 18, sections D, E and F. Commander Lokran is slowly gaining on the signature."

"Understood Admiral, am sending Sgt. Maal to help."

"Pike to Maal, head off to assist Commander Lokran. Go to deck 5 and work your way down."

"Yes Captain, on my way." The big Klingon tapped his badge and headed off.

Alex couldn't just stand there, "I'm going to see if I can help with the search." With weapon in hand, she left without another word.

Lee turned and watched her go:"Very well Captain, I'll stay here and help" Speaking to Alex in her mind:"Be careful Imzadi"

"I will." She hastened her pace.


Corridor, Level Six

Mörderin exited the Jefferies Tube on Level Six. He was outside the Chief Counselor's Office. He ran down the corridor, passed other Counseling Offices, to the turbolift. He entered the lift, opened the access way, then set one of the tricorders he’d picked up to emit a bio-signature, and placed it on top of the lift before exiting. He then made his way to the nearest Jefferies Tube access, opened it, then went further down the corridor to another Jefferies Tube and entered.

He quickly descended several decks. He was getting frustrated, this Starfleet crew was extremely persistent and were quick to react. It took a while, too long, but he made it to Level 18. Exiting the Jefferies Tube Mörderin carefully made his way to the Marine Pilot’s deployment Transporter Room. He checked the console and it was offline. As he did before, he ripped the panel off and used a phaser to power up the unit. Once it was online, he started to tap commands when a Marine stepped through the door.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Before the Marine could raise her weapon, Mörderin turned and caught the young woman in the face with a roundhouse kick and sent her spinning to the deck. He took off her combadge, and beamed himself to one of the 181st’s Fighter Deployment Ships that were sitting in the Fighter Bay. He took the combadge to one of the rear compartments and tossed it under the bed, then, using the ship’s own transporter that wasn't locked down, he beamed himself to an isolated corner of the Promenade and became just another face in the crowd...

R'nard heard activity in the tubes going downwards. Whoever this was, it was a professional. He turned around and went downwards as fast as he could. He came out in the Fighter bay just in time to hear the whine of another transporter. He followed the trail to one of the rear compartments. Clever.


Ops

Andrew watched as the tactical display show another transporter come back online. Without looking at Captain Pike, "They are very good, Captain. That's the second transporter they have reactivated. They can hide their position, but they can't hide that sort of power usage from the stations internal senses." He didn't bother telling his crew to get people down there. They could see the display as well as he could and were instantly sending messages to security.

Lee nodded as he watched the console, "That he is." He tapped his badge "Pike to Maal, we got transporter activity. Head over to the Promenade and check things out there."

Alex found Maal. She joined him in time to hear the message from Pike. Alex took off before Maal could respond.

Maal "On my way there Captain." The big Klingon headed off towards the Promenade.

Alex arrived on the Promenade, stopped, and looked around. She sighed. Maal caught up with her. "Maal, let's split up. He's got to be here somewhere." She swiftly moved around the promenade, looking for someone she has never seen. She cursed under her breath, "Damn! Now I know what they mean by finding a needle in a haystack."

Maal looked at Alex:"Agreed but this is going to be a pain trying to find this person" He held out his phaser and headed off towards the left looking for the person.

Alex went the other way. She wasn't ready to give up.


tbc...

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