Taking Care of Business (Lexington)

Posted on Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 @ 4:08am by Commander Jonathan Roebuck IV & Lieutenant K`Wor & Commodore Leon `Lee` Pike & Commander Jonathan Coleman & Captain R'nard Lokran & Lieutenant Saith i-Ki Baratan & Ensign David Brody & Commodore Alexandra Harrison

6,992 words; about a 35 minute read

Mission: Mission 83 - Recovery
Location: Romulan R&D Base, Gamma Crateris
Timeline: Right after 'Approaching Gamma Crateris'

ON:

As they moved out, Saith realized her team never really said who would take point. She decided she was the most logical because she would be the most familiar with the potential layout of the base, was most comfortable in her surroundings, and if stopped, spoke fluent Romulan of course. She moved out with purpose, as if she knew where she was going and had every right to be there. Underlings wouldn't dare stop them and she would deal with any authority figures as they arose. She could hear “her team” move out with her as they headed towards the research area.

Brody fell in behind Saith and followed her lead. He emulated her posture which screamed authority. He right hand remained slack and hovered over his disruptor. His eyes moved with purpose as he scanned his surroundings. He had taken position and covered Saith's back as he had promised. Her opinions may not have made her popular as of late, but she was still a member of the team. He left mental breadcrumbs as they moved on in case they needed to make a quick exit.

Roebuck motioned to K'Wor to follow Brody, and he himself took the rear of the little formation. Roebuck had serviced with Romulans during the Dominion War, and knew he needed to carry himself well also. He looked around with his eyes, but tried to keep it subtle so not to draw too much attention.

K'Wor on the other hand was simply trying to emulate how Saith and David were walking. He remained calm, but he could feel his heart racing. When a Tal Shiar Uhlan feel in line with them for a moment, he placed his hand on his disruptor, but just as quickly, the Uhlan turned down another corridor.

"To the left, then five-hundred meters." Roebuck quietly said to Baratan after checking the map on his tricorder, "Security check point, then right three hundred meters to the R&D entrance."

Saith did not appear to acknowledge Roebuck, but she turned at the corridor he indicated. She looked neither left nor right but marched on as if daring anyone to stop her. The one Uhlan they had seen did not look twice, but Saith was ready just in case. She knew the rest of the team was as well. She was working out in her head how to get past the Security check-point ahead.

R'nard had come along, but had made himself scarce, as he said he would. He was clad in nothing but his fur, except for a pouch slung across his shoulder.

He found secret ways, following them silently. The Shadow Demon was in operation once again.

Coleman walked behind the group, trying to emulate their movements and not garnish too much attention to them. He walked in line with the rest of the group and when he was finally in the facility, he slowly worked on getting the command codes ready to put into the computer core of the new ship that the Romulans were building. He knew that it might be tight, but he would be able to get it in and make it work without detection.


Slade straightened his tunic as he began walking toward the turbolift to the command center. He was a Commander in the service of Romulan Imperial Intelligence. He passed two technicians having a discussion about plasma induction and they both nodded respectfully and stood at attention until he passed. He boarded the lift and stepped into the command center.

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Team #2, Romulan Communications Center

Elsewhere, K'Temoc had made it to the Communications Office of the facility. Upon entering, the Communications Officer glanced up at him, yet paid little attention. K'Temoc looked around for a moment, then sat at an open console. He tapped in a few commands and pulled up current Romulan Communications protocols. As he started to download the info, which would not only give Starfleet current communications and encryption codes, but also give them an idea of where all Romulans vessels were currently located, the Communications Officer stood up and walked behind K'Temoc.

"What are you doing?"

K'Temoc didn't move, he completed the download, then slide the data chip into his pocket then stood up, "I'm Major Turkal."

"Major, I apologize." The Romulan was clearly intimidated at the name of a Tal Shiar Officer. "I sent the latest communication protocols to the Krysal yesterday."

"Apparently you didn't do it correctly, or I wouldn't be here now." K'Temoc replied, as he smiled inside because his bluff was seemingly working. "I am also uploading new Starfleet Communication Protocols we recently received, you can take credit for breaking them."

The Communications Officer smiled, "Thank you Major!"

K'Temoc thought about neutralizing the Officer, but he figured the missing Officer would draw more attention than an overeager Lieutenant making up stories of a Tal Shiar Major accessing communications protocols and 'giving' new Starfleet communications protocols at the same time...protocols that didn't work and provided inaccurate data anyone.

K'Temoc simply turned and walked out, and headed for the Romulan Attack ship, the IRV Krysal. He had one more task to preform.

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Team #1

Back with the main group, K'Wor watched as Saith stepped up to the Security Checkpoint. A sign on the wall pointed right for R&D and left for the Shipyard. He then focused on the three intimidating looking Romulans and two Remans that manned the checkpoint. He watched Saith to see what she would do.

As Roebuck had stated there was a Security checkpoint ahead. Saith marched forward, as if intending to pass without stopping, but a young Rihannsu Centurion stopped them. “[Excuse me. I must search you.]” Saith stared at the man as if he were mad as well as completely beneath her, but sighing and making a show of the ‘intrusion’ she nodded her assent. As he patted her down his team kept their eyes on her team. As anticipated he did not hesitate nor ask questions when he located a hidden weapon. The officer who appeared to be in charge, a Reman by the look of him, watched and smiled every time the Centurion located a new weapon. Saith could tell his estimation of them had gone up with each new weapon. When her search was finished Saith began to move forward but the Centurion moved to search Brody. Saith almost panicked, but then remembered that this was a power game and she and her team were supposed to have some. She pulled memories of her time on the Shiarrael. Riov Ecurai had walked through checkpoints like they weren't there. She hoped to adopt a similar air of authority.

Saith turned and slowly came back. In Rihannsu she asked, “are you going to keep us here all day while you do an insufficient search of my officers?” The Rihan/Reman contingent found this exchange an amusing change to their daily routine. The Centurion answered that his duty required he search everyone. “What good will it do, when you are so inefficient and inadequate at it” Saith asked. This made the other officers laugh and the man’s face clouded. “You did not locate but a fraction of my weapons,” she further taunted, pulling a slim dagger from her braid, “Perhaps it would just be better for them each to declare that they have a multitude of weapons? Perhaps we could explain our mission to you so that you would know whether or not your facility is safe? Or maybe papers?Or call their mommies to vouch for them?” His beratement complete, the sarcasm lost on no one, more laughter ensued as the man looked to his supervisor who shrugged. The Centurion stood aside and waved them on. Saith marched through the checkpoint, she didn't dare look back to see if her team was following, but she could hear movement and the onslaught of laughter of the Rihannsu officers.

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Team #2

Harrison hung back as K'Temoc made his way to the Communications office. She readied herself for anything in case K'Temoc ran into trouble. Once he walked out, she inconspicuously followed behind, watching his back. Alex was still skeptical about the success of their mission but with K'Temoc completing one of the tasks successfully, maybe things would continue to run smoothly...maybe.

Coleman hung back near Harrison and kept an eye on his tricorder, making sure that everything was going as well as possible. He knew that even with every possible plan thought out, something could still happen and he wanted to make sure that he was ready for whatever came along. When K'Temoc came out and nothing bad was happening, he felt a little bit better and followed him as he led the way to the meeting point.

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Team #1

After passing through the Checkpoint, K'Wor was feeling a little better. He was impressed with Saith's brazenness with the Centurion, and he wondered if they would of been caught without it.

Roebuck waited until the group cleared the Checkpoint and rounded the corner to look back. Seeing no one following them, he glanced at his tricorder.

"Scanning the R&D Facility, there's six Remans in there and three Romulans." He scanned again to confirm the findings, "K'Wor and I will deal with the Romulans, Brody and Saith make contact with Erurax."

Brody nodded at Saith and extended his arm. "After you. Let's go find ourselves a Reman."

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Team #2

Meanwhile, K'Temoc had arrived at the same Checkpoint the others had just passed through. He heard what sounded like laughter from some of the Romulans as he approached. They were still giving the lowly Centurion a hard time.

In Romulan, K'Temoc said, "Are we working, or playing like schoolgirls today?"

"Major! Uh..." One of the Romulans replied, but before he could continue K'Temoc simply walked through and headed for the Construction area. Alex, Lee, and Coleman were right behind. Apparently, those Romulans had been berated enough for the day.

Alex could see them in her peripheral vision. They watched K'Temoc walk away, made a few more comments and dispersed. It was twice now that K'Temoc had a run in and gotten out of it. Alex continued to observe her surroundings without being conspicuous.

Coleman followed K'Temoc and the rest of the team through the checkpoint and checked his Romulan Tricorder to see how far they were from the ship. He said to himself, "Only two more meters."

Arriving at the airlock, K'Temoc glanced at this Romulan tricorder and took a few quick scans of the vessel. It was ready to launch. He motioned to Coleman, Harrison, and Pike to get aboard and get to work, quickly.

As Coleman headed for Engineering and Pike and Harrison headed for the Bridge, K'Temoc headed for deck four, the ship's upper computer core access room.

Once arriving, K'Temoc made sure the ship had the same false information he'd provided to the facility's communication's center. Once that task was completed, he waited for Coleman to complete his part of the plan.

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Team #2 Romulan ship, Engineering

Coleman arrived in Engineering within a few minutes of getting through the airlock. He knew that he had to put in the command codes to knock the ship out of slipstream if it made it that far. He also knew that the Engineering compartment of the ship would be crawling with various Romulans and Remans working on the ship and his presence would be suspect by at least a few of them when he arrived.

The turbolift he had taken quickly slowed and opened up to an Engineering section. He walked out and into a big Engineering section, larger than that of a Sovereign-Class Starship. He quickly ran into a Romulan officer, who yelled stop in Romulan and walked over to him.

Coleman quickly turned to face him. The Romulan said, "What are you doing down here? This is a restricted section and requires command authorization." Coleman replied, in Romulan, "I'm the Engineer that came with the Romulan Imperial Intelligence team. I'm here to help you with your problems with the Quantum Slipstream Drive. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to get to work as quickly as possible. Unless, you would like to get the orders from the higher ups and waste time on fixing the drive?" The Romulan nodded and said that he was sorry and led him to the chief engineer.

They talked for a little bit and he led him to a console to work on it for a little bit. When the Chief Engineer walked away, Coleman brought his Romulan tricorder out and input the codes to bring the ship out of slipstream when they activated it. He worked on a few others things and then, pulled a Romulan communicator out and input the command to talk to K'Temoc and waited for a response.

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Team #2 Romulan Ship, Bridge

Lee and Alex had arrived together on the bridge and looked around for a moment. Just then a Romulan approached them then spoke in Romulan:"What are you two doing here?"

Lee glared at the guy and spoke back in Romulan:"I am the Intelligence Officer and this is the Security officer that is part of the Romulan Imperial Intelligence team." He points to Alex.

The Romulan nodded to the both of them:"I am sorry for questioning the two of you."

Lee just looked at him:"See that it doesn't happen again." He then nodded back to Alex before heading off.

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Team #1 Research & Development Room

Saith nodded, although she was wondering how she would know which Reman was Erurax. She quickly stated, “This room will have a lot of places to take cover and fire from; consoles, modules, bankheads, etc. We do not want a fight in this room if it can be avoided. The Romulan Security will be spread out for maximum coverage.” With a deep breath she walked in as if she owned the place. There was a moment when everything stood still, and nine faces turned towards Saith and the rest of Team #1. The demarcation was clear, Romulan Security in uniforms, Reman Scientists in lab gear. A Romulan officer drew a weapon and pointed it at her. “This is a restricted area,” he said unnecessarily.

“Veisa vihroi? (What is your name) Vikra nnea au? (where are you from)” Saith asked. The officer hesitated, then to his credit refused to answer, repeating that this was a restricted area. “Mehre efveh. (Summon the authorities)” Saith continued, “Oh wait, that would be us! i'au-d fiv? (Do you know me)” The officer squinted at her and shook his head. “you may want to keep it that way, I can be your worst Aehallh. (Nightmare). I need to speak with Erurax, there is a problem with some of his projections.” Saith knew that she was on thin ice here, the officers were intimidated enough not to call for help right away, but she could see that the one in charge was not completely convinced either.

Regardless, she had no choice but to continue so she strode purposefully into the room towards the Reman Scientists. “khoi.(Halt)” The lead officer spoke firmly and Saith stopped, turning to look at him. He had moved forward and his weapon was leveled at her face. He reached for his communications equipment, and Saith tried desperately to remember what Slade Matthews had used to get them on Gamma Crateris. Even if he did call for backup that part of the story would hold if she could remember it. She tried hard to ease her posture into one of relaxed annoyance. He looked down to begin inputting codes; it was decision time, she couldn't let him finish calling for help. The other two officers had drawn weapons. Saith reached out and broke the wrist holding the Centurion’s weapons arm, as he went down in agony, the others moved, fast. She hit him in the head to silence his painful yelling. [Well, at least I didn't kill him, we had orders not to kill, not to not break bones] Saith thought as she ducked behind the nearest console. She wasn't even sure where the rest of her team was.

Brody had remained in character, watching Saith go to work. He was decidedly concerned when the Centurion made his play to alert others. He slowly reached into his uniform for his ancillary stun weapon when Saith incapacitated the Centurion. He dove behind the console with her, even if she hadn't seemed to notice him. "Well, that was interesting. I'm pretty sure he'll be in traction."

As the remaining two Security Officers focused on Saith, Roebuck motioned to K'Wor and the two moved to the sides of the room, but before they could get into position, K'Wor saw the most minute shadow move toward the Romulans.

R'nard moved lightning fast, he was in his element here. He used his small size to great advantage, as he moved to neutralize the Romulans. He would hit pressure points, give quick jabs in the right places to bring them down.

Despite their current predicament, Saith chuckled at Brody’s words. “Yep, I suppose.” She used her foot to scoot the officer’s weapon towards her. Glancing at Brody she picked it up, “I would rather use their weapons than ours.” She risked a peek at the console; it was pulsing waiting for the remaining code. In that moment she could see the Reman Scientists had hit the deck and scooted for cover, while the Romulan officers were taking cover to fire from. She took the moment of confusion to kneel up and input codes into the computer.

This had not been part of their plan but if the computer would accept the old codes, it would help cover her team and confuse those in charge. She sensed rather than saw the movement and ducked as weapons fire flew over her head. Another quick peek at the console told her the codes had been accepted, she shook her head, “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” She sat back on the floor next to Brody, considering what that might mean. Either the codes had never been changed, which was unlikely, or some was using her father’s old codes.

“Did I ever tell you my father was an assassin?” she asked Brody. She grinned as she considered she might have just put this all on her father, if he was maybe, actually still alive. A small chuckle escaped but was quickly stifled as the sounds of fighting had broken out. She looked around the console but couldn't see the officers. “Erurax?” she asked quietly and one of the scientists pointed. She glanced over at a scowling Reman taking refuge under a sampling table.

Brody took solice in the fact that Saith could have a casual conversation in the middle of a firefight. Disruptor blasts streaked across his peripheral vision. "An assassin? No, I didn't know that. But I can't say I'm surprised." He cracked a smile at Saith. "It doesn't look like the skill set skipped a generation."

K’Wor watched the Romulans firing in the air, it was clear they were confused. It had to be Commander Lokran, no one else on the team could move that fast!

With the Centurians firing into the shadows, Brody caught Erurax's attention. He motioned for the the Reman to crawl across the floor to their position while the Romulans were occupied with their spectral enemy.

It was child's play for R'nard to dodge the disruptor blasts. He had them in total confusion. One actually fired at another, doing his job for him. That one was rewarded with a jab to a pressure point that brought him down.

It was not for nothing that he was codenamed Shadow Demon. He did his job efficiently, then when it was done, he made his departure from there. There were other trees to fell.

He clicked a device in his pouch, activating the transporter to another part.

With the Romulans down, K'Wor stood from his cover spot. He glanced at Roebuck who was also standing with a smirk on his face.

Both of them looked at the small group of Remans, but only five were still alive. Once had been hit by one of the Romulans and the disruptor had put a hole clean through his chest.

Roebuck looked at this tricoder and tapped in a few commands that signaled the shuttle that Team #1 was ready to beam out. Four members of the Team and Five Remans.

K'Wor looked at the motionless Romulans laying on the ground. One of the Remans walked over to a Romulan, a Tal Shiar Captain, and without word broke his neck as he lay there helpless.

"That's enough!" K'Wor said aloud.

"We should...leave the bodies." Erurax said, "It will appear that we managed to over power them and escape."

"I'll erase the sensor logs." Roebuck said.

"There's no need, the Romulans didn't have listening or sensing devices in here, they didn't want the work being recorded." Erurax replied. "Thank you Starfleet."

Saith tapped additional codes into the terminal near her. "This will confuse them. They are my father's old codes, which shouldn't be accepted but for some reason are. Either he is alive and using them, or someone else is using them. In either case, it will confuse whoever they currently belong to. It will look as if they came to take the information." She completed her work on the computer then looked at everyone and smiled, "well, that was fun. Not too bad all things considered."

K'Wor looked at Brody, Saith, then Roebuck, but Erurax added, "Like many of my people, I am gifted in several mental abilities you'd call telepathy. Thank you."

Roebuck paused and took a breath, then added, "Now we wait to be beamed out.

Saith nodded, "the sooner the better. I hate waiting." She was pleased with herself for not killing the Romulan officer, and rescuing the Remans without too many problems. Too much self doubt Saith, she chastised herself. To her team, she simply grinned.
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Team #2 Romulan Ship, Computer Core Access

K'Temoc had received the message from Coleman, and told him to head back to their Romulan shuttle as quickly as possible. Team One should be making contact with the Reman Scientists and would need a beam out from R&D to the shuttle instead of trying to walk them through the corridors. He then checked the uploaded information, and it was secure. Not only would the Romulan ship be knocked out of slipstream, but it would never return to Romulan space again.

K'Temoc waited another few moments, then stood to leave, only to be greeted by a Tal Shiar Captain with his disruptor leveled at this head.

"What are you doing here?" The Captain demanded to know.

K'Temoc stood slowly, "Is there a problem, Captain?"

"Who are you, I've never seen you before." The Captain questioned.

"I'm Major Turkal, I'm part of the Romulan Imperial Intelligence Team that arrived earlier today. I'm here to verify this ship has the latest Communications Protocols as well as the newest Federation Communications Protocols. How dare you question me." K'Temoc started to step forward, but the Captain didn't backdown. It appeared to be a standoff...

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Team #2 Shuttlebay and Shuttle

Coleman made his way back to the shuttlebay, where the team's Romulan shuttle had been placed and stored until they got back. He had run into little trouble getting in and out of Engineering, which he found a little odd. With everything that had happened to the Romulan people in the past half decade and how the Romulan people usually were, Coleman thought there would be more in the way of paranoia than there was.

He took the turbolift down to the level that housed the shuttlebay for the R&D facility. He made a few minute adjustments to his tricorder, making it look like he was working on some things for the slipstream drive, but he was really making sure that the shuttle was ready to transmit the command code if need be. The doors finally opened and he stepped out into the corridor and walked down to the shuttlebay. Once in the bay, there were a few Romulan and Reman talking amongst themselves and he didn't pay any attention to them, until one of them yelled, "Halt!"

He stopped in his tracks and looked back at one of the Romulan Centurions running towards him and once he reached him, he said, "Uhlan, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be in Engineering helping the team fix the Slipstream drive?" Coleman nodded and replied, "I need some special equipment from our shuttle to work on the drive." The Centurion gave an odd look, before he said, "Show me this equipment that you intend to use Uhlan." Once Coleman heard that, he knew he would be in trouble if he couldn't produce the equipment, but he lead the way to the shuttle and started to think of a way to dodge the bullet and still save the team when they called in for beam-out...

On the last part of his training on Procyon III, R'nard was required to escape from a secure prison with only his training and whatever was at hand, which wasn't much.

A shadow moved quickly in the darkness around. He was one of the few offworlders on Vulcan who had mastered the neck pinch. He would administer it now.

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Team #2 Romulan Ship, Bridge

As Alex started to walk towards the Tactical station, she began to to get that uneasy feeling she got when things were just about ready to go amok. She stayed calm but observant. Saw one of the Romulans following Lee. Apparently, he began to be suspicious of him.

A commotion started to arise as all eyes now were on Lee. She pushed a few buttons on the console, trying to remember how to read Romulan. It had been a while. She did a little sabotage of her own. When she finished, she turned only to feel a strong grip on her wrist. She glared at the Romulan, "Let go or lose it."

"What business do you have here?" The Romulan wouldn't let go.

Alex again, with teeth gritted tried to pull away, "One more time. Let go or lose it." A big smile came across the Romulan's face. Alex decided to wipe that smile off his face. Before he knew it, Alex had escaped his grip in one swift move and the sound of breaking bone could be heard as she snapped her elbow against the outside bottom of the his elbow. The Romulan cradled his elbow while wincing in pain. Alex was sure that she was in trouble.

Lee cursed under his breath as another Romulan spotted what happen and started to run towards where Alex was. Lee spun half way landing a kick straight to the gut of the Romulan doubling him over. Lee then grabbed the guy by the head and flipped him over onto the deck then straight punched him right in the face knocking him out.

Alex pushed the Romulan who was still cradling his elbow and then ran towards Lee with her hand ready to grab her weapon if need be.

Several Romulans turned to see what was going on. They all stared at Lee for what he just did. Lee looked at them then said to Alex in her mind:"Get out of here and call for help, we got problems."

"No, I'm not going to leave you here. Look, we don't know if we've blown our cover yet. Let's try talking ourselves out of it. If it looks like we are failing, then I'll immediately go." Before he could reply, Alex stood next to Lee as a few Romulans came towards them. "Halt!" She hoped that her Romulan was good enough to make her point. "How dare you treat a female Romulan officer that way!"

"Stubborn woman" Lee muttered under his breath. He glared at the Romulans standing there."Do you know what you guys have done by treating member of the Romulan Imperial Intelligence the way you have."

The small group of Romulans looked at each other before looking at Lee and Alex.

Lee snarled:"Do you realize that we could have all of you executed for what you have done here."

Alex crossed her arms as she glared at them, "Fvadt! This will not go unreported." She unfolded her arms and abruptly walked off the bridge.

Lee glared at them for a couple more seconds before turning on his heel and heading off the bridge after Alex.

"Are you ok?" He asked her once they where far enough away from the bridge.

"Damn, that was close. He's lucky that I let him off with just a broken elbow. No Romulan female officer would allow to be manhandled like that. Not one." She turned to Lee, "An if we ever get in a situation like that again and you want to play the hero...don't."

Lee nodded:"Yea that was a bit too close." He then raised an eye brow about the hero comment:"I'll think about it maybe."

"And you say that I am stubborn." Alex dropped it...for now.

"Let's get moving before those Romulans decide to get brave and come trying to find us."

"Good idea. Let's get back to the shuttle."

______________________

Slade stood in front of a console in the command center when he was approached by the station's commander, Subcommander Erevek. "Commander Tr'Salek, sir, I've just been informed one of your personnel has threatened to have some of my staff executed. I am unsure of the details, but one of the personnel on the bridge of the vessel interrupted one of your agents and she reacted by demonstrating she was not defenseless, perhaps an overreaction."

Matthews continued watching the monitor for a few moments longer before turning halfway to face the other man, "I could very well execute him for interfering with one of my agents in such a manner. He should not have put his hands on her."

The other man nodded as he realized the gravity of the situation, "I understand, Commander. I will dispatch orders to my personnel, informing them not to interfere with your personnel unless they are asked for assistance."

Slade nodded as he began reading another report, "What has caused the destabilization of a viable benamite crystal matrix in the core so many times?"

"The supply of benamite crystals we received were tainted with ditronium ore inlays. Engineers attempted to salvage the crystals and were able to achieve the 85% threshold the intelligence you gathered for us suggested." He paused as he entered a command on the console next to Slade, "We were able to stabilize with the less than desirable crystals by decreasing the matter and antimatter intermix speeds and increasing the deflector's output. However, due to the quantum field modulations we have not been able to successfully energize a stable slipstream matrix."

Slade nodded, "That will be remedied after my teams are finished, provided your teams do not cause any other problems."

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Team #2 Romulan Ship, En Route to Shuttle

Alex noticed that the Romulans seemed more aware of them now. All eyes seemed to follow them. She tried to ignore their stares but it was difficult. She kept her hand on her weapon, ready at a moments notice to use it. Alex felt like she was being followed. It turned out that it wasn't a feeling but a fact. Under her breath, she spoke to Lee, "Don't look now but we are being followed."

Lee nodded slight to her:"Yea can see that we are." I had a bad feeling that we probably would be."

As they continued to walk, Alex was already planning her next move. She looked to her left and then to her right. Looking ahead of her, she saw two more Romulans coming towards them with weapons drawn. The two that were following them had their weapons drawn as well. Alex cursed under her breath as she drew her weapon, her other hand covering it as well as possible. Four against two was odds that she wasn't prepared for. "Looks like we've been compromised. Maybe we should split up. It's too open here and there are too many Romulans. I'll lead them down that corridor. I'll have a better chance in a fist fight. We'll meet back at the shuttle."

Lee watched her go then cursed and ran for the left. "Damn stubborn woman, swear am gonna kick her in the rear when we get home."

Alex moved swiftly to her right and down the corridor. Just as she thought, they also split up and followed them. Alex saw several doors on the way. She quickly checked out a few of them, looking as if she was panicking to get away until she found one unoccupied. She set the disruptor on overload and set it just inside the room. She stopped and turned, making sure that she was at a safe distance while the Romulans were a few feet from the door. In her best Romulan voice, "What is the meaning of this?"

The Romulan Guard shook his head, "You're Romulan needs much work. You are coming with us." Alex smiled, "I don't think so." The Romulans looked at each other as they didn't expect that since he was holding the weapon and there was two of them and one of her. Alex counted in her head, “...Three, two, one.” Alex hit the floor as the disruptor overloaded and exploded. Everyone was caught off guard. She got up and left, knowing that there would be Romulans crawling all over the place in a few minutes.

Lee turned his head as he saw three Romulans run after him. He spun around and aimed his disruptor at the first Romulan guard sending him flying backwards to the deck a few feet. He fired again missing one and got the other guard's weapon sending it flying. Both Romulans charged at him so Lee tossed the disruptor aside. As the first one reach Lee, he hauled off and punched that one square in the throat. The 2nd one he charged and slammed him right into the bulk head knocking him out. Lee cursed again and headed for the shuttle.

The explosion had many Romulans in a frenzy wondering what happened. No one noticed her as she made her way around the concerned Romulan guards. Alex knew that this wouldn't last and she was without a weapon. She passed by several Romulans, most of which didn't even looked at her. Alex needed a weapon so she found an unsuspecting Romulan and "confiscated" his weapon.

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Romulan Shuttle, Away Teams #1

The Romulan ships in orbit of the station were abuzz with activity having likely detected the weapons fire. Admiral Bremer had ordered the extraction of the Away Teams. From the Lextington, Warrant Officer Talan was able to establish a datalink with Commander Matthews' Romulan shuttle.

The R&D facility's scanners had been rendered useless for a short period of time thanks to Ensign La Baron's quick thinking in orbit. Talan was able to access the sophisticated scanners aboard the shuttle and established a lock on to all Away Team #1 members as well as any surviving Remans in with them.

An emergency beam out was initiated and the Away Team #1 appeared on the shuttle's transporter pad in staggered arrivals. With the addition of the Reman engineers, the quarters were cramped to say the least.

Of course, the team didn't know it was their friends aboard the Lexington that activated the shuttle's transporter and beamed them out yet. Roebuck looked around, seeing no one but the Team and Remans, he looked at Saith, "Secure them in the back." He then looked at Erurax, "I apologize for the cramped quarters right now."

Since they were supposed to be “friendly” towards the Remans she wasn't sure that “secure” was the word that Roebuck should have used. It made no difference to her, however, so Saith pointed to the back of the shuttle. The Remans moved there and sat on the rather uncomfortable bench-type seat in the back of the shuttle. [At least they are sitting] Saith thought.

______________________
Team #2 Romulan Ship, Computer Core Access

K’Temoc was still in the Computer Core access room of the Romulan attack ship. The Tal Shiar Captain hadn't said nor did anything for a few minutes, just looking at and studying K’Temoc, while he too stood there without speaking or saying anything.

Finally, a beep from the console broke the quiet.

K’Temoc paused a moment, then glanced at the monitor on the console, “The ship is powering up to depart.”

“That’s correct, Captain.” The Tal Shiar agent replied.

“That’s Major.” K’Temoc said in rebuff.

“No,” the Agent replied, “I mean Captain, Captain K’Temoc, James K’Temoc Bremer of Starbase 400. Brother of Admiral Mike K’Wor Bremer, former CO of the ill-fated USS Yorktown.” He moved his head side to side slightly, “Pointed ears don’t suit you too well.”

K’Temoc didn't flinch or blink at the acknowledgement that his cover had been blown. He was more worried if the Agent had informed others and the rest of the Teams had been discovered too. He was also concerned as to how this Romulan knew who he was.

“Why are you here, and, how did you find out about our research?” The Agent asked.

A little smile crossed K’Temoc’s face, “I’m here to stop you.”

The Romulan also smiled, but before he could reply, K’Temoc kicked the disruptor out of the Agents hands with the speed even Lokran would be proud of. The two exchanged punches, neither with the upper hand. Finally K’Temoc was able to get leverage on the Agent and lifted him up, slamming him against the bulkhead.

K’Temoc backed off as the Romulan dropped to the floor. He deactivated the console he’d been working on after checking one last time that everything was uploaded. As he turned around, the Romulan was standing there, disruptor in hand again.

“I expected more out of you than that.” The Romulan said smugly.

A moment later, K’Temoc felt the familiar tingle of a transporter beam grabbing him. He reached out and took hold of the Romulan, “I’m full of surprises.”

______________________
Team #1 Romulan Shuttle

Aboard the Shuttle, K’Wor was standing beside Roebuck at the transporter controls, “His mass has nearly doubled, and I’m reading a weapon in transit…it’s discharged.”

“I’m deactivating it, bringing him in in.” Roebuck replied as K’Wor drew his disruptor.

Saith listened to the exchange between K’Wor and Roebuck. “He’s bringing someone along,” she said stating the obvious. She moved to the cramped corner of the bulkhead to the left and back of the transporter platform, where it met the wall. These tight quarters did not bother her. She waited knowing she would be behind whomever was beaming in, and could assist in a fight if needed.

A second later, K’Temoc and the Romulan were both aboard the Shuttle. The Romulan blinked, and then tried to fire his weapon again, but nothing happened.

“Welcome aboard.” K’Wor said to the Romulan as he leveled his disruptor on him.

The Romulan dropped the useless disruptor, “You won’t…” Before the Romulan could finish his threat, K’Temoc punched him with a quick right uppercut, sending the Romulan to the deck, knocked out.

Saith moved forward, but it was unnecessary as K’Temoc dropped the Romulan officer. Her eyes lifted to meet his and she grinned. “Nice one. I knew I liked you.”

K'Temoc flashed a quick smile back at Saith, then looked at Lokran, "Mister Lokran, search and secure our, 'guest'." K'Temoc said as he took a breath.

R'nard nodded and then searched the prisoner, removing the weapons and other suspicious things from him. He smiled at the astonished look of the Romulan at the furry creature who was searching him.

"We'll have you in more comfortable accommodations soon." he said.

Alex and Lee finally made it to the shuttle. All of the sudden the shuttle seemed a bit more cramped than before.

“I suggest we depart.” Roebuck said, looking back to Matthews.

Slade nodded, "Perhaps it is." Slade entered the commands and the shuttle's hatch sealed as the engines started up, after the power systems were stabilized, he entered the commands necessary to open the shuttlebay doors and the shuttle departed. He saw the slipstream vessel and knew that it's destruction was assured, the codes he'd entered locked the course of the vessel, sending it into Federation space, to suffer a benamite cascade as soon as the slipstream corridor destabilized for exit. The explosion would make a standard dilithium mediated core's explosion look somewhat mild.

As the shuttle pulled away from the Romulan Base, they watched the new Romulan attack ship move off and blast off into slipstream.

“Mister Coleman.” K’Temoc said.

Coleman nodded and pressed in the commands to knock the ship out of slipstream and seconds passed by and Coleman took a look at the sensors. Coleman nodded at K'Temoc.

They wouldn't know if the codes to knock the Romulan ship out of Slipstream had worked until they were able to return to the Lexington, so for now they simply cloaked and set course back to Chaltok system to return the shuttle and re-board the Lexington.

The prisoner secured, R'nard went into a corner and entered into meditation, winding down from the action-filled mission. He felt himself as one with the universe around him, feeling everything around him, and aware of everything within his body. To be at peace.

Lee stood there leaning against a bulk head with his eyes closed trying to relax and let the adrenaline wear off from the mission.

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