Mysteries wrapped in enigmas (part 1)

Posted on Sat 14th Jun, 2014 @ 9:51pm by Lieutenant Zhara Rynn & Colonel Marcus DeSalle & Commander Brian Windsong & Lieutenant Colonel Tallus Karikkar & Major Landon Mabrade
Edited on on Mon 4th Aug, 2014 @ 3:37am

3,286 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/6
Location: USS Anubis, SatrBase Protector
Timeline: Shortly after the briefing meeting

ON

[StarBase Protector, Ops]

The command codes had worked, and the Anubis had lowered her shields. Marcus paced around ops, waiting for Tallus to signal that he was ready to beam over. He always worried a little when sending his own into danger, but that was part of the burden of command. What secrets was the Anubis hiding? Why couldn't he get any answers from StarFleet? He turned again, almost ready to hail Tallus and ask what the holdup was. Instead, he took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

"The fighters are on station Sir." Mabrae reported from the Flight Control panel.

The twelve fighters had encompassed the star ship with full torpedo loads and if need be their phasers. The fighters were keeping a safe distance yet circling the ship almost like a pack of sharks waiting the frenzy. They had orders to observe but take no aggressive actions, the Major was very specific in his making sure the the ROE is in effect and until; fired upon the fighters could not take actions.

TAG

[StarBase Protector, Transporter Room Three]

=A=Karikkar to OPS. My team is prepped and ready to go.=A= Tallus said over the COMM. He stepped onto the pad waiting for the other members of the team to do the same.

Lys wasn't so sure about going and at the same time. ~What an opportunity~ she thought. It had been a long time since she had actually been outside the science department. In a way she liked it that way, it was safe, it was familiar and she enjoyed her plants, her experiments and the daily list of things that had to be accomplished. She waited to go, but she realized the necessity of having two teams, and of having to wait until Team one made sure it was safe. She waited, away from the transporter pad.

Zhara arrived shortly after, happy to be included in the adventure. "Hello, Colonel, Lieutenant," she said, giving them each a short bow. "Do either of you have any rituals you like to perform before events such as this?" she asked as she stepped onto the transporter pad. She was curious to see if either of them did anything specific for "luck."

Lys looked a bit perplexed at that question and opened her mouth to speak when Kell saved her from what woudl have most surely been uncomfortable dialog, if not for them but for her in any rate.

Kell wasn't happy with the idea of non-combatants going on the first team over. He was security and it was his duty to worry about things like that but more than that, he didn't see any reason to put diplomats or counselors in the line of fire until they knew for sure that there was a true reason for it. There were no life signs to speak of on the ship and it made no sense to expect to find anyone alive. Ghosts [for what they were] weren't about to sit down and chat out their issues with anyone and if the machines defenses were on automatic, they would merely be targets. But he'd already had this arguement and he'd lost so he stepped up to the transport pad with his phaser armed and ready in a defensive posture. "I took care of my 'good luck' ritual last night with my wife." He winked. What better way to boost a man's testosterone, courage, and confidence than the passions of the woman he loves. "Nothing like a good bed tossing for luck." He was part Klingon after all.

Zhara laughed out loud at the comment. "Indeed."

"This is Ops," said the comm system. "You are cleared to proceed. Good luck, colonel."

"You heard the man. Let's move out." FTallus said as he nodded to the Transporter chief. Once he and his team were aboard, Tallus immediately felt something in his head. "Commander Kell, cover our six. Let's keep our eyes open people. There is something not quite right about this ship. What corridor are we in? I don't see any distinguishing markers. This isn't the transporter room."

Devyn could feel something going on but he couldn't put a finger on it. It was like there was a presence but different...whatever it was, it was lonely and - he almost felt an unfocused anger. "We should have a team check the Engineering and Medical logs while the other team checks the bridge and the officer's logs." Kell suggested. He agreed with Tallus though; there was something not quite right here. Whether it was the ship itself or something within it, he wasn't sure. Looking around he noted that the team was indeed not in the transporter room but what looked like an empty - "Armory, Colonel." He'd recognize it even without markings. "We're outside the ship's armory."

Tallus moved to the entrance. Pressing the button for the door it opened with ease. Tallus brought up his phaser rifle and slowly entered the Armory. Looking around the room was totally empty. There were no weapons, no uniforms, no equipment. It looked like raiders had cleaned the place out except that there was no mess.

"Commander Kell, what kind of security department has no weapons in the Armory?" Tallus said looking around suspiciously.

Kell shook his head. "No idea. But this is the Armory."

Just then, an electronic sounding screech sounded through the ship's intercom system, startling the boarding party, then faded away almost as suddenly as it had begun.

Tallus brought up his rifle with his finger on the trigger. "Report!"

The squealing pierced through his head but Kell stood ready for whatever might happen. Catching a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye, Kell turned to the vid screen on the wall. "Did anyone see that?" He asked.

"Indeed so Commander. Okay, we're going to be taking this more careful. We're going to go into two teams. Commander Kell, take the Major and try to get to the Bridge. Lieutenant, we are going to try to get to Engineering. Check your corners and be safe." Tallus said tapping his COMM badge. =A=Karrikar to Protector. I had a second team of Marine's on standby. I'd like them to be beamed over now. I'm splitting is into two teams. One going for the bridge and the other for engineering.=A=

"Major Mabrade," Kell nodded to the man and then took the lead and headed in the direction of the bridge noting the corridor and level they were on.

"I'll have two Marines join you when they come aboard." Tallus called after him.

Kell nodded and raised his hand to indicate that he'd heard.

The hum of materialization began, and a few seconds later, a squad of four Marines materialized in front of them. One spoke up. "Alpha Squad reporting as ordered, colonel."

"Corporal Hunter, 2nd Lieutenant S'vek, you go with the Commander. 2nd Lieutenant Chellik, Private Yablonski, you are with me and the Lieutenant. Move out." Tallus said as the two Marines followed in the Commanders steps.

Mabrade had a rifle in his hand; the thrill of combat again, not often that he had the ground assets and being a part of them was another way to keep his ranking among his people. Combat is what makes a KNight and he had earned that title through diligence and fighting.

"Into the unknow went the brave warriors." Mabrade said the old addage under his breathg.

"Private, you cover our six. Chellik, you guard the Lieutenant with your life. Let's go." Tallus said as he headed in the opposite direction of Devyn. Lieutenant Rynn, if you see anything no matter if you think you saw it you speak out. Is that understood?"

"It is indeed," Zhara assured him. From the moment she materialized on the ship, she felt like they were being watched. She couldn't quite place it, however. It was a prickling on the back of her neck, a presence...

They hadn't gone far when she stopped the Colonel. "Check the computer. See if the internal sensors are acting up."

"Good idea Lieutenant." Tallus said as he moved to a console. "The controls aren't responding for some reason." Tallus said turning away. "See what you can do."

Zhara nodded and came up to his console. She tried to access the sensor logs, but each time it seemed like she was misdirected. Odd for a computer as old as this one. It was almost as if something were trying to keep her from getting the information she wanted. "No," she said softly to Tallus. "it isn't responding. Or rather, it is, but it is doing so by keeping us from the information we seek. It is possible the computer has been infected with a virus of some sort. Maybe the science team could tell us more. "

Tallus brought out his tricorder. "I'm not detecting any lifesigns other than us on board. Let's keep moving." Tallus said tapping HIS COMM badge. =A=Karikkar to Kell. What is your status? Have you detected anything strange or any lifesigns?=A=

=/=We are nearing the bridge Sir. We have noted several surveillance cameras along our path.=/= Kell explained as he looked at another camera. He couldn't think of any reason for a ship to have so many cameras recording throughout any ship... unless... he pushed the thought away but filed it in the back of his mind.

As Zhara continued to walk with the others, the feeling they weren't alone grew stronger. "Perhaps this ship really is haunted," she commented.


===Bridge===
"Then as with times of Old we put their spirits to rest." Mabrade said confidantly. "Even a Dutchman is a ship that can sail with or without ghosts." Mabrade had the same feeling, the unknown eyes like a crypt surrounding them. "But this ship has not seen battle, it is not a ghost of a lost vessel, it is something to be discovered and resolved. Her crew may cry out for peace and rest." He recalled many legends from his world; superstitions and folk tales told to children, but this was his first time in what could be a 'haunted ship' and with the condition he doubt these were ghosts.

Kell looked at the man. "I don't believe in ghosts." He nodded to two cameras over the bridge door and asked the science officer. "Ever seen so much surveillance on a ship before?"

Lys shook her head "No, makes me wonder why? Were they super paranoid or what was the problem exactly."

===Engineering===
Tallus nodded his head as he tapped his COMM badge. =A=Karrikar to Ops. Send in the science team. No hostiles, just inform them to keep an eye open. I want Marines or Security personnel with them at all times.=A=

"I doubt that this ship is truly haunted. Perhaps a computer virus by nothing more." Tallus said looking around. They were outside Engineering but the doors were refusing to open. "Marines, provide me some assistance." Tallus said as the Marines began to help pry the door.

Finally the door gave way as the Marines fell through the door. As soon as he landed Tallus jumped to his feet rifle at the ready. All around there we more security cameras. Looking at a console that appeared to be operating he approached it. What looked like a face appeared on it. Tallus backed slowly away watching it.

All of a sudden what could only be described as a scream sounded throughout the ship.

Zhara walked in behind the Marines. She looked at the digital representation of a face on the screen. It seemed to be saying something. She walked closer, trying to hear over the sound of the alarms. "Take them away!" it seemed to be saying.

She watched the face, which seemed to be in great pain. It hadn't said anything. The voice was in her head. A residual of someone who died on this ship? Possibly. "Colonel, there is a presence here that wants us to leave. It is human but not. Perhaps someone with a strong personality may have died in this room." However, she was beginning to doubt that. It felt more like the presence permeated the ship.

"Indeed Lieutenant. I have felt it since we first arrived." Tallus said approaching an energy barrier of some sort. "It would also appear that we are restricted to this section of engineering." Tallus said looking for what was powering the barrier.

One of the Marines approached the barrier and reached out his hand. A moment before his hands made contact Tallus felt something right at the edge of his telepathy. Turning quickly he tried to stop the Marine before he touched the barrier but was too late.

He didn't even have a chance to scream before the barrier over powered itself.

===Bridge===

Kell and his small group covered their ears at the piercing sound. "What the hell??" Kell couldn't hear himself think with the screaming but heard an inaudible plea in his mind. "Help Us!" He shook it off for the moment but etched it in his mind so he wouldn't forget. When the noise finally quit, Devyn looked at Lys, the science officer that had joined himself and Mabrade. "Let's see what data we can retrieve from the ship's computer and the Captain's log."

Lys walked over and followed orders she started to access the computer. "It will take some time to examine things."

Brian was feeling decidedly uncomfortable. The sounds in his head he could compartmentalize, those in his mind he found harder to shut out despite his shielding. I don't need instruments to tell me there is something, someone out there." he said in a quiet tone.

"Commander, try the Captain's ready room. His personal computer may hold something." Kell directed the man and then nodded to the Marine lieutenant indicating the man should follow him. "See if his personal logs contain anything. I'm going to check security and engineering logs up here to see if I can find anything."

"This class of ship did not have a ready room, the Captain met in the briefing room." Mabrade said. "She had fine lines and power in her time, a pity this one never had a chance to show her colors." He went towards the Helm Station. "I will check this and the Navigation to see where she has logged as having been?"

"No ready room..okay." Kell hadn't realized. "but there must have been an office where he could gather his thoughts, make a personal log. I want to see if his personal computer has any information." He looked around. "There are even security cameras on the bridge. I feel like Alice down the rabbit hole." The whole thing felt off but Kell couldn't put his finger on it and it bothered him. He looked over at the science officer again. "Anything at all?" He asked.

"No" Lys sounded puzzled "not really, bits and pieces of garbled gumbly goo but other then that not a lot. Its like the files have been erased."

At that point, the door to the lift opened. There was nobody there. It closed and then opened again repeating itself. Each time, it moved faster until it was barely completing a cycle. [open close open close open close]

Lys looked up and tiled her dark head as she looked at the door and at her console. "That wasn't me."

"Not me either." Kell shook his head.

The young Marine assigned to them walked toward the door cautiously. They'd just been told that his team mate had been killed and he wasn't about to be the next victim. Leaning forward, he tried to see around the sliding door as it opened. He kept his weapon in front of him to gauge the distance and prevent himself from being caught between the door and the bulkhead. The door stopped moving just as suddenly as it started. The young Marine took a step outside the door to see if he could spot any reason and the door slammed shut behind him just as a red alert sounded throughout the ship. Lights flashing, sirens blowing and then there was that inaudible screaming once again. It was as if the young marine had escaped and the ship was setting off an alarm to find him.

Kell covered his ears from the pain the sound was causing as he tried to retrieve the young officer. He pounded on the door and then tried to manually pry it open. The door slid and the young marine nearly fell inside. The screaming and alarms stopped immediately.

"Evidently we're supposed to stay here." Kell frowned. He was beginning to feel like he and his team were wanted right where they were.

TAGS - Kell others?

[tag anyone from bridge team]

===Engineering===

"Clear the room!" Tallus yelled as he pushed Zhara out the door as the other Marine scrambled very quickly out. =A=Karikkar to Kell. If you come across any barriers do not touch them. I just lost a Marine.=A=

"Dammit." Tallus said under his breath. "Marine, stay here. This room is off limits to everyone. Until I give the order those doors stay closed." Tallus said turning to Zhara. "Follow me, we're going to join the Commander on the bridge." =A=Karrikar to Ops. Inform all outgoing parties that if they come across any barriers they are to cease all further pursuits into the ship. Private Yablonski is dead. I don't know if it was just an accidental surge or not.=A=

"You felt it, too," Zhara said to Tallus as she followed him. "The entity." It was more a statement than a question.

The Marine assigned to stand sentry duty looked a little nervous, but he held to his post in True Marine fashion.

"Indeed Lieutenant. Lets get moving." Tallus said as he took point. He double checked his rifle to be sure that it was fully powered. He set forth toward a turbolift. Tapping the controls it wouldn't respond.

"It looks like we are going to be in the Jeffries Tubes. Lets double time it." Tallus said as he started sprinting for the nearest tube. Tapping the controls on it he moved through it. "It may not be ideal but at least we can move through them. Keep your eyes peeled." Tallus said as he started crawling.

It wasn't long before they had reached the first junction. Tallus tried tapping the controls to go further up but they wouldn't respond. Tallus took a deep sigh and grabbed the manual opener. With all the strength that he could muster the door wouldn't budge.

"Try the other doors." Tallus said with a grunt.

The door opened easily. "It looks like we are to go this way," Zhara said dryly. The feeling of being watched was making her very uncomfortable. "Hello?" she called telepathically, just in case the entity was listening.

Tallus looked at the door that refused to open. There was no sign that it had been sealed shut. "Alright, so that way it is." Tallus said suspiciously. "I don't particularly like being led around."

"Nor do I, but until we find out what's going on, we have little choice," Zhara said.

=A=Commander Kell, how are things on your end?=A=

=A=Kell here. It appears we are being 'held' on the bridge. We had an incident with the door and when we stepped out - all hell broke loose. Once we stepped back in, everything was fine.=A= He looked around. =A= Something wants us here for some reason.=A=

To be continued...

OFF

 

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