Make Us Strong

Anomaly TrekMUX Episode (#02-006) 02/23/01

T'sal nods and hands Poole the PADD. "Doctor, sir. And indeed. These are the requisitions that the infirmary will require next month. I prefer to give them to you directly this month so as to make sure that we get the bioscanner that I requisitioned last month. I do understand that there is a war going on, however, our infirmary is nothing more than a first aid station without the proper medical equipment."

"Understood perfectly, Doctor." Gwen stands to receive the PADD, "I'll send it out as soon as possible." She looks around the rest of the officers, still nothing out of the ordinary... yet.

Kallan tries not to smirk at the Vulcan's up-front request, and instead, goes down a scanning checklist.

T'sal nods to Poole. "Aye sir," she says. She moves to one of the consoles and sits down at it, bringing up some records. She starts to file through them.

Gwen sits back down, nodding to Janos. "Good. Sounds like all the sheep are in the pen, so to speak." She takes the PADD she was given and makes a note in her own PADD, putting it on her to-do list.

There is a chirrup followed by, "Aegis Engineering to Ops."

"Ops here." Gwen says, setting T'sal's PADD aside for the moment.

O'Doherty enters operations, the door sliding shut behind him.

"Ops we have a serious problem here. We have an eminent collapse of our containment field. Recommend go to red alert."

T'sal arches a slender eyebrow as she turns to regard the Second Officer.

"Acknowledged." Gwen stands again.

Poole says "Computer, Red alert."

The red alert klaxon sounds throughout the station.

Kallan frowns, glancing sharply over at Lt. Poole. Fingers briskly move across his console, scanning the Aegis and pulling up a scan of her Engineering section.

O'Doherty says "Oh Chirst I haven't even been here a whole day."

T'sal turns to start monitoring her console. "If the Aegis needs to be evacuated, sir, it will take approximately six and a half minutes."

The voice speaks over the comm, "We're working on getting this back up. Hopefully it will not be too big of a problem, sir."

Janos taps keys at the console, "All ships currently docked at the station and capable to disembark have been given notice."

Poole's comm badge chirrups. "Commander Balin to Lieutenant Poole," says a voice over it.

Poole taps her comm badge. "Lieutenant Poole here."

Over Poole's comm badge, Balin says, "Status report."

Poole says into her comm badge, "The containment field on the Aegis is collapsing. You might want to come out here, sir."

Itaani steps into Ops, still sealing the top of her uniform.

Over Poole's comm badge, Balin says, "Handle it, Lt. I've got Starfleet on the horn and I've lost two inches on my backside already. They're not done chewing yet."

Poole terminates transmission with a tap on her comm badge.

"Aegis. Recommend you start evacuating." Gwen says, still standing, nodding to Janos and T'sal.

Kallan's scan reveals that the Aegis is rapidly losing containment. They are struggling to put it under control but it appears futile.

Itaani looks up to the situation board.

"Lieutenant Poole, the Aegis' containment field is still rapidly failing without sign of slowdown," Kallan says firmly, without looking up from his console. His fingers are still rapidly typing, analyzing Engineering from every aspect.

Itaani steps down. "Sitrep, Mister Janos."

T'sal taps her badge. "Infirmary, prepare to receive the Aegis' medical evacuations." She goes back to her console and starts to monitor the progress of the evac.

Without turning from the console display, Janos adresses Itaani, "Well sir...the Aegis is reporting a containment field failure of it's warp core. I have alerted all ship docked at the station, amd those that are capable of departing are preparing to get safely away."

O'Doherty begins tapping way at his station to establish a link to the aehis's engineering station

The voice on the com says, "We're evacuating, Ops. We should have everyone off in about five, six minutes now."

Itaani says "Scans. I want a look at their computer core."

Itaani says "Time to core breach?"

Janos says "Beginning the evacuation of all non-essential personnel...transport alpha and theta are prepared for departure."

"Computer core?" Kallan shifts his scans to the computer core, linking over to Janos' and Itaani's stations and sharing his data.

Itaani looks at the tactical display. "Yes. I've often wondered how Admiral Sinclaire got her flagship. I don't intend to find out now..." She strides toward Tactical.

Itaani says "Look for foreign matter of a silicate nature."

"Yes, ma'am," Kallan replies, and he begins a shipwide scan of the Aegis, focusing primarily on the computer core, as well as Engineering. "Starting scan for foreign sillicates."

Janos continues watching the data on his display, "OK, let's all put our heads together, and see if we can get this problem under control"

T'sal looks to Poole. "One fourth of personnel are evacuated, sir."

Janos says "I have sent an encrypted message to SF command, informing them of our situation."

Gwen taps the small console near the commander's chair and brings the Aegis up on the viewscreen, then turns to look at T'sal... she was just about to ask about the status of the evacuation. Her eyes flit to Kallan, and she says, "Anything on sensors? Something we can see that they can't?"

Itaani looks to Poole. "Lieutenant. Advising that this may be an attempted theft of the USS Aegis. Presumably, we would know why the core was inexplicably overloading. In light of last week's events, this seems quite possible as a ruse... Or threat.

"What the..." Lieutenant Kallan pounds his display once, then twice, each time a negative chirp coming from the computer. "Scans cannot penetrate the computer core of the Aegis, Lieutenant."

Janos says "Computer, time remaining before the containment field on the Aegis' warp core fails?"

Itaani says "Discontinue. Set up a map of tachyon emissions to the auxiliary screen.""

Gwen frowns, listening to Itaani, then speaks to through the connection to the Aegis. "Recommend you dump your warp core, Aegis. At least you'll save the ship."

T'sal shakes her head. "The Aegis is too close to the station, sir, if it were ejected here, it would destroy the station. And perhaps this whole sector with its close proximity to the anomaly."

Itaani says "That would mean the antimatter storage bottles were failing. I find that unlikely to happen of themselves."

Poole's comm badge chirrups. "Lieutenant Ghorev to Lieutenant Poole," says a voice over it.

Poole taps her comm badge. "Lieutenant Poole here."

Poole says into her comm badge, "Please tell me you have good news, Chief."

Itaani says "One way or another, I don't think the Aegis will be here long."

Itaani says "Computer, locate Ensign Tyler.""

The computer chimes twice in the negative, then says, "There is no individual by that name on board the ship."

Itaani says "Computer, locate Tyler.""

Over Poole's comm badge, Ghorev says, "Lieutenant, I'm showing we've got approximately 4 minutes and 20 seconds until Aegis' containment breaches. It's not *good* news, but it gives us a definite estimate of our safety margin. I'm going to work on increasing our own integrity here, and then we can focus on other options. Do you want me to keep this channel open?"

The computer chimes, then says, "Ensign Tyler is located at Crew Quarters 407"

Poole says into her comm badge, "Yes, Chief. Stay on the line."

Janos checks his display, "All non-essential personnel have been evacuated from the station....all transports save Transports Tango and Sierra have been dispatched."

Over Poole's comm badge, Ghorev says, "Aye, Sir."

T'sal looks to Poole. "Ninety percent of the Aegis crew has been evacuated, sir. Might I make a recommendation?"

Janos checks, then re-checks his Display. "Sir....I am detecting a Pakled vessel leaving the area...it has just gone into warp......able to get a reading on it. It's designation is the Rodan"

Janos turns to Poole, "Shall I hail them?"

"Yes, Doctor." Gwen turns looking in T'sal's direction, then her attention is grabbed by Janos. "Pakled?"

Itaani says "Lieutenant Poole. Permission to arm phasers, in the event this is a theft?"

T'sal regards Poole cooly. "If we release the Aegis' docking clamps and set the computer to automatically take the Aegis out of the range of the station, it would save the station. Logic dictates that if we cannot save the Aegis, we must save the station."

Upon hearing about the Pakled ship, Lt. Kallan multitasks, firing up another display, preparing long-range scanners to hit the Rodan, if the order is given. He then turns back to his active scans of the Aegis.

"Arm phasers, low-intensity." Gwen nods to Janos, "Hail the Rodan." Then she nods to T'sal, "Care to tell the Aegis that?"

Janos nods, "Aye sir, according to the logs, they were not one of the vessels docked at the station.....according to it's flight path, they never changed course"

T'sal turns to her console and starts communicating with the remaining Aegis crew through her keyboard.

Janos sends out the hailing signal, "Hailing them sir.....they are are ignoring our hails."

Itaani hits a few buttons. "Arming phasers, slow and low, sir."

Itaani says "Hail more stridently, Mister Janos. This is passing odd."

Janos continues the hailing protocols, "Still refusing to answer our hails sir" He taps a few more keys, "Hold on...the docking manifest logs have been tampered with.....cleaning them up now.....the Rodan WAS docked here."

Kallan's attention is diverted to his secondary screen, looking at the Rodan's heading and speed. He fires up a projected course, with the center of the course angled towards the Klingon border of the Romulan Neutral Zone. Frowning slightly, he keeps that screen active and focuses more on the Aegis.

Janos glances over his shoulder at Poole, "Shall I contact any allied vessels in the area to detain the pakled vessel sir?"

Itaani prepares to target the Pakled vessel, but doesn't add to the confusion... If Poole orders it, she'll be ready, though.

Gwen replies to Janos, "Yes." Then she stands, moving over towards the tactical controls... that -is- her forte. "How much time does the Aegis have left?"

Janos sends out the signal to any available allied ships.

Itaani glances to Poole. "We could possibly catch them with a runabout... Or a torpedo."

Gwen sends Itaani an icy look, "The torpedo will not be necessary." She dismisses Ensign Lake from the secondary tactical console and starts tapping at it, examing the data. "I'd rather not send any runabouts after it. Last time I did, I received a reprimand.... We will have to rely on our allies in the area."

Itaani turns her attention to the Aegis, then. She comes from a rather icy planet. " Mister Kallan. If you could break the tampering on our records, could you break similar tampering on the Aegis? "

Janos shakes his head, "I will attempt it...the docking manifest logs tampering was very basic....something tells me the Aegis is going to be a bit more compicated" He bins pressing a series of keys on his console.

T'sal looks to Poole. "Sir, evacuation complete. Docking clamps have been released."

"They've agreed to your plan then, Doctor?" Gwen asks, looking up from her console for the moment. "There has to be some way to save that bird."

Itaani laughs. "Mister Kallan. How much antimatter would it consume to use Aegis's replicators to generate water at maximum capacity?"

Silent and analytical, Lt. Kallan continues analyzing the Aegis, rehashing the same scans, searching for any anomalies. "Her Engineering crew should have a simple containment breach locked down by now. What the hell is going on? Computer, link Science Station I to the Aegis' computer core. Let's see if that works."

Janos shakes his head, "I'm sorry...I cant break that code....it's just not my specialty"

Janos presses keys on the console, "Still nod responding to our hails."

Itaani says "I do not like this, Pakleds are known thieves, and we are about to throw a cruiser away..."

Over Poole's comm badge, Ghorev says, "Lieutenant, I have our structural integrity field strengthened. She won't take a direct blow, but if we force an ejection of Aegis' Warp Core *soon*, we can propel it far enough away with tractor beams to minimizethe loss."

Itaani starts initializing tractor beams...

Poole says into her comm badge, "Let's -do- it."

Over Poole's comm badge, Ghorev says, "Have someone up there at ops or tactical standing buy with the tractor beam. Any word from Aegis? Has she been fully evacuated or do I need to start beaming people out while someone else handles the warp core override?"

"Aegis, if you can still hear us, dump your core, we are going to try and propel it away at high-velocity with out tractor beams... As soon as you dump it, move away as fast as you can manage." Gwen says, hoping the connection is still open. "If they can't do it, is there any way we dump it from here?"

Lyall enters operations, the door sliding shut behind him.

Suddenly the engines of the Aegis flare to life, as it drifts from the station.

Poole says "Get that computer to dump the core, -now-."

Lyall walks into Ops while wiping the sweat off his brow. "Damn it, what is going on! I was in my Ready Room on the Aegis when things went nuts. Report!" He stops up short when he sees everyone in Ops, and says, "Well?"

Itaani says "Tractor beam standing by, sir."

T'sal shakes her head. "It's too close, Lieutenant."

Poole says into her comm badge, "Fully evacuated and accounted for. Tractor beams are ready and the Aegis is moving away."

The ship appears as though it's changing it's trajectory, altering its course, almost as though someone besides autopilot were controlling it. Sensors read warp engines being prepared aboard her.

Kallan's fingers are flying across the keys, trying desperately to establish a link with the Aegis' computer core before things blow up. "Come on... come on..."

Over Poole's comm badge, Ghorev says, "Working override, then. Who's piloting her remotely?"

Itaani says "Lieutenant!"

"Son of a bitch." Gwen stands, looking to Itaani, "Can we get a tractor beam lock?"

Itaani says "Attempting."

Itaani hits the tractor beam.

Lyall looks around, and walks up to stand beside the person who appears to be in command...Lieutenant Poole. Staying out of her way, he watches the screen helplessly as his ship drifted away from the station.

Itaani says "We may need to disable her, sir..."

Poole says into her comm badge, "No clue, Chief. Someone has sticky fingers."

Lyall nods to Poole, and says, "Better than destroying her..."

Itaani says "Tractor beams are showing power loss...."

Over Poole's comm badge, Ghorev says, "Wait a moment ... someone's trying to *steal* Aegis?"

Itaani says "Switching to backups..."

Gwen nods, then says, "Fire those phasers, disable her engines. Don't do any damage if you can help it."

Itaani shakes her head as Ghorev says that...

Itaani says "Aye, sir..."

Poole says into her comm badge, "It's starting to look that way, Chief."

Itaani locks phasers and targets Aegis's engines.

Lyall flinches when Poole says to fire phasers. "She's a tough ship, I don't know if that will affect her. You may have to consider something else..."

"Suggestion, Commander?" Gwen asks, not releasing command, but looking hopefully to the more experienced officer.

Janos turns to Poole, "Sir...we are recieving a hail from a klingon Vessel...the M'akthar"

Lyall nods, and says, "I am not here to assume command, Lieutenant. This is your show. However, perhaps if we shut down her engines another way...a subspace static pulse? That should shut down the shields, and shut down the impulse engines. Then we can beam a security team over there, and take her back." He smiles at her, watching everything around him.

As Itaani fires phasers at the ship, the ship is, in the flash of a moment, in warp speed.

Lyall says, "We know her shield frequency...that's how it would work."

Over Poole's comm badge, Ghorev says, "Something's knocked down my remote link, Lieutenant. Unless someone up there can generate a graviton pulse to knock the Aegis' engine offline, we'll have to keep her in a tractor beam or risk losing her."

Janos turns to Poole, "Sir...we are recieving a hail from a klingon Vessel...the M'akthar."

"Onscreen, Janos." Gwen says, still working at her own console.

Janos taps a button at his console, "On screen now sir"

Kallan slams his hand against his console's panel. "Damnit! I can't get in if she's warping."

Itaani 's knuckles go from blue to white. "Phasser hit ineffective. Shall I arm torpedoes?

T'sal straightens up at her console and turns to regard the second officer, and the new first officer of the Aegis. She remains quiet, clasping her hands behind her.

The face of a Klingon Captain appears on the viewscreen. He's snarling, scarred and irritated looking. He wears a long thin moustache which hangs down well into his long thin beard. He looks askance at the screen, saying nothing.

"No, Lt." Gwen replies, standing and moving to address the klingon commander onscreen. She glances behind her to Lyall, motioning with her eyes that she hopes he'll come stand with her.

Janos mutters under his breath to Poole, "Sir...the klingons"

"Captain. Since you've hailed us, I assume you realize that something is amiss... Is there any way you could assist us in stopping the Federation cruiser, Aegis?" Gwen says, looking the klingon commander in the eyes.

Itaani says something in a language you do not understand.

Itaani says something under her breath in her native language...

Lyall nods and stands with Poole watching the Klingon on the screen. He nods to her, telling her that she should take the lead as the 2O...

A low growl comes from the Klingon. "I believe it was you, who hailed us. What's this? You want one of your own cruisers stomped?" He looks around to his crew who can be viewed in the background behind him, with questioning eyes.

Kallan alternates from glancing quickly at the viewscreen, and back at his own console, obviously both intimidated and curious about the Klingons.

Lyall watches as Poole leaves the bridge on a mission. He looks back at the Klingon, and smiles a feral grin. "Ah, Captain. Someone has stolen our vessal. We would appreciate any assistance you could give us to disable it."

O'Doherty exits operations, heading out into the corridor.

Itaani says under her breath. "Someone do their best to track the Aegis?" She grumbles, "Someone should go back in time and break the nose of the first person to think of it."

The Klingon Captain narrows his eyes dangerously upon Lyall, scrutinizing him in a near gunslinger type stand-off. He begins to bark in low tones, in Klingon to his Lieutenants.

"Aye, Lieutenant," Kallan says, and updates his link to Itaani's station, showing him where the Aegis is going, as well as where the Pakled ship was projected to go.

After a brief conferance, the Captain returns to stare intently toward Lyall. "Is this some kind of trap, or deception?" He demands.

Lyall places his hands on his hips, and obviously challenging stature. He says, "I want it /disabled/, Captain. If it is destroyed or seriously damaged, I will challenge you to an honour duel!" He smiles and says, "I am sure that little ship should be no troubles for true Klingon Warriors..." He nods to Itaani, silently giving her a "good call". He looks back at the Klingon, and says, "You would dare implicate me in such a /Romulan/ type ploy? Be careful what you say..." He growls, "...or we will meet in combat!"

The Captain's snarl turns into a wicked looking smile. He says, "I would welcome that chance, though you barely look fit to pick my teeth." His teeth show in a grin, "Very well... we'll 'disable' this ship for you." The way he says disabled seems disturbing somehow.

Lyall laughs and says, "Anytime you think you are ready for a beating, captain, and I will be waiting. Kapla!" He turns to the officers, and nods. "Keep scanning...keep giving me updates."

Itaani steps into the viewscreen. "Captain. I am Shaiya Itaani, currently holding the bridge here on station. Unfortunately, we have fallen into a bit of a conflict of honour versus efficacy. If you can do us the favour of returning the ship to us, we can return the favour with some fair bloodwine we've had improted. No more can we ask, but in the name of our alliance against a common foe, there should be bond of wine between us." She presses her hands together before her and smiles dangerously.

Kallan resumes scanning, shifting power to long range sensors to pinpoint the Aegis as well as the M'akthar. "Scanning, sir," he states, work giving him distraction from the thought of Klingons.

Itaani says "Mister Janos, take us down to yellow alert, please."

Janos says "Computer, yellow alert"

The station goes to yellow alert.

The feirce Captain smiles at the screen, surveying Lyall a little more. Something telling seems ready to take him up on the challenge at the earliest opportunity. He says nothing however. But his hand goes out and deactivates the screen, ending the transmission.

Janos watches the display at his console, "The Pakled are still out there sir." He looks back at Itaani.

Lyall blows out the breath he was holding, and says, "Good call Lieutenant." He nods to Itaani. "I am sure the Captain appreciates that." He turns to Janos, and says, "What Pakled?"

Itaani says "Then see to it our computers are secure, Mister Janos."

Itaani offers a hand to Lyall in the human fashion. "You must be Commander Lyall. Apologies for the circumstance, but ...welcome to our roof, such as we find it tonight."

Janos looks over his other shoulder at Lyall, "We detected a pakled vessel departing the station when this trouble started. I attempted to hail it, but it never answered us. A signal was sent out to any allied vessels to apprehend the ship, and the M'aktur was the first to respond."

"The Pakled vessel was headed for the Neutral Zone, sir," Lt. Kallan offers to Lyall. "Angled towards the Klingon border."

Janos says "With Lt. Poole departing so quickly, I didn't want to interupt when the klingons were on screen with us....it would not have looked good in their eyes."

Janos he looks back down at his console, "It appears there are no other ships in the vicinity that could offer assistance."

Lyall takes Itaani's hand, and shakes it firmly. He smiles, and says, "Yes, that's me. Looks like I'm the XO of a stolen ship now..." he looks around at the comments made by the Junior Officers, and says, "Was there any correlation in timing between the Pakled vessal and the departure of the Aegis?"

Itaani nods. "Also a good call, Mister Janos. " Looking to Lyall. "And their docking here was erased from her records. As I remember seeing no Pakleds about, either, it's possible that the Pakled vessel is not in fact crewed by Pakleds, either. Mister Janos. See if security can confirm any Pakled presence here today. Someone must have seen with their own eyes.

Kallan's panel chirps an error sound, and he glances over at it. "Holy... Sir, the Rodan -- the Pakled vessel -- is just inside Klingon space. The Aegis is headed right for it... and the M'akthar is on intercept of the Aegis. Something's fishy."

Janos nods, "Aye sir"

Lyall says, with a knowing grin, "Just like I thought...have security take the Runabouts out after those ships...we can give the klingons some backup..."

Itaani says "Thank you, Mister Kallan. It will likely be empty in short order, in any event. <turning> Can I offer you a temporary command, Commander?"

Janos gets the report from security, "There were several pakled merchants on station today.....hmmmm...there was one who was caught on the engineering deck near the tractor control conduits, but he was released without further incident."

Lyall blinks at Itaani, and says, "What did you have in mind, Lieutenant?" He smiles, and leans against the nearest console.

Lyall looks at Janos, and says, "Get an engineering team on it...and have security comb the station for any more engineering changes. Assign one engineer to a security officer."

Itaani says "Find out who released him and tell that to our chief of security.""

Kallan continues to monitor the activity near the Klingon border, on long range sensors.

Itaani checks time-to-intercept on the place the Klingons are likely to meet the Aegis/Pakled ship rendezvous.

Janos nods, "aye sir." He begins sending the orders out to the engineering teams on duty.

As much to himself as to the others, Janos asks, "Why would a klingon vessel of that size be in the vicinity of the station...and not be at the lines?"

Lyall says, "Okay, everyone, options from Operations. Go." He nods to Itaani, smiling.

Janos taps his display, "Readying runabout now"

Itaani calls senior officers to Ops and rustles up a crew for the runabout. Giving command to Lyall, as it's his ship.

The runabouts are outfitted for the away teams to overtake the Aegis. As you fly toward the Klingon border, reports come in that the Aegis and the Pakled ship have fallen under attack from the Klingon ship, the M'akthar. As the runabouts disengage warp, the battle is in plain view. The Pakled ship is on fire and all but destroyed and the Aegis appears as though it's suffering as well, as experienced pilots play cat and mouse with... whoever is piloting the Aegis.

Itaani says from flight control of the Dunkellin... "Scan for surviving Pakleds, Mister Janos. I doubt the Klingons care to save their... sentient lives..."

Itaani focuses her attention on Aegis.

Kallan seems a bit nervous, distracted from his console by watching the viewports.

From his seat at the helm, Janos begins scanning the pakled vessel.

Janos says "I hope the M'akthar doesn't decide to turn on us next."

The Dunkellin receives a hail from the USS Aegis. Scans of the Pakled ship reveal some 28 lifeforms, Pakleds aboard her as well as several deceased.

Itaani says "Not if we're their cheering section."

Janos establishes communication with the aegis.

Itaani opens hail. "Dunkellin. Itaani here.

A pakled appears on screen-

This alien is rather short and impressively obese, with olive colored skin. Deep folds around his eyes make them appear droopy while eyebrows shoot vertically up his forehead in two great bushels. His lips appear large and ungainly and when they utter words, his voice is deep, resonate, but somewhat simple sounding. Oily black hair is worn short and combed from his face with a receding hairline revealing of his age.

He wears a padded, deep green jumpsuit with straps along the shoulders and waist. A pair of dark brown boots are worn on his feet. Perhaps his strength alone is not enough to carry his great weight, he walks with a 'cane' which is really more like a long iron rod with inlaid, primative (almost childish) designs on it.

 Janos watches the pakled on the screen from the helm.

Itaani looks to the Pakled, focusing on the screen. "This is Lieutenant Shaiya Itaani of the United Federation of Planets. You have stolen Federation property in a time of war. You may surrender to me, or my friends in the pretty green bird. They may be less forgiving."

The Pakled appears worried, saddened, "You must help us!"

Lyall nods to Itaani, agreeing with his comments.

Janos says "Should we contact the klingons...get them to cease their attack?"

Itaani nods to Janos.

Lyall says, "Why should we help you? You have stolen our starship, and committed acts of war against the United Federation of Planets." He holds his hand up to Janos, signalling, "Yes...for now..."

Kallan begins working at his console, attempting once again to get into the Aegis' computer core. "If I can get in, I can overide her..."

Janos attempts to establish communications with the M'akthar.

Itaani says "That's possible. Return control of the vessel to its normal protocols. We will save you.""

Lyall nods to Kallan..."Keep trying, " He whispers.

Itaani mutters to Janos. "Prepare to implement Aegis' prefix code. Power down weapons and keep shields up until the Klingons ceasse fire."

Janos nods

The Pakled says, "No. We need the crystal thing inside your ship. It will make us strong again." He appears dumbfounded at the accusations being leveled at him.

Lyall says, "Well, my friend, are you going to surredur now? If you are destroyed, you won't get to see you getting strong again."

Itaani lets Lyall take over. "Mister Janos, have the Tigris begin taking on Pakled survivors from their ship. It will be tight."

The Pakled says, "You must help us against the strong Klingons and then help us..." His eyes drift absently off.

Itaani scans the status of Aegis.

Janos nods, "Their shields are still up, but I will see if we can bypass them"

Itaani says "Negative on that. Let them choose their fate for now.""

The Klingon Captain appears on screen, with a wary eye upon the occupants of the runabout.

Janos says "The klingons sir"

~Bzztbzzt!~ "Damnit!" Lieutenant Kallan types furiously away, hitting block after block trying to get into the Aegis'.

A shot is fired, hitting the Aegis square in the engines. The Aegis begins to slow to a lumbering hulk in space.

Itaani smiles, taking hte Klingon's call while Lyall talks to the Pakled. "Captain. Excellent hunting. We must only now convince these simple folk to surrender our ship. <more quietly> Can your gunners help us convince them without troubling our engineers too much?"

Lyall nods and says, to the Pakled, "If you don't surrendur your ship now, we will be forced to let the klingons hurt you and your noble crew on your other ship."

The Klingon Captain says, "I need no convincing for that." He turns his head to order, "Ready a torpedo." He returns his stare toward Itaani, with a look as though relishing the chance to fire it.

Itaani's comm badge chirrups. "Chief Petty Officer O'Doherty to Lieutenant Itaani," says a voice over it.

Meanwhile, the Pakled shakes his head, "No. We must have the crystal thing. It is the only way we can be strong again. We cannot surrender."

Janos brings the Dunkellin in closer towards the massive klingon vessel.

Lyall looks at Itaani, and then goes back to the Pakled..."Then we will be forced to take desperate measures..." Turning to the Klingon, he says, "If you would fire sir?"

Itaani smiles her dangerous smile to the Klingon, and speaks up, as if cautioning him to be gentle. She addresses the screen, though ostensibly talking to Lyall. "Commander, they've proven some of their strength, but are they wise enough to see we are stronger? Perhaps they might yet join with us, and be as strong as we?"

Janos turns towards Lyall, "Sir...a torpedo hit will cause serious damage...with the damage it's taken already, the Aegis might be lost."

Lyall looks at Itaani, and then at Janos. He nods, holds up his hand to stay the Klingon, and says, "Do you hear that Pakled Captain? You will be destroyed if you do not surrendur...right now. This is your last chance."

Janos's comm badge chirrups. "Chief Petty Officer O'Doherty to Ensign Janos," says a voice over it.

Janos taps his comm badge. "Ensign Janos here."

Over Janos's comm badge, O'Doherty says, "If may beg yar pardon sir. If'n you be need'n a way to catch the Aegis, I think I may have a solution."

Itaani looks to Janos. "Ah, but perhaps our adversaries do not fear the death, their own burning flesh in their nostrils as they are blown into the cold vacuum of space, conscious as their blood boils in vacuum, then freezes, lost forever?"

Janos words come at about the same time as the Klingon shouts, "Fire!" The Pakled sits in stubburn, dumfounded silence in the meantime. Out the viewport, the red glare of a torpedo emits from the Klingon warship.

Janos watches the torpedoes as they arc towards the crippled aegis.

Lyall blinks as Itaani talks like a warrior. He watches as the torpedo heads towards the Aegis..."Damn!"

Itaani targets the torpedo, in case of sudden acquiescence on the part of the Pakleds...

Lyall shouts out the next commands, "Get ready to board the Aegis. Damage control teams, and security stand by."

The Pakled captain terminates transmission with a sad look in his eyes as one who sees their dreams shattered, and shortly thereafter, the Aegis attempts a lumbering maneuver to dodge the torpedo.

Janos begins pressing buttons at the helm, "We're limited with what we can do with the two runabout crews, hopefully it will be sufficient"

Janos says into his comm badge, "Chief...we're going to need engineers standing by as we are going to try and board the aegis"

Lyall nods, and says, "Scan the Aegis. How many are there on that ship?"

Itaani sighs. Tracking the torpedo...

Over Janos's comm badge, O'Doherty says, "Aye sir I'll have the lads ready"

Janos focuses the Dunkellin's sensors on the aegis

Janos reads the display, "I am reading 12 life signs.... all on the bridge"

Lyall nods, and says, "Stand by on transporters. Get ready to put the teams on the bridge. We may be in for a firefight...phasers on stun."

Itaani spares a small glance for the viescreen with the Klingon Captain. "Commander, I'll pour your wine myself if this works for us..." A breathless moment as the torpedo tracks...

Itaani presses a control....

Itaani says "Shieh...""

Janos says into his comm badge, "Chief, why don't you get up front here....tell us what you can about the condition of the aegis"

Itaani says "Your ship, Commander!"

Janos fights to steady the Dunkellin.

Itaani shouts equally quickly to the monitor "Captain! Cease fire, it's hand to hand now!"

Lyall says, "Now, beam us onto the bridge! Everyone, stand by, and attack targets at will. Good job Lieutenant Itaani!" He nods to the Klingon, "And now the fun begins. Energize!"

Over Janos's comm badge, O'Doherty says, "Aye Sir on my way."

O'Doherty walks in with Engineering Kit on his shoulder

You materiaze on board the bridge of the Aegis. A familiar site, save the Pakleds that now have control of the various stations and the particularly large one sitting in the Captain's chair and the general disarray.

As he materializes on the Aegis' bridge, Janos readies his weapon and points it at the nearest pakled to his position.

Lyall takes aim at the Pakled in the command chair, and fires his phaser, set on stun.

Itaani does likewise, quick shots to reduce the enemy's numbers.

Janos takes aim and attempts to stun the pakled at the helm

Lyall misses the Pakled due to the jostling of the ship. The shot goes wide, and Lyall gets ready to set himself up for a counterattack...

Itaani tosses a number of quick shots in the general direction of a number of Pakleds... In between them, it seems.

Two shots go toward the Captain's chair and the Pakled sitting in it. While the first shot narrowly misses an ear, the Pakled gets to his feet, weilding his iron rod, ready to strike the nearest Starfleet officer. It looks like it's going to hurt. Janos shot however hits the Pakled Captain square and drops him in a heap on the floor. Seeing shots being fired, the rest of the security team opens up as well, with Pakleds returning fire over the bridge and moving into cover.

Lyall sets his Type I Phaser to Stun.

O'Doherty ducks for cover

Itaani just looks at the Pakleds she flung energy around, this time levelling the phaser at one, guarding the Commander if possible...

Lyall notes Itaani's protectiveness, and appreciates it. Nodding to Itaani, he continues to fire at the obviously surprised Pakleds, and the rout that was happening as the well trained security officers laid down suppression fire...

The Pakleds are overtaken by the officers, shot down one by one until they lay on the floor unconcious, though it appears amoung the crew some have taken injuries, as the Pakled weapons were not set on stun, themselves. One security Ensign, fresh from the Academy lays doubled in the floor, still as death.

O'Doherty quickly moves to the Enginneering station to survey the Damage.

Itaani ends up phasering the man down. Sighing. "Your ship, Commander."

Janos moves to the operations console, "He attempts to activate the viewscreen, "Let's see what our klingon friends are up to."

Lyall nods and says, "We need a medtech...check on that Ensign." He points to the downed man. Nodding to security, "Get these Pakleds into the brig." He says, "Well, everyone, if you can take position, get me a status on the ship, and get me the Klingon commander. We also have some Pakleds to save on their ship..."

Janos says "Hailing them now sir."

Itaani nods. to Lyall and addresses a few 419 officers by name. "I need a squad in the transporter room. Stand by to take on prisoners."

Itaani leans over the flight control station to see how much control the station has.

O'Doherty stands at the Engineering station and brings Up the Damage control Display

Janos says "Shall I have the runabouts dock with us? We're going to need all the hands we can get"

Itaani says "If we don't need them to tow, Mister Janos.""

Lyall says, "Very good Ensign Janos. Yes, have them dock. Impressive work everyone."

Lyall sits down at Commander's.

Itaani looks over to Lyall. The look says, perhaps, "Glad to have you aboard, and perhaps, 'You owe me.' She still has to entertain some Klingons.

O'Doherty says "She's not look'n too bad sir shouldn't be long before we get running."

The damage reports are somewhat distressing. Readings show the Klingons may have been a little too zealous in their activity. The viewscreen flickers to life, at the same time sensors report another torpedo locked on to fire on the Aegis. The Klingon Captain looks smugly onto the bridge from the viewscreen.

Itaani still smiles to the Klingon, patting her chest in an Andorian salute.

Janos is busily pressing keys at the ops console, "I had the pakled from the other ship transported directly to the brig...." He trails off when the klingon appears on the screen.

Lyall sits at the Captain's chair, and moves around in place. Chuckling, he says, "I'll have to break her in..." He smiles at Itaani, and silently nods, saying, "You are right." He looks up as the Klingon appears on the screen, "I am impressed, Captain." He smiles, another feral grin, "The information I received that Klingons were excellent warriors was not untrue. Join us back at the station for some of Lieutenant Itaani's bloodwine! We will drink to our glorious victory together!"

Itaani nods over to Janos.

Janos says "Both runabouts are docked safely....both crews are beginning repairs and manning critical stations."

The Klingon Captain snarls in disdain. He says, "Don't you mean, my victory? And hardly a glorious one at that. Is the Federation so weak that they must send us to do the simple task of defeating... a bunch of rag tag Pakleds?"

O'Doherty Looks back at the view screen "Jesus Mary and Joseph."

Itaani settles, finally, into the Conn seat, realizing she has some control, after all. "The Commander is proud of his ship, after all, Captain," she interjects, "But the Pakleds were little challenge of themselves. We, and the Federation, thank you for your assistance. And of course, do invite you to celebration, not so much of a fallen enemy, but to comradeship."

Janos says "I have a tractor lock on the Pakled vessel...how're we doing chief?"

Lyall chuckles and nods to Itaani, for the good save. "Yes, Captain, join us."

Itaani says "And complements to your gunners, I do believe you must have unsurpassed instincts, between you.""

Itaani takes her hands from her station, long enough to press her hands together before her with another of those smiles.

O'Doherty mutters to himself, "I'll say a little instinct would have been enough"

 A brow arches on the Klingon Captain, "I don't need you to tell me how good my crew is. Because the Klingon Empire is in a temporary alliance with the Federation does not mean we care to 'celebrate' with the likes of you. You talk of bloodwine, but there's no doubt you could not even handle much more than a sip, save some medical trickery."

Lyall chuckles and says, "I see. Well, thank you for your help, Captain. Until the next time we meet."

Lyall looks over at his staff. "Status of our shields and propulsion?"

Itaani laughs a bit. "Not so much as you, I'm sure, Commander. We have other drink. But the invitation stands. An innskip's daughter to the esteemed Captain."

The Klingon Captain utters, "Perhaps a dog like VuQ'cheH will take you up on your celebration, but not I, K'lor." He snorts, "Take your flattery back to your little station. You are free to go."

O'Doherty says "We should be up and running soon, Sir."

Itaani looks over her shoulder to Lyall, with a small gesture and expression that may be the Andorian equivalent of a shrug.

Lyall nods and says, "Well done Mr. Itaani. I was very impressed with your actions. And all the crew here today."

Lyall says, "Well, then, best speed to the station, Mr. Itaani."

Itaani says "Aye, sir.... Course set and laid in, we can make.. warp 2..."

Itaani looks back to Lyall again. "And, thank you, sir. I hope I didn't, how is it said, 'step on your toes,' here. But I do think I'm beginning to understand Klingons. In fact, I rather like them.

Lyall says, "I appreciate that, Mr. Itaani. No, you acted just like a good First Officer would. Well done." He taps a few things into his chair, and says, "I have recommended you, CPO O'Doherty, Ensign Janos, and Lieutenant Kallan for commendations."

O'Doherty pale Irish face turns a bright red, "Twas nothin sir, Just earn'n ar keep."

Nevaren Stands at his console in Ops on $19. It's so quiet tonight that he's doubling as Communications, the comm screens parallel to his engineering reports."

Lyall nods, and says, "Yes, but you deserve the recognition. Well done."

Itaani nods. Really looking at O'Doherty for the first time.

Itaani says "It seems we whet the Klingons' appetite for a fight, and left it unsatisfied.... Nonetheless, if we don't find ourselves pulling a lonng shift again tonight, perhaps we can celebrate among ourselves?""

Lyall nods, and says, "Yes, you are all dismissed. I appreciate the offer, but I think I will stay behind a supervise the repairs to the Aegis."