Hiccups

Anomaly TrekMUX Episode (#02-007) 02/23/01

(fade from black)

Gwen types something into the mini-console on the Commander's chair and a view of the anomaly appears onscreen.

Jolvan walks around Ops.

The picture of the anomaly is one we have all seen over and over again, but it never looses it's grandeur... That is until it suddenly flares, turning a bright white. Encounter alarms start going off as a light concussion wave rocks the station. A few stations go offline, but it appears the damage is minimal.

Nevaren looks up from his station as it flickers once and the station rocks. "What the hell..."

"What was that?" Gwen says, looking over to Nev, then to the science officer on duty.

O'Doherty says "Christ, Sir I'm on it," punches away at his station," Damage minimal sir."

Ensign Tahoe looks up from his screen, frowning. "I.I.I don't know. Everything was normal but then the anomaly just.. pulsed." he looks back at his screen. "Everything's fine again.. wait... I'm reading a buildup of Chroniton emissions in the Anomaly's Corona... Another pulse!!"

Poole says "Computer, yellow alert"

The station goes to yellow alert.

Schaeffer enters operations, the door sliding shut behind her.

Schaeffer has arrived.

The encounter alarms still going off, The anoamly pulses bright white once more, almost blinding. Another Concussion wave, this one only slightly greater than the last, rocks the entire station.

Jolvan looks annoyed at the image on the View screen, "I am beginning to think that thing doesn't like us as Neighbors."

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

"Is this going to get any worse, Ensign..." Gwen looks over at Tahoe, then over to Nevaren.

Poole says "Computer, raise shields"

The computer chimes, then says, "Shields raised."

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

Over Poole's comm badge, Kallan says, "Lieutenant, what's going on up there?"

Poole says into her comm badge, "The anomaly is surging, get up here on the double, I need to know if this is going to get any worse."

Over Poole's comm badge, Kallan says, "Aye. Kallan out."

Poole terminates transmission with a tap on her comm badge.

Nevaren frowns, going over his systems checks. "It's not harming us... At least not greatly."

Ensign Tahoe looks up from his screen. "There's an oscillating resonance coming from the anomaly.. It's like.. Chronal Hiccups. When they build up to enough power they release."

Kallan enters operations, the door sliding shut behind him.

Kallan has arrived.

Schaeffer says "Sirs, I felt the station rocking and came up here to see if I was needed."

"Hiccups?" Gwen says, eyes on Ensign Tahoe at the science station. "How much worse will this get?

O'Doherty agrees with Lt Nevaren asessment of the damage, "Aye sir just a little shake."

"Schaeffer, take a tactical console." Gwen says, looking over her shoulder.

Ensign Tahoe steps back from his console for Kallan to take over. "I haven't seen anything like this, sir. It's like the anomaly has something... stuck in it's throat?" he sounds at a loss of a better term.

Kallan comes walking in, and angles directly for an empty science station, relieving an Ensign there. His fingers tap across the console, logging in even before he manages to sit down.

Kallan sits down at Science I.

Jolvan says "Perhaps something is in it..?.."

Ensign Tahoe takes science station two.

Nevaren frowns, looking up from his station. "That can't be possible. Things either just pass through it unharmed.. or get ripped into composite material. I ran those tests myself months ago."

"I'd appreciate a briefing, Lieutenant," Kallan says, glancing over Poole's way, as he starts bring up the most recent sensor logs, thanks to Ensign Tahoe's work. "Good work, Ensign," he mutters quickly, and starts reviewing the data.

Schaeffer sits down at Tactical.

"I saw your report on those tests, Nev, I believe you, but... if there -is- something in there... Could we pull it out with a tractor beam?" Gwen asks, looking to Nev, then to Kallan. "The anomaly started pulsing only a few minutes ago. The waves keep hitting the station."

Poole says "These aren't the high intensity pulses that we've seen before, either."

O'Doherty tries to get more power from the reactor.

"Wonderful," Kallan mutters, and starts intitiating his own scans. "I'm not detecting anything harmful yet, Lieutenant. Let me chew on this for a second."

Nevaren frowns, looking at his own screen "Kallan... try using my Neutrino Scan Protocols... low yield. That may clear up the resolution somewhat."

"Suddenly, I wish Zero wasn't in his regeneration cycle," says the science officer. Kallan's fingers cascade across his console, pulling up the aforementioned sensor protocols. "Scanning."

There is another pulse and the station rocks again. Ensign Tahoe looks up from his screen. "SIRS! The pulses get 7 stronger each time."

Nevaren frowns as his screen flickers again. "O'Doherty... I lost some internal sensors on decks 4 and 5. What you have on your end?"

Gwen stands from her seat, moving over to the sciences stations. "Kallan, let me have a shot at it, there just may be a trick or two about these particular sensors that you may not know."

O'Doherty says "I have them here at my station sir, those decks look fine."

Kallan glances up at Gwen, frowning slightly in frustration. "Go ahead," he says, giving the Lieutenant room.

Nevaren nods at O'doherty. "You take up internal sensors, then. I'll keep track of systems diagnostics. Keep me posted if anything dramatic happens."

O'Doherty says "Aye Sir"

"The reading is clearing up..." Gwen says, the results starting to trickle in. "There's some sort of temporally phased matter stuck in the anomaly... it's trying to escape, but keeps getting pulled in by the internal force of the anomaly. It's movement is what's causing the pulses."

"Temporally phased?" Kallan frowns darker, and then glances up at Poole. "What the hell could _that_ be? A ship?"

Tahoe's voice gets a bit higher as he calls out "PULSE!" and the station rocks again, a bit harder than before. The ensign runs a calculation. They come every 4 minutes.. and if they keep up they'll destroy the station in 20 minutes."

Jolvan says "If its a ship perhaps we could communicate to it."

"I don't know, Marcus." Gwen shakes her head, stepping away from the console. "We need to knock it loose, either letting it fall completely back into the anomaly, or pulling it out." She moves to Schaeffer's side at the tac console. "I don't know if we'd be able to, Sublieutenant... the anomaly probably creates a whole lot of distortion."

"Either communicate with it, or phase a tractor beam with chronoton particles, if that's even possible," Kallan says, fingers returning to the console, beginning a simulation. "I'm no expert on tractor beam engineering, but the distortion from the anomaly might be cut back if we phase the beam to match whatever's... stuck."

Jolvan says "I know something about signals."

Nevaren stands "And I can tune my phased-neutrino beam for a signal, or use it as a carrier wave for a tractor beam. So what should we do?"

"By all means, then, Sublieutenant, take an Ops station and try." Gwen says, nodding to Schaeffer. "How are you with tractor beams?"

Jolvan sits down at Operations.

Schaeffer says "Ok, sir. I'll try my best."

Jolvan Begins using the controls to open a channel accounting for the phase variance.

Nevaren takes up a space beside Jolvan, readying the neutrino carrier for his signal.

Schaeffer taps her console, programming the tractor beam to focus on the object.

Nevaren looks up at Schaeffer. "If we can't communicate with it, I'll keep the neutrino beam running and you can use it as the tractor's carrier.

Schaeffer nods,"Aye, sir."

Jolvan says "I am getting two signals One is Starfleet the other is Romulan."

Nevaren looks at Jolvan, surprised.

Gwen blinks, then looks up from tac to Jolvan. "What? Can you decipher what they are saying?"

"What the hell? Nevaren, I'm going to try to follow that signal back and get a better idea of what we're dealing with," Kallan announces, and attempts another scan.

Jolvan nods and begins to attempt to see if he can communicate on the channel, "One I believe is a probe."

Nevaren nods, reconfiguring the beam, making sure the power levels are the exact levels which will not cause an eruption in the anomaly. All from memory since these calculations are not in any Starfleet database yet.

O'Doherty says "The Starfleet channel is just a Standard distress."

Nevaren says "Live signal, or automated?"

Kallan punches his console in frustration, resulting in an error chime. "If this is due to astrometrics' calibrations yesterday, I'm going to skin them alive!"

Nevaren looks at Kallan. "Calm down. It's probably the pulses throwing systems off calibration. Take a deep breath and try again."

Once again the anomaly pulses... Brighter than before. Teh station rocks on moments later, this time a bit more violent, though not enough to throw people out of their seats.

Kallan lurches in his seat slightly, and then very carefully and deliberately attempts the scan again. "Work, you..."

O'Doherty gets up off the floor,"Jeseus Mary and Joseph."

"I'll second that, O'Doherty... Jesus, Mary and Joseph." Gwen says, her knuckles white from her grip on the back of

Schaeffer's chair. "If it's a Starfleet distress signal then we are going to pull whatever it is, out." She taps Schaeffer on the shoulder and says, "Bring the tractor beams online and get them ready, Ensign."

Schaeffer says "Aye, sir." She taps out the commands on her console, and prepares the tractor beam."

Jolvan says "I can't get any more than what I have found, I don't believe there is any intelligence in the signals. We Could try destroying the objects."

Kallan's eyes go wide as he reads the results of his scans. "Ladies and gentlemen, we need to remove whatever's in there *now*. Chronoton levels are rising, and at this rate, the anomaly will likely burst... and who knows how big a shockwave that'll make." He looks pointedly over at Gwen and Nevaren. "Now."

Nevaren growls under his breath "Damnit... Lost power on deck 10. Nobody on that deck, though. We were lucky." He walks over to Schaeffer's console and starts helping her by narrowing the neutrino beam. and showing here what configurations won't upset the cycle.

Kallan puts out a hand. "No no! Don't fire on it! That'll kill us all, with the levels of interference pouring out of there.

Tractor beam is our only option."

O'Doherty says "Sending damage control teams now sir."

Nevaren looks up at Jolvan and Kallan. "No.. don't fire on the anomaly.. but someone should man phasers on the objects when they come up.. just incase they present a threat to the stations in themselves."

Gwen nods to O'Doherty, "Keep me informed... there could be casualties as well, tell the infirmary to go to emergency status." She takes the other tac console, and targets the weapons, just in case.

Kallan turns in his seat, eyeing Jolvan, then Gwen. "I'm sure one of you knows how to fire shipboard phasers, because I certainly can't. Not with the way I'm performing tonight." He turns back to his console and continues to monitor what's going on.

O'Doherty Nods and complies

Schaeffer says "I've locked onto the object, sir."

Schaeffer laughs.

"Move it out and away from the anomaly, if you please, ensign." Gwen readies the weapons systems, bringing the phasers online and beginning to charge them.

Just as another, very dangerous pulse looks like it's about explode outward, the tractor beam lances across space down the neutrino beam and into the anomaly like a knife. There are a series of small flashes at the contact point as small bits of debris start streaming slowly out of the anomaly There are two larger masses of metal, and each is surrounded by smaller bits of debris. The float harmlessly away from the anomaly, and not towards the station but on a path that will miss them by a few miles.

The Anomaly looks like it IS going to pulse still.. but suddenly the glow fades and it is its usual happy self.

Schaeffer nods and programs the commands, "Aye, sir."

Kallan sighs, a sound of relief. "All right. Good work. The anomaly's returning to normal levels of radiation." He glances quickly towards Poole and Nevaren, and then says, "Scanning the debris."

Gwen probably doesn't need to say so, but looks over to Kallan and says, "Scans, Now." To Jolvan, she says, "Since you know how to use the communications systems, how about hailing whatever those things are again."

Nevaren shuts off the special tachyon shifted, chronally phased neutrino beam and flushes it's settings from the computer's cache.. Better safe than sorry.

Jolvan types away At the consol to see if a channel can be opened.

"Sensor scans reveal one of the masses to be a destroyed Federation shuttle. Or, at least, that's what the material proportions tell me. The other object..." Kallan frowns, and glances over at Jolvan. "A Romulan probe of some sort, once fashioned for proximity detonation. No life signs, although there are organic residue traces in the debris."

Jolvan looks frustrated, "I am only getting Telemetry reading form the Probe. But I am Getting the transponder code from the shuttle , SB419 Azimov."

"Azimov?" Gwen says, "Jesus... Can we get a sensor reading of the inside of the shuttle? Are there any life forms?"

O'Doherty says "We just repaired the Azimov it is still in the Bloody shuttle bay."

Nevaren frowns upon hearing that, Looking at O'DOherty. "Wait a sec....."

Nevaren walks backover to his console and sits. "O'Doherty... Check on the Asimov.. make sure she's still in her berth."

"No life forms, Lieutenant," Kallan reaffirms, scanning again to make sure. "Definitely not."

Nevaren looks up at Poole. "Maybe we should bring the debris aboard, Sir? I want engineering to go over it. This doesn't make any sense."

The chief opens a comm channel to a crewman Baup, "Baup is the Asimov still in the bay?" Baup replies, "Yes chief we are washing her down right now."

Schaeffer looks at the others in surprise.

"Ma'am," Kallan says, coming to a realization. "The chronoton particles may indicate that the destroyed Azimov we have outside is likely something from our near future. Although I'm not entirely sure how the Romulan probe comes into play."

Jolvan stands up and walks over to the science station to look of Kallan's shoulder

"Damn." Gwen says, then stands and moves immediately to the other ops console. Anyone looking over her shoulder might notice she is writing a quick high priority message to Starfleet command.

Nevaren looks at Kallan. "Does the debris pose any danger to us if we bring it aboard?"

"No, Lieutenant, I do believe it's quite safe," Kallan replies, re-examining his sensor log. "The charges on the probe have long since been used, and the shuttle seems mostly inoperative. I'd recommend a level 1 force field until we can scan it with internal sensors."

Baup asks,"Chief whats going on," O'Doherty replies," I don't know lad but it looks like we got spare parts for the Azimov."

Nevaren looks at Poole. "Sir... Scaeffer could tractor the debris into a cargo bay."

"I want it tractored in, do we have a relatively empty cargo bay?" Gwen asks, finishing her message to SFC, reporting the initial findings of a possible temporal event, copies of it immediately going to Balin, as well as Admiral Whitehorse.

Jolvan ceases leaning over Kallans shoulder, and exclaims, "That's a Secure Communication Probe ."

Schaeffer checks her console, "Aye, sir. I can tractor the debris into Cargo Bay 2."

"Access to the cargo bay in question will be restricted, current Ops crew only for now." Gwen continues, standing from the Ops console. "Is that understood?......"

Kallan glances up at Jolvan, and asks, "What exactly would a secure communication probe be doing with explosive charges,

"Sublieutenant?" It's not obvious if Marcus is being confrontational or not, but he does have a frown on his face.

Schaeffer says "Aye, sir. I'll alert the Security department."

Nevaren stands. "I'm heading down there now. It would be prudent to have security and science personnel present."

Jolvan says "To self destruct if detected."

"And until I can talk with Balin, the only one to know about this will be us, and the science and security teams." Gwen says, "Let's bring them in, containment fields around both until we can assess their status."

"All right, then," Marcus says, and turns to his console. "Computer, save logs from time index 15.2 through 178.5 and make them available to command staff and all ranking Starfleet personnel currently in Ops. Authorization Kallan-Science-Beta-2."

Schaeffer taps her console programming the tractor beam. After a few seconds, "Sir, I have brought the debris into Cargo Bay 2."

"I'm going with you, Nev. I want to see that shuttle." Gwen moves towards the door, stopping just before leaving.

"Schaeffer, Kallan, you're with us. O'Doherty, Jolvan, you can join us as well. Call up the next duty shift and ask them to cover any gaps we leave." Gwen says, waiting by the door.

Kallan logs out of his console, and hops up, following after Lt. Poole. "This I wanna see," he mutters, rubbing his hands together.

O'Doherty stands up a begins to follow, "I am going with you, God knows you officers won't make head ner tail of that thing." Winks and gives them a beamming smile

Schaeffer nods, "Aye, sir." She calls for her replacement and stands up from her console.

Nevaren grabs his satchel. "lets go take a look at this.

(In The Cargo Bay)

Cargo Bay 1 - Station 419 - [IC]

This room is very large, and roughly rectangular, with a much higher ceiling than most of the station. The slightly curving walls are gunmetal grey, with exposed bulkhead supports forming columns along the outer wall. The floor is covered in a dark grey rubberized material rather than the usual carpeting. The standard lighting here is suficient, but perhaps a bit dimmer than elsewhere. All of this contributes to give the cargo bay a functional, industrial air. A catwalk of metal tubing and perforated metal plates runs around the inner walls, about three meters above the floor. It is accessable by several short ladders and a set of stairs at one end. A control console for the cargo transporter is situated in one corner of the room, facing into the cargo bay. A set of double doors, emblazoned with the standard numerical room code, leads out to the corridor. A small control panel is recessed into the wall beside them. A wide set of doors in the outer bulkhead can be opened to allow cargo-craft access to the bay. The doors are curently closed.

Poole Has Arrived

Schaeffer has arrived.

Kallan has arrived.

O'Doherty has arrived.

Jolvan has arrived.

Nevaren stands at the edge of the field, looking at the mass if wrecked debris on the floor. It all seems twisted and blackened, probably by a mixture of an explosion and the chronal forces of the anomaly.

Nevaren says "Whoa... If anyone was aboard I can see why they didn't survive."

O'Doherty take out his tricorder and begins scanning

"Doesn't look very good." Gwen says, approaching as close as she dares.

Kallan produces his tricorder, and starts scanning. "The station's sensors don't lie. No survivors, definitely. And from what I can tell, this was likely the Azimov. It's got similar proportions of materials to her class of shuttlecraft."

"Nothing we didn't already know," the Lieutenant mumbles, looking sheepish for repeating already known information.

Nevaren pulls out his own tricorder and makes a quick scan himself. "Well, there's no radiation and the chronal charge that built up in the wreckage has dissspated. It seems safe."

"Any traces of organic residue material?" Gwen says.

O'Doherty says "Those Type XV were never meant fer goin near anomalies."

"Yes," Kallan says, frowning. He walks over to Poole, and simply shows her what his tricorder is picking up. "Traces. Likely alive at one point."

"Yes, I imagine so." Gwen replies, then starts picking her way closer to the shuttlecraft. "I'd like a look inside, any easy way to manage that?"

Nevaren walks up to a panel and touches a few controls. The outer doors close and the field flickers out. "Yes. We walk in and take a look."

Kallan has disconnected.

O'Doherty says "Aye sir its her alright. Hang on sir."

Gwen stands nearby Nevaren, as he seems to be the one closest to the shuttle.

Nevaren looks over his shoulder, seeing Poole. He looks past her and at Schaeffer. "You better find that organic resedue reading, Ensign. Maybe it will spread some light on the situation."

Schaeffer nods and activated her tricorder. "Aye, sir. Scanning..."

The chief taps his combadge again, "Crewman Baup, what is the current frequency of Asimoz's SIF?" Baup replies,"4.5 chief."

Schaeffer reads the screen, "Sir, I'm having trouble pinpointing the exact nature of the debris, but it's definitely there."

Nevaren walks through the debris, taking more readings. "Well, here's some of the probes parts... Very basic. Not a very advanced model if I'm reading this right." Looks up to Jolvan. "You want to check my scans, SubLt?"

Gwen pulls her own tricorder, aiming the scan at the hull of the shuttle, looking for organic bits.

Poole reveals her Tricorder.

Jolvan looks at Nevarens reading," This seems to be an older model with various modifications."

Nevaren nods. "Military?"

Jolvan shakes his head,"This model is used by scientists."

Nevaren nods, making a note of that. "So, not military. I wonder why it had an explosive charge attached to it."

Jolvan says "Scientific discoveries need to be secured as well."

Gwen moves forward, softly speaking up, "I think I have something...." She stops by what appears to be a piece of deckplate, warped and twisted. She bends down and turns it over, revealing a dark green-black stain in the metal, and the casing of a com badge fused into the deckplate, in the center of the stain.

Nevaren smirks at that. "Really. No 'sharing'? He looks over at Poole when she calls out. "What is it?"

Gwen's eyes open wide, her jaw dropping. "Nev... Nev!"

O'Doherty says "Damn can't get a reading on what trace SIF left on the haul."

Jolvan walks over to see what Poole is excited about.

"Look for yourself," Gwen says, obviously agitated. She stands and takes a few steps away, rubbing at her temples. "It looks to be what's left of the shuttle's operator...."

Nevaren walks over and kneels beside Poole looking at the metal.. "You found it?" Suddenly, Poole's Tricorder starts going wild at her side.. as if it's reading two signals now that match.

Schaeffer looks up from where she had been taking readings to see what Poole is talking about.

Gwen looks down at the tricorder in her hand as if it were a poisonous snake, holding it away from her body. "Nev..." She reaches out to touch the man's shoulder, as if to make sure he was still there. With her other hand she holds out the tricorder for him, displaying it's readings.

Nevaren frowns and looks at Poole and then her tricorder. "What's wrong. What are you reading?"

Poole says "Organic composition signatures.... They match."

Jolvan says "Looks Close to being Romulan blood."

Nevaren looks at her strangely. "Matches what?"

"The residue on that deck plate has the same copper and iron mixture as it's base as your blood does. The operator of the shuttle was... is going to be... you." Gwen says, her eyes on Nev, unbelieving.

O'Doherty turns to look in solemn silence at Lt Nevaren.

Schaeffer watches, wide-eyed, "Damn."

If Nev could actually turn any paler, he would probably be transparent. "What?" he whispers, and stumbles backwards over some other debris, landing in a sitting position.

Jolvan bends down to help him up, "I am sure there is an explanation." looks consoling.

Starfleet pages: Thank you for picking up tonight.

Gwen shakes her head, slipping the tricorder to her belt. She moves to Nev, kneeling and bowing her head.

Nevaren shakes his head, not believing this. "This.. This can't be right."

"I know, Nev, I know." Gwen says softly, still kneeling. "And we can't let it happen."

Schaeffer stands quietly, trying to control her reaction to the waves of emotion she senses.

Jolvan sighs tries to turn the conversation to more constructive pursuits," We can find out where the Probe came from."

Nevaren looks up from the floor. "It's an omen from the prophets. I just know it."

Schaeffer steps up beside Jolvan, "I agree with the SubLt. We should try to find out where the probe came from - and when."

Jolvan walks over to the probe debris, looks it over,

Reaching a hand over, Gwen places it on one of Nev's and says, "Come on, love, stand up. If it's an omen from the prophets, it's meant to warn you. The future is mutable."

Nevaren shoves her hand away. "I don't need your pity." He stands up and grabs his satchel.

O'Doherty shakes his head and makes the sign of the cross, "Oh jeeze."

"Nev." Gwen says, standing up hurriedly. "I am beginning to think you are the hypocrite, speaking of cordial treatment, and then treating me thus." She stares at the half-breed, worry etched on her features.

Nevaren looks at Poole, eyes aglow with anger and fear. "I never said I *wasn't* a hypocrite. You just don't understand. *HE* told me this day would come. *He* said my ultimate future would come to me like an echoe. He was right."

"He?" Gwen asks softly, moving closer to Nev, but not making the mistake of touching him.

Nevaren looks panicked. "Vedek Golan. When he died he told me two things. That an echo would foretell my fate, and that I was part of the whole but not whole myself..." he is shaking.

"Look... the shuttle will still be here later, I think we should all take a break, sit down, file reports, whatever... Just do it. Dismissed." Gwen looks to Schaeffer and says, "I want security posted at the entrance to the cargo bay, and I want a containment field set up around the wreckage to prevent tampering."

O'Doherty says ""If I may beg your pardon sir. Perhaps we should put a guard on the other Asimov as well, If you not mine me say'n so sir.""

Nevaren , still shaking, puts away his tricorder. He tears open his collar to denote he is going off duty, and a small necklace with a coin sized medallion spills out. It is covered with Bajoran glyphs. He turns and hurriedly walks away, clutching it at his chest.

Schaeffer nods her assent, "Aye sir."

Poole says "Do it, Chief."

O'Doherty says "Aye sir."

O'Doherty leaves the cargo bay, the doors sliding shut behind him.

O'Doherty has left.

Gwen follows Nev with her eyes, sighing in sympathy. She puts a hand just below her neck, rubbing at something beneath the fabric. "God help him." She walks out of the cargo bay slowly, shaking her head.

((fade to black))