Irdosian Fireworks

Anomaly TrekMUX Episode #02-009

Shuttle Bay - Station 419 

This roughly rectangular room is large enough to hold several shuttles or runabouts comfortably. The walls are gunmetal grey, with exposed bulkhead supports forming columns along the outer wall. The inner and outer walls curve slightly, reflecting the station's circular concentric design. Harsh lights shine down from above. The floor is diamond patterned composite material, and caution markings indicate the edges of the central landing pad, which drops down thru the floor during takeoff and landing. A control console for the shuttle pad functions is situated in one corner of the room, facing into the shuttle 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.

Talban smiles and nods to the assemblage.

Ghorev is making some last minute adjustments to his tricorder as he steps into the shuttlebay.

Glemm walks into the shuttlebay a little more lackluster than usual. He glances at Ghorev a bit, and then heads to the opposite side of the bay, where he begins to check over his equipment.

Poole arrives after everyone else, carrying a small tote bag over her shoulder. She nods to the other officers as she enters, then heads over towards their transport.

Edwards steps into the shuttle bay, the doors clanging shut behind him.

Edwards has arrived.

Talban nods to Edwards, "Coming along with us boss?

Edwards strolls through the entrance, fashionably late, and glances around, "Looks like it."

Glemm looks over towards Edwards as he enters, and nods. "Sir," is all he says.

T'sal has arrived.

Edwards nods toward Glemm, and the others, and becomes quiet as he waits.

Ghorev takes some tricorder readings, of nothing in particular, to test whatever calibrations he's made.

Poole stops by the shuttle, running a hand along it's hull. Too low for most of the others to hear she says, "Bring us back home safe..." Not like there's anything to worry about, it's just a scientific study after all.

Talban moves over towards Edwards. "I've been briefed on the fact that this is a PD world and we'd be working cloaked but what do we know about the Irdosians?"

T'sal steps in, a medkit slung over her shoulder. At her waist are the other standard away team items. A phaser and a tricorder. She steps to the group and enters a parade-rest.

Edwards glances toward Talban and shrugs, "Don't look at me. I just know that we're supposed to do our jobs and observe them."

Ghorev looks up from his tricorder as he meanders about taking those baseline readings. "We'll be surveying technology, at the very least."

T'sal arches a slender eyebrow. "As well as their physiology and social interactions. They are a nomadic and tribal people."

An ensign at the free-standing shuttlebay console says to Poole, "Lieutenant, you're good to go." As if on cue, the door to a runabout opens up.

Talban nods and takes in the data.

Glemm stands to the back of the bay waiting for the rest of the crew to enter the small runabout.

"Thank you, ensign." Poole looks back to the other officers, "Let's move people." She leads the way into the runabout.

Ghorev follows along.

Talban follows Poole and boards.

Edwards eyes the runabout warily and walks toward it, so he can board.

T'sal steps onto the runabout with the others.

The ensign looks over the readouts on the console to make sure everything is functioning within standard parameters.

Glemm finally makes his way onto the runabout.

The runabout closes as the last of the group enters. A warning siren beeps throughout the shuttlebay as the atmospheric shields engage and the shuttlebay hatch slides open.

T'sal stows the medkit beneath her seat and she settles in silently to prepare for the flight.

Ghorev inquires, simply, "Am I taking Ops for you, Lieutenant, or have you someone else in mind?"

Poole slings her small tote bag underneath the pilot's seat, and after adjusting the height, sits at the chair. She runs her fingers over the console starting the pre-flight routine.

Poole says "Ghorev. Take co-pilot's seat if you wouldn't mind."

Glemm drops down strangely quiet at the Engineering station, and begins running routine systems checks.

The sounds of hydraulics come to an end as the hatch opens up completely and locks in place. The comm system on the runabout says, "Lieutenant, the shuttlebay is clear and the surrounding space is free. You are clear for takeoff."

Ghorev does so. "Of course, Sir." He sets his gear in a small storage area near that seat, and begins his own duties of the pre-flight check.

Talban closes his eyes and bows his head breifly as if in prayer and then raises his head and settles in for the ride.

Poole finishes the pre-flight check-list, then says over her shoulder, "Make sure your bags... and yourselves are secure." Then she starts a small countdown, "5... 4... 3... 2... 1...... Initiating manuevering thrusters."

Glemm watches from his seat as the runabout begins to move, he looks over towards Edwards as if he's about to say something, but quickly returns his gaze towards his console.

The gaping hole of the opened shuttlebay hatch moves past you in the port, and soon the vastness of space fills the forward port.

Edwards glances toward Glemm from the seat he took, and asks quietly, "Something on your mind?"

Glemm looks over his shoulder at Edwards, "Nothing, Sir." His voice is flat, and once again he returns his attention to his console.

Talban grins at the Vulcan. "Hey Semok."

Edwards gives Glemm a look and shakes his head, turning his attention toward... well, nothing. He thinks quietly to himself.

Semok nods to Talban. "Greetings."

Poole hits the com and says, "We'll be back before you know it, 419." When the shuttle is suitably away from the station, she looks to Ghorev, "Preparing to engage warp."

Ghorev adjust the power levels to make that possible. "We appear to be in optimal shape for it, Lieutenant. Whenever you're ready."

"Course laid in, heading corrected... initiating warp." Poole brings the engines online and announces, "Bringing us up to warp 3... ETA ten hours."

Glemm continues running systems tests quietly from his station.

T'sal's eyes close and she drops into a state of silent meditation.

Talban says "so Semok, are you going to be interviewing the Irdosians today?"

Semok slightly arches an eyebrow as he turns his head towards Talban. "That would be a most interesting enterprise, if it wouldn't violate the Prime Directive."

Poole leans forward in her chair, double-checking the course and heading. "So..." She glances over at Ghorev briefly, "How have you been, Chief?"

Ghorev monitors the power levels, and runs some secondary checks on some other systems. "Oh, well enough, I think." He looks up. "Yourself?" It is clearly not the warmest of chatter, as if there are still Unresolved Issues. But just as clearly .. well, there's some attempts being made.

Talban says "Just kidding with you Semok. How're your crew interviews coming?"

Edwards watches everyone else with a healthy amount of disinterest.

Glemm sighs lightly, and looks around the small cabin. He seems to be holding something back that he wants to say.

"I am glad to hear it... I haven't seen you in the Neutral Zone much." Poole says as she leans back in her chair finally.

Semok looks up in thought. "For the most part, they are completed. In addition, the majority of them infer a well established and competent crew."

The runabout enters orbit around a blue planet with large, green continents. Irdosia.

Glemm heads to the back of the runabout and begins to run a few preleminary tests on the cloaking suits to make sure everything is in order.

Ghorev looks up from his console. "Sensors indicate optimal orbit, at least assuming our attention is to remain undetected. Sensors also confirm surface gravity of 1.22 Standard, so please be advised, all of you, that we may tire more easily."

"Scanning...." Poole announces as the shuttle reaches orbit, "Found a fairly decent site.... A settlement in a valley. Northwestern hemisphere."

Semok begins a few breathing exercises.

Talban says "how big Lt. Poole?"

"Approximately fifty humanoid life signs in the village." Poole responds after tapping the console.

Glemm heads back out into the main area of the cockpit. "Suits all check out, Lt. Poole. Thay're ready for e'ryone ta suit up, sir." The last word comea almost as an after-thought.

Poole shifts in her chair and starts to stand, "Good, Mr. Glemm. Time for everyone to suit up. We'll be beaming down a short distance from the village."

T'sal's eyes open and she reaches down to pick up the medkit.

Talban complies with Poole's orders and proceeds to suit up.

Edwards watches Glemm impassively when he comes back to the cockpit.

Semok opens his eyes and gets up from his seat. He gets his suit and puts it on.

Glemm heads back to the back and stands willing to assist people with suiting up. He stands quietly, only talking when necesaary.

Poole reaches for her tote bag underneath the pilot's chair and pulls out a tricorder and a phaser from it. Then she heads towards the back, grabbing a suit and pulling it on. Not wanting to waste energy, she looks to Glemm, "Can you help me with this, Mr. Glemm."

Edwards stands and wanders into the back quietly, although he waits for the others to get suited up before he attempts to.

Talbans face darkens a bit at the percieved tension onboard the shuttle but it is quickly replaced by his usual friendly expression.

T'sal stands up, takes her suit, and begins to don it.

Semok finishes putting on his suit and tests his movements in it.

A grassy mountain cliff gives ample view of the surrounding landscape. Tall mountains soar up to the east and west, dotted with a trees resembling evergreens. A gently sloping path leads down from the cliff to the lush, green valley below. A small, clear stream trickles along the western end of the valley, and some settlements farther to the east of the stream show the only signs of civilization. The dwellings are rather simplistic in design, consisting of about a dozen long poles arranged in a circle and tied together at the top to produce a cone. These poles are overlaid with animal skins and furs to provide protection from the weather and privacy to those who dwell within the tents. Only one building differs from this design, a rectangular, wooden building that looks like it can be dismantled and rebuilt with ease. A similarly temporary-looking set of fences is set up at the southern end of the settlements.

The sun is in the late afternoon position, and at least a couple dozen Irdosians are milling about their settlement down in the valley below. Most of them are either female or young boys.

There is a slight shimmer in the air, then nothing as Poole beams down. She clips her tricorder and phaser to a utility belt on the cloaking suit, then speaks into the intrasuit com system. "Everyone here?"

Semok gazes down on the settlement. "Semok here."

Glemm pulls out his tricorder and makes some scans of the area around them. If the others could see his epressions inside his suit, they would see he is in awe of the surrounding area. He looks over to the suit that he thinks is Poole's, "Lt. Glemm 'ere, Sir."

Talban says "Talban here."

Edwards glances around momentarily before his gaze settles on the valley below. ""Edwards here." he reports in, afterwards.

Ghorev replies likewise over the comm. "Ghorev here, likewise."

"Lovely planet, isn't it. Down into the valley we go, follow my lead." Poole uses her tricorder to scan for a path down into the valley and begins to walk along it.

Talban follows along, flanking the group on the opposite side from Edwards.

A couple of Irdosians break away from the tents and make their way to the small, crystal-clear stream. They are still too far away to make much detail out of them.

Glemm tags along behind the others, passivly making scans, but mostly taking in the view.

Semok watches the Irdosians intently, while keeping an eye on where he's going as well.

Talban scans the surrounding area with his tricorder as well as visually.

Ghorev focuses a tricorder scan along the stream itself, checking for any evidence of artificial manipulation, even on a simple scale, such as the extending of water flow for irrigation purposes.

Edwards keeps a hand on his phaser, which he assumes he has, while he walks along with everyone else. Obviously, he doesn't draw it, however.

Glemm scans the structures of the Irdosian village, seeing if he can pick up any readings of mechanical devices.

Talban scans for other wildlife besides the Irdosians.

Poole remains near the front of the group, focussing her scans on locating the inhabitants of the settlement... better to keep tabs on them.

As the away team reaches the valley on the western side of the stream, the two Irdosians can be easily distinguished. They are wearing some kind of tan-colored dress that does not look too comfortable, carrying a clay jars that they are dipping into the water. Their faces resemble those of humans save for a couple of ridge running from the temple down to mid-cheek, and their hairs are tied into a ponytail.

Semok watches the Irdosians. "I wonder what the significance is of their attire. At first glance, it does not seem logical to their surroundings."

"Perhaps there are other reasons. Religious significance?" Poole responds through the com, as she walks closer to the two Irdosians near the stream.

Talban says "Couldn't tell you, I'm picking up some kind of canine-like creatures that seem to be penned in inside the village."

Ghorev, tearing his attention from the water flow, says "I'm taking readings on the clothing now, as indicators of textile advancement," over the comm. And he does so, with his tricorder.

"Have you all the herbs you need for the feast tonight?" one of the young Irdosian female at the stream asks the other.

The other shakes her head, "I do not. I will have to take one of the ragnas out today to search for some more."

Semok listens to their conversation, and appears to be making mental notes.

The first girl giggles, "Oh, I see. You will also need the help of Kizoz to take out one of the ragnas?"

Poole makes a note on her tricorder, "Ragnas. Probably those canine creatures, Talban." She pauses, "We'll have to be wary of them, they might not be able to see us, but canine olfactory facilities are extremely good."

The second girl blushes and stands up, carefully holding the clay jar to keep from spilling any of the water.

Edwards comments idly, "This seems like a big ole guessing game to me." He grins slightly and looks toward Glemm's suit. "Don't you think, Glemm?" he asks.

The first girl stands up and walks back to the tents. "Will he ask soon?"

"I am hoping tonight," replies the second. Then their voices become too hushed to be heard from this distance.

Talban says "Aparently Kizoz the ragna keeper is a popular fellow."

Glemm breathes heavily into the comm. "Sorry, sir?" He looks towards the form he thinks is Edwards, "Guess thaa's why we're 'ere, so it dun 'avta be a guessin game, sir."

Poole looks at the small stream for a way across, "Any bridges...? If not, we had best make sure no one is nearby."

Talban says "I wonder if they use the ragnas to sniff for herbs or for protection."

Semok nods. "From what I hear, perhaps this Kizoz is courting the second Irdosian?"

Talban says "or she's hoping he will."

Poole does a quick scan for lifesigns, and not finding any too close, she crosses the stream quickly, making sure to dry her boots.

Talban follows in Poole's wake trying to minimize waves

Glemm looks for as shallow an area of the stream as he can find, and crosses as quickly as he can. He's moving kind of slowly now due to the increased gravity and his slightly obease body.

Semok follows with the rest of the team. He doesn't seem to have much a problem with the increased gravity.

Ghorev follows likewise, keeping his movements slow and steady.

Talban dries off his boots

A shout comes from somewhere among the tents, resembling a young male's voice.

Poole glances back, doing a quick head count, then heads towards the tents slowly, scanning for life forms again.

Talban looks in the shout's direction.

Loud barks fill the air.

Glemm looks in the direction of the scream, and almost instictivly heads in the direction of it.

Talban follows his teammates.

Talban says "Let's hope that those barks don't mean that the ragnas have cought our scent."

Edwards follows along with everyone quietly, and his grip tightens on the handle of his phaser.

A large dark gray object blurs out of the settlement, about three feet high, mounted by a small Irdosian boy.

A group of five others, similar in size, exit the settlement as well, going into the green fields to the north.

Semok watches with interest. "Riding beasts. And probably beasts of burden as well."

"They are leaving.... perhaps now would be the best time to enter the village, do our scans and leave before those ragnas return." Poole says, maintaing her walk into the settlement.

The one in the lead shouts again and turns his ride around to face the other five, one hand holding onto a stick and the other onto simple reins.

Glemm chimes up. "Might wanna see whaa thay're upto, send a few ta follow them," he adds almost sheepishly and finally adds, "Sir."

Talban says "Want one of us to stay here on the outskirts in case they come back?"

The other five come to a stop, then circle around the first, each with a stick in one hand as well.

The Irdosians in the settlement seem to be paying little attention to the six boys.

Ghorev adds, "A ... lookout?" with a smirking tone to his voice. "I feel like a spy in a holonovel." He eyes the natives, however.

Edwards remarks, "They're just kids playing around, it looks like."

Talban says "either that or nobody in the villages likes that one kid."

"Are you volunteering to run after those animals, Mr. Glemm?" Poole asks and turns to regard the cloaked Tellarite. "Talban, stay on the outskirts. Watch those boys to the northeast."

One of the five boys shouts something, and the five make their rides circle around the one in the middle faster.

Semok looks on with interest. "A shame we do not have more time here. I am also curious as to why the one boy is an outcast."

Glemm mutters over the comm, "Still Irdosians, who we are supposed ta be observin." He looks to Gwen, "I dun t'ink I'd be tha ideal person, sir. Perhaps sumone a bit more ... physically fit."

Talban says "Aye sir."

Semok volunteers himself. "I am used to heavier gravity on Vulcan, sir. I would be willing to take that assignment."

The same boy from the encircling ring breaks off and charges after the one in the middle, his stick held out firmly in front of him.

Edwards comments with disinterest, "They're probably just playing some sort of game." He turns his attention toward the village and looks around at it.

Talban skirts the vilage and moves into a better position to watch the battling youngsters.

The boy in the middle stands his ground, and attempts to hit the incoming stick away with his own, but fails and the opponent's stick lightly hits him in his arm.

Ghorev adds, "Or a ritual duel." Btu of course, he'd say that.

The targetted boy then moves out toward the ring and takes position among the other four boys. They begin the encircling all over, this time with the new boy in the middle.

"Very well Semok, Talban and you shall watch those boys. The rest of us shall scan the village. Take detailed notes, that sort of thing." Poole adjusts her tricorder, "Stay within eyesight of one another, and maintain an open comlink."

Semok nods. "Aye aye, sir."

The Vulcan follows after Talban."

Another of the boys in the ring charges the one in the middle with his stick ready.

Glemm watches the display of the young boys, waiting for Lt. Poole to give orders.

Talban assumes position and begins documenting the behavior of the boys.

"Spread out. Remember to analyze textiles, building materials... listen to what conversations you may, and keep out of the path of the Irdosians." Poole moves towards the closest tent, scanning it's material makeup and noting it.

The boy in the middle parries the incoming stick aside, and the charging boy returns to his position at the ring.

In the village, the majority of the people are females, with the only males being either extremely young or extremely old.

Ghorev follows the order, adding some readings on crafts, any central campfire or cooking setup, and the pens in which the domesticated animals are kept.

Glemm heads for the large wooden structure in the center of the village, scanning and listening into the conversations of the Irdosians.

Several middle-aged women are gathered outside one of the larger of tents, cleaning one thing, grinding another.

"Odd.... Are you noticing anything... peculiar about the makeup of the settlement?" Poole asks no one in particular, she turns in a circle as she scans.

"I cannot believe that the shaman is coming here tonight!" one of the women exclaims.

Edwards looks around the settlement, trying to see whatever it is that Poole sees, "Not really..."

"Yes, we know," another women says slightly humorously. "You've said that ten times already."

Glemm's ears perk up at the mention of the shaman's arrival, and heads over to listen in on their conversation.

"Still. Is it not amazing?" the first woman asks.

The second woman nods as she pounds at some dried corn with a stone. "Yes, it is. Someone with such miraculous powers, here, at our village."

"There aren't very many men... could they be out hunting?" Poole asks over the com, scanning the contents of one of the many varied tents.

Glemm drops down onto his haunches near the group of women, and listens in. "Thars sumone special comin in tanight, maybe tha men went ta fetch 'im, sir."

"You do not sound grateful," the first woman seems offended. "The shaman! By the gods, the shaman!"

Edwards wanders closer to Glemm, and the conversation between the women, "Someone with powers, huh? I wander if he'll saw one of these gals in half."

Semok watches the boys closely, noting their attack patterns.

Ghorev continues to weave casually between the tents, scanning the artifacts and the tents.

Glemm looks up at Edwards' form. "Anyone can do that. I'll show yas in tha 'olodeck when we gi back ta tha station." He adds a 'sir' at the end a few seconds later.

Edwards finally makes a comment about that, "You know, one of these days you're gonna 'sir' me to death, buddy."

Glemm's voice gets very flat, "Sorry bout thaa, *sir*."

"I just don't know how real those powers are," says the second woman.

The first woman stops in her food cleaning, "You are not serious! You doubt the gods?"

Glemm snorts, "Polytheistic..."

Poole perks up as she hears Glemm, heading over towards the tellarite and chief security officer. "We should stay and test that hypothesis Mr. Glemm..." The tone of her voice carries the weight of authority, "Stow it, the both of you."

"No!" the second woman says quickly. "But I do doubt men. They can claim to be messengers of the gods when they are not."

"Nialet will punish them if they do," the first woman returns to her task.

Edwards glances toward the suit that has to be Poole, since Glemm is a lot larger, "Stow what?"

"Yes, and Adoji will punish us if we believe in the false prophets. I will not believe until they prove their divinity," the second woman says.

Ghorev does some detailed readings on the tents, and emerges into the area where the others are. "I'm showing", he says, over the comm, "that they have man-sized weapons of war, at any rate."

Glemm says "Ifn tha men're gone, why naa take their weapons wi 'em? Must be a peaceful trip thay're on."

The women grow quiet as they continue to prepare the food.

Edwards remarks, "Unless the men were never here in the first place. Or maybe the women are the fighters and the men are out picking berries."

"The attitude, Edwards." Poole snaps at the chief of security, then turns slightly to watch the two woman talking.

Glemm as the women go quiet, Glemm rises up and returns on his way to the wooden lodge in the center, not saying anything. He scans as he goes.

Edwards glarest at the Poolesuit, "I don't have an attitude. Sir." Now he does. He grumbles and wanders off.

Talban says "Lt. Poole, the boys that Semok and I are watching seem to be training with polearms."

"As I said. Stow it. Stay sharp." Poole follows after Glemm as he seems to be having fairly good luck. She talks over the com to Talban, "Polearms? And man-sized weapons of war? They must constantly fight with their neighbors."

Semok says "Indeed, mostly seems to be either a game or some sort of training as the Lieutenant mentioned."

Talban says "Or one disguised as another. Given the size of the dogs that they've domesticated there may be some natural predators that they have to contend with as well."

Glemm meakes his way into the building, and examines it a bit, but doesn't seem to see anything out of the ordinary. However he continues to look around for a bit more, keeping his comm chatter silent.

The inside of the wooden building is adorned with masks and a few weapons that look as if they have never seen battle. The ground is dirt, covered only by a few mats.

Edwards has already wandered off, so he doesn't have a response for Poole. He drifts toward Ghorev, wherever the engineer may be.

Ghorev is, for his own part, standing near some of the other tents, around from which he emerged. "Are those boys still playing their game?", he asks over the comm, as he sees Edwards approach.

Talban says "Yep"

Edwards shrugs, then Talban answers. "I remember why I went into security instead of... voyeurism now." he comments idly. "Not a whole lot to see here."

A woman carrying a basket of green stuff walks directly toward Ghorev.

Ghorev gets out of the way of the approaching Irdosian woman in time. She passes within less than a foot of the engineer, and the necklace she wears suddenly starts to glow.

The Irdosian woman gasps and drops her basket, eyes wide and staring at her glowing necklace.

Glemm exits the building and begins to wander back towards the center of the village.

"Dawossi!" the woman shouts. "Help!"

Edwards mutters, "Oh crud." He looks toward Ghorev and asks, "What did you do?"

Glemm looks in the direction of the shouts, and begins to scan.

The other women at the village look in the direction of the shouting woman, and stop doing what they're doing to come to her.

Ghorev makes a low hissing noise, a warning signal combined with a sharp intake of breath, over the comm channel, his own tricorder already turned in that direction as he slowly backs away.

Talban says "Is everything lright over there?"

Poole winces at the low hiss Ghorev makes and heads in his general direction, moving much more slowly than normal to disguise the noise of her footsteps. She keeps her eyes open for rushing Irdosians. "Everyone rendevous with Talban and Semok just outside the settlement, Ghorev, I'm coming to you, stay where you are."

An elderly woman makes her way through the growing crowd of women and looks at the shouting woman, but sees nothing wrong, no glowing necklace. "What is wrong, child?"

Edwards blinks and steps back, "Stay? I suggest we get him out of here the quickest, sir."

Semok says "The boys seem preoccupied with their contest. We should be reasonably safe at our location."

Glemm heads off in the direction of the Talban and Semok without any argument.

The woman with the necklace points to her necklace frantically, "This-this-this-"

Talban says "A little rustling grass shouldn't bother then."

"Your necklace?" the old woman asks. "Is something wrong with it?"

"It-it-it-" the woman continues to points frantically at her necklace, "It was on fire! On fire, but no heat!"

Talban does a quick head count to see if everyone but Poole and Ghorev are here.

"Do as I ordered." Poole responds over the comchannel coolly, continuing on her way to Ghorev. "Keep clear of the Irdosians, Chief."

Edwards mutters under his breath and backpedals. He keeps his eyes on the women around Ghorev, however, since he is supposed to protect the team, and isn't sure if they'll jump the Andorian.

Semok keeps watching the boys and making sure they don't head in the team's direction.

The old woman looks at the necklace intently for a moment before telling everyone else to return to their duties. To the woman with the necklace, she says, "Come with me, child."

The other Irdosian women disperse and the elderly woman leads the other one to a tent.

Shaking slightly, the woman with the necklace follows along, occassionally glancing at her necklace.

Poole narrowly avoids one of the women returning to her duties, then notes the woman the the necklace, "Ghorev, you're with me. Follow them." A pause. "The rest of you may resume your investigations. Be more careful if you please."

Talban looks to Glemm, "What happened?"

The elderly woman goes inside a side, then closes the flap after the other woman has entered.

Glemm snorts over the comm, "Best guess, summat wi thaa stone's makeup reacted wi thaa output o Ghorev's tricorder."

Edwards blinks and frowns severely, "Leftenant? You sure that's wise? Drag the guy who set off her necklace along with you to spy on her some more?"

Edwards adds quickly, "No offense, Ghorev. But I have to think of everyone's safety here."

Ghorev follows very slowly. "Lieutenant," he notes, "if we can verify that the tricorders *aren't* to blame, we might wish to keep within visual distance and set tricorders to record audio, if only to avoid getting too close."

"Suggestion noted, Ghorev. Let's do that.... Edwards, you and I will be having a chat back up on the shuttle...." Poole still follows the two women back towards the tent, noting which one they entered and approaching closely.

Edwards grinds his teeth and responds, "What for? Doing my job, sir?"

Ghorev gives Edwarsd a 'no offense taken' gesture, to show that he's clearly not in disagreement, as he follows Poole.

Poole hears, "...you...necklace...fire..."

"I might take offense at that, Mikey. It seems no one likes to sit and have a chat with me anymore." Poole says in a deliberately sarcastic manner. She stops just before the tent, then circles it, looking for an easy way to listen in -and- stay out of the way of tromping villagers.

Edwards exhales slowly and calms down a bit when he sees that obviously someone agrees with him and doesn't think he's a raving jerk today. He wanders away from the group quietly and heads back into the village to observe.

Semok says "If you truly feel that way, Lieutenant, you are most welcome to come by my office at any point, sir."

Ghorev says, quickly, over the link, "Lt. Poole, I see other such necklaces. Permission to send an active tricorder pulse at one from a distance and see if it responds? It's a quick way to test the theory."

"Thanks Semok." Poole responds neutrally, a grimace (though no one in particular can see it) is plastered on her face. "Permission granted Ghorev. Be careful." She continues to listen in as best she can.

Glemm slowly heads back into the village, not really using his tricorder anymore, merely oberving things visually.

Poole hears, "But...there...gods..."

Ghorev performs the 'test' quickly. "Nothing, Sir," he says, over the com. "It must not be the tricorders. If you wish to begin recording their conversation with yours, I'll start investgating the cause of the anomaly, so to speak."

A boy in the field shouts something, and all six of them lower their sticks.

Talban says "Think the game's over Semok?"

Semok says "It certainly seems that way, or perhaps they are going to begin another round."

"Good." Poole kneels near one side of the tent, moving her tricorder closer to the tent wall and attempting to get it to record the audio.

Semok says "I am not an expert on such sciences, but is Lt. Ghorev carrying a phaser? Would that have made an influence perhaps?"

Glemm walks around to the fire pit where many of the women are still standing, and begins to listen in on their conversation, not bothering to record any of it with his tricorder.

Laughing and talking excitedly, the boys head back to the village on their rides.

Talban says "Lt. Poole, the game seems to be breaking up and the boys are headed back your way. Shall we join the rest of the away team or maintain a watch?"

Edwards checks out some tents with idle curiousity.

The women by Glemm are chatting about what just happened, asking if anyone saw the necklace "catch on fire."

Ghorev confirms over the comm channel that he is, in fact, carrying a phaser, and then ebgins to walk around the tent which Poole observes, staying at a far enough distance to avoid coming in proximity with the women in the tent through the fabric.

"-perhaps not, child," says the elderly woman. "Can you tell me exactly what you were doing when it happened?"

"Join us... but, Talban, keep a tricorder scan going of the surrounding area. I want to be notified of any approaching parties." Poole glances down at her tricorder.

Talban says "Aye Sir," (he sets his tricorder to a long range setting and proceeds towards the village)"

Semok returns to the village with Talban. He maintains an eye on the boys.

"I-I was simply walking with my batch of tyorel leaves when it happened, Dawossi," comes the reply from the necklaced woman.

Talban says "Sir I'm detecting a group of Irdosians approximatley three Kilometers from here."

Glemm mutters, "Looks like tha men are back..."

"Nothing else?" the elderly woman asks. "Were you holding onto the necklace in some manner? Rubbing it?"

"Which direction?" Poole asks.

Semok says "The Shaman, perhaps, and an escort?"

Talban says "looks like they have some of those big dogs with them they're coming from the south."

Edwards remarks, "Things should be getting interesting."

"Everyone start generally heading to the northern end of the settlement... Just keep your distance from the incoming Irdosians." Poole keeps listening in to the tent conversation.

"No, none of that, Dawossi," says the other woman in the tent.

There is a short silence in the tent. Then the old woman says, "Have you been praying to the gods regularly, child?"

Glemm heads out of the village not saying a word, and waits at the north side for the others.

Talban proceeds to the rendesvous but keeps monitoring the approching party

The canines that the children are riding suddenly stop without orders from their riders as they approach the northern end of the village.

Ghorev follows the order as given, moving slowly, carefully towards the northern edge of the clearing.

"Yes, of course, Dawossi! Every single time that I should," says the woman with the necklace, sounding a little scared.

Edwards wanders toward the northern end of the village, and everyone else, quietly.

Semok follows along with Talban.

The canines lift their muzzles up and sniff the air.

Talban says "Let's hope that they smell their buddies to the south and not us."

"What are you doing?" one of the boys asks of the canine he is riding. "Go!"

"Are you certain?" the elderly woman asks. "/Every/ single time?"

Poole remains kneeling on the ground, still listening to the woman go on. "Head count, Mr. Talban. How are we on moving to the north side?"

Uncertainly, the urged canine moves forward, looking around cautiously.

Semok says "I would not be so sure. An animal's reactions are usually far more simple than a humanoids. The smell of their own kind would not get their attention that way."

The other five boys urged their mounts onward as well.

Talban says "We've got Glemm, Ghorev, Semok, Edwards and Myself."

"Yes, yes, Dawossi!" says the other woman in the tent. "I am a good Nijiak, good and gods-fearing!"

Talban says "Unless these animals are territorial and the other dogs they don't recognize. Either way we could have trouble."

Just as uncertain as the first canine, the other five move back into the village.

"Damn... Just stay put, moving might make it worse." Poole continues listening, almost impatiently now.

Talban says "acknowledged"

"Have you made sacrafices to the gods?" asks Dawossi.

The boys mounted on the canines head in Poole's direction.

"Yes, I have," the other woman answers. "I always sacrifice what is needed by the gods."

Semok says "Lt. Poole, the boys are headed in your direction."

Edwards curses under his breath softly and draws his phaser. But he doesn't point it at anything and doesn't move. He just watches for now.

Poole rises into a crouch of sorts, still holding her tricorder close to the tent fabric. "I'll use the tent as a barrier between them and I."

Ghorev does not draw his own weapon, but does sink into a defensive posture as he stays put.

Talban looks about the general area

Glemm stands back and watches the events about him.

The canines again pause without orders as they near Poole, sniffing around.

Talban says "Sir, they seem to have your scent, shall I move into the village and attempt to confuse them?"

Semok says "Sir, I would believe the tent is a fine visual and physical barrier, but the winds do not seem to blow in your favor."

"Come on!" one of the boys mounted on the canines says, annoyed. "Move it!"

"Buggery." Poole curses under her breath, then moves very slowly, trying to edge around the tent away from the canines.

Grudgingly, the canine moves toward the fences, and the other five boys do the same to their mounts.

As one of the boys passes the tent where Poole is hiding behind, his necklace grows a bright white.

Talban says "There goes another necklace."

Edwards grumbles, "Not to mention the Prime Directive..."

The boy snatches his necklace off and throws it to the ground. "Look!" he shouts to the other boys.

The others turn to look at the glowing necklace on the ground, their eyes growing wide. "What is happening?" one of them asks.

Semok says "Sir, this away mission is beginning to make too great an impact on the Irdosians. I am certain we will comply with your orders, but I advise we terminate the mission as soon as possible."

"Oh hell." Poole grumbles, reattaching her tricorder to her belt. "This mission is becoming precarious.... ... I agree with you Semok. What do the rest of you think?"

Ghorev, adds, in partial concurrance, "Or, at the very least, withdraw while we determine what's causing this 'detection' of theirs."

The glow in the necklace fades and the ornament returns to normal.

Edwards responds, "I think we're going to be in plenty of trouble when we get home."

Talban says "Untill we can figure out what's setting them off I concur. It would seem to be a proximity thing, are they maybe reacting to the projection field of the cloak suits?"

"I think we should tell someone," says a boy.

Glemm shakes his head in his cloak suit. "Gotta agree wi 'em, sir."

"For causing two necklaces to glow?" Poole asks rhetorically, "You're over-reacting Edwards. Let's pull back out of the village. To the stream." Then she begins to make her way slowly in that direction.

Talban mutters softly into the comm, "Yes you should son, someone far away from the Lt."

Just them, a few of the women in the village become excited. "They're returning! They're returning!"

Talban heads towards the stream.

Forgetting about the necklace already, the boys jump off their canines and run to the southern end of the village.

Semok moves towards the stream with the rest of the group.

Ghorev does likewise.

Glemm meets the others at the stream.

Already closing the gap between themselves and the village, a group of Irdosian men mounted on canines as tall as any man race northward.

Edwards walks with the group without bothering to say anything further.

Poole notes the boys leaving the necklace and returns to the spot, glancing around cautiously before approaching.

Everyone in the village seems preoccupied at watching the men coming back.

Poole snatches the necklace from the ground, pulling it into her cloaking field.

Semok says "With any luck, the Irdosians will see the amulets glowing as a sign of favor from their gods."

The group of male Irdosians reach the welcome group, all with grinning faces.

Talban says "Hopefully. If they're a religious people, we may get lucky and they'll have some sort of spiritual explaination for this and the Prime Directive will be preserved."

Ghorev grumbles lightly over the comm, "Clearly Gods that hate us."

One of the abandoned canines near the necklace looks shocked when the necklace it was staring at disappears.

Edwards turns to watch the men finally come back. "Well at least we know they don't kill off all the able bodied men. That'll make me feel better, if we get discovered."

"Nothing like a pessimist to brighten a lovely afternoon stroll." Poole tucks the necklace into a pouch on her utility belt, then heads towards the stream.

One of the men, wearing decorations of bones and feathers, begins talking in a loud voice, but it is too muffled for you to hear at your distance.

Edwards remarks, "What can I say? It's my job to think of the worst that could happen and make sure it doesn't."

Talban says "Lt., I'd recommend that we cross the stream as soon as we can do so safely. That will probably make it harder for the dogs to track us."

The canine that saw the disappearance of the necklace inches its way toward the last position of the necklace, sniffing intently.

Ghorev counters. "My 'brightening of the afternoon stroll' is, I believe, what caused all the commotion." But he makes good time back to the stream.

A couple of Irdosians break off from the group at the southern end and grab some clay jars, then head back to the stream.

Talban watches the water gatherers, "As long as they don't bring their pets with them we should be fine."

The waist-high canine continues to sniff at the ground as it moves slowly westward.

"I agree with you Talban... However, don't cross if any Irdosians are within hearing distance. I grabbed one of their necklaces, perhaps we can discover how it is phosphoresing." Poole pats the pouch on her utility belt, then continues on, catchup up with the straggling team members joining up at the stream.

Glemm looks to the canine tracking Poole, "Looks like you've madea frien Lt. Poole."

Talban says "And to think that not a one of us thought to replicate a bone to bring with us."

Semok says "I certainly hope those necklaces are not of significant spiritual value. If they are, that boy may end up being punished for "losing" his."

Most of the male Irdosians begin to dismount from their 2-meter-tall canines, and most of the females quickly return to their food preparation.

Talban says "If it were Semok, he probably wouldn't have been so careless with it. And if it was glowing too the clergy will probably be leniant."

Poole gives a quick glance over her shoulder, then brings out her tricorder to scan around her for something in particular. "I will return the necklace, Semok, just in case, though I tend to agree with Talban.

Two Irdosian girls, the same ones as before, reach the stream not far from the away team and dip their jars into the cool, running water.

Ghorev grunts lightly over the comm. "Someone's going to have to distract those girls while the rest of us cross the stream."

"I can't believe the shaman is here already!" the first girl exclaims.

Talban says "They should be done soon, and they can probably distract the dog which is to our advantage if he makes it over here."

Edwards comments idly, "Well I do seem to repel women at a remarkable rate..."

Semok says "Perhaps if one of us threw a small stone in the stream on the other side?"

Ghorev says "Somehow, Lt. Edwards, I don't think offering to buy them a drink is the solution here, however."

"Lovely talent, Mikey." Poole starts to head for the group, then adjusts course to approach the girls at the stream. "I hope this confuses the canine."

"I thought he wasn't going to come until tonight?" asks the second girl. "We are completely unprepared."

Talban says "Nonesense boss, you probably just haven't met the right girl yet, (Talban jokes)"

Edwards remarks, "Damn." and responds to Poole, "Thanks." then Semok, "We probably want to try and cut down on the freaky occurences, lest these people develop a complex."

Talban says "They got water in front of us before."

The young canine is still a ways off, sniffing and following the invisible trail very slowly.

The first girl finishes collecting another jar of water and stands up, but fades out of existence for a moment.

Glemm just stands next to the stream being unusually quiet for himself.

The second girl gasps and drops her clay jar, shattering it on the ground. "Tawagol!"

Poole blinks at what just happened, "What the hell?" She stops where she is.

Talban says "That wasn't you Lt?"

"I haven't done a thing." Poole responds quickly, raising her tricorder. "Something doesn't sit right with me at all about this place.... I have a bad feeling."

The first girl, now back to normal, just stares at herself, then at her friend, then back.

Semok says "Wait, do our cloaking suits block or bend all forms of light? Or would reflections show up..."

The second girl backs away slowly, shaking her head from side to side.

"What...what?" Tawagol manages to utter.

Edwards sighs softly and watches the girls, "Now nobody can tell me I'm overreacting if I say we're getting chewed out for that."

Talban says "She's probably going to bolt for the village but somebody's probably going to follow her back."

"Demon!" the second girl screams. "Get away from me!"

Edwards mutters, "Wonderful." He frowns, "If they think she's a demon..."

"We haven't done anything, Edwards. Damn it." Poole runs a fully active scan now in a wide circle around herself, ignoring the girls for a moment.

"No...no!" Tawagol says in a quiet, frightened voice.

Talban says "We;re going to have to stay hidden or else anything we do is going to get pinned on this girl."

"Get away from me!" the second girl screams again, then runs back to the village as fast as she could.

Edwards shakes his head, "Too late for that, Mr. Talban..."

Glemm shakes his head in his suit. "This ain goo," he mutters.

Semok says "Sir, we may not be able to abandon this mission as soon as we had hoped. If the shamans and leaders of these people treat the woman as if she is the village idiot, we are responsible for that. I suggest we monitor her closely."

Tawagol begins to shake violently, sinking to her knees. She begins to cry.

Edwards looks toward a suit that he assumes is Semok, "Village idiot? She got called a demon. They might crucify her for that."

Ghorev adds, "Our safest course right now may be to head *along* the stream until we get far enough away from this village to cross it. Anything we stay and do at this point is risky."

"Have I angered you, Nialet?" Tawagol asks through her sobbing. "Why have you cursed me?"

The canine is about a dozen meters away now.

"We haven't done anything." Poole responds simply, "Move further down away from the girls..." She frowns, still using her tricorder, "There have been too many coincidences here."

Talban says "I agree with Ghorev, if we leave now the other villagers may disbelieve the other girl which is a better alternative than stoning this one."

Ghorev heads further down along the stream at Poole's order.

Edwards comments, "Not if these people are anything like humans a thousand years ago." He begins to move down the stream, while keeping his eyes on the other officers.

The second girl has reached the still sizable group of Irdosians at the southern end of the village.

Glemm follows along after Ghorev keeping his thoughts to himself, there's enough people making speculations.

Semok says "I doubt Irdonians practice the ancient Roman technique of crucifying, but I agree with your conclusions, Lt. Edwards."

Talban moves along with the group quietly monitoring the sizable group of Irdosians.

The nearby canine barks a couple of times, but looking uncertainly about.

Poole remains where she is, changing her scans to look for tachyon particles.

Talban says "Lt. Poole, is it possible that we aren't the only cloacked away team here?"

One of the mounted Irdosians from the group at the southern end of the village begins heading in this direction.

"I have started to hypothesis that. I doubt our suits could have affected the environment like that." Poole starts to slowly make her way away, focussing her scan now on the sobbing girl and her bio readings. "Perhaps they have a unique physiological condition. Maybe their necklaces are more than simple metal or stone."

Tawagol continues sobbing. The waist-high canine approaches her and licks her on the cheek.

Semok says "I believe we have to understand what circumstances have linked all three anomalys. What do they all have in common?"

Talban says "Not to be the bearer of bad news but we've got more mounted Irdosians headed this way"

Edwards remarks, "They have us in common. These 'events' all happened when we were nearby. I wish it wasn't so, but we seem to be causing these problems."

The mounted Irdosian brings his canine that measures nearly two meters tall to a stop just short of Tawagol.

Semok nods slowly, though the action can't be easily seen in his suit. "Of course. But what else? Proximity to us and our suits? Were tricorders in use with each episode?"

"How do you know they wouldn't have happened anyway?" Poole asks, turning around to watch the approaching male. "Have you ever seen a tricorder make someone flicker out of existence, Semok?"

Edwards responds, "Probably something on us. Who knows what. There's no point in speculating, really. Not unless we plan to run some tests." He glances back toward Poole, "They're too coincidental. We did it, Leftenant."

The large canine has bluish-black fur, a cloth draped across its back where the rider sits, and an instrument in its jaws from which a couple of ropes come out from. The rider dismounts and approaches the girl. "What happened here, Tawagol?"

Glemm mutters, "We can't rule out thaa our equipment is affectin them stones sumhow."

Talban says "I agree with Lt. Poole. also even if we're the one's causing them we don't know what we're reacting too."

Tawagol seems unable to speak for a while as she attempts to collect herself. "I...I...am possessed..."

"And if we don't find out why it is happening, then there can be no further investigation of this people." Poole watches the rider with interest, tucking away her tricorder. "Disappearing without a cloaking suit is impossible...... so either we did it, though I can't see how, or...." She pauses, "She isn't real."

The male Irdosian does not react to that. Apparently he has already heard the story. "Are you certain? Maybe you just thought you saw yourself turning into the air."

Glemm says "Not real? As in a photonic?""

Edwards responds, "She isn't real..." He doesn't quite sound like he's probably rolling his eyes right now. "I guess stranger things have happened..."

Tawagol shakes her heard. "No...no... Toji saw me being consumed by an air demon too."

"Come, allow me to take you to the shaman. He can determine what happened," the young man extended his hand to her.

Talban says "There's our break...wait, why isn't his dog reacting to us."

"What are the other possibilities? That our suits some how fluctuated to include the girl in our cloaking field for a few moments?" Poole looks over her shoulder down the stream at the others, "Have we scanned for any special emminations that would effect our suits?... Otherwise, I'd give careful consideration to the idea that these people may be... holograms."

Tawagol looks at the hand, then slowly reaches out to take it. "Thank you, Kizoz," she says as he helps him up.

Semok says "Perhaps an orbital anomaly would cause such a fluctuation? The pull of a moon or particles from a nearby nebula?"

Something in the stream begins to grow a bright white. Kizoz looks at it intently, and Tawagol turns around to see what the man is looking at.

Edwards points out, "If these people were holograms, it would be pretty easy to find out. Just scan them."

Glemm nods in his suit, though no one sees it. "Is possible, thaa makeup o thaa stone necklace coulda amplified out neutrino emissions, and briefly enveloped 'er in onea our fields."

Semok attempts to bring his hand up to his chin, though the suit doesn't quite allow the full affect. "What do we already know about the Irdorians? If there was a massive holoprojector of some sort, we probably would have found it in preliminary scans."

"What...what is that?" Tawagol asks in a quiet voice.

Talban scans the stream

Both canines begin barking wildly.

Semok gazes at the stream. "Fascinating."

Edwards pauses and looks toward the stream, "Great. Now what?" He keeps his phaser at the ready. "Everyone watch out."

Talban says "Scanners ndicate nothing unusual about the stream"

The glowing white light in the stream seems to pulsate, them extend itself upwards.

Semok steps back from the stream. "I find it hard to believe that our equipment is solely responsible for...that."

The canines continue to bark their hearts out at the stream, and the two Irdosians are frozen as they watch what is happening.

Poole looks at the stream, "What in the blue blazes?" She starts to back away from the rider and the girl slowly, "I was about to consider finding out who this Shaman is, but this is getting extremely weird....." She glances over her shoulder again, "Get away from the stream, stay five meters away."

Talban complies

Glemm backs away from the stream as ordered.

Semok takes another few steps back.

The light reaches a height of about three meters before it fades, replaced by a column of a crystalline substance three meters high and half a meter in diameter.

Edwards backs up to the appropriate five meters and blinks, "So what's that?"

"How...how?" Tawagol utters quietly.

"I didn't do it." Poole responds with exasperation in her voice. She eyes the crystal then reaches for her tricorder.

Semok says "Wait. I wouldn't do that."

The dogs stop barking, and they immediately lift their noses to sniff at the air.

Semok says "Our equipment is probably responsible for many of the disturbances, sir. We may make things worse."

Talban says "Curiouser and curiouser"

"I don't know," Kizoz says. "Come on, let's tell the shaman about this."

Semok says "Perhaps when they leave, we can scan it. But I would not recommend we do so while they can see the effects. It may be dangerous."

Tawagol nods with jerky motions, and Kizoz helps her up on his giant ragna.

Edwards remarks, "Maybe it'll distract them from the whole demon thing, at least."

"Come along," Kizoz orders the smaller canine. It obeys, but not without looking around for a second glance at the column. The two Irdosians and the two ragnas head back eastward.

"Under normal circumstances I would give the order to leave, but Starfleet will want to know what the hell is going on here." Poole waits for the Irdosians to be suitably far enough away before activating her tricorder and scanning the column.

Semok says "In addition, we have caused a great disturbance here. If the results of this disrupt their culture, we may have to make reparations. The worst possible situation, but one we must consider."

Talban says "Just to play Pagh Wraith's advocate here, are we in the best position here on the surface to investigate matters?"

Semok shakes his head. "I do not believe so, but we may not have the luxury of gathering a better prepared team and equipment. If "Tawlgol" is accused of witchcraft, or whatever superstitious sins these people believe in, we will be accountable for the reaction. I do not think we have enough time to gather more resources before this shaman evaluates her and then metes out judgement.

"It's a column of solid dicosilium, it's fairly common... though obviously it doesn't usually pour up out of a stream and into a column." Poole finishes her scan and turns around to head towards the others. "I am going back to the village... Follow me at a distance, and..." She digs into the pouch at her waist for the necklace and hands it over to Glemm. "Tell me if you find anything."

Semok says "Is this element particularly valuable?"

Talban says "Would you like someone to go with you Lt?"

Poole says "No. It's a common element on this planet.... I said follow me at a distance. That's an order."

Talban says "Acknowledged."

Semok follows after Poole. "Aye aye, sir."

Talban follows at a safe distance.

Edwards shakes his head slowly and trudges off, along with everyone else, behind Poole.

The group at the southern end of the village seems to have dispersed, only to have come back together in the center of the settlement when Kizoz and Tawagol returned.

Poole heads straightaway for the center of the settlement, keeping an eye out for possible collisions and avoiding them.

Semok follows behind her, trusting her judgement apparently. He focuses more on watching the Irdonians' reactions.

A tight pack of people have formed a ring around the shaman and Tawagol. The shaman is inspecting the Irdosian girl carefully.

The sun is beginning to set and fires are being started up.

Poole gets as close as is prudent to the shaman, trying to keep a meter or more between her and any Irdosians.

The ragna canines are all in the kennels.

The shaman is dressed in an off-white cloth with a multitude of animal bones and teeth arranged in a pattern across the shoulders and chest area. A wooden staff mounted with the skull of an ursadon is in one hand, and his face is covered in an intricate ink design.

Semok remains close behind and slightly to the side of Poole.

Semok says "Sir, I do not enjoy suggesting the possibility, but what are our orders if the Shaman chooses the girl must be tortured or killed?"

As Poole approaches the center of the village, the shaman snaps his eyes away from inspecting Tawagol and looks straight at Poole. He points at the lieutenant and says, "There is the demon!"

Talban says "Damn."

The crowd of Irdosians near Poole immediately move away from where the shaman pointed to.

"Holy Jesus..." Poole starts, then begins to back up. "Fall back, everybody fall back.... he must have a bloody scanner. Shaman my arse."

"Do not spread out!" the shaman demanded of the Irdosians. "Do not allow those demons to escape!"

Edwards raises his phaser, while being careful to keep it in the cloaking field. He backpedals quickly.

Semok pulls back quickly and draws his phaser. "This is most unfortunate."

Talban keeps a headcount as he backpedals. "He knows there's more than one of us."

Semok wields his Type I Phaser.

Poole pulls her scanner instead of her phaser and scans the shaman for his vitals, and for any high tech equipment he might be carrying.

"They're getting away! Nialet will punish you if you allow demons to escape!" shouted the shaman. The Irdosians begin to form a tight-knit circle again.

Semok says "He may not be an Irdorian. They spoke highly of his "powers.""

Semok remains close to Poole with his phaser ready.

Edwards barks, "Move it, people! We can't afford a firefight here!" He starts moving as fast as possible, without turning and tripping over his feet.

The Irdosian weapons, including spears, bows and arrows, and axes are quickly distributed to the men.

Talban says "If we duck into a tent we may be able to beam out without being noticed and then beam back to a diferent location."

Poole keeps backing away, undaunted by the forming circle. She still has her tricorder in hand.

"Your orders, sir?" Semok seems entirely too calm considering he may end up shishkabob.

The shaman continues to point at Poole, "There! Right there!" The Irdosians ready their weapons, although they cannot see what they are supposed to attack.

Semok says "They do not appear to have the Shaman's capability for seeing us."

Talban says "Probably why he's the shaman Semok."

Semok nods slowly, keeping his phaser in front of him. "But is that the cause or the effect of the situation?"

Poole reaches up and taps her combadge, "Computer, begin powering up transporters and lock onto all cloaked signatures. Stand by for emergency beam out on my command." She shakes her head, "It must be a latent psychic ability."

Poole receives only static from her comm.

Semok says "I can not be certain. My psionic skills are quite limited."

The necklace that Semok has taken from Glemm glows a bright white momentarily before disappearing, taking with it a couple of Irdosians in the circle.

Semok blinks in astonishment. "Sir, just what are the properties of the element the necklace was made of?"

"What was that?" Poole asks, looking over to Semok. Then, hearing the static, "Everyone better be ready for a full fledged retreat..."

Fed up with the hesitation, the shaman approaches Poole, holding his staff high.

Edwards blinks, "I thought we were retreating..."

Poole puts away her tricorder and approaches the shaman, grasping for the staff. "Everyone better be ready for a full fledged retreat."

Talban mutters almost to himself.."It's how he's keeping them under control"

Edwards stops backpedaling, "Leftenant!"

Semok trains his phaser on the shaman. "Your orders, sir."

The shaman holds his staff in both hands, pointing the bottom, sharp end toward Poole. "I demand in the name of Nialet that you tell me why you are harassing these gods-fearing people!"

Talban begins to run towards Poole and the Shaman.

"Close the circle!" the shaman shouted. "Do not allow this demon to escape and do not allow those other demons to approach until I have dealt with this one!"

Poole , of course, cannot be heard by anyone outside of the suit, and doesn't like her odds if she reveals herself to the Irdosians, so instead, she grabs for the staff again.

Edwards grumbles and re-approaches the group of Irdosians and Poole. "This is about to get a lot worse..." he mutters.

Talban stops cold as he approaches the crowd, "DAMNIT I can't reach her. Can anyboy cut through the static and activate the transporters.

The shaman swipes the sharpened end of the staff at Poole. "Back, demon!"

Semok stands by Poole with his phaser ready. "Sir, we are running out of options."

Talban wields his Type I Phaser.

The shaman misses.

Edwards winces and calls out, "Hold your fire!" He clenches his jaw and waits to see what Poole does next, since she wasn't skewered.

A column of white light bursts out of the ground.

Poole siezes upon the opportunity, as the shaman misses her, to try and grab the staff once more.

Talban says "Edwards! Maybe we could distract him by doing something to one of the tents. Any wierdness these people see today they'll credit to the shaman"

The shaman and the other Irdosians are distracted by the sudden column of light.

The light fades, replaced by a crystalline column four meters high and three quarters of a meter in diameter.

Edwards is about to respond, but is distracted by the light, which he gapes out. "I swear, this keeps getting stranger and stranger..."

Talban says "Semok, is it possible that the planet itself is unstable?"

The canines in the kennel begin barking loudly.

Semok says "Frankly, I believe that any additional "weirdness" is hardly a factor at this time. We have done quite enough damage as it is. Anything more is simply more of the same."

Semok says "I am not certain, though I wouldn't rule that out. But has anything like this ever happened?"

An entire side of the circle of Irdosians fade out momentarily before returning to normal.

Talban runs towards the pen where the dogs are kept, he opens the pen and releases the dogs in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Semok stays within five feet or so of the shaman and Poole. He still keeps his phaser aimed on the shaman.

The first canine to approach the opened exit stops just after passing through the doorway. It sniffs, glares directly at Talban, and snarls.

Talban slaps the dog on the ass in an attempt to scare it away

The ragna draws back its lips in a larger snarl, showing a row of sharp, dripping fangs.

Edwards turns to look at Talban, "Leftenant Talban!"

Part of the shaman's staff enters Poole's cloaking field as she grabs it, while the ends that are outside of the field seem to be floating in mid air.

Poole grabs the staff successfully and pulls it away from the Shaman. "Why do these people continue to fade in and out like that?" She growls, then says, "This is getting out of hand, there is some force at work here and it isn't us or our technology."

Talban says "Trying to disperse the crowd to allow someone in to get lt. poole sir, this seemed like the only way to avoid breaking the PD more than we already have.,"

"Give that back, demon!" the shaman shouted. "Or Nialet will torture you for all of eternity!"

Talban backs away from the dog.

Semok says "This Nialet seems to be their god."

The canine crouches low to the ground and tightens its muscles as if getting ready to pounce.

Semok is surrounded by the crowd. He can not help Talban.

Edwards grinds his teeth together, "Get away from that thing, before it tears you apart." He turns back to the crowd, "For all we know, these people are supposed to have these strange abilities, sir."

Poole takes the staff and attempts to break it over her thigh.

Talban continues backing away in an awkward pattern, moving closer to the mob in an attempt to confuse the dog's nose. "Doing my damndest sir

Talban winces as he staff breaks

Semok shakes his head. "I do not believe so, sir. The girl reacted with horror when it happened to her."

The shaman snarls not unlike the canine. "You foolish demon! Very well, suffer the wrath of Nialet!"

Edwards responds, "Just because she was horrified doesn't mean it isn't supposed to happen, Semok. A lot of horrifying things happen in life that don't involve outside tampering from another race."

The shaman reaches into a pouch that he carries at his side.

Talban says "Lt. Edwards, can we get through to the runabout yet?"

Semok raises his phaser and fires at the Shaman's hand.

Edwards attempts to make contact with the runabout and is greeted with some lovely static, "No."

Edwards belatedly snaps, "Semok! I ordered you to hold your fire!"

The Irdosian crowd backs away as they see a tongue of fire lash out of nowhere and hit a man behind the shaman.

Talban says "Prophets preserve us."

Semok keeps his phaser aimed at the shaman. "Perhaps I need to visit the holodeck phaser training program."

Poole snaps the staff, and tosses away the pieces, only to witness Semok firing his phaser. "Semok, put your weapon away... Only one man can see you... and he no longer has his weapon." She frowns as she sees the shaman going for a pouch, and leaps at him.

"What is this? Dark magic of the underworld?" the shaman asks angrily. He takes out a handful of a powdery substance from his pouch.

Talban says "Semok, can you detect what's blocking our transmissions to the runabout."

"Sir, do not inhale that powder!" His voice is loud and firm, though still emotionless.

Semok holsters his phaser and brings out a tricorder. "I doubt it, but I will try."

Poole leaps at the shaman, but the Irdosian already has his powder in hand. He throws it at Poole as she collides into him.

Talban says "This may sound like an insane idea, but might the best way for us to preserve this culture's identidy and our own skins is to let the shaman "win" and retreat as soon as we can disperse this crowd?"

Three necklaces begin to glow a bright white.

Edwards watches Poole leap into the shaman and winces. "I can't believe this..." he remarks.

Half a dozen canines are out of the kennels now, and are sniffing around.

Semok shakes his head. "It is that or we have to completely violate the prime directive and expose ourselves. I do not advise that."

Semok shakes his head. "I can't get anything."

"The demon dares to attack the shaman of Nialet!" declares the shaman right before he begins struggling with Poole.

He holsters his tricorder.

Semok moves in to assist Poole, albeit hesitantly.

The sun has set, and the only light source comes from the torches.

A few pots, some baskets, some weapons, some necklaces, and five more Irdosians disappear.

Edwards watches Poole tussle with a backward shaman. He might laugh, if he didn't want to cry. Thankfully, he holds it all together. "There has to be some sort of dampening field around the area. We need to /pull back/."

Poole tangles with the shaman, grasping at his arms and using her strength to try and push him down. Breathing heavy, she says over the com, "We need a bloody explanation... I'm not leaving without one, or it'll be my career."

Edwards states as calmly as he can, "Leftenant Poole, it might be your career if you get that explanation. Suspicion is not grounds to violate the Prime Directive. Strange things do not necessarily involve outside tampering."

Talban says "With all due respect sir, perhaps an explaination would be better found on the runabout."

Poole's suit begins to crackle, and brief jolts of blue energy momentarily leap out of a some of the joints.

Semok steps back from the scuffle.

Semok says "Sir, I will follow your orders, but I believe the rest of the crew has a point."

"Tell that to this bloody bugger than..." Poole shouts, "One of you get out of the damned settlement and get back to the shuttle." She grows more alarmed as the suit starts to crackle, "And beam us all out of here."

Edwards glances toward the other officers, "Talban, go."

In a moment of the Vulcan equivalent of panic, Semok finally moves in and tries to help hold down the shaman. "Sir, your suit."

Talban follows his orders and runs from the settlement.

Talban tries to reach the runabout until he has success

The Irdosians, those that are still left, just stand frozen in place, watching the shaman scuffle with an invisible enemy.

"I will destroy you, demons!" the shaman shouts.

Semok removes a glove and brings a pale hand down towards the Shaman's neck. He attempts the Vulcan nerve pinch, hoping that Irdosian physiology is similar to most others...

Talban says "Runabout this is Lt. Talban, energize."

The flailing arms of the shaman blocks Semok's attempt. "Die, you spawn of the underworld!"

Talban crosses the stream, "Prophets let this work, RUNABOUT THIS IS LT. TALBAN, ENERGIZE!"

The static just almost clears...but then it comes back.

Poole is fed-up at this point and assumes an attack stance, going for a blow to the gut of the shaman.

Edwards grabs his tricorder, since he's not being all that useful, and points it toward the scuffle, trying to get readings on anything having to do with the shaman.

A snarl sounds right behind Edwards.

Semok puts his glove back on and tries to circle to the other side, bringing the shaman between the two of them.

Edwards pauses and mutters, "Someone remind me to have a talk with Mr. Talban later..." He turns around slowly to face the noise.

Talban keeps moving and prays for the first time in nearly ten years. He tries the runabout again.

Semok stops and reconsiders his actions, he turns and looks at the Irdosians.

The canine by Edwards opens its huge jaws up, showing off its massive, razor-sharp teeth.

Very few Irdosians remain to watch the otherworldly scuffle.

Edwards begins to slowly back away from the canine as he speaks up, "Does anyone actually know what dicosilium is?"

Poole hits the shaman in the gut as hard as she can, hoping he goes down. She stands then, rubbing her knuckle and happens to glance at the column of dicosilium. She grabs her tricorder again and aims it at the column, scanning it, knowing it will just be another column of that damned element.

The canine jumps up and, just before reaching Edwards, fades out.

The shaman grabs at his stomach, unable to do anything from the pain.

Talban receives less static than from when he was at the village, but still not enough to establish contact with the runabout. Soon, he runs into the western cliff face, the one from which the away team went down from some hours ago.

Semok searches the crowd, looking at all their necks.

Edwards watches the canine pounce and prepares for the painful mauling to ensue... Only, it doesn't. "Huh?" He blinks and looks around quickly, "Uh?"

"There is energy coming off the column... It wasn't there before." Poole steps closer to the dicosilium pillar and reaches a hand out to touch it.

Semok notices a boy hiding behind a tent. He walks towards the boy and kneels down, examining his necklace.

Edwards allows his heart a moment to stop racing, then turns back toward Poole and Semok, "You were right. That... thing vanished."

A surge of blue energy leaps out of the crystalline column and hits Poole's outstretched hand. It sends her flying back a few meters.

Semok reaches out and pulls the necklace off the boy, scaring him senseless in the process.

Poole's suit crackles some more, and larger energy surges on the exterior of the suit is visible.

Talban scans the cliff in an attempt to see what it's made of and if going up may improve his chances of reaching the runabout.

Poole can't say a word before she's flung backwards, tumbling head over heels. She lands, eventually, on her bum and groans, unnaturally loud in the comsystem.

The boy from whom Semok stole the necklace from screams and runs away, shouting something about demons.

Edwards puts together some coherent thoughts, "The dicosilium has to be playing havoc with our equipment. But that doesn't explain why a thing just tried to maul me and vanished."

Semok walks slowly towards the column of dicosilium with the necklace in hand. He watches it for any reaction.

The necklace that Semok is holding onto glows a bright white.

Semok comes within ten feet of the glowing column and looks at both the column and the necklace.

Talban says "I've reached the cliff and still no response, request instructions."

Poole starts to struggle to her feet, gasping a bit at the lingering pain. "Tricorder...." She manages with a thick-tongue.

Talban checks his tricorder.

Edwards notices Semok and decides to step closer to the column himself. He holds his tricorder out and begins to run a scan on it.

A surge of blue energy lashes out from the crystalline column that Semok is near, first striking the necklace and making it disappear into nothingness, then striking Semok and sending him flying back several meters as well.

Talban says "Runabout this is Lt. Talban energize"

Semok lands on his back with a painful groan. "I...wonder if...that thing is...sentient."

Talban transports off the cliff in shimmering blue light.

Edwards thinks better of trying that tricorder scan. He steps back and considers this, "That has to be how the shaman saw us. His staff must have interfered with the cloaking device..."

Once aboard Talban frantically attempts to beam the rest of the crew aboard

Semok remains lying on his back, in too much pain too move just yet. "Perhaps...but wouldn't the rest of the Irdosians be able to see us? I do not believe they can."

The dicosilium column begins to emit surges of energy all on its own now, striking at random objects within its vicinity.

Semok slowly gets up to his knees. He raises his head as he sees the column going haywire.

Edwards winces, "Semok, grab Poole! We're getting out of here!"

Both Poole's and Semok's suit crackles and sparkles now. Poole's goes completely haywire and the cloaking field fails.

Semok dashes towards Poole's now visable form and grabs a hold of her.

Semok says "Lt. Talban, 2 to beam out, now!"

The Irdosians are running around wildly, with very few remaining to witness what is transpiring.

Poole is on her feet already, grabbing at Semok as he approaches and running along with them.

The only thing that the away team and Talban can hear from one another is static.

Poole says "Try to beam me, Talban. Perhaps the suit is interferring."

Semok stops and turns back towards the column.

Edwards does his damnedest to get out of Dodge as soon as possible. "This is completely insane." he notes.

One of the Irdosian men work up the nerves to raise his bow, then nocks an arrow onto it.

Talban attempts to move the runabout closer to the planets atmosphere in an attempt to lock onto his crewmates.

Semok slowly draws his phaser. "Infinite diversity. Infinite combinations. But perhaps they all point in one direction."

The pillar of dicosilium continues to zap anything and everything around it, insects and tents alike.

Semok sets his phaser on disintegrate.

Semok says "I suggest everyone move away from the column. This may make things highly dangerous."

The Irdosian bowman aims at Poole.

Edwards glances toward Semok, "Hold your fire!"

Semok steps back quickly, but keeps his phaser aimed at the column. "Aye sir, but we had better make a decision quickly. That column is destroying the village."

Poole 's foot catches on something and she goes tumbling to the ground.

Edwards remarks, "We need to stop messing with it!" He skids to a halt when he sees Poole go down. "Semok! Help her!"

Talban flies lower and lower until he can without coming into visual range of the Irdosians, all the while cursing and punching the bulkhead at each failed attempt

Semok looks away from the column and searches for Poole. He sees her and begins running towards her after he holsters his phaser.

The Irdosian releases the arrow. It whizzes through the air toward Poole's fallen form, but the crystalline column zaps it and distintegrates the arrow.

Semok slows down as he watches the arrow go up in smoke, but continues towards Poole.

Poole picks herself up, and with a short glance over her shoulder, continues to run.

Another bolt of energy comes within meters of Poole, then hits another of the nearby columns.

Talban scans the area for any sign of the crew or the village.

Semok follows behind Poole and covers her as he occasionally looks over his shoulder to see if anyone or any /thing/ is following them.

Edwards resumes rushing off, hopefully out of the village and far, far away.

Talban tries to focus the sensors to just pick up the crew members.

The second column begins sending out bolts of energy as well.

No one and nothing seems to be pursuing the fleeing away team.

Talban loosk for the biggest energy surces in the area

The third column is struck by a bolt, and it too begins frying everything within its vicinity.

Semok follows Edwards and Poole close behind.

Almost simultaneously, the three columns let loose a bolt of energy that collide together between the three columns. The three combined bolts are then redirected upwards, nearly hitting the runabout that Talban is taking down.

Semok steps in to the stream and splashes noisely across.

"Oh, my God." Poole says as she looks over her shoulder at the light-show. She slows in her run, "I don't think this will do us any good...."

Talban tries to steady the craft and keeps scanning. Cliff, columns, crewmates anything

Edwards trudges up the cliff as fast as he can while he hits his communicator, "Talban?"

Semok grabs Poole by the wrist and keeps running. "We do not have many options, sir."

Poole is huffing and puffing by the time they reach the top of the cliff, leaning on Semok for some support.

Talban says "Keep moving towards the cliff and I'll try to get a fix on you, hang on. (his voie sounds straned."

Talban says "Computer, energize!"

The away team members still on the planet seem to freeze for a moment as they are broken down molecule by molecule and reassembled back on the runabout.

Semok bends over slightly, after he rematerialization, and looks around. "We have suceeded in our escape?"

Edwards collapses once he's reassembled on the runabout and gasps for breath. "Remind to never jog on a heavy g planet."

Poole clutches at her side as she rematerializes, then pulls off her helmet and tosses it aside heading for the pilot's seat.

Semok breathes a bit heavily, and removes his damaged suit.

When you reach the control pannel you will all notice a red/brown smear on the bulkhead above Talban and blood streaming down the knuckles of both of his hands as he piolets the runabout out of orbit.

Another bolt of combined energy from the three columns shoot up, again narrowly missing the runabout.

Semok takes note of Talban's knuckles. "You are injured, Lieutenant."

Talban says in a low voice, completely different from his usual friendly ameinable tone, "I will report myself for my error in judgement in releasing the dogs lt. Edwards."

Edwards tugs his helmet off and tosses it aside carelessly. "Watch the sensors... No active scans. Is the activity stopping down there?"

"Semok, Edwards, get out a medkit." Poole slides into the copilot's chair and says as an aside to Talban, "Get medical attention Talban, I can handle the flight out."

Semok, technically being a medical officer, moves to the first aid kit and sets it up.

Talban rises from his seat, numb almost zombie like.

Talban says "aye sir."

Semok searches the kit for it's various tools, then takes a closer look at Talban's hands. "How did this happen, Lt?"

Poole can't multitask too much, but manages to get a brief look at the sensor readings, "No, it looks like we lit up the biggest fireworks show in the galaxy." She focusses on getting the ship out of the immediate area, trying for warp speed.

Edwards climbs up to his feet slowly, "Did we kill those people?"

Talban says "I'm fine Semok, really"

Semok looks up and arches an eyebrow. "We both have our orders, Lt. How did this happen?"

"How could we?" Poole replies. "By taking tricorder readings?"

Talban closes his eyes at the thought of killing a village, he sighs and tells Semok almost angrily but restrained. "These injuries occurred when I repeatedly punched the bulkhead after many failed attempts to retreive the away team Lt."

The runabout exits the Irdosian atmosphere and goes back into the emptiness of space.

Edwards pulls off his cloaking suit and sets it aside. "We did /something/. We definitely violated the Prime Directive." he comments. He approaches Poole's chair and stands behind it, so he can look over her shoulder. "Can't wait for the court martial."

Semok looks over at Poole. "We may have inadvertantly done much harm." He looks back at Talban's hands. "I see. May I recommend you find a different technique of stress management?" He brings out a med scanner and in conjunction with his tricorder he analyzes the damage.

Poole gives what energy she can to the engines, engaging warp away from the planet, heading out of the system. "Yes. We might have done a lot of harm, then again, have you seen bloody people disappear in mid-air? How do we know what we saw was real, and not some sort of elaborate trap for living beings like us?"

Talban nods absently to Semok. "There was no dicosilium around the cliff. It was the only spot."

The specks of stars turn into streaks of multi-colored light as the runabout heads back to Station 419 at warp.

Edwards leans against Poole's chair, "Good point. Nevertheless, I think it'll be time to move on after this... But hey, there's a perk, I guess. I haven't been home in quite a while."

Semok continues to work on Talban's hand, but speaks up. "I do not believe we can speculate on what happened. We still do not know enough about the circumstances." His eyes narrow at the readings. "I believe we need to examine the properties of dicosillium in detail, and then work from there."

Semok says "Lieutenant, it appears you have not only broken the skin, but you have also broken two knuckles and fractured your second metacarpal."

Talban says "Wounds heal"

"I'm not so sure we did anything at all back there Edwards." Poole frowns and stands from her seat to peal off the cloaking suit. "Until an explanation is found, I don't believe we'll be receiving courtmartialed. We followed procedure, no interference... and that necklace glowed. Also there was no guarantee we could have contacted the shuttle earlier at the first sign of trouble either."

Semok nods. "Indeed, however it is best to avoid receiving them. Were you truly so angry due to the equipment's failure?"

Talban regains a bit of his usual composure, "At least we got everyone back in one piece"

Edwards comments, "They don't take Prime Directive violations lightly, Leftenant. Heck, we're supposed to let ourselves get killed before violating that directive if at all possible."

Semok brings out a few fabric bandages and wraps them around Talban's hand. "I must warn you, I am not medical doctor. These dressings will only hold for a short while, then you are to report immediately to the infirmary."

Poole sighs and looks for a spare PADD, "I'm going to start collecting our data and assembling a report.... And Edwards, we have no evidence that there even -were- people in that settlement, or if there was even a settlement." She starts picking up people's tricorders.

Semok looks up. "However, even mistakes with the Prime Directive can be repaired. There have been such circumstances in the past."

Edwards says simply, "This is a pretty big mistake."

Talban says "Understood, with all due respect Lt. there was no possible way that we could have known that they could have seen through the cloaking suits or that our equipment would have reacted this way with the world"

Poole nods in agreement with Talban, then heads towards the back to find a seat and start putting together the data.