Hidden Agendas

 Episode Name:  Hidden Agendas
   Written By:  Nagareru
         Cast:  Edwards, Ghorev, Haven, McAnally, Nagareru and P'Trell.
  Produced By:  Starfleet
  Directed By:  Nagareru
     Aired On:  Tue Mar 12 00:59:48 2002
     Stardate:  52185.4

Time: Mon Mar 11 21:01:09 2002

Stardate: 52209.5

The USS Aegis has just departed the station, laying in a course for Nebula N524 at Warp 5. In the intervening time, Lt. Edwards has called a briefing to reiterate the information that has been uncovered in the prior investigation of the attack on Science Lab 1.

Edwards stands in front of the desk and clears his throat. "So you all may or may not know what we're doing here." he starts. "We are going to investigate Nebula N524, a nebula that's hiding something. We don't know what it is, which is why we're investigating. We do believe that it has ties to an explosion that occured in Science Lab One about a month ago. I'll let Leftenant Ghorev explain what happened with the lab, and Leftenant McAnally explain what we know about the nebula so far. Mr. Ghorev?"

Ghorev nods in acknowledgement, and states briefly, "A science station in Science Lab One, which had been used by Ensign Kara Dade for the purpose of monitoring some minor anomalies in this same nebula, was sabotaged, rigged to explode, through a crude but effective physical bypass of the regulator which slowed the flow of plasma from the EPS conduits in the bulkhead of the station to the console. That's the briefest explanation I can give without getting technical."

McAnally takes up the story from here. "An examination of data retrieved from the science lab's computers revealed evidence of tampering. Possible motives for tampering were fleshed out, and one possibility seemed to be to prevent the further exploration of Nebula N524. The probe that we sent into the Nebula was destroyed by an unknown source, but not before it relayed back information that leads us to believe there might be more to investigate."

Edwards nods slowly once the other two senior officers finish speaking. Turning his attention toward P'Trell, he inquires, "What can you tell us about the nebula, Leftenant?"

P'Trell says "What we have here is a Class VII nebula. By their nature we're going to have a lot of difficulties with the sensors and probes due to high levels of electromagnetic interference. The unusual thing about it is that what sensors have been able to detect indcates is some gravetational anomalies that indicate that there's something big in their. Oddly it's too small to be a star which would be expected for a nebula of this class. Our best guess is that it might be a large asteroid or possibly a small moon."

A chime interrupts the briefing. Over the comm, Ensign Burrows, the helmsman for the moment announces, "Sir, we will be approaching the Nebula in just a moment."

Haven frowns in thought as the call comes in over the comm.

Edwards glances up briefly when comm comes on, even if there's nothing to see. "All right." he states. "Any questions?"

Ghorev says "None from me."

P'Trell says "The tampering in the science lab 1, was it the kind of work that would have needed to be done by someone physically on the station or is it possible that it was tampered with from something outside the station?"

Ghorev says "It was a physical bypassing of the console's regulator. Unless the someone outside the station has interstellar-range high-precision tractor beams, it was done in-station."

P'Trell says "Thank you Lieutenant."

Edwards looks around at everyone. "Well if there's nothing else..." he motions toward the exit, "Let's go."

Time: Mon Mar 11 21:36:01 2002

Stardate: 52209.5

The Aegis drops out of warp on the outer edge of the Nebula. The viewscreen shows a broad panorama of roiling multihued clouds glittering with the brilliant lights of stars in their infancy.

Edwards steps over to the center command chair and settles into it, his gaze on the viewscreen. "Anything on sensors?" he questions with a slight frown.

P'Trell says "Commencing scan now sir."

Haven remains at the back of the bridge, hands tucked into the small of her back as she watches viewscreen.

GAME: P'Trell spends a courage point.

Ghorev says "Michael, I recommend firing off a few probes, as well. At the very least, we'll be close enough to see any attempt to destroy them this time."

<CONTEST> P'Trell (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

P'Trell says "There's too much interference from the nebula sir. I can't get an accurate reading."

McAnally is at present sitting at her station, studying the viewscreen.

Edwards :nods and orders, "Send out a probe, Mr. P'Trell. See if that helps any." He leans back in his chair a little and drums his fingers against the armrest. "Tactical, stand ready to raise shields at a moment's notice."

P'Trell says "Aye sir, launching now."

Ghorev says "Recommend a multiple spread on those probes. It's possible we might use the overlapping signals to overpower the interference."

Haven shifts her stance a bit as she studies the viewscreen.

Edwards considers that, "Why don't we see how Mr. P'Trell can do with one first. And I wanna see how our mysterious friends out there react to it."

Ghorev nods in acknowledgement. "I'll see what I can do about cleaning it up with some filtering on our end, but ... nebulae are tricky."

P'Trell says "The probe is away sir. Awaiting return data once she's in position."

Edwards remarks, "Yeah, I bet." He taps a foot on the ground as he waits for that information.

The probe begins to transmit its data back. Thanks to Ghorev's efforts, the telemetry is clear. One the screen, the probe disappears deep into the Nebula. A sudden surge of radiation is picked up before the probe simply stops sending data.

Ghorev says "That was clearly no accident. The attack was focussed. We might want to try that full spread and see if they can target multiple probes at once."

P'Trell says "Sir, here's something else, the probe stopped immediately before the surge. No drift no impact that I can detect she just froze. I would concur with Lt. Ghorev's recommendation."

"The data is clearer this go round due to our proximity, but this is almost surely the same effect our original probe attempt experienced," says McAnally, swiveling back in her chair to face Edwards and Ghorev.

Haven says "Another question to ponder. If it, whatever it is, can do what with a probe, what might it do to this vessel?"

Edwards remarks, "If it scratches the paint, I'll be pissed." Standing up from his chair, he glances toward the science station, "Send out a spread this time." Then to McAnally, "Did we get anything from that probe before it went up in smoke?"

Ghorev says "I'll wager we have stronger shields than a probe, but just in case, I'm going to see what I can do to avoid sensor blindness."

P'Trell taps in a few buttons at his station. "Probes away. Sir, might it be worth our while to attempt hailing whatever's in there?"

"Nothing conclusive, Sir. Just the presence of a large gravitational disturbance along the lines of a sizable object. Consistent with our earlier findings," McAnally answers.

GAME: Ghorev spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

A small cluster of probes speed away from the ship and into the nebula. A few minutes after they disappear, a little longer this time, their telemetry goes haywire. Two of them seem to be neutralized in the same way. Two more seem to lose guidance and veer directly into each other at the same time.

Edwards absently straightens his tunic, "Somehow, I doubt they'd answer, Mr. P'Trell. But I'll keep that idea in mind." He pauses and watches the activity on the viewscreen. "That didn't go well."

Ghorev sighs. "I can't really get a clear enough reading on what they're hitting the probes with, precisely, to shield our sensors against it. They may be able to blind us for a split second or two."

P'Trell says "Were we dealing with another class of nebulae we might be able to at least track the EM signatures but there's so much naturally occurring radiation in there the EM signatures are impossible to trace. Whatever's in there has picked one hell of a hiding spot."

A series of bleeping sounds emanates from McAnally's console. "Sir!" she says in a slightly raised voice. "Proximity sensors are detecting a small object emerging from the Nebula, approximately one quarter the size of the Aegis."

Haven perks a brow at the screen, her steps carrying her forward as she watches the screen closely.

It is difficult to see at first, even after it has emerged from the clouds of the Nebula: a small object, clearly artificial. It is constructed of a very smooth and highly reflective metal, so the reflections of the Nebula play across its surface and light just seems to slide along it. The object appears to be on a direct intercept course with the Aegis. It is an elongagted ovoid shape just gliding along toward the Aegis.

Edwards orders, "Shields up! Someone identify that thing." He drops back into the command chair and scrutinizes the viewscreen.

<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

Ghorev frowns. "Working on an analysis now, but the sensors don't seem to want to provide details on that thing."

<CONTEST> P'Trell (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

P'Trell says "Sir, this thing appears to have some sort of mini-gravity well around it. It's diverting light and electromagnetic energy all around it. It's ingeneous really, it serves as both cloaking device /and/ propulsion system, theoretically possible but I don't know of anybody with sophisticated enough technology to actually build one. I'm also getting 2 very faint life form readings but I can't get any specifics due to their gravity well."

McAnally looks befuddled. "Why would someone so advanced be threatened by our Science Lab's experiments? Couldn't they hide indefinitely?"

Haven casts a quick glance at P'Trell at the mention of life forms.

The 'ship' continues on its intercept course with Aegis. It will shortly be within weapons range. Yours,... or theirs.

Edwards furrows his brow at that. "Life forms?" he inquires. "Leftenant McAnally, hail them. P'Trell, Ghorev, try to find out anything you can about that... vessel, I guess. I wanna know what it's capable of."

Ghorev says "Aye, sir. Analzying now. Word of caution, however: If it's hostile, we may have to rely on indirect methods, unless tractor beams can latch onto the thing. Lieutenant P'Trell, based on your data, can you confirm?"

P'Trell types away as he continues his scan, his eyes are glazed over with wonder and fascination at seeing such an advanced technology. "Checking now. While I'm no doubt stating the obvious I should mention that what we're looking at here is nowhere near big enough to account for the object we've been detecting in there. Maybe they're protecting whatever else is in there...incoming data, based on my readings phaser fire will be useless against it. Photon torpedos could hit and possibly damage it but getting a targetting lock will be damn near impossible...as for tractor beams...looks like they'd roll right off. "

"Aye, Sir," says McAnally, sending out a message.

Though there is some slight interference from the Nebula, the viewscreen switches views as the 'ship' responds to your hail. The interior that you are looking at is small, smooth, and streamlined, but in many ways appears recognizable. There are a number of consoles and view screens, but these are all currently blank. Standing in the center of the small area that might be a bridge are a pair of beings, one terran in a Starfleet uniform. Standing nearby is a Romulan who appears to deferring to the terran. The Starfleet officer steps forward. When he speaks, it is slow and measured, as if every single word is being carefully considered before he says it. "I ... am ... Captain Devenau." he saids, "Be advised... this region of space... is out of limits. I must ask you to depart at once."

Edwards stands back up, when the hail is answers, and blinks. "Captain Devenau?" he asks, trying to hide the disbelief in his voice. "This is Leftenant Michael Edwards of the USS Aegis... We're here trying to investigate the link between this nebula and an explosion on Station Four-One-Nine Upsilon."

Ghorev simply watches, silently, for now.

P'Trell's antennae twitch slightly as he takes in this turn of events. He's still got that kid at christmas look in his eyes.

McAnally stares at the viewscreen, obviously in shock. After a moment, she blinks. "Sir?" she says hesitantly to Edwards, muting the signal for a moment. "This could just be interference in the signal, but Captain Devenau's combadge appears to be... incorrect. The backing should be gold, but his appears... silver?"

McAnally is apparently correct. The captain's combadge does appear to be discolored. The Captain and the Romulan exchange looks for a moment, and the the captain speaks at the screen, still in his slow drawl. Apparently he does not realize he is muted.

Edwards watches the Captain try to talk while muted and sighs. "I sorta realized something was off about him." he comments. "Any suggestions, people?"

Ghorev says "Ask him for his posting, and under whose authority he places his region of space off-limits to us?"

P'Trell says "With less interference I could do a better bioscan and check it with Starfleet medical records as it stands though I think we can only go with Lt. Ghorev's suggestion."

"I should probably unmute him, Sir, lest he get hostile. Anyone recognize the era this combadge is from?" says McAnally.

The captain has continued to speak for a few moments more until he realizes he is being ignored. At that point, an awkward look crosses his face and he shoots a look at the Romulan, who gives what can only be described as a bewildered shrug. The both of them then simply stare at the screen and wait patiently.

Edwards observes, "It's probably just a mistake. Science, try to get me some scans." He inhales a deep breath and exhales slowly. "Unmute him."

McAnally goes Out of Character.

McAnally has left.

<CONTEST> P'Trell (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

P'Trell says "No new information sir. There's just too much interference."

After McAnally unmutes them, it takes the two strangers a moment to realize it. Captain Devenau speaks up, "Liuetenant, do you realize ... you are facing a ... courting marshall for this incursion? I tell you again... leave this area..."

Edwards frowns briefly at P'Trell's news. When the comm unmutes, he wipes the frown off of his face, however. "I certainly don't want to face a, uh, courting marshall, sir." he responds. "But I'm afraid that I'm not familiar with any Starfleet operations in this sector, beyond our own. Could you be so kind as to provide us with your posting and under whose authority have you placed this region of space off-limits?"

<CONTEST> P'Trell (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

P'Trell types at his console and says nothing though his antenae do twitch with a clear annoyance.

The Captain turns to his confederate and the two consult in whispered tones for a moment, and then the Captain nods and turns back to the ship. "This area is a site for ... classified research into gravitic induction... I am not permitted or allowed to provide any... datas about it. I apologize... Lieutenant..." And then the Romulan appears to prompt him with a nudge and the captain nods, as if remembering something, "You have your orders." He says with certainty.

Edwards pauses and focuses on the Romulan a moment. "Not gonna introduce your friend, sir?" he inquires, his tone remaining respectful.

The Captain starts to speak, but the Romulan shoulders past him. He too speaks with the same slow, measured tones. He remarks first to the captain, "This... has... failed." He then looks at the viewscreen, "You... are entering... sovereign space... we will consider an intrusion to be... an attack... you have no hope against us." His words, despite the slow and measured tone, have a deadening finality to them.

Edwards frowns. Again. "Well now that that's out of the way..." he remarks. "Please. We mean you no harm. We only want to know why, and maybe how, you destroyed the science lab on our space station. Our people were only investigating this nebula out of simple curiousity."

P'Trell's brow furrows. but he says nothing.

The Captain steps forward again, "You must... ignore the threats of my companion..." The Romulan glares at him, but the Captain continues, "We are a peaceful people... we had no choice..." The Romulan speaks up, "Do not... admit... weakness to them..." The Captain frowns, "But... " and then both fall into silence. Simply staring at each other.

Edwards steps forward once, "We're not interested in fighting or exploiting you. Please. Can you tell us why you had no choice?"

P'Trell says "Sir. I think I may have found something."

The pair continue to stare at each other. Its strangely bizarre. They don't seem to be communicating at all. Just staring. Maybe ... thinking?

Edwards almost says something further, then decides to leave them to their staring contest for now when P'Trell speaks up. "What is it, Leftenant?" he inquires.

P'Trell says "I'm not detecting any weapons systems of any kind on that vessel. Now, I may be missing something due to interference but it seems to me that they're far more intent on hiding than fighting. Why would they send a defenseless ship to meet us unless they had none. Perhaps they're scared and putting up a show of force. They do live remotely and may not know of the Federation's Prime Directive. They might think we're scanning in order to plan an invasion."

Edwards glances back toward P'Trell and nods, "I think you're probably right. Everything that's happened so far has seem geared toward keeping us from gathering information about this nebula. Anything else, Mr. P'Trell??"

P'Trell says "Sorry sir. That's one amazingly guarded ship and the nebulae's not helping matters."

Edwards nods, "All right. Thank you." He turns his attention back to the viewscreen and motions for the transmission to be unmuted. "Sorry about that." he addresses the 'Captain' and 'Romulan'. "And we're sorry about alarming you. Our scientific curiousity gets the best of us sometime. We're prepared to leave you be, as we don't wish to quarrel with your people. I just hope you understand that our intentions are only peaceful."

The two beings both turn to the screen at the address. They take a long moment, but finally the 'captain' speaks, "We... are travellers... our ship has been damaged... we needed only to hide long enough to make our repairs... but your scienticians discovered that we were here... my people are... we have been observing your communications for some time..." The Capatain draws a long breath and closes his eyes. There is a shimmering of photonic energy surrounding him and suddenly standing before you is a vaguely humanoid shape that appears to be made of a coagulant, jelly-like mass that glows with energy. The other performs the same transformation. "In our ages... we have never needed to defend ourselves and so... although we can manipulate gravity and photonic energy in very advanced ways... we could not stand against you... if you decided our technology was... worthy of taking. We... regret... that we harmed your people and see that... it was... wrong. We were motivated... by fear."

Edwards blinks a few times at the change, but somehow manages to refrain from reacting visibly otherwise. "We understand." he responds. "But we don't just take what we want from others. It's against our rules, and beyond that, it's something we find distateful. If you require any assistance, however, we are fully prepared to do what we can. If you wish to be left alone... we'll respect your wishes."

Nagareru has stopped gesticulating and emoting with the reversion to his coagulant form, "... we would prefer the latter... our colony will not be long in this area of space... perhaps only 6 decades... if it even takes that long... we shall have our agents ... leave your station as well..."

Edwards replies, "Six decades, eh?" He decides not to get into that any further. "Well, we'll leave you be. But, uh, if you change your mind, you know where to contact us."

P'Trell busies himself at his post and says nothing.

Communication cuts off, apparently terminated at their end. Their 'ship' - which had lowered its gravitic field - raises them once more and slides off toward the Nebula once more.

Edwards comments dryly, "Good bye to you too..." He pauses. "Hey, we just made first contact. And we didn't start a war. Go us." He steps back and drops into the command chair, addressing the flight control officer, "Take us home."