Hide and Seek Part I

 Episode Name:  Hide And Seek
   Written By:  Starfleet
         Cast:  Ashilav, Clough, Dakin, Duncan, Edwards, Idrani, Sulok and Tyler.
  Produced By:  Starfleet
  Directed By:  Starfleet
     Aired On:  Mon Mar 25 10:57:33 2002
     Stardate:  52217.5

The USS Aegis, having left port yesterday for standard patrol, has found itself making a survey of a large plasma storm near Dulcais. The storm sits off of a thick cloud of interstellar dust, which is toward the galactic core from Dulcais. Some of the pilots on Dulcais have dubbed it 'The Sandstorm', because of the intense activity of plasma storms throughout the cloud. There is little in the way of things to see in this area, except that the Federation Science Council has asked for the 419 crew to survey the cloud. The Aegis is using this quiet opportunity to cross train some of its junior officers on various systems on the Aegis. Edwards has the bridge, Duncan is at the DTI post, Idrani and Sulok are receiving tactical training from Dakin, and Clough is hanging about on the bridge without any patients in Sickbay. Sitting at sciences is Tyler, who has been volunteering for more bridge time herself. Ashilav sits at engineering, and a JG Operations officer named Stone sits at the helm.

Ashilav sits down at Engineering.

Ashilav sits at the engineering console, dutifully monitoring streams of data and other readings from around the ship. She seems very focused on her work.

Edwards stands in front of the command chair, prefering not to sit for the time being, and eyes the viewscreen idly. "Science missions." he comments to nobody in particular. "They're what I live for."

Duncan makes some adjustments to the displayes at his station, and begins scanning the storm for any anomalus temporal readings.

Clough stands fairly near to the sciences post, though not near enough to actually be in the way. Occasionally, her eyes occasionally drift over to the viewscreen and the storm it shows. She smirks at Edwards' comment, shaking her head. "And you would prefer what, a diplomatic mission?" Almost uncharacteristic of her more recent attitudes, she grins.

Dakin is standing behind the tactical station showing Sulok and Idrani the console. "Calling up this menu brings up the management protocols for the torpedo launchers. Notice that there's a lot to keep track of here. Reason being Akira-class ships have a very high torpedo capability in relation to other Starfleet vessels..."

Tyler grins in response to Edwards' comment. "Sir, if it makes you feel better, we've charted twenty percent of the storm." As if punctuating Tyler's comment, Stone announces, "Moving to sector 22-JV."

Edwards flashes a smirk of his own back at Clough. When Tyler speaks up, he nods, "Good, good. Should be done in no time, eh?" he comments. "And if that's not the case, nobody tell me."

Sulok, his hands clasped behind his back, nods to Dakin at this explanation and then turns an eye towards the console. Being as tall as he is, he doesn't bother to stand infront of Dakin or Idrani, and instead just watches over their heads.

Idrani stands to one side of Dakin, looking at the tactical station with interest. She asks a couple questions about the ordinance carried on the Akira and the yield of a full spread.

"Systems operating within normal parameters," says Ashilav in her thick Andorian accent. She glances over towards Tactical, favoring Idrani with a quick supportive smile before looking back to her console.

Duncan makes some further adjustments to the displayes at his station. "Actually there is a bit of a problem, I'm having a devil of a time penetrating the cloud with ships sensors."

Duncan makes some more adjustments and calls for more power to be shunted to sensors.

Clough looks over toward Duncan with a light frown, but offers nothing. She wanders around the bridge, over toward the direction of one of the seats flanking the Captain's chair.

Dakin starts to answer Idrani's question, but stops short. "Tactical alert, Lieutenant..!" He brings up the sensor displays to better get an idea about what exactly.

Stone announces, "Captain, we have company!" His fingers work across the helm.

Edwards blinks and looks around swiftly, "What? Put it on screen!"

Duncan quickly rescans something and stands stock still... "Its a borg cube, just verified it, it is bearing down on our position.

Duncan cancels his earlier request for more power to sensors.

Duncan begins running scans on the Borg Cube trying to get anything he can that will help before it gets within tactical range.

Idrani looks quickly from the tactical station to the screen.

Sure enough, it is a Borg Cube coming out of the Sandstorm, and the viewscreen confirms it. A mechanical-looking cube-shaped ship, its interior pock-marked with pockets of glowing green light, it is heading straight toward the Aegis. "Intercept in two minutes," says Stone neutrally. Tyler swallows and taps at her console with nervous fingers.

Ashilav swallows down whatever fear is building up inside her. "Say the word, sir. Power is ready to be moved to whatever systems we need," she says, towards Edwards.

Edwards starts to drop back into his chair, then slingshots back to his feet. "/Borg/?" he asks incredulously. "Pull us back! Rann, inform Four-One-Nine and Sector Command, now."

Edwards adds, "And the shields should be a given."

Dakin goes white and immediately goes to work on raising shields and setting them on oscillating modulation. "Raising shields, sir, setting for random frequency shift..." At Edwards' order, he tabs a comm channel open to both recipients, "Station 419 and Starfleet Command from U.S.S. Aegis, Borg Cube detected..." He continues on with his report.

Sulok backs up a step, giving Dakin more space to work unless ordered to take the console. Turning his head towards the view screen, he eyes it a moment and then goes back to watching Dakin work.

"Sir, its sc-scanning us!" cries Tyler. Stone reports, "Captain, they have come to a full stop at the edge of the cloud."

Idrani also backs up a half-step. She glances between the viewscreen and the tactical station, unless given an order to man a secondary station.

Edwards clenches his fists and does his best to remain calm. "Scan them back." he orders. "I wanna know the minute they start moving again."

Duncan continues to scan the Borg vessel, looking for anything that might be useful.

Clough takes the seat she had been moving toward. Her eyes no longer roam the bridge, but instead remain on the viewscreen and what it shows.

Ashilav seems to be quietly whispering something to herself, over and over again, in Graalen. She's being alert towards her console, switching from feed to feed, ensuring everything is in perfect order.

Duncan contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Tyler contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Dakin looks to Edwards. "The station's been apprised, sir."

Tyler reports, "Sir, they have stopped scanning us. It is standard configuration B-buh-borg ship. It just sent out a massive subspace signal."

Edwards looks back toward the science station, "Can you tell what they're trying to do? If they're trying to call for friends?"

Tyler shakes her head. "No sir, I have no idea what they are up to. They've not even given us a s-second thought. I'm not going to complain..."

Clough, for her part, looks calm as she settles into her seat. "Why would they need to?" she asks quietly. "A Cube versus the Aegis? The odds seem fairly certain in that regard. But they aren't attacking. I, for one, would take it as a good sign."

Dakin looks at his console and frowns slightly. "The cube's moving back into the cloud, sir..."

Edwards returns his attention to the viewscreen and considers it. "Borg don't just drop by to say hi." he remarks. "Can we follow them in?"

Sulok notes towards Dakin, "It seems logical that our rather low compliment and lack of new technology to assimilate, would make us .. unworthy, to target, perhaps, sir," just a theory, his pointy eared head bobbing a bit as he speaks.

Idrani comments, "Or assimilation is not their objective." She comments softly, with a thick Andorian accent.

Duncan begins frantically keying in equations and algorythems. "I'm working on the signalto see if we can get a handle on its content.

Duncan contests his Espionage (Cryptography) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

"Sir, may I advise against following the cube," Ashilav offers, antennae perking forward. "The Aegis will take quite a beating from those storms."

Clough speaks quietly, "Could they be responsible for the storm?"

Edwards makes a face at something and spares a glance toward Clough. But he looks back toward the viewscreen after a moment. "How bad of a beating?" he asks.

Ashilav glances down at her console. "The hull will be under tremendous stress, as well as our sensors blinding. And that's without an actual storm /hitting/ us... it could be much worse."

Dakin nods to both Idrani and Sulok before responding to Ashilav. "Effects on the shields?"

Ashilav shakes her head, frowning. Antennae sag slightly. "Shields will be inoperative."

Idrani suggets, quietly to Dakin, though she can be overheard. "Launch a probe?"

Clough suggests, "If the Borg can survive the storms, I suggest we let them. We're here to study the cloud, not to follow the Borg. We've alerted both Sector Command and the Station. They know the Borg are nearby. If we try to follow them, what good will it do us? They aren't our mission today."

Edwards finally drops down into his chair and slams a hand against the armrest. "Something's wrong here." he comments. "Very wrong. And this isn't a debate, people."

Stone looks back to Edwards. "Course, sir?"

Dakin sighs and relents, nodding to Edwards, in silent affirmation that he's in for this one.

Duncan looks towards Edwards and waits impassively.

Edwards orders, "Pull us in as close to the cloud as we can get, without getting hit." He settles back in his chair, "We'll try a probe."

Tyler releases a held breath of relief.

"Aye sir," states Stone. He deftly maneuvers the Aegis to the trailing edge of the storm and up next to the cloud, very close to where the Borg were spotted initially.

Dakin nods and tabs one of the forwards torpedo launchers to standby, then loads a probe into it.

Dakin looks to Edwards. "Probe on standby for launch, Lieutenant."

Edwards remarks, "Launch it."

Dakin nods and punches the fire button. "Probe away."

The viewscreen takes on the telemetry of the probe. It speeds into the cloud, and the viewscreen takes on the yellow color of the cloud. The transmission jumps as if trying to establish a clear channel as it gets into the thicker portions of the cloud. Soon, it is a haze of yellow static. "It's reaching its maximum communication range for the conditions," states Tyler. "Nothing but dust so far, Captain."

Dakin nods to Idrani in approval of her idea.

Idrani nods faintly to Dakin, acknowledging the compliment.

Clough continues to sit in her chair, calm as she regards the screen. There is little expression on her face, but occasionally, she does glance about at the others on the bridge, more examining their conditions than looking to them for anything in specific.

Ashilav places both hands on her console, as if to steady herself. And she watches, and waits.

Edwards shakes his head and leans forward somewhat, regarding Stone, "Do you think you could keep us away from the storms, Leftenant?"

Duncan continues to make minor adjustments at his station and trying to clear up whatever scans he can get.

Idrani murmurs to Dakin, "Sir, would it be possible to launch second probe, and piggy-back signal off of first probe to get greater range of scan?"

"I can give it my best, Captain," replies Stone. The probe suddenly blinks out. "Captain, the probe hit something," reports Tyler. All that was shown on the screen was yellow static.

Dakin looks to Idrani then starts to relay that thought to Edwards, but Tyler's report stops him short.

Idrani falls silent. Nevermind. She looks back at Tyler.

Edwards frowns at that report, "That was a warning, wasn't it?" He leans back again, "Suggestions, people. We're gonna try and find out what that cube was up to. I only want suggestions on how to do that."

Dakin speaks up, "I think Idrani's got an idea, Lieutenant. We could fire off a series of probes that could network with one another to take care of the problem regarding linkup range."

Tyler remains silent. Stone remains quiet too, tapping at his console and making sure the cloud and the Aegis stay relative to each other.

Ashilav glances towards Idrani, and then back down at her own console, considering.

Idrani considers, "At what range did probe make impact? And did probe hit something or did something hit the probe?" She regards the Science officer.

"Go for it." Edwards responds to Idrani's suggestion via Dakin. "I'm not too worried about losing probes. Unless we're running short on 'em. Then I'd be worried."

"Twelve point two kilometers," replies Tyler. "I didn't notice any energy disruptions from the telemetry, it struck something solid and destructed. I don't think the cube shot it."

Dakin nods. "Then maybe we ought to arrange the probes to prevent a similar impact." He then sets to work on readying a spread of five probes. "Think five'll be enough?"

Edwards comments, "Five is enough... for now."

Idrani nods to Tyler. She looks back at the tactical readout as Dakin prepares the series of proble launches.

Tyler taps at her console, ready to start the sensor operations that will relay the signals.

Dakin finishes the calibrations on the probes and gets them set for launch. "Probes standing by."

Edwards orders, "Launch 'em."

Dakin nods and hits the fire button once again. "Launched."

Sulok, after watching the viewer for several moments, turns back towards the tactical console, watching Dakin do his thing with the probes.

GAME: Ashilav spends a courage point.

Ashilav contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

The probes fall into a line. They begin to spread themselves between the Aegis and the target point, just over twelve kilometers into the cloud. The transmission is choppy, but not nearly as bad as it was previously. From what the crew can see in the yellow fog, looks to be an enormous crystalline convex disk, hanging in the void. The disk appears buried, as part of it is missing along a clean line. Bright ribbons of blue-white energy ripple off this edge. The disc appears to stuck in this light. The probe telemetry displays no signs of life, no energy discharge from the disc except the energy ribbons. "It's cronoton radiation, it's not unlike that distributed by the anomaly," states Tyler. She watches the screen suspiciously.

Dakin frowns at the mention of chroniton radiation, but keeps tabs on goings-on as best as his sensors can track the data.

Duncan begins working to analyze data from the chronoton radiation.

Ashilav tilts her head to the side, eyes narrowing, trying to look through the yellow fog. "It appears, visually, that it is caught in something."

Idrani lifts a white eyebrow. She waits for the analysis of the data to be completed, keeping her inquisitive nature in check.

Edwards stands back up and regards the viewscreen. "Can we deploy some more probes? Try to get a closer look at whatever it is?" he inquires.

Dakin says "I don't see why it'd be a problem. A couple more should suffice and only improve our reception amongst the others."

Tyler remains silent, watching her viewscreens. She swallows.

Clough retards Tyler curiously, then returns her gaze to the screen, eyes narrowing.

Edwards nods and remarks, "Go for it, Rann."

Duncan (claiming advantage) contests his Physical Sciences (Temporal Physics) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Dakin nods and prepares two more probes in accompaniment with the others out there already. "Probes ready..." And since he has the go-ahead, he tabs the fire button. "...and away."

The probes take up position. The underside of the thing looks like the top, a convex disc. All told, it looks like a saucer section to a ship. It measures 316 meters in diameter.

Duncan looks up from his station. "This object is emitting a field thats almost identical to the field that envelopes the anomaly, except that it doesnt have the effect of turning back inon itself. Its more unchained." makes some more adjustments and sends a copy of the data over to Tyler's station.

Edwards shakes his head and inquires, "Care to explain what that means, Agent Duncan?"

Idrani opens her mouth to ask something, then closes it as Edwards speaks.

"He's talking about the chroniton radiation," replies Tyler. It's similar in intensity and strength, but it does not collapse in on itself like the anomaly does. It's what gives the anomaly its winky properties."

Clough looks over toward Duncan with a light frown of concern, then nods to herself and focuses again on the spinning top on the viewscreen.

Idrani asks, "Do we have a physical composition of the object?"

"If it's chronoton radiation," the other Andorian asks. "Would that mean this object could be attempting to enter our space-time frame?"

Edwards nods slowly and comments, "I'm thinking... some sort of temporal gateway, maybe? That would explain a Borg cube appearing and disappearing."

Duncan makes some further adjustments and looks to Edwards. Mr. Edwards, That object is a Lithian ship. We are at this moment in much more danger than we'd have been in if the borg had attacked us.

The young human science officer replies to Idrani's question, "It's mostly silicon." She glances to Duncan, then back to her screens without another word.

Clough glances toward Edwards, "A gateway to where, though? Not that I am particularly inclined to..." She breaks off as Duncan speaks and winces.

Dakin blinks incredulously at Duncan's report.

"The cube is still in the cloud, Captain," states Tyler. "I just had a sighting from probe three, half a kilometer away from its position. It seems to be combing the area."

Idrani inclines her head. She asks Dakin quietly, "Do our sensors register Lithian life form readings and their ships' power signatures?"

Clough smirks ironically at Tyler's report and shakes her head, settling back once again in her chair. If they're going to go hunting for death, she's at least going to do it comfortably.

Edwards remarks, "That cube is from another time. It tried to link up with the collective. That explains the subspace signal." Duncan's mentioning of the Lithian causes him to frown. "Those ships are both major threats. I think... we need to close the rift or whatever it is."

Dakin checks the probe's sensors for an answer to that query.

GAME: Dakin spends a courage point.

"If we close that rift with both those ships still here," Ashilav states. "They will still -be- here. We must knock them back to where they belong."

Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Dramatically Fails!

Probe five goes into a feedback loop at Dakin's hands. It cascades down the chain of probes, and all but probes one and two destroy their subspace relays.

Dakin fumes. "Of all the... sir, feedback through the subspace relays just knocked out five of the probes. The two close to the edge of the cloud are all we have now."

Edwards frowns severely. "Send some more probes out, Rann." he comments, "The rest of you... try to figure out how we can teleport two very powerful ships back to their own times."

Clough, calm in contrast to Dakin's fuming, looks curiously at Ashilav, "Do we know where... or more precisely, /when/ they belong?"

Tyler remains silent. She just watches her screens.

Idrani asks mildly, "What would be the temporal ramifications of destroying them?"

Edwards remarks, "It doesn't matter. I highly doubt we can destroy either."

Dakin calms himself down and readies replacement probes for the five lost. After setting them to take up position where the others fried out, he tabs the fire button. "Replacement probes away and en route."

Idrani inclines her head. "Yes sir."

Duncan checks over his data then does so one more time. "Ok, the cube is exibiting a similar chronal signature to our own timeline, so its local. From its movement I'd say its in a search pattern and the lithian ship appears to be very close to the next leg of its search pattern.

Ashilav shakes her head. "Could the Borg assimilate... Lithians, whatever they are?" She asks, blinking in shock. "What in this universe is silicon-based?"

Duncan says "The Lithian ship is local to this timeline as well."

Edwards jerks his attention to Duncan, "Excuse me?"

Dakin blinks. "Lithians native to our present..?"

Duncan turns directly to Edwards. "I said that the lithian ship is local to this timeline. Its not from the future, nor the past, its from Now.

Tyler remains silent.

Idrani lifts both brows, considering the ramifications of this.

Edwards shakes his head and rubs at his jaw absently. "The Lithian ship is caught in something, right?" he asks. "Could it be caught in... whatever's displacing it?"

Clough looks over at Duncan, her expression registering surprise at his announcement. Looking back at the screen, she speaks mostly to herself, "Then it isn't our place to send them anywhere, and destroying both would be nearly impossible. That rather... narrows our options."

Tyler responds, "Sir, it appears... Half-submerged. In subspace. It seems.. Frozen there."

Dakin says to anyone listening, "Regardless of our intention towards the Lithians, I shudder to think what'll happen if the Borg get their hooks into them, assuming that's possible."

Duncan looks openly worried. "I think our best bet no matter what is to keep the borg from finding this ship no matter what. We need to distract it from where its searching because it is very close to just stumbling right on the lithian.

Edwards inquires, "Are the Borg a threat to them?"

GAME: Ashilav spends a courage point.

Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Space Sciences (Subspace Field Dynamcs) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Ashilav scratches her head, studying her readouts. She looks a mixture of fearful, and puzzled.

Idrani comments to Dakin, "The Borg seem to be trying to determine where they are and establish contact with collective. I think that is their priority. I do not think they will try assimilation until they have contact with collective. They are... singleminded."

Duncan nods agreement with Dakin. "If the lithians are disabled, I cant imagine that the borg will have too difficult of a time with them.

Ensign Tyler turns her attention to Edwards. "Think about our computer core and how it interfaces with.. The computers," she says cryptically. "We'd have more to worry about than Romulans with technology they shouldn't have."

Edwards curses softly under his breath. "Dakin, ready a spread of torpedoes." he orders. "Is there any way we can cut off the Borg's signal?"

Clough murmurs, "Pity that single mind is so large." She turns her attention onto Edwards as well, "So we draw their attention from the Lithians. How? If we fire on them, we will either be destroyed or draw the attention of the Lithians themselves, and /then/ be destroyed."

Dakin nods to Idrani then again to Edwards. A half-dozen photon torpedoes are then prepared and loaded into two of the forward launchers.

Sulok remarks, "That is assuming the Lithians can act," towards Clough.

Idrani asks Dakin, "Do we know their shield status? Both ships? Maybe we can send energy burst to stimulate plasma storm? Let the storm soften them up first."

Ashilav says across the room to Edwards, "Lieutenant Edwards, I was considering trying to close that spacial rift around the Lithian ship, but can't seem to think of a way how. Your advice?"

"I'm not reading any power signatures or Lithian life signs on the Lithian ships," states Tyler. "But I st-still don't want to go in there."

Edwards holds up a hand toward Ashilav, indicating for her to wait. "Would it be possible to board the Lithian ship, if we can get close to it?" he asks. "And is that plasma storm idea feasible? Anyway?"

Dakin nods. "I can attune the forward phasers and light the cloud up for a decent distraction."

Sulok replies to Edwards, "Without their systems operating, it may be possible to board the Lithian vessel, sir, but whatever has removed them and their life signs, may also have the same affect on an away team."

Tyler replies, "We've n-never encountered a Lithian ship, sir. We d-don't know if it can be boarded."

Edwards nods at all of that and states, "Ashilav, keep working on your idea, just in case. If anyone can help her, do so. But I want that ship." He pauses. "Rann, work on drawing some storms toward the Borg."

Idrani inclines her head. "Maybe if enough plasma is vented. Not sure." She scratches the base of one antannae. "Maybe load demolitions onto probe. Fly probe right on hull... or bridge section if they have one. Detonate. But we need demolitions specialist." She is quiet for a moment, then adds, "Communication from Borg cube went out. Another communications signal must come back; we can try to jam that before it reaches cube."

Dakin nods. "Aye, sir. Torpedo spread remains on standby." He goes to work on calibrating the targeting scanners through the probe chain and targets an area of the cloud that would direct storm activity to the cube.

Dakin finishes his targeting adjustments. "Phasers ready, Lieutenant."

"Aye, sir," says Ensign Ashilav, as she goes over her figures and starts scrolling through chroniton and subspace field data.

GAME: Dakin spends a courage point.

Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Tyler reports, "A plasma storm is starting to coalesce at the target area and is intensifying. The cube should be near that area by now."

Stone keeps the Aegis relative to the cloud without comment. He awaits further orders.

Clough's eyes remain on the viewscreen, and she crosses her arms over her chest. She is frowning, but still appears fairly comfortable as she waits.

Idrani waits to see what effect the plasma storm will have on the cube.

Dakin watches both his console and the viewscreen for any signs of... well, anything.

Duncan continues to make adjustments at his station trying for any discernable data at all.

Edwards waits, and waits, and frowns, "Well?"

Tyler comments, "We have a storm, Captain, but we can't be sure of anything else. It is continuing to pick up intensity, sir. If the Borg are there, they are likely busy."

Idrani asks, "If they are destroyed, would our probes pick that up?"

Duncan looks up from his station and asks. "Did that other flight of probes get launched?"

Edwards comments, "You'd think that we'd see some debris."

Dakin eyes the viewscreen. "More than likely." He nods to Duncan then in affirmation of his question.

Ashilav shakes her head. "A plasma storm would likely not destroy a Borg cube, especially one that has been watching this storm for quite some time, and has likely adapted. Delayed, most likely."

Clough speaks up quietly, "They aren't destroyed. They're there. Somewhere."

Idrani nods, looking back at the tactical data again and murmuring to herself in Graalen.

Tyler stands and walks down toward the command consoles. She steps close to Edwards and whispers something to him.

Tyler whispers to Edwards, "... houses... just like ours.... it,... do what we... technology."

Duncan joins the small confab between Edwards and Tyler.

Edwards starts to reply to Tyler, pauses, and glances at Duncan with a raised eyebrow.

Ashilav's antennae perk up, and she glances down towards the command floor.

Duncan looks Edwards in the eye. "She's entirely correct. Our best course of action is to destroy that ship as quickly and as completely as possible to keep the borg from gettinng to it.

Idrani doesn't look up from the tactical readout... but she does stop murmuring.

Edwards glowers at Duncan. Glancing back at Tyler, he asks, "That what you think?"

Tyler looks to Duncan and back to Edwards. She shakes her head. "We should see if we can try to get a live one, sir. We can't pass up this opportunity to study the Lithians - it could provide valuable intelligence. As much as I d-don't want to, that's my recommendation." But then, she is the silicophysiology expert.

Edwards murmurs, "Thanks, Wendy." He pauses, then remarks to the bridge at large, "That ship is coming home with us. To hell with the Borg." He glances around at everyone, "If I have to, I'll make us look like the best target around."

Dakin nods to Edwards and cracks his knuckles, signalling he's ready to start working the tactical board.

Clough sighs and nods, accepting. She looks up at Edwards, then back at the 'ship' on the viewscreen.

"Sir, begging your pardon," Ashilav says, speaking up. "If we have Lithian technology aboard - nevermind what a Lithian is - if it is so dangerous, whatever it is must be destroyed."

Sulok stands still, and at hearing this news, remarks, "I agree, the Lithian technology should be destroyed, it is the most logical resolution."

Duncan returns to his station and works on any data that has come in while he was away.

Idrani looks over at Edwards as he speaks. She says nothing.

Edwards reaches out to place a hand on Tyler's arm, to make sure she doesn't leave. "It might not be the most logical solution, people. But you have to trust me when I say that I'm doing what's best for the Federation." he comments.

Dakin looks to Idrani and Sulok assuringly before looking to Edwards for further orders.

"Nobody's destroying any technology on my ship," says Tyler quietly. She stays by Edwards side and looks to him curiously.

Duncan nods at Edwards statement of "best for the federation."

"Or the worst, if we fail, and the Borg destroy this ship, and take possession of the Lithian ship," Sulok returns.

Clough replies simply to Sulok, "Then we won't fail." She shrugs her shoulders lightly.

"Given enough time, sir, I could feasibly find a way to collapse that rift," Ashilav says, voice raising slightly. "I haven't found it yet but I know I can send it back to wherever it came from."

Edwards remarks, not unkindly, "I did say this wasn't a debate. And don't forget your 'sirs', Mr. Sulok." He glances back to Tyler and tilts his head toward her, whispering, "We're better than other Akiras. But that cube will destroy us, won't it?"

Tyler says "We need to get one live Lithian. The rest of the Lithian ship should be destroyed. If we move it, we could dislodge it from it's current state, Captain."

Idrani glances at Dakin. It sounds like a boarding action to her.

Edwards asks, "Can we? Destroy it, that is."

Tyler replies, "If it's... Stuck.. as it appears, I'm sure we can th-think of something to take it out with."

Edwards nods and drops his hand away from Tyler's arm. "I think I have a plan." he announces. "We're gonna go in, board the Lithian ship, find a Lithian, and bring it back with us. And we're gonna hope the Borg leave us alone."

GAME: Ashilav spends a courage point.

Ashilav frowns, dissatisfied, and starts working at her equations again.

Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Space Sciences (Subspace Field Dynamcs) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Dakin says "We have a means of non-lethally subduing one of them?"

Clough glances up at Edwards, asking almost at the same time Dakin speaks, "Do we know yet /how/ to board them?"

Edwards replies, "I'm hoping they'll be in stasis, like the ship. And we'll use a transporter."

Looking up sharply, antennae very straight up, Ashilav says, "Sir, Ensign Tyler said to you something about an artifact. Can't we use Lithian technology -against- itself?" She still seems intent on destroying the thing.

Dakin rubs his nose-ridges idly.

Tyler frowns as she moves back to her post. She sits down.

Edwards turns a glare on Ashilav, "Eavesdropping is tacky..." He trails off and turns to Tyler, "Can you get a team over there?"

Idrani asks, "Can we lock onto an alien and transport directly to brig? Or store in transporter buffer, if they are more dangerous than Borg, as Agent Duncan say."

Tyler replies, "The transporter buffer would be ideal. During our one encounter with one, it walked through a medical containment field."

Dakin nods. "How long can we keep it before its pattern degrades in there?"

Clough asks, "Would it not be difficult to study if... stored... in such a manner?"

Idrani shrugs. "Depends on many factors. But should stay long enough to prepare suitable place to keep it. Especially if containment field does not work."

Edwards nods and retakes the big chair. "All right. Transporter buffer." he comments. "Now we have to worry about getting it. Mr. Stone, prepare to take us in. We're gonna get in, get what we came for, and get out."

Approaching Dakin, Sulok says, "Sir, what they are proposing is in direct violation of Starfleet regulations," his hands crossed behind his back.

Duncan continues to work on the data he's received.

Dakin looks to Sulok. "Ensign, believe me when I tell you that we have valid reasons for this undertaking." To Edwards, "Recommend EVA suits and a set of pattern enhancers, Lieutenant. If any of the Lithians are still ambulatory, we can perhaps lure him in a sort of technological snare-trap."

Tyler taps at her console, and finally answers Edwards, "I think I can get the crew on the ship," she says. "But transporters are useless, captain." She turns her gaze toward him. "Standard ones, anyway."

Tyler amends, "At least until we get the enhancers set up."

Clough closes her eyes and sighs, nodding at nothing in particular.

Duncan looks to Ensign Tyler as he says."Mr Dakin, I think you're about to find out how well a team player I am.

Ashilav glances over to Sulok, then Idrani. She looks torn.

Edwards inquires, "How far do we have to go to get into transporter range?"

"Thirty six meters," replies Ensign Tyler.

Idrani falls silent, listening.

Edwards huhs, "Thirty six /meters/? Well let's do that, then. Then Ensign Tyler will transport an away team on over."

Duncan closes out his station but leaves it active incase someone else needs to use it.

Sulok regards Dakin a moment, before saying to towards Dakin, but loud enough for everyone on the bridge to hear, if they're paying attention, "I am going on record, objecting to this action, sir, it runs against the protocol and fabric of Starfleet and its ideals," and he backs up a step. Turning his gaze towards the main viewer, before looking back towards Dakin. "If you feel you need to relieve me from duty, do so. If not, I will serve, as it is my duty. Regardless of objections."

Tyler stands up from her post and withdraws her tricorder. "We'll have to assemble the team in the shuttle bay," she says, looking unsure about all of this.

Duncan says "Mr. Dakin, I'm volunteering to go on this mission. You can turn me away, but I'm sure that you will need another phaser at your side over there."

Duncan pauses a moment then says. "And Yes, I am a team player you should know that by now."

Dakin looks Sulok in the eyes, though with no sign of authority other than his own voice. "You're free to do as you see fit, Mr. Sulok. No one'll say anything if you want to sit this one out..." He looks over and nods to Duncan, then continues to Sulok, "...but you're more than welcome to join us if you can assure me that you're concerns will not affect the carrying out of this mission."

Clough looks up toward Dakin without standing. "I would volunteer as well, Rann. If anything is left alive and ambulatory on that ship, you may well need a doctor to assist."

Dakin looks to Clough and nods. "You're on, Callie." He looks back to Sulok for his reply.

Sulok regards Dakin, and then nods slightly, saying, "I will do my duty to protect the other members of the away team, sir."

Idrani inclines her head, considering Sulok's words carefully. She's picked up enough whispers and innuendos between the other officers and the DTI agent to determine there is more here than appears at first glance. She looks to Edwards, then, being the commanding officer, to hear his response to Sulok's objection.

Edwards stands up and turns around, so he can face the largest gathering of officers, "Sulok, this might seem wrong to you. But believe me when I say this... what you retrieve from that ship may mean the difference between life and death." That said, he regards Dakin, "Rann, take your away team to the shuttle bay. And make me proud."