The Plague of Dorsanis
Episode Name: The Plague of Dorsanis Written By: Belgarath Cast: Belgarath, Edwards, Gulliver, Havaris, Laco, Sulok, Umanah and Zian. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Belgarath Aired On: Sat Apr 06 23:18:07 2002 Stardate: 52247.6
Time: Thu Apr 04 20:02:18 2002
Stardate: 52242.5
The trading world of Dorsanis witnessed a pitched battle between Rynkan and Teirian forces several days back. Shortly afterwards, people living in the vicinity of where the atmospheric battle occured began reporting illnesses. Not long after that, people from around that world began reporting the same symptoms. Now, four days after the initial sickness report, millions of people on that world are falling ill and dying. The planetary government has asked for medical aid from the Federation in discovering the source and curing it.
After a few hours of traveling to the Neutral Zone, the non-member trading world appears on the viewscreen as a ball of blue and green.
Edwards leans forward in the big chair somewhat and eyes the planet on the viewscreen. "So this is Dorsanis." he comments. "Well here we go, I guess..."
Havaris lounges in his seat, shifting a bit uneasily for all of the simplicity of the mission parameters. His eyes drift over his controls, fingers drumming idly on his chair arm. His gaze drifts over to Edwards, simply waiting.
Gulliver sits at the helm of the mighty ship, routinely tuning up the navigational deflectors to sweep aside any debris from the missile-and-fighter battle from days before... "Looks like the locals didn't clean up the splash like they thought they could," she muses.
Umanah sits beside Zian at Sciences, utterly absorbed in the displays, as she has been since boarding. The biology of the inhabitants, the ecology of the planet, the symptoms of the disease-- taking in a crash course with stone-still concentration. The only movements that betrays life are the ceaseless tracking of her eyes and her left hand, slowly flexing into and out of a fist.
Laco sits at Operations, doing various Operations-based tasks.
Sulok sits in his usual rigid manner, his hands moving over his console as he watches the ships in their path and in the area as they approach the planet. He quirks an eyebrow at Gulliver's comment, and remembers the actions of the Dorsanis defense forces only days recent.
Zian straightens in her seat at the science station, as the blue-green globe of Dorsanis finally comes into visual range. Her expression is concerned as she watches the world slowly grow larger, her glance flicking briefly toward Gulliver before she turns back to her station, studying much the same material the good doctor beside her is. It's best to be prepared, after all...
The space around Dorsanis is devoid of traffic as outsiders stay away from the contaminated world. The planetary government hails the ship.
Edwards stands up from his seat and catches the familiar sound of the hail alert on the tactical station behind him. "Open the channel and put them on-screen, Mr. Sulok." he states. That said, he clears his throat and prepares for the transmission to come through.
Sulok nods slightly and responds, "Aye sir, opening channel now," and his hands flicker over his console as he opens the hailed channel.
Havaris straightens up in his seat, combing fingers through his hair with a sudden intake of breath. Gametime. His eyes blink to clear away the fog, and he settles in to the whole 'looking professional' business, more or less imitating Sulok's posture.
Gulliver starts calculating approach speed to create a nice beamdown window.
Umanah swivels her chair, dragging her attention away from the displays and looking, for the first time, at the viewscreen. She studies the planet with the same intense focus that had previously been afforded the mission data, but is silent.
Sulok nods slightly and responds, "Aye sir, opening channel now," and his hands flicker over his console as he opens the hailed channel.
Zian's fingers dance lightly over the controls before her, programming in a standard sensor sweep of the area. Looking toward the Command deck, she waits quietly, anticipating the inevitable command.
A gray-haired man wearing a very nice suit appears on the viewscreen. "I'm President Norem of Dorsanis. Have you come to help us?"
<CONTEST> Zian contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Edwards gives his most serious, matter-of-fact nod to the President. "We have. I'm Leftenant Michael Edwards of the Federation starship Aegis, Mr. President. We'll do whatever we can to help." he states.
Havaris glances aside at Edwards, lifts a brow lightly, then looks back to the screen, solemn.
Gulliver keeps a businesslike eye on her panel, glancing up to take the President's measure as she can.
Umanah remains silent, saving the medical questions, perhaps, for other doctors once the away team has gone planetside... If there are any doctors left.
Sulok continues to patiently watch his console, looking up only once towards the man on the screen. An eyebrow quirking ever so slightly in observance before he, like his eyebrow returns to its usual casual working state, looking like he has been bathed in starch.
Zian glances back to her sensor readouts as scan results scroll across the display. Chewing her lower lip thoughtfully, she leans over toward Umanah to ask her a quiet question, making sure to keep her voice down enough that it doesn't disturb the Lieutenant's conversation with the President. Zian whispers to Umanah, "Doctor, do we... the... file?"
"Thank you," Norem says genuinely. "You are free to contact the Ministry of Medicine or whatever other ministry that you require. The death toll has started, please act quickly."
Edwards nods and replies, "We'll get to work right away, Mr. President, and we'll be in touch. Aegis out." He turns slightly and nods toward Sulok. As he does so, he spares a glance in the direction of the science stations.
Gulliver frowns a bit sadly at the President's news.
Umanah replies to Zian, quietly but instantaneously, without a glance back at the data on her screens, "Approximately 3.5 billion." Her eyes never leave the viewscreen. When the transmission ends, she rises, and states, "Those who are going planetside will need to don containment suits. Anyone who hasn't worn one before, I'll give instruction on how to wear them. I don't think I need to stress how critical maintaining the integrity of your suits will be. The tiniest puncture, the smallest tear, will place you at risk of infection. This disease kills in four days, on average, and is by all indications -highly- infectious. I strongly advise all of you move with the utmost caution, and be aware of your surroundings at all times."
Sulok reaches over without delay and taps the console lightly, sending away the image and the hailing channel, and he reports, "Channel clear," and then goes right back to his console without any further ceremony.
Zian nods slightly, releasing a pent up breath. Looking back toward Edwards, she realizes that she's managed to attract his attention despite her attempt to be discreet, and reports, "Sir, sensors show a few non-Dorsanian ships grounded on the surface, and a few armed Dorsanian patrol vessels. Population at this time is still reading approximately 3.5 billion."
A data upload request comes in from the Ministry of Medicine. According to the message, the data upload will include the lastest recorded symptoms, their distribution, studies on the illnesses, and death count as well as its distribution around the world.
Edwards listens to Umanah's warnings expressionlessly. After Zian speaks up, he inquires with some mild curiousity, "Can you identify the non-Dorsanian vessels?"
<CONTEST> Zian contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Havaris drums his fingers once again on the arms of his chair, glancing over his shoulder towards Umanah at her words of warning. His eyes blink once, head cocking to the side before he nods evenly and returns his attention to the controls before him. Still waiting.
Gulliver looks up to Edwards. "Sir, having led the past mission to this system, and seeing the battle, I have a gut feeling the Rynkan ship that blew up may have been trading for biogenic weapons. For what that's worth, at this late date. They did airborne containment cause of fissible material in the freighter, but clearly, that wasn't enough, assuming all this is related."
Umanah cants her head at Edwards, and asks, "Permission to authorise the upload from the Dorsanian Ministry of Medicine, Sir?"
Sulok steps away from his console and checks another before going back to the one he was looking at. Listening quietly he looks up at occasional 'interesting factoids', before going back to his dutys at tactical.
Zian turns back to her controls and taps in a query, only taking a brief pause before answering, "Yes, sir. I'm detecting vessels of both Ferengi and Yridian make... as well as what looks to be a heap of disabled Rynkan ships." She glances up toward Gulliver, and hmms softly. "I'd be interested to see if there's any correllation between the location of that heap of ships, and the distribution patterns in that data upload."
The patrol ships continue circling the planet, making sure no ship without proper business will land on the planet.
Edwards frowns somewhat and glances toward Gulliver a moment, "The Rynkan freighters were destroyed. Where were they when that happened?" His attention bounces back to Umanah, "Granted. I wanna know everything we can know without hitting the surface."
Havaris rolls a shoulder a bit to work out some stiffness. That'll teach him to slouch at his station. His gaze turns towards Gulliver, presumably to hear her answer to Edwards' question. As he has since departure, however, he remains otherwise silent.
Umanah sits and swivels back around to her console, initiating the upload. The screens roil with data. Her eyes rapidly track and devour.
Gulliver says "I can plot the splash, sir," and quickly lights up a point on the viewscreen to show where it occurred. "It was over an urban area. The frieghter and escorts were going for escapre velocity at the time, Vector, was... like this.""
Sulok continues doing the whole tactical thing, getting a good look at the Dorsanis defense ships passively.
<CONTEST> Umanah contests her Computer (Research) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Zian studies the display on the viewscreen for a few moments, then looks to Edwards. "I can do a more in-depth sensor sweep of the atmosphere, to see if we can detect any airborne contaminants, sir..." she suggests.
Edwards watches the viewscreen briefly and remarks, "Send the data to Zian's science station, Leftenant Gulliver. And if you think of anything else that might be important, bring it up. Zian, go for it." He moves to approach the science stations, "What can you tell, Doc?"
Havaris scratches his chin lightly, examining the view screen before glancing back towards Edwards. "Can we get a simulation of the plague's spread by hour? See if it drifts with the wind currents. Or pops up randomly at various points, or simply appears at once over a large area? It might help us better understand what we're dealing with, here. Where to look for the origin of the contamination."
Gulliver does so, and volunteers, one hand finessing the impulse throttles, "We have a complete scan of it from the Amazon logs, as well, sir. Given we had to sit out the furball, I was mostly concerned with fission reactants dispersing in atmosphere... Most of our sensors were on the freighter before and after it got tapped." A glance at the display. "Orbital insertion range in thirty seconds, sir. Standard orbit?"
Umanah swivels back around, regarding Edwards. "There may very well be something to Lieutenant Gulliver's theory about the Rynkan frieghter being the source of the contamination. The epicenter of the outbreak matches the coordinates she reported for the crashsite. Precisely."
Havaris lifts his hands, chuckling. So much for that suggestion.
Sulok looks up from his console, listening intently to all of the revelations. Out of left field, he suggests, "Might it be possible to have the holodeck simulate the disease, so that those with the medical background can examine the disease as it works, sir? Or is the data too incomplete?"
Zian frowns at her sensor readouts. "That freighter may very well have been the source, sir... but now the real question is: The source of /what/? Sensors are definitely detecting some kind of toxin in the air, but it doesn't match with anything I have on record. I can't identify it. And whatever it is... in the days since that freighter blew, the winds have dispersed it without impunity. It's evenly spread over the whole globe, now. There's no one area of concentraton."
Edwards looks toward Havaris in order to acknowledge him when he speaks. But he doesn't comment on his idea after it becomes obsolete. "Standard orbit." he replies to Gulliver. "Mr. Sulok, send a message to Four-One-Night. Get them to transmit the Amazon's sensor logs to us." His attention returns to Umanah and Zian, "Would Mr. Sulok's idea work? And if those Rynkans were here with biological weapons... they must have bought them here. And their supplier might be grounded, if he isn't a native."
"Ask the relevent Ministry if we might have access to the manifests of any and all craft downed on the surface? I could cross-reference them against our lists of known contraband suppliers. See if we can't turn something up along that route, Sir?" Kusto glances back Edwards' way, arching a brow.
Gulliver hits some controls, easing the ship into orbit. "Aye, sir, ...Standard orbit..." A bit of gracing the steering thrusters, and the Aegis glides on into a stable place in the gravity well. "I don't know if we could tell much about something blatantly illegal from a cargo manifest, sir, but maybe a class four probe could sample the wee bug and save us some speculation?" A pause, and then, "Standard orbit," she confirms.
Umanah shakes her head. "The level of medical technology on Dorsanis is inferior to that of Starfleet, Sir. The information they were able to provide about the disease is incomplete, at best. I need a patient." She pauses, and then offers, "Do the Rynkans possess technology sufficient to engineer such a weapon on their own? Or were you already thinking they aquired it in trade, when you spoke of a supplier?" Another pause. "There -are- Ferengi present."
Sulok goes to open sub-space channels to the station, saying, "Aye sir."
Zian nods her agreement with the doctor. "The Ferengi are a likely candidate. They'll sell just about anything, so long as there's a profit to be made, even the remains of their own dead. Considering they have a Rule of Acquisition that states 'War is good for business', it wouldn't surprise me if they were somehow involved."
Edwards nods quickly to Havaris, "Get on it, Leftenant. Contact whatever ministry handles trade and find out everything you can about recent Rynkan visits, especially the one that resulted in that destroyed freighter." He listens to the other suggestions passively, then frowns. "The Rynkans have been developing advanced weapons. They recently had an accident on their homeworld, in fact. So they might have developed this plague. But why bring it here?" He pauses and shakes his head, "Let's see what we can find out from a patient. I think we can risk bringing one aboard, as long as all quarantine measures are taken. We want access to all of our medical technology, after all. What do you think, Doctor?"
"Entire manifests, Gulliver. Crew manifests, cargo manifests, ship registry, designation, call letters. Recent ports of call, port of entry, all permiture and cargo authorizations. Such like. The dealer could have been aboard a perfectly legit freighter, like those Orions back on Four-One-Nine. You never know until you check. And we can start with the Ferengi and Rynkans." Kusto angles his attention back towards Edwards, nodding agreement. "Aye, Sir." That done, he fiddles with his terminal, hailing to Dorsanis Government.
Gulliver looks up to Edwards, "Captain, we could soft-land a probe at a military base and the Dorsanians could directly input blood and tissue samples to it, before risking contaminating the ship?"
Umanah listens to the exchange, her hands folded together and pressed thoughtfully against her lips. She lowers her hands at length, and replies, "Ideally, I'll need a live patient. Depending on what kind of pathogen we're dealing with, samples will only give me so much information. Also, our containment fields are perfectly effective... for every pathogen we -know- about, and the variants thereof. We're dealing with something almost entirely unknown. I think it would be unwise to risk bringing the contamination aboard the Aegis." She blows out a breath, and then states, "My suggestion is that I go planetside, Sir. Alone. No one else needs to be placed at risk."
Sulok speaks as the link up is made and he receives the data, his fingers moving over the console as he makes the data ready for the others on the bridge to look at, and he says, "The station has transmitted the sensor logs, sir," and then goes back to tactical issues. Towards Havaris he says, "The trade office you'll want to speak to sir, is Minister of Exterior Trade Huran, sir," hoping to save him some time asking around. "And I might suggest that the Rynkans knew of the contagion, they had sent three escort ships with that particular freighter, sir. It seems logical that they wanted to prevent this or any number of equally disasterous things from happening, including the contagion falling into Teirian hands." At Umanah's recommendation, he quirks an eyebrow up like it's caught on a fish hook and he tilts his head, how.. logical.
Zian looks rather concerned at Edward's suggestion that they beam up a plague victim, but relaxes slightly as she glances toward Gulliver, nodding. "If we could get tissue and blood samples from both a plague victim and someone who has not yet been afflicted, preferably two persons who are related, so their genotypes are similar, that should help tremendously, I would think... it would enable us to rule out a lot of possibilities..." She glances over at Umanah. "May as well learn as much as possible the safe way, doctor... there's not a one of us here who's expendable, least of all you, in this situation."
Edwards considers the various suggestions with a thoughtful look. "I don't like martyrs, Doctor." he states. "Mr. Sulok, send that data over here to Zian's station. Gulliver, come up here and help it go through it. See if the Amazon picked up anything useful. Once you've done that, Sulok, contact the Ministry of Medicine and tell them that we'll need those samples Zian suggested."
Umanah frowns rather deeply. "I'm not attempting to martyr myself, Sir. Bringing samples aboard, however, is much like transporting in a patient: We're exposing the Aegis and all aboard to an unknown pathogen, one that our containment fields might -not- contain. I -strongly- advise against it."
"Minister of Exterior Trade Huran has transmitted the manifests. The first go-around is pretty much what we expected. The Ferengi vessel matches one that was busted for transporting Romulan Ale a few years back, before the embargo was lifted. All others check out clean for crew, cargo, and call letters." Kusto taps his terminal and turns about to face Edwards. "Doctor Umanah's right on this one, Sir. It's a risk. But it's a risk sending her down there, too. She's the only qualified doctor aboard right now."
Gulliver nods, "Aye, sir. Come to think of it, we could just beam down all the sampling equipment the Doctor wants to, and arrange the sampling with whoever's their emergency management agency. We can send it down anywhere you like, and have data pretty quick." She hits the call key for a backup Conn officer to come in and gets up to join Zian.
Umanah's arches an eyebrow at Edwards. "Is that your order, Sir? That we bring the pathogen aboard the Aegis?"
Sulok suggests, "Aye sir," and goes about transferring the data to Zian's console, his fingers about the only thing on him that are moving.
Zian glances over at Gulliver as she joins her at the sciences station, and flashes her a grin. "I like the way you think, Lieutenant." she comments quietly, then shakes her head, looking to Umanah. "I think you're misunderstanding, doctor. We don't need to beam people or samples to the Aegis, to get at least a cursory idea of what we're dealing with. We could send down equipment and set up a computer uplink so we can remotely access the data. If we can get a bioscan of an infected person, and an uninfected person, that'll at least give us someplace to start. We can identify what the differences are and begin to extrapolate what might be causing them."
Edwards fixes Umanah with a stern look for a moment and replies, "We'll try Gulliver's probe idea. Sulok, tell them to gather some samples from healthy and sick patients, preferably related. Then rig a probe that we can control from here to send to the surface. I want the Dorsanians to have to do as little as possible. And I don't want to send any technology someone can just pick up and walk away with." That said, he turns to look toward Havaris, "Is the Ferengi ship gone?"
"Grounded sir." Kusto answers simply, "What would you like me to request of the government?" Because inquiries are all for a reason, after all.
Gulliver smirks to Zian and winks. "Sulok. Use a class III with biological sampling module, and have Dorsanis Control turn on a landing beacon to a place their emergency management people are set up. You can home in on that and soft-land. We can chuck the thing into the sun later if necessary." She bends to see if she can help Zian review the data.
Umanah takes her stern looking at without visible reaction, and simply nods to Zian's clarification. She asides to the Betazoid, "Is it possible that the Rynkans didn't bring the pathogen here themselves? That they merely met the Ferengi here to conduct business, brought the weapon aboard their frieghter, and it was dispersed when they attempted, and failed, to leave. And, as such, wouldn't it be reasonable to conclude that if anyone has a vaccine for this disease... it would be the Ferengi? Holding onto it for a price?"
Sulok takes in all the information and replicates, saying, "Aye sir," and programs up the necessary information, and while the computer takes, he also goes about contacting the Ministry of Medicine, notifying them of the requests and of how to act. Towards Umanah he says, "Lieutenant Umanah, it is a wholly illogical assumption to say that the Ferengi were the other half of any transfer, sir." And he leaves it at that.
Gulliver wags a finger very approvingly to Dr. Umanah, then looks to Edwards. "Captain. The Teirians *did* show up just in time to have caught the Rynkans loaded and on the ground. They might well have been tipped off, by someone manipulating the situation just like that. Of course, it could just be hard luck for Dorsanis that they got caught by this, but I bet you donuts this was meant to be a weapon, and that very likely means at least the *handlers that sold it* have access to an antidote."
Zian raises a brow slightly. "Entirely possible, Doctor. Like I said... the Ferengi'll sell damn near anything..." she glances toward Sulok and amends, "Although, it's just as possible that the Yridians could be involved. There's a Yridian vessel grounded down there, as well."
Edwards states, "Nothing's a foregone conclusion yet. That's gather some more evidence before we speculate further." To Havaris, he orders, "Can you scan the Ferengi vessel? Maybe we can find something interesting without tipping our hand first."
<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
"Are we allowed to scan a vessel under the authority of a non-member planet, Sir?" Kusto, just the same, turns about in his seat, having very little concern for things of that nature where several billion lives are concerned. He runs a scan or two and says, "The answer to that question is no, Sir." Why? He turns about to lace his hands over his stomach, grinning. "They're blocking our scans. Shields up."
Gulliver leans over Zian's console as the sensor logs play and the other information is gathered; with detail and jargon only a fighter pilot could love, she shows what the runabout's sensors derived. Unfortunately, the incident had happenned too quickly for detailed scans to be ordered, and there's little she can add to, meaningfully, except that apparently, a hundred sublight fighters in a 'furball' constitute a 'knife-fight.'
Umanah listens to Gulliver's little lecture, occasionally perking her eyebrows or quirking a wry half-smile at the terminology, but remaining silent for the time being.
Sulok speculates towards Havaris, "They may be attempting to protect themselves from the contagion sir, not necessarily attempting to prevent scans," and then goes about with the previously ordered medical data.
Zian is quite obviously /not/ a fighter pilot, as she doesn't seem to derive half as much enjoyment from the logs as Gulliver does. Still, she pays attention... until she hears Havaris' comment in the background. Turning slightly, she comments, "That's hardly conclusive, sir. If I were stuck on a plague-ridden planet, and not allowed to leave..." she tilts her head in Sulok's direction and grins. "Exactly so. I'd sure keep my shields up as long as possible, too. Self contained life support, no contact with the outside world... no risk of contagion."
Edwards glances at Sulok and Zian with a slight frown, "We know it's not conclusive. Ferengi are paranoid." He wanders back toward the command chairs finally. "Did the Rynkans buy anything from or sell anything to the Dorsanians, Havaris?"
Havaris scans the manifests quickly, motioning for a moment to check the records before turning back about to reply, "Just some food. A few crates of food. Which, if you ask me, is quite a petty item to travel all this way for in trade." Kusto reaches up to scratch his nose, glancing aside at Sulok with a grin, then back to Edwards once more. "But I'm the paranoid aboard. So take that for what it is."
Gulliver looks up to Edwards, and says, "You could probably do worse than let on to those Ferengi a sale might be in the offing. Or, you could probably do the same with the trade minister. These people seem to be pretty quick- to-the-point in general, but Huran seemed downright nervous about something. Something might shake loose, while we're being all medical."
, sir"
Umanah shoots a glance at Havaris that's quietly mirthful beneath her serious demeanor. She leaves the plotting to the paranoids and those who're more of a mind for machinations, however, and remains silent in the absence of something medical to address.
Sulok continues to shoot down errors in logic when he sees them, but before he speaks to the next, he says, "The Ministry of Medicine responds that they understand the instructions, and we should be receiving that data soon," and then he goes on to say, "Lieutenant Gulliver, it might also be deduced that he acted nervous because he is new to his job, it is a common problem among races with emotions."
Edwards drops down into the main command chair and drums his fingers against the armrest idly. "They bought the food, Havaris?" he questions. "And Huran was nervous? If he was facilitating a weapons deal that was in the middle of going through, it'd make sense." After Sulok's report, he orders, "Doctor, get on that data as soon as it's transmitted."
"The Rynkans bought the food on planet from a Dorsinian merchant. Now, that merchant acquires its food from all over the sector, so it wasn't necessarily Dorsinian food. And as they were crates? Not necessarily food at all." Kusto keeps up his paranoid tack, turning back around in answer to Edwards. He spares time to send Umanah a scrunchy nosed grin, brief in duration.
Gulliver nods to Sulok. "You could be right, Sulok, could be, but he didn't exactly have his mind on the presentation to the Federation, even before this came down. It may not be relevant, but a scallywag on the defensive might have another pot on the stove he's not watching. Let's get that probe on the ground, and some samples in the probe. Captain, mind if I lend a hand with that, I don't think I can do Ensign Zian any more good here."
Umanah perks her eyebrows a touch at Edward's order, but replies, "Aye, Sir." Simple. And she waits.
Zian murmurs a soft thanks to Gulliver for her help, and flashes a brief grin at Umanah. Quietly, she, too, waits for the data to come in for analysis.
Edwards replies absently, "Go ahead, Gulliver." His mind is on other matters currently. "The only question is... if Huran had a hand in this, why is he letting his people die? Even he's at risk here." His foot taps the ground a few times as he tries to figure this out. "Get me all the information you can on this Dorsinian merchant, Havaris. I wanna know who he is, who he's traded with, and what he's traded. And I wanna talk to Huran myself. Maybe Ensign Zian can tell us if he has something to hide."
"If Huran is in on the trading, Sir, it's entirely likely that he has the vaccine, as well. Assuming there is one." Havaris turns back around, hands poised over his panels as he begins to ready a hail. "Only one problem, Sir. I'd need to request these documents from the Ministry of Trade. Huran's office. And if he knew we were on to him, we'd be tipping our hand. I'd suggest talking to Huran first. He's new to the Office. His predecessors were all dismissed for their involvement in the black market -- part of why we stopped trade ties with the Dorsinians." He pauses, scratching his chin. "If you engage him in conversation, I can put in the request to the ministry. Likely they've been ordered to comply with our requests. If he tried to stop the transmission -- well. We'd see him do it."
Gulliver makes her way up to the second tactical station and configures a flight plan for the probe, and preps it for launch if it's ready.
Gulliver says "Probe ready, sir.""
Zian swivels around toward the viewscreen, nodding slightly at Edwards. "I'll do my best, sir." she confirms, straightening slightly in her seat.
Edwards stands back up, straightens his uniform, and nods at Havaris' words, "Contact Huran first and put him onscreen. We'll put him to the test. Then make the inquiries." He glances back at Gulliver, "Send it." His gaze returns to the front and he watches the viewscreen.
"One foreign dignitary under the thumb as ordered, sir." Kusto taps open a channel and hails the planet, yet again. And then he busies himself with getting the nitty grits on that Dorsinian food merchant.
Gulliver hits the cool-sounding launch-button. "Probe away.... and running true, sir. Planetfall in three."
A pudgy man appears on the viewscreen. "Hi, this Minister Huran of the Exterior Trade. How can I help you?"
Edwards nods once to the pudgy fellow and replies, "Minister, I'm Leftenant Michael Edwards of the USS Aegis." He pauses, for dramatic effect, and states, "We know who's responsible for the plague on your world."
Havaris taps and taps and taps at the panel, doing it a bit on the sly, making it pass for routine systems checks and such. Rather than, you know, contact with the Minister's own office in an effort to get dirt on him, or soemthing.
Sulok tilts his head the 'other' direction than the way he usually tilts it, and quirks both eyebrows as he observes the commanding officer's bluff.
Zian watches the viewscreen intently, her concentration focused on the face of the Minister on the screen as she tries to block out all other distractions, reaching out with her senses to try to get an impression of what might be going through the distant Minister's mind.
Gulliver gives a subtle nod as the probe achieves cruise altitude and begins decelerating toward the designated landing area. She glances up and gives the Minister she
Huran's eyes widen and he says, "Really? That's great news! But why are you telling me this? Shouldn't the Ministry of Security be contacted? Or maybe the Ministry of Defense?"
Edwards turns his head slightly, to see how Zian reacts to the Minister's reaction. "Well, Minister..." he replies slowly, "I'm telling you because we're going to need your help."
<CONTEST> Zian contests her Receptive Telepathy skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Havaris keeps on tapping, then comes to an abrupt halt, snorting lightly. Huh. He settles back into his chair and closes his current session of investigation. Attention shifts up to the screen, arms folding.
Gulliver gives a subtle nod as the probe achieves cruise altitude and begins decelerating toward the designated landing area. She glances up and gives the Minister she'd met over comms a nod, should his gaze drift her way, electing to watch his face more closely than the probe as it homes in on the landing beacon.
Zian's lips press together slightly as she shakes her head faintly. She's not getting anything. Not yet, anyway...
Huran makes a puzzled a expression. "Of course, I'll help in any way I can...but I'm not a law enforcer. What can I do?"
Edwards sends a not all that pleased look in Zian's direction before flashing a smile at the Minister. "You can tell us everything you know about the Ferengi vessel on the surface, Minister." he replies. "It could give us the advantage we need to get the heinous perpetrators that did this."
Gulliver just watches
<CONTEST> Zian contests her Receptive Telepathy skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Gulliver contests her Presence skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Zian glances at Edwards and shrugs apologetically, letting out a soft sigh. She tried...
"Oh, of course," says Huran. "That would be the...let's see..." he looks over a console, "ah, the Infinite Latinum. The captain is Toc. He came to...let's see...to trade in legal arms."
Huran then looks back at the screen. "But you already know who it is, don't you? You can tell me and I'll alert the Ministry of Security right away."
Edwards nods slowly and replies, "I do. It was the Rynkans, Minister. When their vessel exploded, the contagion was spread across your world, I'm afraid."
Gulliver steps down from her station, and in completely routine fashion, hands Edwards a PADD, as though for a thumbprint. Its screen says, in good-sized letters, simply, "He don't know." She says, quietly, "The probe's on final approach, sir," not expecting an elaborate answer.
Once the probe has landed and the Dorsanian team does their part, the computer chirrups the arrival of the medical data. Umanah swivels abruptly to face her station, her eyes scanning the displays as the information appears. It's several long moments of rapt attention before her fingers begin to fly over the console, bringing bits of data together and running analysis.
The Minister of Exterior Trading frowns a bit. "Contagion? But the Ministry of Environment already cleaned up the wreckage of the Rynkan ship and any fallout from it?"
Edwards sighs faintly and explains, "The vessel the Teirians blew up in the atmosphere, Minister. That spread the plague." Plastering his smile back on, "Your help is appreciated, Minister."
Havaris hovers a finger above the kill switch for the conversation, glancing aside at Edwards.
Gulliver hovers by Edwards as he has his discourse, again, giving the Minister a friendly nod
Umanah's attention continues to be completely absorbed by her displays. Her face is set in lines of intense concentration.
Zian frowns slightly up at the viewscreen, then turns toward the doctor at the science station beside her, peering over at the readouts on her display panel. "Anything I can help with, doc?" she asks softly.
As the communication has not ended yet, the Minister continues to ask question. "Yes, the freighter and escorts that were destroyed near Toska. How could that spread a plague? I'm sure the Ministry of Environment cleaned up all the radioactive debris."
Edwards turns a pained smile on Gulliver a moment, before glancing back to the Minister. "I'm sure they did. We'll let you know everything as soon as possible. But right now, we need to analyze this data from the surface. Thank you for your assistance, Minister. You're a credit to your government. Aegis out."
Havaris drops his finger onto the kill button for the hail, returning the view of the planet to the view screen. He settles back in his chair and stretches, rubbing at his eyes. "Mrrph. I'm rethinking that 'no away missions' stricture to my duty...? Blowing things up sounds good right about now."
Gulliver shakes her head to the other officers. "Guess nothing shook out, sir."
<CONTEST> Umanah contests her Medical Sciences (Toxicology) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
Sulok taps at his console as he monitors everything he is currently charged with monitoring. Turning a pointed ear towards where the medical information is being analyzed he says towards Edwards as the line is cut, "Sir, I believe that before we push the blame onto the Rynkans that we should investigate the crash site more thoroughly," and he clasps his hands behind his back .. ah comfort.. as he goes to simply watching his console for at least a few brief moments.
Umanah frowns deeply at the screens. Scowls, even. She blows out a breath, and her hands fly over the console again. Different tests. A different angle. Fresh approach.
Edwards comments sourly, "That was fun." He offers Gulliver her PADD back, "So much for that idea. Guess we'll have to follow up on that Doranian trader. And hope Huran doesn't start a witch hunt against those Ferengi." He glances toward Sulok, "What else would it be? The plague originated at the point in the atmosphere where the ship exploded."
"That would be just great, Sir," Kusto responds blithely, "if this Dorinian trader looked anything apart from a humble merchant. He probably balls his socks for a hobby. He's cleaner than your ears, sir." Kusto slumps back in his seat, scowling.
Gulliver folds the now-moot PADD under an arm, and says, "I don't think the Trade Minister's failure to comprehend the difference between uranium and biogens means much, sir. I figure, it's in the hands of the scientists, now.
Umanah growls a soft, frustrated sound. She shakes her head, and stands. "I'm going to need a patient. The data's good, but it's not enough to formulate a vaccine from. The good news is: Our quarantine measures will contain the pathogen. Of that I'm absolutely certain. We can transport a patient aboard."
Sulok suggests, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, sir. If the Teirians wished to further draw Starfleet, or perhaps win better trading basis with other races, and put the Rynkans in a tighter position, they could have hit their vessel with a weapon which dispursed the pathogen. There is also the possibility that the pathogen was slipped onto their ship without their knowledge," his voice is smooth and deep, "Seeing as how the ship fled Dorsanis in quite a hurry it is entirely possible that they had yet to scan it for pathogens. Further, the Teirian ships flew straight for this planet, and for the Rynkan ships without obeying standard laws regarding leaving warp upon entering a solar system. The planting of the pathogen could have been used as a weapon, in a trojan horse stylesque attack upon the Rynkans, by any number of races that would benefit from furtherance of war. Including Ferengi and of course Teirians."
Edwards makes a face at Havaris' words until Umanah speaks up. He spins about on his heel, to face her direction, and replies, "Hallelujah. We'll get you a patient, then." Sulok's words make his rapidly rising mood stop rising. "We believe that the Rynkans tried to create a biological weapon before and failed. It would seem to reason that they were trying to procure a ready-made one. Admittedly, we have no real evidence. They did claim that a Doctor Lhoral, a Teirian scientist, created a biological weapon and attacked them with it. She said otherwise and we gave her asylum, however. Either way, contact the Ministry of Medicine and see about getting us a patient that we can beam up and study."
Havaris nods his head once at all of this, turning about in his seat to peer at Umanah. A long moment passes, and then he turns back about, resting his hand on his terminal, fingers drumming in thought.
Gulliver mmms, looking at the screen briefly. "The only thing that bothers me is, if this is an elaborate scam, where's the ransom demand? Seems more likely this is a big accident no one wants to admit to. If the Rynkans admitted they were trading in biogenic weapons, no port would let them in. So, Teirian setup or not, the problem's the same. Unless we can start shaking down the usual suspects pretty hard, no one involved but the Dorsanians has an interest in saving people's lives.
Umanah strides for the turbolift, announcing distractedly, "I'm going to prepare a quarantine field in the transporter room. After the patient arrives, I'll be in sickbay. I'll hail when I have something to report."
Sulok runs his fingers over his console as he contacts the ministry and starts the arrangements in motion to get someone who is infected up onto the ship.
Edwards nods in Umanah's direction and turns toward Gulliver, "Go with her, see if you can help." Not waiting for a response, he moves toward Havaris' station. "See if you can scrounge up any information on that Ferengi, Toc, in our databases."
Havaris spends some time scanning the database for this Toc and finally brings up his dossier. "Charged for bootlegging Romulan Ale in 2371 during the embargo. Member in good standing with the Ferengi Alliance. A former criminal by our standards, but not otherwise noteworthy where opportunistic Ferengi are concerned." Kusto angles his gaze up to Edwards with a facial shrug. "We could just hail the vessel, you know. Ask them to lower their shields. If they refuse due to contagion, offer them a beam out timed with the lowering of their shields. And then head down in containment suits. Check the thing over."
Gulliver nods to Edwards, with an 'Aye, sir,' and goes to follow Umanah, even if she doesn't know just why she's going.
Umanah glances at Gulliver, and pauses a moment before the turbolift to speak to the other woman. "What's your medical background?" she inquires. It's a very simple inquiry, an assessment of how best to utilise a resource. It's fairly clear she's as uncertain as Gulliver regarding the purpose of Edwards' order.
Sulok asks towards Umanah, "Will the environmental suits withstand the pathogen, sir?" before turning to respond to a message from the ministry on the surface, his hands whipping over the console.
Edwards ponders that idea and shakes his head, "Not yet. If it comes down to it, sure. But I'd rather not make a fool out of myself twice in a row." He frowns. "Why couldn't he have a record a smuggler? Would make things easier."
Gulliver glances to Umanah, stepping into the lift. "Well, took some basic at the Academy, and, well, my grandmother taught me a couple things about natural medicine. Apart from that, there was a couple bacteria that would stand up and say hello on Rebhanna III."
"Technically," Kusto notes to Edwards, "carrying contraband ale for sale within Federation space /is/ smuggling, sir." Kusto glances back up to Edwards. "Behold the power of spin doctoring."
Umanah replies to Sulok, "They will, Ensign." She nods to Gulliver, entering the turbolift. What other questions she might have are lost as the doors hiss shut, and the pair are whisked to a lower deck.
Sulok says towards Umanah and Gulliver, "And sirs, I have training in medicine and forensics, if you would like to take tactical sir, that might be more suited to our best talents," the second said directly towards Gulliver, cutting to the point of the logic on that one.
Edwards gives Havaris a wry look at that, "Nice spin doctoring. Yes, they've smuggled ale, but for such a relatively squeaky clean Ferengi... a jump from ale to biowarfare agents is quite a leap. Unless he's just so good that he's never been caught with anything like that before."
Gulliver touches the pad beside the turbolift door.
Gulliver summons the turbolift.
The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.
Umanah boards the turbolift as the double doors slide open.
Umanah has left.
Gulliver boards the turbolift as the double doors slide open.
Gulliver has left.
The turbolift doors slide closed.
"He's a successful Ferengi in good standing with the Alliance, Sir. Of course he's gotten away with something." Kusto chuckles at that, shrugging his shoulders. "Just a thought. Our first concern should be a vaccine. Not capture of those responsible. Lives are being lost. The bad guys can wait, you're right."
The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.
Umanah steps out of the turbolift.
Umanah has arrived.
Gulliver steps out of the turbolift.
Gulliver has arrived.
The turbolift doors slide closed.
GAME: Gulliver spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Gulliver (claiming advantage) contests her Medical Sciences (Toxicology) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
GAME: Umanah spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Umanah (claiming advantage) contests her Medical Sciences (Toxicology) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
"You, me and Sulok aren't curing anything." Edwards observes. Stepping back toward the big chair, he drops into it and regards the viewscreen, "Hail the Ferengi vessel. Let's see how much my acting chops have improved since talking to Huran."
Havaris taps the hail once more. "USS Aegis to the Infinite Latinum." Kusto settles back, glancing aside at Edwards, "Break a leg, Sir."
Gulliver steps onto the bridge sometime later...
Sulok stands quietly watching his console, carrying out remedial tasks, occasionally asking, "Sir, if we aren't using the probe, perhaps we should dispose of it now?"
After a moment of silence, the hail is answered. A Ferengi appears on the screen, squinting at the Aegis' bridge. "What do you want?"
Edwards replies absently to Sulok, "Blow it up somewhere." Returning his attention to the viewscreen, he replies, "This is Leftenant Michael Edwards of the Federation starship Aegis. Are you Toc?"
Gulliver steps down to a station.
The Ferengi says, "...yes. Why? What do you want?"
Edwards scrutinizes the Ferengi quietly for a few seconds. "I have a business proposition." he states evenly. He leaves it at that for the moment.
The Ferengi immediately brightens up. "I'm listening."
Edwards clears his throat and explains, "People are dying from the plague that's infected this world. A lot of people. And we're having difficulty coming up with a cure." His voice sounds a bit troubled by that. "As you may know, the Federation values life above all else. That's why I've been authorized to offer a handsome reward to anyone who may assist with finding a cure."
"And you think I can find a cure?" asks Toc.
Edwards swallows and leans forward just a little bit, "You have a reputation, Toc. A reputation for shrewdness and cunning. Our databanks have noted that you're in good standing with your government, which is truly a sign of a clever businessman. If anyone can help us get a hold of some kind of cure, surely you can." He pauses a beat and adds, "Beyond our own reward, I'm sure the Doranian government would feel indebted to you, as well. You'd be helping to save their entire world."
Toc leans back in his seat. "What makes you think there is a cure? It sounds like it would be very, very hard to get a hold of."
Edwards explains slowly, and carefully, "Because countless lives depend on it. I have to believe that there's a cure. If there isn't? So many will die. You're at risk yourself, on the surface."
Gulliver nods, and speaks up to say, "Actually, Captain, I was about to report, Medical seems to be onto something, though it may take a while."
"Don't you think I know that?" Toc says. "And they won't even let me leave! But back to your proposition, it'll take me a lot of work to track down any cure available, if there are any available. A lot of work. Hard work."
Edwards clears his throat after Gulliver's comment and stands up quickly, "Hard work? It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that a cure is found. Can you help us?"
"I can try," says the Ferengi. "For the right price."
Havaris angles a glance over his station towards Gulliver, arching a brow in silent question. His interest turns to Edwards as he rises from his seat, hand once more moving towards the kill button. It isn't much. But killing open hails at least presents a target of some sort!
Gulliver nods to Havaris, ...she meant that, though she doesn't seem to be insisting the hope is imminent.
Time: Sat Apr 06 20:18:48 2002
Stardate: 52247.3
Edwards nods, accepting that, and replies, "Well we're willing to negotiate."
Gulliver takes over Tactical and lets Edwards negotiate.
Toc says, "Like it said, it's going to be a lot of work for me. Fifty bars of latinum,plus the purchasing price for the antidote...if there is any."
Gulliver quirks a lip. "WOnder how long his shields are good for in atmosphere," she muses, quietly.
Edwards pauses with a thoughtful look, considering that deal. "Well... I suppose it's worth it for those people. You have a deal." he states.
"Good!" the Ferengi says with delight. "Let me work on the contract, and I'll send it over for your thumbprint. Of course, there'll still be a fee incurred for my service even if I don't find anything."
Gulliver looks down to Edwards. "We can always deal with a merchant now and prosecute later, sir," she ventures.
Edwards listens to Gulliver, without glancing in her direction. With a nod toward the viewscreen, he responds, "Fine. Just remember, time is of the utmost importance. If we can't help those people in the next few hours... the Federation will have to enforce a strict quarantine on this world. For a very long time."
Gulliver nods. "Shall I, ah.. monitor interstellar comm traffic, sir?"
The Ferengi's face scrunches in something like disgust. "Comm over."
Edwards frowns severely once the transmission ceases. He turns around, to face Gulliver, and inquires, "What did you and Umanah find?"
Gulliver says "It looks like some sort of bacteriological weapon, sir, that accumulates poison in the bloodstream."
Edwards furrows his brow, "Poison?"
Gulliver nods. "Well, sir, most harmful bacteria do their harm that way, either by taking away things the body needs or producing toxic wastes.
Edwards' frown disappears and he snaps his fingers, pointing to the viewscreen. "He mentioned the purchasing price for the antidote." he observes. "I can only hope that's an indication that we tripped him up."
Gulliver says "It's probable cause, sir, but deniable. It could be he doesn't know the difference between a vaccine and an antidote. It could be a mess to clean up after we siezed it from him.""
Gulliver idly taps some controls to monitor communications traffic from the Ferengi vessels...
A text file is being transmitted from the Infinite Latinum. It is a wordy contract stating the parameters of the deal, the price of 50 bars of GPL, plus whatever amount it will cost him to purchase what he needs to purchase. A fee of 10 strips of GPL is required for his service if he does not turn up with anything. The rest seals up the contract into a water-tight agreement, such as how he is not reponsible if the cure works or not, typical of Ferengi contracts.
Sulok has arrived.
Gulliver says "Incoming transmission, sir. A contract, ah, what you call it, preciss?""
Edwards moves over to the tactical station, once the contract is uploaded, and looks over the terms. "I swear." he mutters, "If he's giving me the runabout, I'll nail his ears to the wall."
Gulliver says "YOu can count on that, sir, the question is, is what we're getting, what we need?"
Sulok steps onto the bridge off the turbolift and spends a moment looking around.
Incoming text message from the Infinite Latinum requesting for the Starfleet deal-maker's thumbprint signature for the contract.
Gulliver adds, from Tactical. "I'd offer him half that for looking, and twice that for finding.
Edwards shakes his head, "The deal is made. I'm just hoping he realizes that, if he doesn't have an antidote, then any latinum he can squeeze out of me won't matter as he spends the rest of his days in quarantine." That said, he gives his thumbprint signature and motions for Gulliver to send it back, "Let's see what happens now."
Gulliver nods her head, checking first to see if the Infinite Latinum has sent any transmissions besides to the Aegis..
Gulliver looks up, her hand over the transmit key. "Captain, I'm showing no transmissions from the _Latinum._ He doesn't know anything he hasn't known for days down there. Send, or no send?"
Edwards replies, "Send. I expected that he wouldn't contact anyone. He'll either make a fake or produce the real antidote from what he has with him. But keep a record of that. It'll make good evidence if he does make good on the deal." He wanders back toward the main command chair and seats himself.
Gulliver says "Aye sir. Gulliver hits the send key, and stands by, motioning Sulok to take over, and comes around to the center seat. "I've got details on what the Doctor found, sir, if they're meaningful."
Sulok moves over to take over for Gulliver and immediately sets the console to his specifications, as he always does, based on his stature and finger length. Turning his eyes up towards the viewer, he clasps his hands behind his back and stands patiently.
<CONTEST> Gulliver contests her Espionage (Cryptography) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Edwards looks up at Gulliver and shrugs, "Anything you think is important? I'm no physician."
Gulliver looks at a panel that's blinking at her. "Ah, Captain.. there's an encrypted transmission coming from the Ferengi vessel... Planetary, sir." She plunks into the nearest station, likely the XO's...
Edwards leans forward a little and looks to Gulliver and her terminal with more interest, "What've we got?"
Gulliver glances up. "SUlok. I want a scan of every Chambers coil we can lay sensors to. We need to track this signal." Her fingers tapdance on her own console.
Sulok replies, "Aye sir," and goes about doing as he was told without delay.
Edwards taps his foot absently and waits for some sort of information.
GAME: Gulliver spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Gulliver (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Sulok contests his Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Gulliver says "Here they go, now sir. Subspace signal from _Infinite Latimum_"
Sulok reports, "There are communications happening throughout Dorsanis, sir," and he looks up from his console, further saying, "But I am not detecting any communiques from Ferengi vessels."
Edwards :glances between Sulok and Gulliver briefly and asks, "Someone care to clarify?"
Gulliver peers at the little panel, hunt-and-pecking at a rapid pace.
Gulliver says "Aye, sir."
GAME: Gulliver spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Gulliver (claiming advantage) contests her Espionage (Cryptography) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
Gulliver says "Computer, please decipher the signal I'm monitoring?""
The computer runs through a complexed program involving various mathematical decryption algorithms, but to no avail.
Incoming hail from the Ministry of Medicine.
Gulliver glances up to Edwards. "Well, Captain, I thought it might possibly be a distress signal the Ferengi were sending, but I think it's too complicated to decipher. Now. A trusting man would think that the Ferengi were just double-dealing with the Dorsanian government... LIke they're doing again now... A paranoid one, however...
Edwards nods slowly at Gulliver's words. When he hears the hail indicator, he inquires, "Who is it?"
Sulok replies towards Edwards, "Ministry of Medicine, sir."
<CONTEST> Gulliver contests her Shipboard Systems (Comm) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Edwards sighs and rises to his feet, "Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Put them on-screen."
Gulliver says "Guess we know who they called, then.""
Sulok says, "Aye sir," and puts them on screen.
A person wearing a full contamination suit appears on the screen. "This is Head Doctor Kavin of the Ministry of Medicine. I'm sorry to bother you, but have you made any progress? Our death toll have almost reached a million."
Edwards attempts to act upbeat, but fails miserable. "We're doing everything we can, Doctor." he replies. "This is proving to be a bit more challenging than we thought it'd be."
Gulliver pulses a brief and intermittent subspace jamming wave, like her squadron did to mask communications in solar flares, setting the board to monitor synchronized changes in signal channels from the surface.
The doctor nods gravely. "I thank you for your efforts, but do you have -bzzt- esti -bzzt- cure -bbzt-" The image fills with static and is cut off.
Sulok reports, "Sir, thousands of planet communications are being jammed," and he reaches out to tap at his console, his fingers sliding over the controls.
Gulliver puts a hand to her forehead. "Would you reestablish communications, Mister Sulok? I was trying to jam the secret transmissions like a solar flare and guess who got confused.
Gulliver gives Edwards and apologetic glance.
Sulok says, "Aye sir," and goes about trying to do just that.
Edwards turns to give Gulliver a look. "Why are you doing that?"
The image of the doctor reappears. "I'm sorry, we were having some technical difficulties down here. Can you give me an estimate on when you will find a cure?"
Edwards returns his attention to the viewscreen and shakes his head, "I'm afraid we can't right now. The moment we have some concrete information, we'll send it to you, however."
The doctor nods again, "Very well. Thank you." The image blinks off. Incoming hail from the Infinite Latinum.
Gulliver says "They have actually hailed someone off surface sir, if they call us on it, I suggest you just say we're keeping tabs on things. I don't think the communication was long wnough to get an answer, though.""
Sulok announces, "Hail incoming from the Infinite Latinum, sir."
Edwards sighs and shakes his head. "Put them on-screen, Sulok." he replies.
Gulliver settles back in the seat to monitor the comm channels, pinching the bridge of her nose briefly. So close....
Sulok says, "Aye sir," and puts them on screen.
A grinning Ferengi appears on the screen. "When will I be expecting my latinum?"
Edwards raises an eyebrow at that question and answers with one of his own, "You have the antidote?"
Toc leans back in his chair, still showing his sharp, jagged teeth. "Of course. You made a wise choice in doing business with me, I was able to find your vaccine that you want so much."
Gulliver just runs her finger along the certification part of her communications logs.
Edwards smiles somewhat and replies, "Well that's wonderful news. Why don't you lower your shields and we'll beam you and the vaccine aboard, so we can complete our transaction in person."
Gulliver stands, unhurriedly, and makes her way up and around to where Sulok is.
Sulok moves for Gulliver.
The smile fades from the Ferengi. "What are you trying to do, hu-mon? Beam me up to your ship? I doubt you would have fifty bars of latinum on you. Ha, I'd wager you don't even have one bar on you! No no, I'll stay right here. As for the vaccine, I only have the data on how to produce it, I don't /have/ it. That reminds me, it cost it me 63 bars and 4 strips of latinum to procure this vaccine. I'll add it onto the bill."
Edwards nods a little and asks, "All right. Why don't you transmit that data, then."
Gulliver defers to Sulok. "Just put all medical -certified crew on standby, Sulok. And, review and witness all the communications logs for the last hour, Starfleet's going to need receipts."
"Gladly," Toc grins again and sends the data over.
Gulliver takes a look at the data, immediately sending to Sciences to see if the substance is replicateable.
Edwards flashes another, brief, smile, "Thank you. Now we'll just look over this data and see what we can do for those sick people on the surface."
Toc says, "Fine. I'll be expecting my payment soon. I believe that you'll find the deadline for payment in the contract."
Sulok nods towards Gulliver and goes about notifying medical crew and then starts collecting up all the logs.
Gulliver sends a memo and looks to Sulok. "As many teams as we can field, Sulok. Get Dorsanis emergency services on the line and start arranging distribution of the vaccine.
Sulok says towards Gulliver, "Aye sir," and notifyings Dorsanis to start getting ready. "Shall I transmit the vaccine, sir?" he asks and looks towards Gulliver.
Edwards states, "Of course, Toc. We'll be in touch. Aegis out." He turns around and indicates for the transmission to be cut. "Hold on there, Gulliver."
Gulliver holds a hand to Sulok. "Standing by, sir."
Sulok's hands hold over the console, but do no move as he looks up from his console towards Edwards.
Edwards remarks, "I can always appreciate initiative, Gulliver, but don't hand out major orders without my permission." He moves right along, "I want to see if that vaccine is the real deal. We still don't know if Toc was just scamming us."
Sulok says towards Edwards, "Sir, I do not believe that it would be logical or profitable for him to cheat us sir. Ferengi are all about their profit."
Gulliver nods. "Medical's going to want a look, sir, I was just trying to get our support personnel in place. It's going to take some doing to replicate enough vaccine in the first place, sir. Computer says we may need to do some asteroid mining for replicaotr mass, even if it works."
Gulliver says "And, we do have enough evidence to implicate them on having foreknowledge of this disease. THey didn't receive any transmissions about the vaccine. They could have given... or sold.... the solution, any time.""
Edwards points out, "That's if he didn't just make something up and call it a vaccine. Transmit the data to sickbay. I want verification. And contact the Ministry of Medicine. Tell them that we might be onto something. Don't wanna get their hopes up too much."
Gulliver nods. "It's already there, sir. I expect, we'll get an expert opinion on the matter, soon. In the event we're lucky, shall I scan for some raw biomass we can beam off the planet in quantity?"
Sulok says, "Aye sir," and notes towards Gulliver, "Sir, I believe that the Dorsanis government can replicate the vaccine for themselves."
Gulliver says "It's no skin off our nose if we can get it there faster, Sulok, they're still using lasers down there. I, for one, am tired of sitting this out." SHe glances to Edwards."
Gulliver says "Captain's discretion, of course?""
Gulliver says "It's no skin off our nose if we can get it there faster, Sulok, they're still using class six accelerators down there. I, for one, am tired of sitting this out." She glances to Edwards. "Captain's discretion, of course, sir.""
Edwards states firmly, "When Medical tells us that it's a viable vaccine." He turns back around and drops into his chair.
Gulliver nods, stepping over towards a Mission Ops console. "Aye, sir. Do we have a stance as regards the Ferengi?"
Edwards nods and replies, "If the vaccine checks out, we'll transmit all the evidence we have to the Ministry of Justice and let them investigate."
Sulok notes off hand towards Edwards as he goes about doing his job, "Sir, you are aware that 166 people are dying every second on Dorsanis, and that number is rising," and he turns his eyes from one console to the other.
Gulliver nods. "Aye, sir." She leans over the Mission ops console, and says, "Find us some carbon-rich deposits, Ensign. Coal, crude oil, pre-petroleum masses, peat bogs, they replicate quicker."
Edwards turns his head a little, to glance back at the tactical station, and asks, "Why don't you contact Sickbay and see how they're doing, then, Sulok?"
Sulok starts doing all the things he was ordered to do, locating raw materials, and contacting medical.
Gulliver stands and steps down into the command pit. "Captain, I reccommend we prep the crew for biogenic crisis response. We could save a few lives that way. I'll volunteer, myself."
Edwards makes a 'go-ahead' gesture to Gulliver. "Once the vaccine is okayed, I'll ask the Ministry of Medicine if they want our help distributing it." he states.
Sulok reports, "Medical is saying that it's still looking quite promising, but that they can't be certain yet, sir," and he continues to make notes on his console about appropriate spots to use for raw material. Towards Gulliver he nods a bit, obviously finding the materials easily.
Edwards stands back up and inquires, "What are the numbers on the surface, Sulok?"
Sulok replies, "The toll has risen to one million, sir," and taps at his console a few moments.
Gulliver nods to Edwards and takes over one of the peripheral mission-ops stations, calling security teams and appropriately-trained sciences personnel to get into chem-bio gear and stand by at mustering-points. "Ops, I need every comm channel available to local authorities planetside. Let's concentrate on the isolated communities that are affected first, since mobility's not out problem. I want teams able to be in place as soon as Medical can get vaccine in their hands. Everything stands by and comm-quiet till the Captain gives the go-ahead. Then we're in motion, got it?"
not our problem
Edwards looks to the planet on the viewscreen and mutters under his breath, "C'mon..."
Sulok says towards Edwards, "Sir, Medical cannot be any more certain they are now, without waiting for several days, it is truly now or never," and he seems to hang on whether or not the commander gives the word and he sends away multiple messages and data streams he has ready.
Edwards remarks, "We don't have days." He looks back and nods to Sulok, "Tell the Ministry of Medicine that we might have what they're looking for."
Gulliver stands, herself, stepping down to Edwards' side. Nothing more to do, and she looks as though the death toll is some sort of clock directly attached to a phaser rifle. Her hands fold behind her back in a particularly restive parade rest. "Sickbay is going to want patients, sir," she observes.
Sulok starts sending away data to the ministry, and says, "Sir, would you like me to open a channel so you can explain to their face perhaps?"
Edwards nods and adds, "Sulok, ask them if they want us to send down teams to assist in the innoculations."
Sulok starts sending away the data to the ministry and says, "Aye sir," and says, "Sir, they are requesting the vaccine."
Gulliver stands, clenching a fist and eyeing various displays.
Edwards replies, "Don't make them wait any longer, Mr. Sulok."
Gulliver says "Incoming hail, sir. Ministry of Medicine.""
Sulok sends away the vaccine without further delay.
Edwards motions toward the viewscreen, "Put 'em on, Gulliver. And begin compiling our evidence against Toc."
Gulliver thumbs a bleeping display as she says this. "One step ahead of you on two, sir. Ministry, onscreen... now."
Doctor Kavin appears again on the viewscreen, still in his contamination suit. "Thank you for the vaccine! You're certain it'll work?"
Edwards considers Doctor Kavin and replies honestly, "A hundred percent? I'm afraid not. I was told that it would take days before we'd know that. Obviously, we don't have days. It does look promising, however."
Gulliver shoots a questioning look at Sulok when Kavin asks his question, not expecting a definitive answer, of course, but you never know.
The doctor presses his lips together, "That's farther than we ever got, anyway. We're very grately for your help."
Sulok just keeps sending data and working at his console, either not noticing, or not responding to the glance.
Edwards doesn't try to hide his own disappointment, "I wish we could've done more. But there are some things even we can't do, still. I hope it'll be able to help your people."
Gulliver taps a memo into the Counselor's console. "Command synopsis needed: Vaccine deemed safe at this time?"
"I'm sure you did your best," the doctor nods. "We'll be distributing this vaccine immediately. Again, I thank you for your help. This entire world is indebted to you."
Edwards nods and states, "We are willing to send down teams to help distribute the vaccine, if you wish."
"That would be very helpful," answers Kavin.
Edwards offers a slight smile and promises, "We'll get right on it. If anything comes up, we're just a hail away."
The doctor bows, which looks awkward in his suit, and the communcation ends.
Gulliver looks over to Edwards. "We're good to go, sir, as soon as Medical signs off on the vaccine."
Edwards sits down heavily in the main command chair and passes out his, hopefully, last orders for a good long while, "Then get the teams down there when they do, Gulliver, and send that data on Toc to the Ministry of Justice."
Gulliver nods, leaning back a bit in the seats. "Gladly, sir."
