Submersion

 Episode Name:  Submersion

   Written By:  Starfleet

         Cast:  Ashilav, Blair, Edwards, Haven, Idrani and Tyler.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Starfleet

     Aired On:  Tue Apr 30 18:52:42 2002

     Stardate:  52304.6

Time: Sun Apr 28 20:02:48 2002

Stardate: 52300

The crew has been assigned to taking the USS Aegis out on a field test of highly classified technology - technology that can allow the Aegis to submerge in subspace and thus be rendered 'invisible' from normal space. Whatever the technology is, it's housed in the computer core, because Ensign Tyler is involved, and that is her department. The Akira-class ship is currently en route to Occa prime at warp six, approximately thirty minutes before their sensor buoys can detect the Aegis. Partially to test the systems, and partially to try and get a good look over the Occan's shoulders.

Edwards leans forward in the main chair somewhat and has a glance around at the various crewmembers attending to their duties. His gaze stops on the helmsman, however, and he speaks up, "Ensign Idrani, could you brief the crew here on the Occans, please?"

Ashilav's fingers tap at her console as she dilligently observes the various engineering readouts on her console. She glances up at Edwards' request, and then turns her attention towards her lodgemate.

Idrani nods faintly, "Aye, sir. Occa Prime is an independent human colony. They had, until recently, made their desire to remain independent quite well known. However, several months ago, the Occan government requested a team from Station 419 to evaluate the colony for Federation membership. They failed the evaluation. Recently, there has been a military takeover of the colony. The former government officials are presumed to have been killed, with the exception of two individuals that are currently on the station, with diplomatic privileges."

Ensign Tyler's hands tap across her console. "I hear the President is crazy," she says to nobody in particular.

Idrani continues, "They appear to have a very xenophobic culture. The individuals on-station have refused to deal with any non-humans, Starfleet or civilian. The president pro-tem did make an appearance at one of the bi-monthly diplomatic meetings, but left shortly after the meeting started. As for the ruling military, they seem to share the xenophobia. They have, in the strictest terms, made it clear that any ship entering their space will be fired upon. Given the nature of their beliefs, however, it may not be a bad idea to see what we can pick up from their communications, while respecting their space."

Haven's fingers move lightly over the console before her as she listens to the brief going on.

Edwards remarks, "That seems to be a popular, ah, rumor, Wendy. Don't know why." Somehow, he manages to not smirk at that. "Thank you, Ensign Idrani."

Idrani nods, acknowledging Edwards. She doesn't comment on the Occan president's sanity, or lack thereof, though she certainly has her opinion on the subject.

"Am I understanding that this new technology is akin to a cloaking device?" Ashilav asks as she glances back down at her console. "It will hide us from detection?"

Edwards stands from his seat, so he can look back in the direction of Ashilav's station, and responds, "Something like that."

Tyler nods in ascension to Ashilav. "Yes. Though we aren't sure how well it works yet. It was enough to evade the Borg, so there's high hopes." She taps some information into her console then casts her gaze in Edwards' direction. "Everything is ready, sir. However wee have to drop out of warp to submerge."

Believing the briefing over, Haven turns her full attention back to her console and the sensor reports scrolling across it's screen.

Frowning slightly, Ashilav says, "Pardon me for asking, sir, but are we invalidating the treaty with the Romulans with regards to cloaking technology? Just for the record, so I know what I may be brought up on court martial for."

Idrani smiles slightly, having thought of exactly the same issue. She waits to hear what the response will be.

Haven turns to Edwards to ask suddenly, "This will be like before, yes? Exposure to massive amounts of chroniton radiation?"

Edwards holds up a hand and replies, voice laced with sarcasm, "No, it's okay. I don't mind being accused of criminal behavior by the crew." His hand drops back to his side as he turns to look toward the viewscreen, "The treaty keeps us from acquiring cloaking devices. Not putting our ships in other planes of reality." At Haven's question, he replies, "You'll have to ask Ensign Tyler."

Haven shifts her gaze to Tyler, a brow perked in question.

Edwards adds, "Ensign Idrani, take us out of warp."

Ashilav arches a white eyebrow, not looking particularly pleased with this reply, but she simply responds with, "Aye, sir. Noted." She watches her console as the ship comes out of warp, being a dutiful engineer.

Idrani nods, pressing buttons on the console. "Aye sir. Slowing to impulse."

Wendy looks over to Haven and nods affirmative. Her ponytail bounces. "Yes, we will be exposed."

Blair taps at his console, lightly flicking over the communications and sensor status readouts out of force of habit as much as anything else, looking thoughtful.

Haven nods and looks back at Edwards, "Sir, the crew will require inoculations -prior- to submerging."

Edwards frowns at that tidbit of knowledge, "Inoculations? We didn't need any last time."

Haven says "Sir, the crew was inoculated last time as well. Prolonged exposure to chroniton radiation is, to say the least, highly dangerous without the proper precautions taken.""

Edwards clears his throat, "Wait, you're right. My mistake." He looks around quickly and comments, "Just a little scatterbrained. Makes you all feel better about doing this under my command, eh?"

Idrani decides that is a subject best avoided by young ensigns.

Blair smiles slightly at his console but simply buries his nose in his console, tweaking sensor frequencies and outputs.

Haven moves away from her console to kneel on the deck. Setting her medical kit out, she opens it and takes a hypo and cylinder, properly labeled, from it. She rises and loads the cartridge then looks around. "Who is first?" she asks with a grin.

Ashilav just shakes her head slightly with a small smile as she continues to study her console.

Idrani speaks up, "I will, Ensign Haven."

Haven nods and crosses to Idrani. Resting one hand on her shoulder, she says softly, "Tip your head to one side, please."

Idrani does so, flipping her hair out of the way.

Ensign Tyler continues to tap at her console, checking and re-checking data there.

Blair stifles a desire to hum softly, attempting to alter the sensors so that they can scan more passively while cloaked, just in case.

Haven presses the hypo to the side of her neck and thumbs the triggering device. A hissing sound warns of the medication entering her blood stream. "All done, next?"

Blair raises one hand, the other still typing. "I'm right nearby, so I may as well volunteer."

Edwards makes the universally sign for 'let's move this along', "C'mon, Ensign Haven. I wanna see if this works."

"You do not need to ask my permission, Ensign Haven," Ashilav says as she continues to work at her console.

Idrani seems to take the injection in stride and goes back to monitoring her console readouts.

Haven moves on to Blair and injects the medication into his neck. Once done, she changes cylinders and moves on to Ashilav.

Haven casts a glance at Edwards and nods, "I am, Sir." She then turns her attention to Ashilav and presses the hypo to her neck and thumbs the injector.

Blair tilts his head back into its upright position and lightly tweaks the sensors again, half-squinting at the readout as he does.

Ashilav winces slightly but makes no other protestation at the injection.

Idrani speaks up, "Sir, we are nearing the Occan sensor range."

Haven moves on to Tyler and offers a quick smile before injecting the medication into her neck. She completes her circle with Edwards. Pressing the hypo to his neck, she injects him as well. She changes the cylinder a final time and injects herself. "Done, Sir." She returns to her kit and replaces the hypo and cylinders, closes the kit and returns to her station.

Haven says "Sir, all decks report that inoculations have been given to all personal."

Edwards nods to Haven after he receives his inoculation and inquires, "What about the rest of the crew?" As he awaits her response, he glances to Idrani, "Full stop."

Idrani presses some buttons on her console. "Aye, sir. All stop."

Wendy reaches up to rub her neck out of instinct. "All systems go on this end, captain," reports Tyler.

Edwards stands in front of his chair, looking to the viewscreen, and dramatically pauses. "Go for it, Wendy." he states, once the pause ends.

"One quarter impulse, Mr. Idrani," states Ensign Tyler from her place at the science console.

Idrani nods, programming the console. "Aye, one-quarter impulse."

The ship begins to move forward. A ball of white light appears right before the ship and explodes into a curtain white light. As the ship passes through the field, colors seem to mute and desaturate, the cornflower carpeting turns an immutable grey. It all feels very unreal. "We have entered subspace," states Ensign Tyler from her console.

Blair remarks from his own console, "Something tells me I shouldn't need the sensors to know that one." He glances at his pasty-white-gray hand and shivers slightly. "Good grief."

Edwards looks around slowly at the altered surroundings. "It's... different when you're not pre-occupied with a life or death situation." he observes. "We just broke the laws of physics, people. What do you think?"

Idrani lets out a slow breath, looking between the viewscreen and her console.

Haven lets out the breath she had been holding then says, "Not like before.. that's for sure."

Ashilav chimes in, "The laws of physics are not broken. Simply, we discover loopholes. The ship is not affected by this subspace immersion, sir, as a side note."

Edwards slowly drops down into his seat and remarks, "Well finding a loophole is a lot less dramatic, so..." He decides to leave it at that. "Guess this means we can sidle up next to the Occans now."

"I think it's wonderful," comments Ensign Tyler as she turns to look over the bridge toward Edwards. "Sir, I recommend we put her through some maneuvers. We don't know what are capabilities are in here. But going to warp can't be done."

Idrani turns her head a little so that she can see the command chair from her periphreal vison, "We are to proceed into Occan space, sir?"

Blair taps at his console, glancing down. "Sensors are behaving within normal parameters, sir," he nods, then hmms. "Scratch that. About twice as well as normal parameters. If we squint hard, we can probably tell what the General in charge is having for lunch, sir," he comments with raised eyebrows.

Edwards holds up a hand, palm out, toward Idrani after Blair speaks up. "Really?" he questions. "Well, Ensign Blair, tell me what we can see from here."

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Blair frowns. "Not much, sir. Sensors are still recalibrating for subspace, but I doubt even with this range we'll be able to see much this far from Occa."

<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Idrani (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Edwards nods slowly, and in mild disappointment, "All right. What about communications? Check the comm systems, please."

Idrani's brow furrows slightly as she double-checks something on her console. "Sir, relative speed seems to have increased. Impulse engines are running at one-quarter impulse, but our velocity is one-half impulse."

Blair glances at Idrani once, eyebrows raised, before turning back to his console with a slight frown. "Checking communications status and range, sir."

Ashilav glances at a new reading on her console. "Confirmed, sir. We are travelling at exactly twice of what we should be."

<CONTEST> Haven (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Edwards considers that. "What would full impulse times two be?" he inquires. "And what about our weapons? I'm not sure if we have anything to shoot at, but still..."

Blair glances at his console pensively. "Communications are up; we'll need to retune our arrays a bit, but we should be fine once that's done. Also, once we're re-tuned we should be able to listen in on a lot of subspace traffic."

"We would probably travel at one half the speed of light if we went to full impulse, sir," replies Tyler to Edwards.

Idrani asks, "Slow to one-eighth impulse, sir?"

Ashilav continues to study new readings, muttering quietly to herself. She frowns slightly as she works. She says something in a language you do not understand.

Edwards nods to Idrani, "For now." His attention shifts to Blair, "Retune the arrays, then. Let's see what we can hear."

Blair nods. "Aye, sir. Attempting to recalibrate the systems." With that announcement, he sets to it, tapping at the console rather carefully.

Idrani pushes more buttons at the console. "Slowing engine speed to one-eighth impulse, aye." Her sharp hearing picks up Ashilav's words and she flicks her gaze briefly in the direction of her lodge-sister.

<CONTEST> Blair (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Haven says "All tactical systems are reading online, Sir. Scopes are clear."

Edwards remarks, "Oughta find something to fire a torpedo at."

A flood of communications start to pour over the loudspeakers of the bridge. Some are voice messages, some are data packets, it all reads like some chorus of white-noise.

Blair looks up at the speakers. "...Needless to say, sir, we have communications online."

"Ka'taav!" Ashilav hisses, recoiling slightly. "That is a horrible noise."

Edwards makes a face at the senseless jibber-jabber. "Get it off the speakers, Blair." he orders. "And see if you can find some way to sort through it. Won't be any help if it's just noise."

Blair nods. "Aye, sir," he says, cutting the loudspeaker output. "Sorting through for Occan government frequencies, first -- high-frequency bands shouldn't be too hard to pick out."

<CONTEST> Blair (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Idrani flinches a little at the noise assaulting her sensitive hearing. She scowls silently, resisting the impulse to cover her antannae.

<CONTEST> Haven (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Blair frowns. "Hmm. Apparently the Occan's haven't -got- high-band government frequencies. Recording whatever we catch -- I'll sort through it using the station's computers when we're home, sir."

Haven shifts in place as she taps her console. Her head comes up quickly as she looks at Edwards, "Sir, I'm showing a dozen Occan ships between us and Occa."

Idrani murmurs, "A blockade?" Then, "Do we have the class of ship registered?" She sounds puzzled, and a little alarmed.

Edwards rises back to his feet and observes, "They're building a fleet. What can you tell us about those ships, Ensign Haven?"

Haven taps at her console while shaking her head, "Damn.. Sir, I have nothing in the database on their class but I can tell you that they are armed with polaron weapons."

<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Ashilav taps at her console, and the device chirps with affirmative success. Frowning, she announces, "Sir, I believe someone is attempting to locate us via subspace pulse. A form of sonar, if you will. Five hundred kilometers off port stern."

Idrani comments, "Sir, I think they are /buying/ the fleet, rather than building them. They don't have the resources to build these."

<CONTEST> Idrani contests her Culture skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Edwards swears softly under his breath. "From the Dominion." he states. He glances between the tactical and operations station, "Someone find out who's trying to find us. Idrani, we need to evade detection."

<CONTEST> Haven (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Idrani's jaw goes a little slack, as she has come to the same conclusion. "Aye sir, reversing course. Recommend power down non-essential systems."

Tyler frowns as she taps her console.

"Powering down won't help. This pings the hull," Ashilav advises as she studies her display.

Edwards nods briefly at Ashilav's words, "So we have to move out of the way of those pulses, Idrani. Evasive maneuvers."

Blair grimaces, tapping at his sensors. "Attempting to triangulate the pulse's source, sir."

Idrani begins pushing buttons, as she checks the sensor feed versus her course caluclation. "Aye sir." She tries to manuver the ship clear of the pulse.

Blair taps at his console, bringing up Ashilav's reading of the pulse's bearing, and checks again. "Trying to figure out precisely what's sending them out..."

GAME: Idrani spends a courage point.

Blair stares at the console once in half-disbelief, retunes a couple frequencies, tries again, retunes again, tries again, and then slaps the console, hissing a curse in Bajoran. "There's nothing there, sir. Nothing. Either those are completely random shots in the dark, or someone's got a better version of this technology than we do."

Haven frowns, "Um, Sir?" she says in question. "The area the ping is coming from.. I'm showing scopes clear."

<CONTEST> Idrani (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Haven adds, nodding in agreements with Blair, "There is nothing there."

Edwards mutters under his breath, "Son of a..." His jaw tightens briefly. "If we pull out of here, we'll be revealing ourselves, won't we?"

The ship twists and turns at Idrani's expert maneuvers. Whatever is tracking the ship, however, continues to do so. Tyler looks over to Edwards and nods. "Yes, sir."

Idrani inhales slowly, through clenched teeth. "Still trying to track us, sir. Maybe a cloaked ship?"

Blair glances at his console. "Pulse-probing contact is now at one thousand kilometers. It's backed up, sir."

Edwards responds, "I think I know who it is. Pull us back, Idrani."

"Confirmed, sir, signal is now one thousand kilometers off," Ashilav reports, still watching her console. "They likely know we know they're there, and are confused why we can detect them."

Haven asks softly, "Could something have followed us in.. when we submerged?"

Idrani nods. "Aye sir. Course 6572 mark 8. Full impulse sir?" Does he want to pull back, or get the heck outta dodge?

Blair glances at Edwards curiously. "That must be one heck of a hunch, sir."

Edwards wavers, "Quarter." He glances back toward the science station, "Is it possible that something could have come in with us, Wendy?"

Idrani nods. "Quarter impulse, aye."

Tyler looks over her shoulder to answer Edwards, "Unknown, sir," she replies.

Edwards releases a displeased sigh and faces forward. "They still hanging back and trying to ping us?" he asks.

Blair says "Sir, we're being hailed."

Haven raises her brows, her expression clearing reading, 'Oh crap'.

Edwards fails to look terribly surprised, "By whom?"

Idrani inclines her head, curious.

Blair taps at his console, curious himself, and tilts his head slightly. "...Transmission point's the same as whatever's throwing out those pings, sir."

<CONTEST> Haven (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Edwards swallows and ponders this dilemma. "How are they hailing us if they haven't found us yet?"

<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

"One moment," Ashilav states as she works with both hands, typing away at her console. Reflected light from her console colors her blue features with an odd hue as she declares, "Starfleet. That's Starfleet equipment that's hailing us, sir."

Edwards doesn't show any surprised reaction to that information. "That doesn't answer my question." he points out. "But thank you, Ensign. The question still stands. Is it a general hail or right at us?"

Ashilav glances down towards the conn, arching an eyebrow. That's not her department.

Blair blinks, glancing back at Ashilav with surprise, then turns back to his console. "Er...right on us, sir. It's definitely a targeted transmission."

Haven says "Sir, there is still -nothing- on scopes indicating that anyone is there....""

Idrani keeps working at her console, but listens to the converstations around her.

Edwards straightens his uniform absently, looking chagrined, and relents, "Put it on, Blair."

The viewscreen changes from space to that of an Akira class bridge, only the crew are wearing all black uniforms, cut in similar style to the that that the Aegis crew wears, and even their pips and compins are a matte black. The visage of a Starfleet captain, an old human woman with grey hair pulled in a bun. "Hello Michael," she says. "I see you found the subspace submersion aspect of the artifact. Right on schedule I believe. Don't mind us - we're just observing."

Haven looks closely at the woman to see if it's anyone she might know.

The other eyebrow goes up to keep the other company. Ashilav says, quietly, "How interesting."

Edwards, as usual, utterly fails to hide his impotent anger at the situation as he glowers at the viewscreen. "Not something you'll be able to use against us now." he remarks.

Blair half-squints at the viewscreen, looking slightly disturbed and at least a little confused.

Tyler blinks several times and looks at the viewscreen. "Admiral?" she says. The old woman smiles in reply to Edwards' remark. "It's not something we've used against you in the past, Michael. Hello, Wendy," remarks the Admiral. "It's nice to see you."

Idrani sits down at Conn.

Edwards clears his throat and tries to interject himself back into the conversation, "So you hailed to what? Congratulate us? Show off your grand knowledge?"

Sinclaire replies, "We saw you had detected us, so we wanted to let you know we were back here. To keep you from getting jumpy." Ensign Tyler goes silent, but she smiles.

<CONTEST> Haven contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

Edwards remarks as evenly as possible, "Mission accomplished. If there's nothing else, we have a job to do."

Idrani sits quietly, listening. Her features are carefully composed.

Haven chews on the inside of her lip, the confusion very clear in her eyes as she watches the interplay between the others.

Sinclaire nods once and reaches forward. The viewscreen blinks off displaying the vastness of space again.

Blair glances behind him at Edwards, idly cycling the comm frequencies. "Five bars says we don't talk about this once we're home, sir?"

Haven adds in agreement with Blair. She isn't sure she wants to talk about it cause hell if she understands now.

Tyler frowns to herself. She turns back to her console and stares at the screen, her eyes not really focusing on the information displayed there.

Edwards taps his foot on the deck, trying to calm himself, and replies to Blair, "Talk about what?" He shakes his head and orders, "Bring us in closer to Occa. I want a full sensor sweep of the system before we head home."

Haven returns her attention to her console and attempts to increase the range a bit with a tweak here and a tweak there. "Aye, Sir.." she says automatically.

Idrani nods smoothly, "Aye sir. Approaching Occa Prime, one-quarter impulse. Do you want us in lateral sensor range, sir?"

Blair turns back to his console, quirking a smile. "At least I'm not losing five bars. Sensors online."

Edwards pauses and nods to Idrani a bit distractedly, "Yeah, sure."

Idrani glances sidelong at Edwards, "Lateral sensor range, aye." Eyes front again, "Calculating estimated time at engine speed, one quarter impulse."

"Sir, if I may be so bold," Ashilav says. "Who was that person, and why were those officers wearing non-standard uniforms?"

Idrani finishes her calulations and adds, "Estimated time, fifty eight minutes."

Tyler replies, "That was Admiral Sinclaire. But I don't know about the uniforms."

Haven mutters softly, "More to the point.. when are they from?"

Edwards states curtly, "This isn't a matter to be discussed." To Idrani, he orders, "Bring us up to three quarters. I wanna get this over with. We still recording comm traffic?"

Ashilav levels a frustrated gaze at Edwards' back for quite a long time, and then goes back to her monitoring.

Blair nods. "Aye, sir, recorder's been on since we got here." He taps at his console once.

Tyler frowns as she taps at her console. She remains silent, however, going about her duty.

Idrani keeps her features and voice coolly professional. "Aye sir, increasing engine speed to three-quarters impulse. Estimated time to lateral sensor range, fifteen minutes."

<CONTEST> Haven (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

GAME: Ashilav spends a courage point.

Haven's frown deepens as she continues to play with the controls on her console. Suddenly she grunts and taps her console again. "Sir!" She yells out, "I'm showing 12 more ships on scope in a polar orbit of the third planet. Reading two Keldon class cruisers and.." a small gasp escapes her, "Shit.. and 10.. that's 10 Jem'Hadar fighters!"

Edwards grits his teeth momentarily. "Of course it is." he replies, "Can we see who's manning those ships? Are they Dominion soldiers? I don't think they'd sell a small fleet, but it'd be nice to make sure."

Idrani takes in a slow breath and releases it. She begins programming an escape course, just in case a hasty retreat is called for. "Any sign that they know we are here?" She asks, in an almost lethally calm voice.

<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Tyler looks back to Edwards. "I can't tell who is on those ships," replies Tyler.

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

Blair grimaces. "No go, sir, I definitely can't get you anything without letting someone know we're here," he concurs, glancing over at Edwards.

Idrani comments, "Sir, I think it would be safe to assume that the Dominion are not selling off surplus. Recommend we get this information back to the station as quickly and as quietly as possible."

"Wendy?" Haven asks quietly, "Do we raised the possibility of detection by bringing weapons online?"

Blair frowns. "Makes you wonder just how xenophobic the Occans -really- are."

Edwards comments, "Maybe they were conquered. We'll find out more once we go over the communication records. I hope."

Idrani asks, "Reverse course, at three-quarters impulse, sir?"

Tyler looks over to Haven and shakes her head. "I don't really know."

Edwards glances around at the crew and asks, "Have we got everything we can get?"

Idrani simply waits for the order to engage the programmed course.

Blair glances at his console, reading a data stream. "I'll keep recording until we're out of range and out of submersion, sir. The pastel of our little world here is starting to get to me."

Haven checks her console again, looking to see if there is any other information she can get from the data filtering across it's display.

Haven shakes her head slowly, "I'm not getting anything else, Sir."

Edwards nods a little and looks to Idrani, "Take us out. Full impulse."

Idrani nods. "Aye sir, full impulse. Coming about. Course engaged."