Power Struggle

 Episode Name:  Power Struggle

   Written By:  Starfleet

         Cast:  Edwards, Laco, Rivers, and Tyler.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Starfleet

     Aired On:  Tue Jun 11 00:39:18 2002

     Stardate:  52403.6

Time: Mon Jun 10 21:39:04 2002

Stardate: 52403.3

Ensign Tyler has summoned Edwards and Laco to Science Lab II on the USS Aegis, indicating that she is ready to set the Lithian free of the transporter buffer. Equipment has been moved from the center of the room, replaced with a portable terminal set for transporter functions. A large silver ring about three meters in diameter rests in the middle of the floor. Tyler is standing at the ring, doing a double-check on the equipment as the two officers walk in.

Laco steps into the room.

Edwards enters, perhaps walking a little faster than he has to, and surveys the setup. "So we're ready, eh?"

Tyler glances up from her tricorder. "I think so. I've double-checked this field. It fills in the bottom, the top, and the sides. It should keep it, if our theories are correct."

Laco scratches his neck, "If not, you can just send it back to the buffer, right Ensign?"

Edwards looks to Tyler, waiting to hear what she has to say about.

Tyler shrugs a little. "I'm hoping you can tell me. I'm not a transporter chief. From what I understand, though, you have experience with transporters."

Laco says "Oh...kay. Well...I don't think it would come to that anyway, it won't be escaping the force-fields."

Edwards frowns slightly and shakes his head, "Let's hope it won't. So why don't we start?"

Tyler nods and looks to Edwards. "Your call on whether you want security here or not, sir. I'd feel better about it, frankly."

Laco looks to Edwards

Edwards considers that for just a brief moment and nods. "You're right. We shouldn't take any unnecessary risks." he states. That said, he prepares to hail security.

Tyler shifts her weight from foot to foot and looks to Laco. "Can you handle the transporter controls, sir?" she asks of the senior science officer.

Edwards taps his comm badge, "Lt Commander Edwards to Lieutenant JG Rivers."

Over Edwards's comm badge a voice answers, "Lieutenant JG Rivers here."

Into his comm badge, Edwards says, "Will you please report to the Aegis' Science Lab II, with a phaser rifle."

From Edwards's comm badge, Rivers says, "Aaah...yes Sir. It'll be a moment for me to retrieve one. Is there an emergency Sir?"

Into his comm badge, Edwards says, "No emergency. Just be here as soon as you can."

From Edwards's comm badge, Rivers says, "Acknowledged. Rivers out."

Edwards's comm badge ends its transmission.

Laco says "Uhm...yeah, of course." He heads over to them, and peers down at the console, "Hmm.."

Edwards eyes Laco, as the science officer inspects the transporter controls. "So we'll be ready when she gets here?" he asks of nobody in particular.

Tyler frowns as Laco inspects the controls. "Unless Lt. Laco can't operate the controls," she replies quietly.

Rivers steps into the lab from the corridor.

Rivers has arrived.

Laco says "Well, I"m just a little worried about our little friend slipping the confinement beam if we have to suck him back into the buffer..."

Tyler nods several times to Laco. "If he slips, Lt. Rivers will shoot him."

Edwards remarks simply, "And *boom*."

Rivers strolls through into the Science Lab in time to catch Tyler's comment. Phaser rifle held ready, she frowns, sending a puzzled look to Tyler. "Shoot whom?"

Laco glances at Rivers, then looks to Tyler. "Anyway, let him out now?"

Tyler walks over to Rivers. "Computer, release phaser three setting locks, authorization Tyler Alpha Four Four Seven." She smiles to Lt. Rivers and says, "Increase your phaser setting to level sixteen, sir. We're going to be beaming a hostile from out of the buffer and into that containment area." She gestures to the silver circle on the floor. "And you were never here, and you never witnessed what you're about to witness. Is that understood?" An Ensign, treating a Lt. JG this way?

Rivers narrows her eyes at Tyler, then shifts a sideways glance to Edwards, an eyebrow shifting upwards. "Commander?" Still, she tabs the setting of the phaser rifle upwards. "Welcome to the insanity, Dana," she mutters softly to herself and gets a grip on the rifle.

Edwards glances toward Tyler, frowning severely. "She's right, Leftenant. But... how did you do that, Wendy?" he questions. "You don't have authorization to release those phaser locks."

Tyler looks to Edwards. "I think you'll f-find, in fact, I do, sir." She turns to Laco. "Are we ready?" She taps several things into her tricorder.

Laco says "I am. Let him out?""

Edwards swallows, not liking this predicament, "If I take your tricorder, Ensign, then I'll have it. Doesn't mean I should have it, does it?"

Tyler glances back to Edwards. "Talk to Starfleet Command about what access I have," she says tersely. She looks back to Laco, before Edwards offer more protest, and says, "Energize."

Edwards states curtly, "Don't, Laco."

Rivers glances between the other three officers, gritting her teeth. She makes sure the rifle is trained on the containment area, just in case, and stands there, waiting. And looking every bit like she'd like to bite someone.

Wendy's eyes darken as she levels them on Edwards. "Is there a problem, Commander?"

Edwards regards Tyler with a mixture of anger and wariness. "Yes, there is." he replies, doing his best to keep his voice as even as possible. "Explain how you got computer access you shouldn't have."

"By order of Starfleet Command. I've had it since I came on board. Like I said, Commander, take it up with them," comes Wendy's curt reply. "Now. Can we proceed, or do I need to have you removed? You are an observer on this project, after all, and I will proceed, with or without you." After leveling her gaze on Edwards, she tacks on a short "Sir."

Laco scratches his neck.

"I don't think so." Edwards states, as he glances around at those present. "I think you're starting to lose perspective, Ensign. If I have to, I'll order this project to be put on hold, while you speak with Counselor Park."

Rivers takes on an expression of patient frustration. Her finger taps gently along the side of the rifle, while her eyes travel from Edwards to Tyler and back. Silent, yet still furious, from the grim set of her mouth.

"It's you who is losing perspective, Commander. Order a hold put on it if you feel you must. However, I think you'll find you're the one disobeying orders. When it comes to these... 'special projects', Commander, /I/ am in charge. And Starfleet Command will back me up," comes Tyler's reply. "So. Do you really want to risk your career by breaking orders?"

Edwards loses some of that self-control, as he remarks, "The only authority you wield around here comes from a psychopath and the terror you wield through that lightning-bolt throwing... thing. Now you'll report to your quarters until further notice." He turns his attention to the others, "You two are dismissed. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

Rivers safeties the rifle, stealing a look to Edwards. "And what about this..thing, in the buffer, Sir? It's obviously dangerous. I recommend some kind of guard posted in the meantime?"

Tyler's eyes narrow at Edwards, and she frowns deep. However, the young woman nods. "Very well, Commander. I guess I'll see you at your courts martial, then." She snaps her tricorder shut pointedly, holsters it, and walks for the door. Pausing there, she makes sure she looks at Edwards as she says, "Reinstate phaser three lockouts. Authorization Tyler Delta Seven Two." She gives him a dark, humorless smile and turns on her heel, disappearing behind the door.

Laco says "Hmm..."

Edwards swears under his breath and shakes his head, although he does look just a tad bit relieved. "Don't worry about it, Rivers. It can't crawl out of a pattern buffer." he comments.