The Darkness Between The Stars

 Episode Name:  The Darkness Between The Stars

   Written By:  Eidolon

         Cast:  Eidolon, Foster, Hurley, Krylow, Lopez, Nilee 
                and Valentine.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Eidolon

     Aired On:  Sat Dec 18 03:06:15 2004

     Stardate:  54614.3

Time: Fri Dec 17 21:51:45 2004

Stardate: 54613.8

Far beyond the reaches of any star system in the Dulcais Sector, a comet tumbles through space -- tumbling slowly through the eternal void and absolute darkness of interstellar space.

The runabout Cape Fear from Station 419 drops from warp near the icy mass, but its interest is not on the comet itself -- it's what's within.

A lone mechanical construct juts from the cometary mass at an odd angle, but its shape identifies it as a warp nacelle, and its markings are still clearly visible (at least under a spotlight): 'NCC-1765 -- USS Bainbridge -- United Federation of Planets'.

Foster sits down at Pilot.

Valentine sits down at Engineering.

Nilee sits down at Mission Command.

"Commanding Officer's log, Stardate 54613.8. The USS Little Big Horn spotted what appeared to be a derelict vessel tumbling through intersystem space as a rogue comet. With the situation between the Rynkans and Tierrans it was unable to leave its duties at the border long enough to investigate the situation, and thus, the USS Cape Fear was dispatched from Station 419-Upsilon to investigate."

There's a brief pause in the recording as Nilee takes a deep breath, going over the information in his mind. He continues as though reciting directly from a computer file.

"USS Bainbridge. NCC-1765. Declared missing-in-action since 2287, cause unknown. We've been ordered to investigate the derelict and determine the cause of it's loss. End log."

Nilee ends his log abruptly as the Cape Fear closes in on the derelict vessel, "Alright Mr. Foster, bring us in nice and easy. Engineering, begin analysis of the Bainbridge's structural integrity. Get me preliminary data as soon as we're in range."

Valentine nods with an "Aye, sir,", bending over her console to do just that.

Krylow is, for now, taking up floor space beside engineering, having been beaten to the punch by Valentine this time around.

GAME: Valentine spends a courage point.

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

"Aye, aye, sir," Foster says. "Taking her in now." And he does, slowing the shuttle to manuevering speed then moving to match speeds with the cometary Bainbridge

Hurley stands near Krylow, quietly contemplating the situation with pursed lips and attention directed forward. There's little to do at the moment, and to her credit, she's not bouncing off the bulkheads.

Ensign Lopez stands by near the transporter unit, checking the supplies.

Nilee eyes the Bainbridge carefully through the side viewport as the Cape Fear comes up along side, "Keep us on a parallel course to the derelict, Mr. Foster." Nilee turns his head, "Lopez, I'm assuming all the equipment's in order? The rest of you start getting suited up. As soon as Ensign Valentine gets the analysis of the Bainbridge completed, we're going to send a team over. Full environmental suits."

Valentine blinks at her readings. "Lieutenant, it looks like the Bainbridge is pretty much intact, within that mass." Her brow furrows slightly. "Looks like it took weapons fire. I think. Hard to say, considering it's been out here for a hundred years or so."

Krylow nods to Nilee and steps over beside Lopez. "Need any help with the EVAs?" he asks, giving her a little half smile.

. o O Valentine thinks "How the /hell/ does nearly an entire starship get enveloped within a cometary mass?"

The Timefleet Lieutenant in the pilot's chair makes a few more minor adjustments, and says, "Parallel course laid in, engaged. Unless that comet decides to come attack us, we're all good."

As instructed, Ensign Hurley makes her way over to make with the environmental suiting. However, before suiting up, she removes her equipment from her belt and checks over each one last time to ensure everything's in proper working condition.

"Aye, sir," Ana responds to Nilee. "All equipment accounted for, no apparent defects." She extends the bar out with the suits, ready for disbursement. A little more quietly, and side to Krylow, she says, "Quartermasters and Engineering have really knocked themselves out getting this stuff outfitted. Clean creases and idents out, even... Yeah, do me a favor, switch those two at the back with the ones in the front, so they get issued in serial order?" She does look impressed, though that Hurley checks for herself.

. o O Lopez thinks "Nothing taken for granted..."

Nilee nods his head towards Valentine, "Excellent, Ensign. I'm glad to hear that. If structural integrity's holding, find us an especially stable insertion point, and I'll program the transporter. Then get suited up. Mr. Foster," he turns, "Make sure the computer keeps us on a parallel course to the derelict, then get suited up as well." With those orders in place, Nilee stands and makes his way back to get his own EVA suit.

Valentine just sorta quirks an eyebrow at Lopez's comments, her spine straightening a little. Of /course/, her shuttles' suits and such are at peak running order. She wouldn't allow anything else. Or, at least, she wouldn't allow a shuttle to be launched with less. Tara glances toward Nilee, then works on finding that especially stable insertion point. One hand does that; the other opens up an engineering panel to retrieve a suit. "Found, sir. Coordinates sent to your station." And she rises, quickly suiting and such.

Krylow nods to Lopez's comment and lends a hand as needed. Like Foster, he's used to using the EVAs. Part of Timefleet fun, and all. He's quiet through most of it, more worried about getting suited himself and making sure everyone else is than chatting.

Foster just nods, and stands, having already programmed that particular item into the system. Better for it to manage something as basic as that and only require him to override if necessary. He turns and heads towards the back to get suited up. Like Krylow, he shows no difficulties in doing that once he does a quick pre-use check of the suit in question.

Hurley listens to Nilee's orders and with lifted brow looks up from her equipment check to glance around and take a headcount. She pauses, eyeshifts away, then shrugs only to flash a quick and bright smile in Lopez's direction. It's brief only because it has to be - back to suiting up, which apparently takes concentration on her part, as she's not so much accustomed to this as are the TimeFleet officers.

. o O Hurley thinks "/All/ of us are going? Shouldn't someone be staying on here in the event.. something isn't quite right there? Oh well. I'm sure nothing'll happen there. It always works out."

Ana does get herself tucked into one of the afore-mentioned suits, but nowhere near as comfortably as the more experienced and trained officers.

Nilee glances down at his suit, and pulls it up around him. He does it with seeming ease, but there is a moment of hesitancy in his movements. Whatever it was, however, is overcome by sheer will as he pulls the suit up over his shoulders and then turns to Krylow, "Ensign, could you please go to the rear, once you have your suit on. There should be a small power generator stored there. I'd like to bring it with us. With any luck, we can make use of it on the Bainbridge." He glances around, "The rest of you, check your suits, and double up with someone to make sure they're all good." With that Galen turns and heads to the transporter station, programming in the coordinates. On his way back to the rest of the group, he taps Valentine on the shoulder, "Ensign, let's check your suit." He says, and does just that.

Valentine blinks a little, as she peers toward Nilee. "Yessir," she responds autmoatically,, straightening. "Erm," and she drops her voice low...

Valentine whispers to Nilee, "SHouldn't /somebody/ stay behind, in case everything goes to hell in a handbasket, sir?"

Krylow is just finishing his final suit check, and beginning to slide his tricorder and phaser into their respective spots when he hears the order. He glances to Nilee and nods. "Yes, sir." A moment later Alek and his suit disappear into the rear of the shuttle to locate, collect and carry back the power generator prior to beam out.

Foster considers for a long moment as Alek heads to the rear of the Runabout, which of the two remaining people to check out. For a moment, his eyes, behind the helmet's faceplate, narrow, and then he walks over to Hurley. "Let me check you out, Ch... er, Ensign Hurley."

Hurley finishes with her suit and casts a glance back towards Valentine, a rather large grin forming. Great minds and all of that. Thank goodness for the bulky enivonmental suit, however, with Foster's comment that grabs her attention. Eyebrow lifted, she cants her head as best she can while suited and says, "That, my dear Caleb, is how rumors get started." A wink hidden behind the faceplate, she stands still while Foster assists her right before beamout.

Lopez shifts uncomfortably in the durable person-wrapper, and presses in the rack on the wall. No, it wouldn't do at all to have that sticking out if they end up needing to book it. Craniums can be so soft and mushy. "Hey," she says to the pair, Foster and Hurley seeing that the only other unoccupied person on the team is hauling the generator, asks, "Can I get one of you to look the seal over when you get a sec?" Otherwise, standby.

Nilee responds in the same quiet tone to Valentine, as they switch off and she checks his suit over quickly. After his quick word in response to her, Nilee turns to Lopez and goes over her suit quickly, and then Krylow in turn as he returns with the generator. With everyone double checked, he runs the transport commands through the computer.

Nilee whispers to Valentine, "I considered that, Ensign, but a Miranda's got a lot of ground to cover, and we'll need all the manpower we can get. There's no risk, and we should be able to beam back via the Cape Fear's computer automatically at the touch of a comm badge."

Rather like an old story from Earth, the officers beam off the Cape Fear, two by two...

...and straight into history. The emergency lights and alert tracers still flicker in the Bainbridge's transporter room as they materialize on the transporter pad. A mummified Andorian corpse in a maroon Starfleet uniform hangs over the transporter console, whatever hope anyone may have had of saving him or her ninety years in the past. The room is, strangely enough, devoid of damage.

<PROVE> Foster has the merit of Zero-g Training at 2.

<PROVE> Hurley has the flaw of Zero-g Intolerance at -2.

<PROVE> Krylow has the merit of Zero-g Training at 2.

Valentine is still giving Nilee a dubious look, even as the twinkle fades and she rematerializes. "I'm glad you're-" She pauses, and looks around. "Sweet Mother McCree." A swift kick at the floor, and she sends herself toward the transporter console, hands grabbing for an anchor.

Krylow had, as someone used to Zero-G, turned on the magnetic boots before transfer and remains firmly planted after transport. The overly large head of his suit bobs a bit as he looks back and forth to take in the scene.

Like anyone even needs to say anything to her. As soon as she materializes, Hurley brings up a tricorder, but pauses to steady herself and lets out a small groan that for all intents and purposes means 'I should have known.'. She does manage to stay upright, though it's quite obvious that she's not doing so comfortably.

The dots simply didn't coalesce in Lopez's mind to be connected: turn the suit on. And thus she fumbles. "Ay!"

<CONTEST> Foster contests his Coordination (Dexterity) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

"If I wanted to start a rumor, I might do something quite a bit worse," Foster says, good-naturedly. Of course, that evil glint is in his eye; perhaps that's /exactly/ what he meant when he said it. "Though I'm not sure I could afford the shopping bills that would result." Definitely teasing, he is. Once the beamout process is completed, he takes a deep breath of his suit's air, glances around, notices Hurley's discomfort, and then Lopez's slippage. "Whoops. I gotcha, don't worry." He shifts over slightly to place a hand on Lopez's suit's shoulder, to give her more time to stabilize. "Turn on your boots, you'll be just fine."

The transporter console provides Tara Valentine with purchase... or, more accurately, the corpse over the transporter console does. With a sick cracking noise which is more felt than heard (as there's no air), the mummy's arm comes off and starts to bob around the room, thanks to the lack of gravity and inertia. On closer inspection, it's clear why it hasn't moved before now -- the console apparently shorted out in a rather spectacular fashion, and the corpse is now fused into the transparisteel surface.

. o O Lopez naturally feels deeply deeply embarassed. And deeply deeply grateful to Foster.

Nilee glances about as he beams in, paying more attention to the team then his surroundings at first. Everyone's here, now if he can just get everyone in order. "Magnetize your boots people." He says, doing the same to his own, having managed to keep his balance up to that point, probably because of previous experience rather than training. "Okay, everyone alright?" Galen asks, looking from face to face, shining his arm light just below everyone's neck so he can get a look at each face directly, pausing at Hurley when he comes to her, "Ensign? Are you going to be alright?" Galen asks with genuine concern in his voice.

Valentine swallows hard, and, without acknowledging the fact that Foster's comments reminds her to do so, tucks her legs down and activatese her boots so that they cling to the floor. "Sir? Looks like there was a massive power surge here," she notes. Yes, she's alright Just a little pale.

Krylow glances to Lopez, at least until Foster catches her. Then his attention swings to Valentine, though before he can move to her she magnetizes her boots and settles to the floor. He glances to Nilee. "I think we're all good, sir. A few of us aren't found too Zero-G apparently, but I think we're going to survive."

. o O Valentine thinks "Ohmygod. Way to go, Tara. You just half-destroyed a Starfleet officer's corpse. Okay, not quite to that extent. Still..."

"Fine here," Foster says. And he appears to be. Even when a detached arm comes floating by.

"Fine," Hurley croaks through the suit's comm device while mimicing Valentine's actions to activate her own boots. "Yeah, fine." She shakes her head, trying to shake the nausia from her system - hah - so she can be productive. "Just fine. I'll get.. some scans, Sir." Tricorder is brought back up and a little to closer to her face. She does, afterall, need *something* to focus on, and the arm really isn't going to cut it for her.

Lopez slaps her leg, and gets her feet down and planted by virtue of the helping hand from Foster. "Thanks," she says quietly, with a reddened face. The Ensign angles her head a little as the arm bounces harmlessly-- but rather less than appealingly out of her peripheral vision. Her own light flicks on, but directs itself generally downward.

Static suddenly crackles across the speakers in everyone's helmets, but clears after a second or two.

. o O Lopez thinks "Thats right, lets just see if I can't completely screw the pooch in the first five ticks."

<CONTEST> Foster contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

<CONTEST> Nilee contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

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

<CONTEST> Hurley contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

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

<CONTEST> Krylow contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Nilee nods his head slowly to Hurley, though he watches her for a couple extra seconds, hearing the rest of the team report in, Nilee pulls his tricorder out of his belt. He opens his mouth to speak, but pauses as the static echoes across everyone's helmet. He snaps his mouth shut for a few seconds after the static clears, "That sounded like more than random static... did anyone else catch that?" He glances towards Hurley again, "Ensign, see if you can try and isolate the source of that..." he glances around, "The rest of you, load up, we're heading to the engine room. It's on this deck and shouldn't be too far. Ensign Krylow, take care of that generator, I have a feeling we're going to need it."

Valentine glances upwards, frowning. She heard it, but...""Aye, sir." Engine room. SHe pushes off toward the door, almost feeling like she's in her element.

Krylow looks to Nilee at the officer's comment. "A suggestion, sir? If that's not random noise, maybe Ensign Valentine should look after the power generator and myself and Lieutenant Foster can take point." Alek says that simply, just a normal suggestion for him by the sounds of it.

"I heard it, but I didn't catch any more than that," Foster says. "Though anything broadcasting on standard Starfleet comm channels, noise or not, seems suspicious to me." His head turns in the direction of Krylow, and he nods. "That doesn't seem like a bad idea."

Hurley lifts her head very suddenly and eyes the mummified Andorian with scrutiny while considering the burst of static heard. She, apparently, doesn't seem surprised by Nilee's opinion of the 'random' static. "I'm on it, Sir," she says immediately with attention returning back to her tricorder.

The door shudders open at Valentine's approach, revealing a dark corridor beyond. The far bulkhead has a bloody handprint on it, but otherwise, the hallway is much the same as the transporter room -- devoid of damage.

Nilee nods his head to Krylow, "I'm thinking more along the lines of a distress beacon, and less along the lines of a viable threat. Take point anyway, though." He glances over to Valentine, "Ensign, take care of the generator, please." Nilee turns his attention to Lopez, "Ensign, if you would, keep your tricorder out and scan ahead of us. For anything, particularly though, for the structural integrity of the corridor between us and the engine room." With that, Galen pulls out his own tricorder, thumbs it open and with his free hand waves forward, "Let's move out people."

GAME: Hurley spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Hurley (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Valentine comes to a halt, peering at the far wall, then she looks around. "Ensign Krylow has a very good point there, yep," she opines. And she's more than happy to retreat to tend to that generator. "Aye, sir. Distress beacon? After a hundred years? I think we're a trifle late."

GAME: Lopez spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

GAME: Foster spends a courage point.

Krylow moves towards Valentine and offers her the generator. "Take care of this," he says, giving her a little smile. Then he draws his Type II phaser, probably out of habit, and takes a look into the hallway before moving through the door.

<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Succeeds!

"Us RRT types tend towards the para... er, caution," Foster says, lifting his tricorder and applying it to the handprint. "Axanari blood - there were five aboard this ship according to the crew complement. About ninety years old."

"I.. don't see any transmission sources aside from ours, Sir," Hurley calls lifting her attention from the tricorder and finally moving off the transporter pad. Very clearly not believing it herself, she says anyway in a soft tone, "Maybe it *was* just static.."

Lopez flicks out the device with her verbal acknowledgement of the order and at the call to move out begins to perform the task of scanning for the safety of the journey ahead. "Sir, I'm not reading any weaknesses..." but she doesn't sound convinced or made confident by the devices half-hearted reassurance. She keeps it out, prepared to repeat if necessary. Steady on.

As Krylow looks into the corridor, his light plays across a panel that reads 'Main Engineering'. The engine room is, apparently, only two doors down. Beyond the handprint on the wall, there's nothing amiss in the corridor at large.

Nilee nods slowly as he hears the various reports, "A little late, yes," he answers Valentine, "But it's much more likely to be that then a possible threat. I'm hoping so atleast." All the while he's tapping at his tricorder as he walks, "There we go. I've accessed the computer core. Very limited usage right now because of the lack of power, but I've got some of the internal sensors online and reporting to me..." he looks towards Foster and nods to report and then turns to Hurley, "Understood. Keep an eye out, monitor the frequency and be ready to jump on an unidentified transmission if it happens again." He pauses and then takes a deep breath, "Alright, almost there everyone. Let's keep moving."

. o O Hurley thinks "That didn't /sound/ random. But, it wasn't a transmission, either. Fluxuation in subspace.. noise.. in the area? Interference? Hmmm. Probably interference. But, it really didn't *sound* like just.. noise."

Krylow is quiet as he begins to lead the group towards Engineering. He stays along the wall as he walks, and holds his phaser in the same hand as the wrist where his flashlight is attached. Always aiming towards the light. He pace is careful and delierate as they move.

Foster, likewise, has replaced his tricorder with his phaser and, likewise, is carrying it in the same hand as the one where the light emits. Same training, same reaction. He does lag a little behind, however, letting the engineers lead the way, and, incidentally, keeping an eye on Hurley.

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Hurley murmurs softly, "I'll do one better. I'll record all transmissions to be accurately reviewed. That way," she pauses to look up towards the retreating team and hustles after them as much as she can,, "that way, if I'm slow on reflexes.." she just stops talking. Sometimes, it's best to just stop talking.

Lopez keeps her arm out, and punches in some new paramaters into the input on the tricorder's face, swaying the unit slowly in a pan from side to side, and then angling it towards the way into engineering. "This section of hallway and the area around engineering are still reading sound."

The doors to Engineering slide open at Krylow's approach, revealing a cavernous and dark chamber beyond, lit by only the occasional flicker of the emergency lights. Another burst of static sounds in their helmets, but once again fades out rapidly.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Hurley (claiming advantage) contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

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

<CONTEST> Foster contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Krylow contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Nilee stops just as he's about to step over the threshold into engineering. "Alright, I heard it that time. A voice saying 'Help us.' He glances around, and then narrows in on Hurley, "Did you catch it, Ensign? See if you can isolate and locate the source..." He asks, well holding up his own tricorder.

<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Krylow continues to move along the wall even as they enter Engineering. His light sweeps back and forth, as he works to look over the whole area. He's still quiet, dispite the chatter going on between others.

Foster cocks his head to one side inside his helmet. "Er, that one might have been a voice. I'm not sure, though. Though, if both of us heard it..." He lifts his tricorder in the other hand, programs in a general search, and turns in a circle, watching the readings. "Showing no lifesigns other than our own. No muted lifesigns either, such as from technologically-slowed life support. No active life support anywhere aboard."

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

Hurley looks blankly at Nilee, blinks a couple of times, then shakes her head in her bulky suit. "I didn't hear that, no," she says slowly. "But," pause and a cheerful declaration, "I did record it! Give me a minute to play with it. I really didn't see a transmission source other than ours earlier, but I'll see what I can do in figuring out where it's coming from." She falls behind the group and immediately gets to the promised work of reviewing the transmission again, then trying to track down the 'ghost' voice.

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

"Nave del Fantasmos," Ana whispers to herself with a frown and a shake of her head. Ghost ship. She didn't hear anything but the static hiss, but her arms prickle and the fine hairs on her neck stand up just the same as Nilee makes his commentary. She moves ahead to go a little further in and to the side beneath the flicker of the lights. "Reading heightened subspace activity... but I can't get a fix on the source."

<CONTEST> Hurley (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

. o O Hurley thinks "Subspace activity. There we are. 'Help me' indeed. It's probably a transmission long lost and somehow repeating or reflecting or something. Yeah, that's it. That's gotta be it."

<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Valentine's Systems Engineering (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

The doors whisper shut behind Valentine as she lugs the generator over to a console and begins to tie it into the console, attempting to restore limited power to the console in frustrated silence.

A brief flicker of light plays across one of the consoles before it fades back into darkness.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Succeeds!

Nilee glances about between the various different officers, "Alright. Mr. Krylow, assist Ensign Valentine with the generator. See if you can get us some power. Once you get it going, give me an assessment on the possibility of life support in here, as well as getting some power to the main computer. The heightened subspace activity seems to be localized in the computer core according to my scans, I'm going to investigate that and Ensign Hurley, you're with me. Lieutenant Foster, and Ensign Lopez, scout the rest of Engineering, and then report back to me any findings."

Krylow glances to Nilee and nods. He begins to move over towards Valentine, still letting his flashlight sweep over Engineering as he does. He doesn't holster the phaser until he reaches her. Once there, he slide the phaser away and goes to work on the power generator.

Foster merely nods, taking a moment to confirm his phaser setting and then he moves towards Valentine and Krylow. From there, he ranges outward, mostly to make certain that nothing is approaching them. It wouldn't do to search the far side of Engineering and find out that something had been hiding in the shadows near the two Engineers, after all. On the way, he says, "Recommend maintaining open comm channels between the split boarding party."

Hurley gives a nod almost hidden by the helmet, and, with tricorder quite at hand, steps up next to Nilee, flashing a glance to Krylow as they pass. But, onwards and upwards. She heads out with the commander of this mission, determined to find the logical explanation for all of this and keep all the contents in her stomach -in- her stomach.

Lopez not only confirms her phaser setting as she begins to branch out along the arch of the walls in the unstable dim, but she makes sure it sits loose in the fastenings. Unnerving is what it is.

GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.

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

A very distinct squeal of static sounds in everyone's helmet once again. "Help us," a voice whispers behind the white noise. "-Help- us."

. o O Lopez thinks "Hijo de puta! Disembodied voices, and none too specific ones at that. C'mon... love to help, now dónde estan?"

Nilee leads off into the darkness, left hand travelling in a left-right pattern in front of him. "Computer Core should be opposite our entrance, Hurley. Right..." he lifts his light to shine it across the room, "there." he concludes, a split second before the static echoes across the comm channel again, "Alright, tell me I wasn't the only one to hear that clearly this time..." He asks, approaching the computer core entrance.

Krylow snaps up from the power generator as the voice comes through the helmets. "No sir, you weren't. I heard that too." A pause as he looks for what isn't there. "I'm having trouble with the interface here. The ship's a tad bit outdated. Give me a minute and I should have it working." He again leans down to the generator, giving it another try.

. o O Hurley thinks "Keep your wits about you, Christine. Not ghosts. There are no ghosts. Delayed subspace transmission, likely having been repeated for how many decades now?"

Foster, still sweeping Engineering, states, "No. I very clearly heard it that time myself. But it's still suspicious. Unless they've found some way to put themselves in some kind of stasis that gives them access to Communications. Maybe get Comms up and see if that helps any?"

Frozen, Christine looks very carefully around and lifts her tricorder. Yes. Tricorder. While some might reach for a phaser in such a situation, this ensign sticks with what she knows. "I heard it this time, too," she says softly towards Nilee. "I'm curious how long that message has been repeating."

. o O Krylow thinks "Whispers in my helmet. Ninety year old equipment. This should be childs play."

Lopez looks for Foster with a twitch, using her arm light to direct the beam out in a search pattern. "Loud and clear. And it sounds like the natives, wherever they happen to be are getting restless. Are you hearing emphasis? But I'm not seeing anything over here... How about you, Lieutenant Foster? I don't suppose there's any chance we can use the Cape Fear to search that frequency whenever we get the cue?"

Suddenly, all their helmets come to life with noise once again -- and this time, there is no abundance of static.

"Captain's log, Stardate *static**crackle**fuzz*rendezvous with the Exeter near Dulcais Prime. Captain Riley beamed aboard and we had a long talk about the recent Klingon incursions across the Neutral Zone near Bak'TUR. Kevin seems to think that it's...*static* Chang. We're going to *static* flagship. End log."

"Captain's Log, Stardate 8927.4. We've encountered*static* lifeform. Commander P'lirca seems to think that it's feeding off the energy in our *static**crackle* core. We've attempted to communicate with it, but all our attempts seem to have failed. We're going to keep trying. End*static*"

"Captain's log, Stardate *static* Moving to intercept a Klingon vessel detected in this sector. Our new friend seems to be coming along for the ride, and we can't shake it from our computer systems, no matter how hard we try. Science *static* thinks that it's trapped in the FTL processor of the Engineering core, but hasn't *static* free it."

"Massive discharges of *BRZZZT* throughout the ship. 50 crew dead. It's attacking us, and we can't seem to... AGGHR!"

"Help us."

"Help us."

"-Help- us."

. o O Lopez thinks "There was something IN this ship. HERE. Nononono. Don't tell me that."

Nilee stops at the doors to the computer core, "Alright. Krylow, Valentine, belay the order to get power running. Stand by for now. Foster, Lopez, get over to the Computer Core. Whatever it was that killed the crew on this ship, must still be in there. That's not just random comm recordings. It's trying to communicate." He pauses and lifts his tricorder, "There's definitely a life form in there... not what we're used to... subspace... the energy readings are continuing to build... I don't know where it's drawing it's power from."

Krylow doesn't need to be told twice, and had stopped even before the order came. He stands from the power generator and glances to Nilee. "Aye, sir," is his simple response, accompanied by the drawing of his sidearm again.

. o O Lopez thinks "The only thing... that have brought energy to feed from aboard this barge since it died... is us."

"I've got nothing," Foster says, and then his helmet leaps to life. He frowns slightly, then turns to head towards the Computer Core. "Finding some way to get Comms online might still be good. Or using the Runabout's comms or more powerful sensors. Also, the Calamarain that attacked the Enterprise-D a decade ago or so were subspace-based lifeforms. They might survive on the functional equivalents of what we survive on in our space."

Fortunately, Hurley's paled expression is hidden behind her helmet. "Well, *someone's* trying to communicate," she agrees softly. "I can't help but think we're hearing a trapped transmission of some sort, looping over and over." Finally, she reaches for her issued sidearm, though a little awkwardly. Pause at Foster's comment. She looks upwards at Nilee and asks, "It's.. not possible.. that it's drawing the power from the /runabout/, is it?"

Lopez advances with Foster, but says, "Sir, I say this only because its my background in Missions, but I'd really like to point out whatever it is was probably also trying to communicate with the Bainbridge, but it didn't work out so well for them, and their complement died. We've only got the six of us, and if it IS pulling power off what we've brought with us, its likely going to continue to intensify until we see these 'discharges' occuring. And its just us and the EVAs." Nonetheless, headed for the Core, every step getting closer.

Slowly, the pool table console before the warp core flickers to life. On the central display, it flashes -ALERT: CONDITION RED- several times before the screen ticks over to display -HELP US- repeatedly.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Dramatically Succeeds!

Nilee taps his tricorder quickly, "Let's see... the science officer was right, it does look like the lifeform is stuck in the FTL processors, that's where the power buildup is happening... almost like it's putting all its strength into pulling itself loose from there." The Trill grimaces, "But where is that power coming from... not able to trace it using my tricorder... maybe the Cape Fear's sensors..." he pauses and then his expression shifts, "Damn." He falls silent for a couple tense seconds, "I was hoping you weren't right, Hurley. But you were. Cape Fear's warp core is being drained of power... by the lifeform."

. o O Hurley thinks "When will people learn that I'm /always/ right?"

Krylow grimaces under his mask, still remaining beside Valentine. "I have to disagree with Lieutenant Foster. I think attempting to bring any equipment online at this time is highly dangerous. I would suggest either withdrawing the away team or powering up the Cape Fear's shields to prevent the enegry draw."

<PROVE> Foster has the flaw of Code Of Honor at -4.

Foster considers what Lieutenant Nilee has said, and considers the most direct route. He adjusts his own comm system to broadcast locally and across as many different channels as he can, which should include old and new Starfleet channels, "Greetings. We've received your message. Please tell us how we can help you, and we will try to do so. Also, the source that you are currently draining power from is our ship's engine. If we are unsuccessful, we will need that power to retrieve others who might be better able to help. We will not desert you."

Hurley's jaw sets. "Alright. Maybe we can convince it to leave the Cape Fear somehow. Can we get power to computers at least?" She looks directly at Nilee. "If it's... stuck... in the FTL processors, maybe that's the key to directly communicating and.. convincing it. If it's already started drawing power from the Cape Fear, we likely don't have much time before it departs this ship."

. o O Foster thinks "If it's communicating with us via our own channels, it should be able to hear us when we broadcast too."

Lopez frowns. "How much time do we have before it draws off enough power that transporter, life support, and warp functions aboard the Cape Fear begin to suffer? At the current rate of drain?"

"RELEASE ME," comes the reply to Foster's message through everyone's speakers, another console starting to come to life.

. o O Krylow thinks "This thing destroyed a whole Starfleet vessel. Let's hang around everyone and make friends. Maybe it likes coffee."

. o O Hurley thinks "Well. On the bright side, it's not a ghost."

Nilee turns to face Foster, "Hold on, Mr. Foster." It's clear from his tone that he's not happy about Foster taking his own initiative on this, despite the results. Galen turns towards the console that comes to life, "Shield status?" He grimaces, "Ok." He speaks into his comm, "We have full intentions of attempting to release you. We are not holding you captive. The FTL Processors seem to be the source of the problem though, do you understand? We want to help. We are going to enter the computer core... where you are." He glances to Foster, "Follow me in."

Krylow shakes his head a little, obvious not liking where this, or they, are going. He moves away from the power generator and after Nilee and Foster. "Sir, I'll tag along with you. At the very least, I can cover your back."

. o O Hurley thinks "Silly boys. If this is an energy being trapped in the computer core, I doubt braun is really going to get them very far. But. Hmmm. I wonder what information I can get off the communication. At the very least, it's all being recorded."

"I won't apologize for doing the right thing, Lieutenant," Foster says, saying nothing further, but doing as asked.

. o O Lopez thinks "This thing has been fine for how many years, and its not in any danger at this moment. This team is. The Runabout is. Nothing this sentient has done yet indicates that its intentions are benevolent. We have to drop the shields to beam back, whats to keep it off the Cape Fear? We don't know ANYTHING about it!"

Hurley glances towards Foster, then Krylow, but stays back for the moment and concentrates her focus on analyzing the communication.

. o O Krylow thinks "Doing the right thing? Foster, there I times I love having you around, and there are times I would love to strangle you."

<CONTEST> Hurley contests her Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Succeeds!

Lopez doesn't say a word, but looks far, far less approving. She stands in front of the console that looks to be winking into life, awaiting the message.

A third console displaying weapons status struggles to life, forming a rough sort of triangle around the away team with the other two. "RELEASE ME," thunders the voice from the speakers once again.

. o O Lopez thinks "Deux ex machina..."

Hurley mumbles more to herself than meaning to out loud, "Well, we can't very well release you if you kill us and our ship." Out of curiosity, however, she moves to the consoles brought to life and eyes them for a moment - keeping a safe distance - and draws in a deep breath. She lifts her gaze towards the men, then looks back to the console.

Nilee steps forward and into the computer core slowly, lifting his arm torch to scan the room quickly with a once over. He moves immediately along the edge of the room, until he comes to the FTL processor access panel. Lifting his tricorder he scans the unit carefully, "Theories, people? There's a massive power build up in the FTL Processor. We need to get this thing outside. We need..." he pauses, "A lightning rod..." he pauses again and hmms, "If we can release it into the main computer core, then all we need to do is get it outside... a channel to the impulse reaction chamber should do it... Mr. Krylow?"

GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Propulsion Engineering (Impulse) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Krylow looks to Nilee and after a moment nods. "Yeah, that should do it. Or flush it through the warp drive. The Impulse reaction chamber should be easier." That said, he turns to a nearby by console and, thanks to the trusty Cape Fear, is able to power it up. A moment, and a few taps, later he frowns a bit. "Its moving from the FTLs into the impulse manifold, but I couldn't get it in the reaction chamber."

. o O Krylow thinks "Why does it have to be engines? Couldn't it like the deflector dish? Or maybe the ventral shield generators? How about the phaser banks? Couldn't we just shot it out? No, it has to be engines. Which I know nothing about. Especially on this antique piece of junk."

Lopez frowns and from her position, says, "See if we can't give it a cookie, then. Can we isolate the section of compenents in between and stream energy into them... like a controlled short? Leave this entity a bread trail to follow?"

. o O Hurley thinks "Ok. If I do this, it'll surely attack us and we'll all die. If I don't, it'll definitely drain the Cape Fear, *then* attack us, and we'll all die."

<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Valentine's Propulsion Engineering (Impulse) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Valentine looks over Krylow's shoulders, and her fingers dance briefly before she shakes her head. No go.

The being, in the meantime, roars once again over the speakers. "RELEASE US... OR DIE."

. o O Hurley thinks "Good enough for me."

Nilee glances up, as though the voice is coming from above, "Well aren't we just a little bit grumpy after being cooped up in a FTL processor for a century. Don't sound grateful for new surroundings or anything." He shakes his head, turning to look at Lopez, "Alright, let's see what we can do with that. It's better than nothing at this point, and we're running out of options... throwing this thing from system to system seems to just be agitating it. If you need access to the main computer to reroute power, you can bounce off my tricorder, I still have a direct link..."

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Propulsion Engineering (Impulse) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Command (Starship) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Krylow continues to work at the console, with or without Valentine's help. "Still working on trying to get it into the impulse reaction chamber, sir. For now I'm not moving it around. And still no luck."

GAME: Foster spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Propulsion Engineering (Impulse) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Foster heads over to have a look at the system, "Man, this thing is an antique. Er, what's this part do?" He presses a button that seems to flicker ever-so-slightly, and the creature is flushed into space. "Er, sorry. I think I might have made things worse."

"Sir," Christine finally pipes up, lifting her gaze from the lit-up consoles. "I believe I have an idea about how we can.. convince.. our new friend to not drain the Cape Fear." She speaks very pointedly, "..with your permission, of course."

. o O Krylow thinks "A minute ago I wanted to choke Foster. Now I'm not sure if I really want to choke him, or thank him."

A howl escapes the comms systems, and then all the consoles go dark, while a whisper floats on the air. "Freedom..."

And then, silence settles on the Bainbridge's engine room once again.

Nilee swings around as the howl escapes the comm system, narrowing in on Foster, "How did you- What did-" he shakes his head, "You did it?" He finally manages, shaking his head, he lifts his tricorder, "Cape Fear's systems are registering as normal again."

Krylow frowns a little as Foster taps the button, and then then frowns a little more. He's quiet for now, letting Nilee handle things while he sits there for a moment.

"I did?" Foster doesn't sound like even HE realizes what he did, though the evidence of the comm is right there. "All I did was press this." He stops himself before he presses it again, just on the OFF chance it might suck the creature back in again. He tries to wipe away the indicator. "Posi-metric guidance interlock?"

Hurley shrugs. "Just as well. My method would have ... had a rather questionable outcome." Flashing a smile, she glances down at her tricorder, glancing over readings in search of a particular frequency. "It's leaving, Sir. For future reference, it was a sentient being, with thought patterns of some sort oscillating on a frequency of 189.25." Looking up and into the computer core, she adds with an almost audible smile, "Just in case we cross paths again, of course."

Lopez looks at Alek, and then at Foster with a sort of horrified... really its a very indistinct expression. One glance to Valentine. One glance to Nilee and Hurley the nauseous... and she lets her forehead inside the mask bump down on an open space of console. "Recommend we get the hell out of Dodge, sirs, and put out some sort of warning for the sector about our "friend" in case it gets lodged somewhere else. I think we have a fair idea of what happened to the Bainbridge."

Nilee nods to Lopez, "Recommendation noted and agreed. Let's go folks, pack it up. Our job here is done." He turns to Krylow, "Mr. Krylow, the generator please. Good job everyone." He says as he turns to the rest of the crew.

Krylow nods to Nilee and stands to go and retrieve the pwoer generator from where its left forgotten. Outide of a yes sir to the order, Alek remains quiet as he goes about gathering up the equipment.

Foster still looks rather, well, embarrassed. "Sorry, guys." He seems to be addressing Valentine and Krylow. "It really /was/ just luck." You know, ducking your head really isn't all that effective inside a environmental suit - it just has nowhere to go. After Lieutenant Nilee's order, he suggests, "If we have the power, it might be worthwhile to see if we can beam the... remains out of here, perhaps keep them from reenergizing until we get back. Bring them home, and at least let their families have closure on the matter."

The thought of an environment of gravity and life support again quite appeals to Hurley and she wastes no time in making her way back to the transporter pads to stand next to Valentine. As patiently as she possibly can, she watches and waits for the others to.. get the hell out of Dodge as well.

Lopez puts down her tricorder on the console, and before power winks out again, draws off the crew manifest at last known date of operation, the stardate posted from captain's log. Its late even for the families... but as observed someone is bound to want to know what became of the USS Bainbridge's crew. "Let a larger vessel with the appropriate outfitting come back for the remains. We know the heading of this mass. After a hundred years, they deserve better than to be stuffed into a cargo module like sardines."

Moments later, the transporter of the Cape Fear gathers her crew. Moments after that, the runabout spins on its axis, warping away for home.

Once again, the ghosts of the Bainbridge are left to the silence and darkness between the stars.