With Blind Eyes I

 Episode Name:  With Blind Eyes I

   Written By:  Grey

         Cast:  Donavon, Grey, Laco, O'Rielly, Shamash, Torin and Vimes.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Tue May 03 19:05:54 2005

     Stardate:  54942.2

Time: Sat Apr 30 20:43:36 2005

Stardate: 54935.2

The Cape Fear, after over three days of maximum warp travel, drops from warp at the edge of the Tabar System. In the back of the shuttle are crates of science gear packed carefully and loaded onto the shuttle before it departed from the station. As the shuttle drops from warp the team has crowded into the cockpit to man consoles or watch through the viewport.

Vimes has arrived.

Laco stands at the rear of the cockpit as the runabout returns to impulse power, hands tucked behind his back and his eyes on the starfield before him. After a moment of reflection, where nothing immediately goes wrong, he requests, "Ensign Torin, adjust course for Torda. Mister Shamash, sensor sweep; You know what to look for."

O'Rielly sits down at Mission Command.

Shamash sits down at Engineering.

Vimes sits down at Tactical.

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

O'Rielly sits at Mission Command for this segment of the journey at least. Slightly different than normal is that Bristol is not wearing a uniform that closely matches the color of his hair, but is instead wearing the color blue of science for his uniform. Only stranger than that is what could O'Rielly be doing on a scientific mission in the first place? O'Rielly plays with his collar just a little bit. "It's ironic, this is the color I was going to wear originally," he says quietly to himself, though in the confines of the runabout, it's likely everybody heard him.

Torin shifts in the seat, and nods quietly, "Aye, sir." He offers simply, adjusting the direction of the ship adjusting speed and course. He hrmms and glances up, "Sir, incoming, hail." He offers as he maneuvers the ship carefully.

Shamash takes his assigned place at the Engineering console and reconfigures it quickly to get him better access to the scientific duties. "Acknowledged. Nothing on sensors yet, continuing scan."

Seated at the runabout's tactical console, Vimes also wears the blue of science branch, rather than his usual red as a command officer. He was perfectly agreeable to serve in a security manner for this mission when he was requested. However, the change of uniform did have him wondering. Nonetheless, there's surely a logical explanation, and so he busies himself with making sure the vessels tactical systems are all on-line.

Donavon has stood next to Lieutenant Laco the majority of the last leg of the journey. Once the runabout reaches a crawl at impulse, she curiously strides forward to peek over shoulders at the nearby consoles. She glances especially at Shamash, then towards tactical to weigh the current situation. Soon, she settles to peering out a viewport, a finger reaching to tug at her blue collar. "Probably the local government requesting IFF confirmation."

Laco glances at Torin, then moves up between the two fore position. "Open channel."

. o O Donavon thinks, "Feels odd not to be doing anything. Waiting. I suppose that's why Command has the better chair. They sit and wait, then decide."

<CONTEST> Shamash contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Torin contests his Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

"We have a complication", Shamash does a mild understatement of the situation, "The target area is located, however the target object is not present."

Torin nods quietly as he keeps the ship on it's slow approach course and offers, "Opening communications." He says clearly bringing them online, "Live Feed on the viewscreen sir."

. o O Donavon thinks, "Picked up by the locals or by someone else?"

Donavon tears sights from the viewport to the main viewscreen. Idle hands plant to the small of her back, clasped together. Her back stiffens while she considers and questions.

Satisfied with the current tactical readout, Vimes adjusts himself in his seat, glancing sidelong towards the view-screen to observe the incoming communication.

As the channel opens a fuzzy, poor quality picture pops up on the viewscreen. A humanoid woman appears there with dark olive coloured skin and black eyes almost pupil-less. Her shoulders are visible and just before the shoulder joint projects ridge about an inch out. "Identify yourself and your purpose, Federation vessel," comes her order in clipped tones. For those who did any research on Torda they'd recognize the rank pins as those of a Commander.

Laco says, "This is the Federation Runabout Cape Fear, inbound for a scientific expedition in the vicinity of Tolak." Laco replies, in a tone many would recognise as a bit friendlier than they are used to getting from him. "Do we have permission to land?""

<CONTEST> Shamash contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Torin watches quietly, doing his bet attempting to clean up the communications it seems even as he keeps the ship on it's careful course, not doing anything surprising. It seems not wanting to startle anyone.

Shamash relays coordinates regarding a crash site he found close to Tolak towards the helm, yet aside from his earlier remark, he does not speak as long as the comm is open. He busies himself with yet more scans.

O'Rielly just glances up and looks at the man who comes on channel. He doesn't seem to react too much, not his mission or anything.

Donavon pointedly regards the Tordan Commander with an analytical expression. Sure enough, her guess proves good. Approaching Shamash, she bends lower in a fient to examine the console but murmurs to the officer in an attempt not to interrupt the current coms. Donavon whispers to Shamash, "Is there an ion trail?"

On the viewscreen the female Commander frowns as she looks through the viewscreen. "Science mission? What is the nature of this mission?"

Shamash taps on the screen instead of answering Donavon. He uses the horizontal display of the console so that nothing will be brought up on camera to be sent back to the planet. Shamash smiles at Donavon and shows her the ton of engine trails that are around the planet, he adds several filters until only trails of romulan nature should be displayed. However the display is empty then. Only then does he shake his head.

Laco tucks his hands behind his back, and smiles pleasantly towards the visual-recorder. Or, at least as pleasantly as a hideously deformed human can. "A biological and planetological survey of the surrounding forests. I've heard that you have some truly *facinating* fauna down there." Laco pauses, as if slightly confused. "I assume you were appraised of our mission...?"

<CONTEST> Laco contests his Charm (Influence) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

The Commander watches Laco for a moment and then shakes her head. "No, we weren't. Have your people forward your flight path and mission plan to us. Once done you can consider yourself cleared to land."

GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.

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

Smiling again, Laco nods to the figure. "Of course. I apologize for any inconveniences, and will be certain to look into them upon returning from the mission. Lieutenant," Laco gestures at Vimes, "Please send the requested plans. Ensign, you may close the channel."

Donavon runs her tongue across her teeth to muse over possibilities. Eye scant to the viewscreen, then Laco, a new tactic is devised. She withdraws her PADD to begin typing out a message before tilting it for Shamash's view alone. <<TEXT: Two reasons come to mind. 1) Taken by another vessel 2) Signature changed to match current traffic>> Following the message, she gestures with an expression to offer assistance should Shamash wish for it.

Vimes nods in response to Laco's order, "Aye, sir." and proceeds to key up the sequence to transmit the requested documentation, "Flight plan and mission details transmitted, sir."

O'Rielly continues to look over his console at the mission commander's spot. He doesn't seem too busy yet, but who knows what he may be up to over there.

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

GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.

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

Torin just continues to watch carefully and listen to orders from Laco. At the words he closes the channel, with a nod, "Done sir."

Shamash waits till the channel closes as Laco instructed, then turns to Donavon and mentions to her "So far, i was only ableto find that the crash site sprouts no shuttle. Nor are there any drag marks at the crash site. I am running a search pattern now, if you can, you can assist by doing your own observations?"

The Cape Fear now reaches Torda, smoothly moving into orbit at Torin's commands. The planet spreads out before them, looking much like Sol. Over sixty percent of the surface is covered in water and the rest is mostly covered in green forests.

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

Laco turns from the main viewer, and begins to retreat to the rear of the cockpit. "Mister Shamash, just think for a moment as to why you can't detect the shuttle, and whom was flying it." Laco smirks, "It's there." At the hatch to the rear compartments, Laco turns and gives a few more orders. "Torin, take us down and put us in berth at the spaceport. Lieutenant O'Rielly, see if you can arrange for accomodations, and the transportation we will need. I'm going back to check on the...payload."

Donavon joins Shamash in pushing the runabout's sensors to the limit. A faint irritated scowl surfaces not due to the officers or task, but rather what limitations the Fear brings. She nods. "Aye, sir. Confirmed on the lack of drag marks. Second option seems to be the way." She flips back to Shamash's original filters, locating those within hours of when the shuttle first crashed. "Needle in a haystack," she mutters, a smile now growing.

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

Torin nods and glides his hands over the ships controls, "Aye, sir. Bringing us down." He offers, "Brace for atmosphere." He announces, as he guides the ship from orbit towards the spaceport.

O'Rielly nods, "Aye sir. Shouldn't be too hard."

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

Shamash returns to Laco a simple "I am aware of the origin of the shuttle, but as i located the exact crash site, sensors should have been able to detect a deformation of the ground via the pressure on said ground or other, indirect indications."

. o O Donavon thinks, "Unless the shuttle was repaired and took off by its own devices. Hm. This is proving to be a challenge."

Vimes arches a brow at the mention of payload. Still, his attention turns to the work being done with the shuttle's sensors, "Unless of course the ship itself was moved somehow?"

The Cape Fear descends down into the atmosphere, moving carefully down to the spaceport. It takes a moment for the clearance before it slides into the appointed bearth and comes to rest.

Once the shuttle has hit pad, Laco returns to the cockpit. Dusting his hands on his jumpsuit, he inquires, "O'Rielly, were you able to make the arrangements?"

<CONTEST> O'Rielly contests his Administration (Bureaucracy) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Dramatically Succeeds!

O'Rielly turns to look back at Laco, "Would some extremely nice government suites, as well as some apparently very nice and very new fast off-road trucks, all the standard supplies and food and stuff work for you sir?"

Laco says, "Yes. Yes they would." Laco looks at O'Rielly for a minute, then shakes his head and tells the others, "Alright. Vimes, Torin, O'Rielly, go pick up the vehicles. The rest of us will begin unloading the cargo.""

Torin brings the ship down, and carefully begins going through the powerdown, and status checklists. Checking to make sure there's no troubles with the ship as everyone goes through the rest of things. Once things are settled away he nods unbuckling and moves to follow the rest out for said vehicles.

Vimes nods as he gets up from the tactical console, moving towards the shuttle's exit and looking forward to stretching his legs while getting some fresh air.

Shamash waits until the craft has settled down before raising from his seat and moving into the general vicinity of the aft compartment.

Donavon drums fingers upon the console. "Resourcefully sneaky," she whispers with a grin. All systems shut down after a final scan is patched through. She pivots to set about unloading.

O'Rielly stands up, "Aye sir." He looks to Torin and Vimes after grabbing his PADD, "Shall we?"

Vimes, O'Rielly and Torin head off as direct and collect the two vehicles, returning after an hour or so. While they're gone Laco, Donavon and Shamash begin unloading the crates from the back and have a nice, neat pile outside the shuttle. Once the trucks arrive it takes a few minutes to load them and then the team is ready to head out. Above them the early afternoon sun hangs in the sky.

After checking a cargo strap on the lead truck, Laco jumps off the back and makes his way towards the cabin. "Alright. Shamash, Donavon, you're with me. The rest of you take the rear truck. We're going to take a short trip around the space port, and see if we spot anything out of sorts. While we do that, Torin, I need you to take a look at local terrain, and map us a route to the crash site. I want a constant radio set channel open between the two vehicles, but don't say thing I'll make you regret. Any questions?"

Donavon strides towards the truck, hand reaching for the handle to lift herself inside the cabin. Over her shoulder, she glances to Laco and interjects a suggestion, "Sir, we could refer to the target as a certain fauna we're supposedly studying. Races to flora?"

<CONTEST> Torin contests his Computer (Research) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Torin seems content to just do as told, curiously and quietly taking in the area. At Laco's words he nods, "Certainly, sir." He offers as he settles his PADD out and scanning the horizon opens one of the truck doors and slips in working between the truck and his PADD, to work out a proper path, offering, "Alright, uploading it to the computers. It looks like around a two and a half hours to reach. The last 25km is off-road. So assuming it's as easy as this map indicates that should be it, if they aren't." He shrugs.

Shamash waits for Donavon to enter the truck, then moves in after her. He however, has nothing to add at this time.

Vimes heads for the rear truck, pointedly not moving to be the one driving the truck either. Instead, he opens the door on the passenger side, waiting for O'Rielly to climb in before him.

O'Rielly heads to the rear truck and heads to the passenger side door too. He motions to Vimes, "Take the middle Lieutenant." Apparently the long-time Intel officer has his own plans.

Laco climbs aboard the front truck and scoots inbetween his two carmates. Once in there, he pulls out not one, but two tricorders. One he opens up, fiddles with for a moment, then places on the dash. The other remains on his lap for now. After opening a channel with the truck's radio, he brings up Torin's map, and traces out a path through the spaceport's docking bays. "Take us around like this, then head out towards the objective." A little louder, he addresses the other vehicle. "Truck two, follow our lead."

Torin nods to OR's words taking them for an order then as he shifts and settles into the driver's seats checking over the controls for a few moments as he nods offering to the comms, "Following, sir." He offers after checking that his car's doors are closed, and his passengers are settled in.

Vimes climbs into the middle of the rear truck's cab, making sure to sit so as to crowd both other occupants as he hums an old song from Earth about convoys or something.

Shamash has discussed briefly who shall be driving and .. lost? won?... Anyway, he takes the drivers seat for the first truck. Just hope that Torin will not take Lacos command to follow litterally when Shamash drives his truck into the next chasm.

Donavon claims the passenger side window seat. Fingers drum upon her knee as she pays particular attention to the data on Laco's tricorders. One moment's reflection and she recovers her tricorder to begin prepping for security sweeps...not scanning just yet.

O'Rielly gets into the truck behind Vimes and shuts the door. He secures himself in whatever restraining devices the truck might have 'just in case' and nods to Torin, "Follow nice and Easy Ensign."

<CONTEST> Shamash contests his Vehicle Operations skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Torin contests his Vehicle Operations (Ground Vehicles) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

The two trucks roll out of the city, merging and moving with the traffic as they follow Laco's designated path. After a bit they clear the main roads and begin to head out into the country side. An hour and they finally roll onto a thin dirt road that winds into the forest. Its at that point Laco orders the convoy off to the side and into the forest. After a few minutes they're crashed through the brush and are out of sight of the road.

Laco motions for his truckmates to get out of the vehicle, then states over the radio, "Alright, everybody out for a few minutes." Message sent, he picks up the second tricorder, and begins to fiddle with it, while he waits for people to move out of the way.

GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.

Torin keeps his truck moving nice and easy, keeping an eye on the car ahead while amidst the planet's traffic. Once out of the main road keeping an eye on the area, he pulls them to the side beside Laco's car. And lets out a pleased sound as he opens the door to get out grumbling, "I enjoy building older vehicles, but they could have been more spacious." He complains.

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

<CONTEST> Laco contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

Vimes climbs down from the truck's cab as well, stretching his arms as he paces about, letting his chest expand while taking a deep breath of the fresh air. Still, a few cautious sweeps are made, gaze moving from one area to another while he gets a mental map of their immediate surroundings.

O'Rielly shakes his head to Torin as he gets out. "A bit more spacious and there wouldn't have been a road big enough to drive it on Ensign." He heads over to Laco, though not yet saying a word.

Shamash exits the vehicle with more than just one curious remark bitten back.

Donavon taps her tricorder indecisively. "Hm." The door is popped open and the officer slides out to begin a routine visual scan of the perimeter. "I suggest we stay within visual range. I'm only picking up animals and Tordans within the nearby 75km radius. Working on expanding the radius." One-handedly, she alters the scans while the other lingers near her hip holster.

Laco stabs his fingers into the air, and indicates for O'Rielly to follow. That done, he jumps into the back of his truck, and opens up a crate marked as containing 'posi-linear plasma processors'. However, given that Laco starts tossing Type II's at the Spy, that probably isn't what is inside. Laco whispers to O'Rielly, "Something is still alive, possibly at the crash site. I need suggestions. Inform me of them at the next stop." Once a quintet of the weapons have been tossed to the red-haired man, he jumps down from the bed.

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

Donavon's forefinger slides across the empty holster. An afterthought distracts her from the expanded scans considering 75km is cleared. She approaches O'Rielly to silently request a Type II, hand extended to accept. Noise from her scanner gains attention. Frown. "What are they doing here?" The results are shown to Laco and O'Rielly with a measured puzzled expression.

O'Rielly nods to Laco and takes the type II phaser, and clips the first one to his belt. He moves around to all the other officers and hands them each a type II weapon.

Torin hrmms, "A point." He offers to O'rielly and shrugs tugging at his ear, "Right, ah well road is important." He admits and leans against the vehicle watching the weapons passed around and the group.he lets them handle business it seems.

Vimes accepts the weapon, checking its charge, beam and power setting before clipping it onto his belt. Next up, he takes out his own tricorder, checking its settings before doing a quick scan of his own.

<CONTEST> Vimes contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

Shamash accepts the weapon from O'Rielly and looks over at Laco, nicely clueless as to what is going on currently, waiting for some words from his former colleague.

Laco tucks his own weapon away. "Alright, boys and girls, mount back up. Shamash, we're heading back to the road. Lets try to keep quiet on the radios, unless we absolutely must say something. In that case, try to signal with the lights, or something, instead." He moves towards the vehicle to get back in.

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

Donavon hand signals to Vimes, two fingers at her eyes before whirling around the area. Message sent, she follows closely behind Laco while re-confirming her scans. Lifesigns must be watched. Once back in the passenger seat, she rolls down the window to wave at the rear truck.

Torin gets his weapon from O'rielly belatedly and slips it into one of those very tiny pockets, and nods, a faint amused look at light signal bit and hmm, "I should have thought ahead. Probably could have brought some tight beam communicators." He looks thoughtful as he gets back into his vehicle and waits for the others to get in checking the engine and fuel and such as he waits for everyone to buckle up again.

O'Rielly shakes his to Torin as he gets back in the vehicle himself. "Better to keep zero presence, even with tight beam there's a slight risk. Besides, we have other ways of communicating as necessary."

Vimes nods at Donavon's signal before moving back to the truck, "I'll ride by the window from here, Lieutenant O'Rielly."

Shamash is back on the drivers seat, waiting for the sign from Laco to move on, then drives further towards the designated target area.

Laco gives Shamash a short 'roll out' motion with his hand. The one tricorder remains, unused, on the dash, while the one he used to scan with earlier is used for periodic sweeps. "Passive scans only from this point on."

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

The trucks make their way back onto the road and the journey resumes. The two vehicles are solid and fast and within an hour the team has to leave the road again as they begin the trek through the brush towards the crash site. Now the going gets slow as they bounce and jostle foward over that last 25 kilometer section. About 5 kilometers from the shuttle they begin to near the faint life sign Laco picked up, a quiet blip on his tricorder. As they near it Donavon's tricorder picks it up as well, even as the other life forms from earlier disappear from her scan.

Laco says, "Halt!" Laco cries, and he immediately begins crawling across Donavon to exit the truck. As the speed isn't particularly great, or at least it doesn't seem so to Laco, he swings the door open and jumps out while as they're still crashing through the underbrush. Phaser in hand, he approaches the downed fellow, attempting to keep out of it's sight."

Shamash mentions to Laco as he drives, "So, we are comming up on the cra.." Then as Laco shouts, he presses down on the breake, turning on the wheel so that Torin will not crash into him when he brings his vehicle to a stop. "What the..." comes his surprised statement as he looks around.

O'Rielly notices Laco's actions from his viewpoint and tells Torin to stop as well. He begins mimicking said actions as he starts making his way at the door too.

Donavon motions to Shamash, hand sliced across her throat. 'Cut all talk.' Her eyes seriously convey that message if the hand signal didn't. Immediately following, she follows suit to dive out of the truck. To the rear vehicle, short and crisp signals exchange directed at O'Rielly before she slinks through the brush to flank the faint lifesign without being seen.

Torin blinks in surprise. He turns his own vehicle to the side, and slows though slowing first not wanting to make a loud brake slamming sound in the underbrush. He grunts trying to slow before O'rielly leaps form the car. He mutters something disparating under his breath not getting out yet just glancing around first.

Vimes jumps out of the truck, cutting towards the opposing flank from Donavon's position while keeping his phaser in hand and scanning the surrounding growth and underbrush.

As Laco moves through the brush the humanoid ahead, visible with short glances through the foliage, doesn't seem to be moving. He or she is too far away to make out details. Not to mention that the person is laying face down on the moss covered ground.

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

Laco continues on towards the downed man, until he is but a few yards away. He says something quietly, apparently not intended for anyone on his team. "Can you hear me?"

<CONTEST> O'Rielly contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> O'Rielly contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Donavon slips through the brush at a flanking position to where Laco creeps. Glance to downed man, back up to the Mission Commander. Without further ado, she approaches closer while withdrawing her tricorder to scan the humanoid's medical status.

O'Rielly checks his PADD? and continues to head towards the faint lifesign, slowly but surredly catching up with Laco and Donavon.

Shamash keeps sitting in the vehicle, leaning a bit over the steering wheel and looking outside, intend to wait until someone explains a bit. However he would not be a scientist if he could stay quiet. He reaches for his own tricorder and plops in a scan just to pass some time and satisfy his curiosity.

Torin blinks as people fan out. He does the same as Shamash, and remains in the vehicle. He opens his door but otherwise jsut looks around the area carefully waiting for the next set of orders. Moroko himself, absently gets his tricorder out as he waits, but doesn't do anything active with it passively checking for someone looking for them and all such fun things as he watches warily.

Vimes makes his way to where Laco, Donavon and O'Rielly have stopped, keeping a berth of a few meters away from them as he scans their surroundings in case there's risk of an ambush.

Laco calls over his shoulder, though his team is all around him, it seems. "Back to the trucks."

<CONTEST> Torin contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

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

Torin absently studies his Tricorder and then passes it back up onto the dashboard as he hears the order to return closing his door again and waiting for folks.

<CONTEST> O'Rielly contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Donavon announces after confirming her medical scan. "Sir, it appears he's a part of the shuttle crew. Blunt force trauma, lacerations, heavy blood loss. I can try to patch him. Stow him in the back of the truck." She waits a moment longer, but does skirt a step or two in the direction of the trucks.

O'Rielly takes his own scan and turns in the direction of the truck himself.

Vimes nods to Laco, starting to move back towards the trucks while conducting another scan of their area with his tricorder.

Laco says, "Lieutenant Donavon, I think we both know that isn't an option. We have medkits, but nothing that could take care of this. And if you can recall, we aren't here." Laco states, cooly. "Return to the truck.""

<CONTEST> Vimes contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Vimes confirms his tricorder's readings, "Besides us, and what was found, the only thing within one hundred meters of our immediate position is indigenous flora and fauna." before tucking the instrument away and closing the gap to the second truck, where he waits.

Shamash, the clueless, returns his Tricorder to its holster as he hears Lacos order and waits for him and Donavon have returned.

Life no matter whom's plays a vital role with Donavon. A scant glance at O'Rielly, hardened with that gaze, before she crisply nods, heading towards the truck. Still, she murmurs, "An anonymous tip to the locals can maintain our objective." The rest of her thought shuts off bitterly. The tricorder is clipped to her belt and she slides into the truck.

<CONTEST> Laco contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

. o O Donavon thinks, "Scientists reporting in an injured male wouldn't raise any alarms. We *are* supposedly studying these plants. Life is life. We aren't repeating what happened at that base."

Orange light flashes through the undergrowth as a Federation Phaser set to one of the higher settings whines. "No, Lieutenant, unfortunately it can't." Laco says quietly, before holstering his weapon and turning towards the trucks. Without a word, he climbs back in and takes his seat.

Donavon says nothing to Shamash once she sits and buckles up. Out the window, she motions to the rear truck with another hand signal, then lowers it to rest on the metal. She vents her frustrations into keeping a sharp lookout.

Torin simply waits in the car with the engine running waiting brows furrowed catching only bits of the ongoings he tenses a bit at the flash and waits.

. o O Donavon thinks, "This is why Timefleet almost tossed O'Rielly out the airlock. Chalk that up on the board. More blood on my hands."

O'Rielly glances back and notices the vaporization. He looks a little surprised at the moment, but chooses to wait to say anything.

As they all pile back into the trucks the drivers fire up the engines and they begin to move again. The trucks crawl through the underbrush for another ten minutes or so before the crash site looms just a little over two hundred meters ahead.

Laco calls another halt, and motions for the crew of his vehicle to get out, hoping the other one will follow suit. He was quiet throughout the short trip, and, to steal someone else's line, they probably aren't going to look at Laco the same way again. But the mission goes on.

Donavon steps out, stone-faced. Signal to Vimes and O'Rielly while she spans out to visually clear the area of any possible threats, hand at ready, hovered over her hip holster.

Torin watches people get back in. He pulls the car in to following the first truck, and stops it again as it's called opening the door. He studies the other officers, but lets silence reign.

O'Rielly steps out of the truck and looks around for the moment, gathering a view of the land and consulting the PADD looking device in his hand.

<CONTEST> O'Rielly contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Shamash looked suspiciously at the sudden display of phaser fire. Glances over to Donavon, and her stony expression with another calculated frown, then clears his mind as he drives yet again closer to the target area. With the next set of orders, he exits the vehicle as ordered, waiting for followup instructions.

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

Having climbed down from the truck's cab for the third time since arriving on this planet, Vimes approaches the crash site cautiously. Hand gripping the butt of his phaser while still keeping it holstered, the other holds his tricorder as he takes a reading of the area around them.

<CONTEST> Vimes contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Succeeds!

Laco's attitude is almost succinct now, as he takes up a spot in front of the trucks, to give his instructions. "Donavon, go in from the left. Stop once you have a clear field on the crash site. I trust you'll be able to figure out what to do. Vimes, do the same from the right. O'Rielly, you're with me. Torin, follow me and O'Rielly, and stay about fifty yards back. There is a crate in the rear vehicle marked as a 'multi-molecular beam capacitor.' Inside is a portable computer core, and an engineering kit. Bring them with you. Shamash, you're with the vehicles."

On his designated approach, Vimes voices out his tricorder's readings, "Ship has a length of twenty-five meters, height of twenty meters, and a beam of seven meters. I have an airlock here on the starboard side, sir. We can access it, since the ship is tilted on its side. We'd be entering the upper deck."

Torin blinks at that in surprise. he doesn't question it, and quickly jogs to the back of the truck opening it he begins to open up and unpack the gear, core, kit, and so on. He offers absently, "I hope we don't need a multi-molecular beam capacitor." He says to no one in particular sliding the strap for the kit over his shoulder and hefting the core, "Ready sir." He offers looking for them to get 50 feet ahead.

O'Rielly nods to Laco, "Aye sir." He moves to follow the mission specialist, 'PADD' out at the ready

Donavon moves into position without any luster to the task. It's cold, precise and completed dutifully. One hand draws out her tricorder to be aware of any bleeps in their general vicinity. At the left of the site, she stands ready, eyes sharp.

Shamash moves to the back of the truck as well, entering it and starts to work on the contents of yet another crate, however out of sight....

Laco whispers, "O'Rielly, status?"

O'Rielly whispers to Laco, "So far only detecting the shuttle itself and the basic schematics, which fit. Nothing out of the ordinary yet. I suggest we still use caution and do an inspection of the outside before we try anything with the inside."

Laco nods, and starts to creep closer again.

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

Donavon's focus shifts between tricorder and the wooded area. Nothing to be discovered, she holds position.

Laco moves up to within spitting distance of the shuttle, his weapon at the ready. He looks to O'Rielly, gives him a nod, then flattens against the invisible hull. His hand starts reaching around, looking for something in particular.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> O'Rielly (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

O'Rielly enters information into his PADD as he leans back against the cloaked shuttle (once found with feeling around). "Stay back everybody." A few more taps on the device and clicks can be heard as three hull hatches open up.

Vimes keeps a wary distance from the cloaked vessel, which his tricorder confirms to him is actually there. Hearing the airlock which his scan discovered being unlocked, he moves in closer to it, "Prepared to enter upper deck starboard side on your command, sir."

Torin just trails OR and Laco, eyes flickering around the area again and again. Moroko stays low and waits for Laco or OR to signal where they want him.

Donavon waits the beats until the signal is given. She catches sight of Vimes and begins to move in.

Laco darts his head in front of the opening for a moment, then quickly pulls it back. He yells. "You're surrounded. Come out, or we'll drag you out."

O'Rielly goes for Laco's door, Phaser at the ready with a wide beam maximum stun. He's behind laco, but bent down in case he does have to fire.

Donavon stands ready, off to the side of the hatch. She returns her tricorder to her belt, hand lingering near her phaser.

Torin waits back in the same spot for instructions.

There is no response from the shuttle except silence and the soft hum of an engine. No one comes out at Laco's call.

Laco flips around the edge of the hatch, and starts sliding along the inner wall of the airlock. His weapon leads the way, pointing wherever he looks.

<CONTEST> O'Rielly (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Donavon slinks against the ship's hull, phaser withdrawn at set on stun. She listens to the sounds close by before darting round the entry and sneaks in.

O'Rielly says, "I'm detecting 10 bodies inside, no lifesigns"

Torin notes Laco moving forward, and begins to follow carefully, he doesn't use his phaser or tricorder. Just keeps the core and kit ready.

Vimes has his back to the hull next to the upper airlock. Raising his phaser, he feels around for a release latch to open it up. As the hiss of air is released from the seal being broken, he signals Donavon that he'll go in first.

Laco, O'Rielly and Torin enter one hatch where a deformed and damaged body greets them. Vimes and Donavon enter the hull near the cockpit. Both groups enter the upper level on opposite ends of the living space. There are two more bodies in that space, also battered and broken. The engineering section at the rear takes up both floors, but collapsed and twisted metal prevents accessing engineering. Behind the cockpit is a set of stairs down to the lower level. The cockpit is closed off from the rest of the area with its own door.

Laco says, "Torin, Vimes, Donavon, make your way to the lower deck and see if you can't get into Engineering and download the contents of their computer core. O'Rielly, prepare to breach the cockpit door...""

Donavon has already entered before the signal was give by Vimes. Emotionless eyes scant past the first two bodies, followed by the third seen when she glances at Laco. A firm nod to the order, her steps venture towards the lower deck, panning off to the right side and knowing Vimes would take the left with Torin at the rear.

O'Rielly nods to Laco, putting his phaser away. He takes the PADD he's been holding the entire time and walks up to the cockpit door. Finding the control panel, he places said PADD right over it. "Ready to open it when you are sir."

Torin nods sharply, "Right sir." He offers and finally goes about getting his phaser out and searches for the quickest way to the lower deck, and some area where he can acess the computer core, and engineering.

O'Rielly adds after a moment, "Nevermind sir. No power to the door. We can either try to provide power to the door, or we might have to do it manually."

Vimes heads down the stairs and moves along the vessel's port side towards the rear section, stopping when he sees the twisted rubble is going to prevent them from going any further.

At the bottom of the stairs there is a small cargo area that stands empty. Then there is a simple door with a manual latch to open it. That door and the room behind it stand between Torin, Donavon and Vimes and the engineering area.

Laco ramps up the power on his weapon, and levels it at the door. "I said blow. Get clear, and get ready to open fire."

O'Rielly steps clear of the door and finds something to hide behind so that way he can not get hit with exploding door bits should they come.

Vimes puts his hand on the door's latch, holding his phaser ready as he looks to both Donavon and Torin, nodding slowly to signify that he's ready when they are.

Donavon levels her phaser at the hatch, before nodding to Vimes. Open Sesame.

Torin nods to the other two, keeping his Phaer up as well, even if his other hand, is busy keeping control of the spare core, and the kit. His face a cold mask.

As Vimes lifts the latch and opens the door there is silence for a moment, and then wailing animal sounds. Suddenly the sounds of flapping wings as something poors from the darkness.

<CONTEST> Laco contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

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

GAME: Vimes spends a courage point.

GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.

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

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

<CONTEST> Donavon contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Donavon contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

GAME: Vimes spends a courage point.

GAME: Torin spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Torin (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

<CONTEST> Vimes (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Vimes (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Vimes (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Laco shields his eyes from the flash, then blasts the cockpit door into vapor. The beam is sustained, on the off chance of catching anything that might be directly behind the door.

O'Rielly waits for the flash to be over as well before turning to face the door, wondering what to expect.

The swarm of bats is rather small, and while the team was expecting something they weren't expecting small animals to come pouring out of the room. Donavon and Torin take the worst of it, each getting bitten by the bat like creatures. Vimes on the other hand is able to avoid any bites.

After opening the door with a quick push, Vimes heard the flutter of the wings just in time. Dropping to one knee and edging back against the wall adjacent to the doorway, he manages to weather the sudden swarm of whatever these things are unscathed.

Torin curses and blinks he doesn't actually try to shoot the bats. Rather he just bashes at the creatures with his phaser and curses, "Get! Ack get off!" He grunts. He tries to keep ahold of the core and curses repeatedly as he blinks once, and twice and freezes staring at what, who knows. "The...devil." HE shakes his head trying to clear his vision.

Donavon is assaulted by whatever flies from the darkness. Bites to her skin are shrugged off. "Med kits are back in the truck. Stick tight, Mo." She blinks to clear the cobwebs from her vision and proceeds ahead with her phaser at level. "Concentrate on one thing, kay?"

As the door to the cockpit is blown open Laco and O'Rielly are able to look into the area. Its larger than the runabout, but smaller than a real ship. Four Romulans are slumped over various controls, all dead. Most of the cockpit is destroyed from explosions.

Laco raises his eyebrows, then moves into the cockpit. He immediately looks around for an operable console to interface with. Time to figure out what happened to this bird.

<CONTEST> O'Rielly (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Torin contests his Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

Donavon calls over the radio to Laco. "Unidentified winged creatures exited Engineering. Torin and myself were bitten. Judging by Torin's expression, he's experiencing similar aftershocks. Double vision. We're in no immediate pain but you may want to be on the lookout, sir. Continuing into Engineering." She waves at Vimes to move on ahead. "Keep point, Vimes, if you will." She continually blinks to shed the images but to no avail. "The computer core shouldn't be that far ahead...and..what the?" A cage rests in that area; inside is a bat.

<PROVE> Donavon has the merit of Excellent Metabolism at 1.

<CONTEST> Donavon (claiming advantage) contests her Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

O'Rielly heads into the cockpit behind Laco and starts looking around. He holds his tricorder out attempting to figure out if the damage is what could be expected, or something more.

Torin nods slowly and curses, he shifts trying to duck as if under something, and curses, "Dammit, dammit. OUT OF MY HEAD." He curses and shakes his head as closing his eyes doesn't seem to slow the strangeness. Moroko moves are slower as he tries to step forward even as he wrestles with the strangeness shaking his head, "What the hell are these things Meg." He asks as he tries to keep himself together and his gear together as he moves, one step at a time slowly and surely.

Vimes moves through the now opened door, phaser held ready as he approaches the lone cage warily. Brow furrowed as he gauges the after effects of both Donavon and Torin having been bitten, he shakes his head while saying, "This isn't good. These are possibly what killed the crew. I think it'd be best if we move you both back to the truck and to the med-kits before whatever those things may have infected you with gets worse."

As Laco and O'Rielly enter the cockpit the bats come flying up behind them and wheel around the living area for a moment before beginning to escape out into the atmosphere through the open hatches.

<CONTEST> O'Rielly (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Laco glances behind himself to get a quick count of the creatures, then returns to attempting to access the ship's systems.

Donavon bypasses the cage to head for the main objective - the computer core. "Vimes, we have a mission. We have time to withstand whatever Mo and I are seeing. Strange as it may be." She focuses harder to separate the visions, attempting not to trip or topple over. "If Lieutenant Laco permits, take the cage and we can analyze it later. We have a task first to complete." Softly, she growls to gnash teeth, clearly not angry with Vimes or Torin, merely fighting off the effects. She stumbles to where the computer core may be.

O'Rielly reaches down underneath a console towards a Panel. "I found the computer core sir. It's here in the cockpit for some reason." And with that he taps his combadge, "O'Rielly to Torin," leaving out all rank in the process.

<CONTEST> Donavon (claiming advantage) contests her Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Dramatically Fails!

<CONTEST> Torin contests his Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Torin nods and grunts quietly, he dodges and ducks as if flying as he goes and mutters, "Yes...Yes. It's just, troublesome. Time enough for medical when... I can handle this and still do my work." He says with firm grimness. He pauses and taps his badge, "Torin here sir." He responds as he places his hand on the wall trying to keep his sense of things.

<CONTEST> Laco contests his Systems Engineering (Computer) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Laco works at one of the consoles for a while, then sighs. "The core is trashed. I don't think we're going to get anything out of it." He pulls out a PADD, and spends about five minutes making notations on what he *did* find out. "Alright, lets get the phage, and get out of here."

<CONTEST> Donavon (claiming advantage) contests her Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

O'Rielly listens to Torin's voice and is curious. "We found the computer core up here, but it's trashed. Something wrong Ensign?" he asks as he nods to Laco.

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

Vimes taps his own compin, "Vimes to Laco. Sir, the bites that Torin and Donavon sustained from whatever those things were seems to be having an effect on both of them. To put it bluntly, Torin is trying to fly down here...of his own volition. He's had no success yet, but..."

Donavon pinches the bridge of her nose, blinks, and begins to display signs of clearly seeing. She overhears O'Rielly on Torin's radio, then halts mid-step to pivot. "You heard, the Lieutenant. We can pull back. But for science sake, we're taking that cage." Her hand reaches to lift the cage, careful not to rustle the bat inside too much. "Mo, take deep breaths and try to focus again. What you're seeing will subside."

Torin curses and speaks quietly, "I'm not...trying to fly. Just. Watching. I can. Ah, make, Are you sure you don't want me to try sir? I can try and search the other systems, for any kind of logs of what's gone on. Some of the subsystems on most ships have anomaly logs." He says his voice staying slightly dead focused trying to concentrate itself.

<CONTEST> Torin contests his Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Laco contests his Systems Engineering (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

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

Laco drums his fingers on a console. "Alright, we've got a bit of a problem. We can't release the phage. The core is still active. I can't see any possible pattern of consumption where it doesn't set off the matter and anti-matter. So, at the very least, the phage would be scattered everywhere when the ship went up. The introduction of energy just makes it eat faster. And I don't think there is any way we can repair the ship to lift off any time soon."

Donavon hears Torin and utilizes her tricorder while approaching Engineering. "Located a working interface. Let's see what we can obtain for the officers upstairs." She follows the path set on her tricorder, going off an unusual way, a place one normally wouldn't think to find a console. Before it, she sets aside the bat cage and starts up the unit. "Starting to work on downloading the usual logs. Mo, you may want to help with the more difficult tasks. Vimes," she glances over her shoulder, "do you spot any more of those things?"

O'Rielly frowns, "And obviously the last thing we want is an antimatter explosion in the middle of the forrest since even if nobody is around, it will definitely make a sound." He frowns some more, "It's a little too big to carry out of here, and phasering it likely won't help much right now. If we can get the anti-matter pods off the shuttle, then we could still release the phage."

<CONTEST> Vimes contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Vimes does a quick search of the lower deck. Soon enough, he returns with a few of them in cages, "None of them are free on this deck, at least. Odds are, the initial swarm made it out of the ship."

GAME: Torin spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Torin (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

Torin shakes his head again and offers softly, "Ah. I think. Yes. Let me see it Meg. Hold on, let me see..." He offers quietly and moves towards the interface, fingers flittering along the console concentration and focus slowly firming until he's back to normal or at least seeming normal, "Sir... I believe, if I get a bit of time, I could get two out of our six thrusters up. It won't be pretty, but it SHOULD be able to get us into orbit. With a little luck and elbow grease, I think the Cape fear could tractor us. It won't be pretty though." He admits grimly.

Laco stands there for a moment, silently debating. "Vimes. run back to the trucks and get a couple of med kits. Maybe there is some kind of something in there that will help Torin. I think we'll attempt to go with his plan."

O'Rielly nods to Torin's plan and Laco's decision. He says over his combadge again, "Get started Ensign."

Vimes responds to Laco, "Aye, sir.", before making his back along the lower deck to the stairs, heading back up and out of the shuttle towards the trucks where Shamash is still waiting. A few minutes later, he comes back in, medkits in hand, with a bee-line for Torin and Donavon.

Torin offers quietly as he begins to check the rest of the systems, "Sir, I suggest, half, if not all of the rest of you return to the cape fear. If we bring it up there... We'll probably be leaking atmosphere. I'll happily stay, but at the least I'd like someone ready to transport me out if the core impulses hit the destabilizers." He says. But without much more ado, his kit is slapped down, and he begins to move deftly around the core, to begin repairing and stabilizing the essential systems.

Donavon sidesteps to give the former engineer full console access. "What help do you need on our end, Mo? Aside from me patching up your bites." She slyly smiles, then drops a grateful nod to Vimes. "Thanks." And at Torin's response, she frowns, clearly not willing to leave him alone.

Laco says, "Alright. Here's the plan. Vimes, once you get Torin stabalized, return with Donavon and O'Rielly to the trucks. Ride them back to the Fear, unload them, then put in a call to space port control. Inform them that we encountered some strange creatures, and offer to give them one of the bats. That will hopefully let them find the other escapees. If they ask, we were several hundred kilometers to the north. If they ask where me and Torin are, tell them what the two of us are experiencing whatever the hell is happening to Torin right now, but we should be fine and are resting in our ship. Once you're up, have O'Rielly send me a message. He knows how. We'll take the shuttle up, at which point you will beam us out and start towing the shuttle. If they ask what is going on, tell them one of our supply crates broke loose.""

Torin offers, simply as he draws a series of tools out and begins opening up panels not bothering to save the panels he chucks them out of the sight and slides inside, adjusting wires, "Pull those files Meg, get as many of the system files onto the core you can. It doesn't have to be pretty, just pull whatever you can. Leave navigation, take astrometrics." He offers with quick curtness, never pausing in his movements, a few curses as some sparks shower towards him. But with something to do, he's calm and confident. At Laco's orders, he pauses working slowly and waiting to see what Vimes will expect of him.

"Aye, sir.", says Vimes before getting to work getting the medkits opened up, "Alright, Ensign. Make it easy on Lieutenant Donavon and me. We just need a few moments to disinfect any bites you've sustained, and then administer an antibiotic in case there may be more side-effects from whatever you both took in when they bit you. It beats being treated for rabies."

Donavon teases, "Which we could latently have. Bat rabies." Shoulders shrug as she digs into the medkit for the necessary tools, quite familiar with this end. Once the bites are taken care of is when she starts to head for the exit. Laco will be here for Torin. "Get her running, Mo. See you on the Fear soon."

O'Rielly nods to Laco's orders. "Aye sir." He looks to Vimes and Donavon, "You're with me." And he starts to head out of the shuttle the way they came. "Beep me if anything goes wrong Sir," he calls back to Laco.

Vimes works with Torin and Donavon for a mininte, cleaning and dressing the wounds. That done Vimes, Donavon and O'Rielly move off to the trucks as ordered, collecting their gear and the three live bats they located. With Shamash to help they are soon heading back through the forest towards the city. Back at the space port they meet with government officals about the bats and hand one over. Interestingly the third one died suddenly on the trip, dropping into the bottom of its cage with no warning. Some enough the Cape Fear is lifting off again, pushing back to orbit. While they traveled back to the spare port Laco and Torin worked on the shuttle, patching basic systems together to push the Romulan shuttle painfully to up to orbit where it meets with the Cape Fear, the secret communication between Laco and O'Rielly letting the Cape Fear find the cloaked shuttle. A short time later Laco and Torin are safe on the Cape Fear as the they send the Romulan shuttle drifting into the system's sun. As the shuttle heads to it death, the Cape Fear turns and jumps to warp to head back to Station 419.