Risky Ventures

 Episode Name:  Risky Ventures

   Written By:  Grey

         Cast:  Corien, Grey, Katoka, Reian, Shamash, Trefor and VonBrockdorf.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Sun Sep 18 14:41:37 2005

     Stardate:  55273

Time: Sat Sep 17 15:20:51 2005

Stardate: 55270.6

The blue-white of the Thomas Paine's transporters cut through the murky air of Nausicaa and a moment later the science and security team from Station 419 stand on the surface of Nausicaa. Before them stretches out a village and the ocean, the village being a short walk ahead. Their arrival is noticed by a few of the villagers, who stop what they're doing to look at the Federation officers.

Shamash takes a first look around of the beamdown site. Trusting someone to do the initial scan of the surrounding, he concentrates on getting that ... air... into his lungs carefully, blinking his eyes somewhat to clear out the irritation. "Athmospheric status?" he inquires about the toxicology.

Reian walks a few steps behind Shamash, her nose stuck in her PADD, at Katoka's side. Taking her time, keeping her breathing easy, trying to get used to the atmosphere. "Nothing." she grumbles. "There just shouldn't be anything that big in the oceans here." She shakes her head, ponytail flipping from side to side, "I don't like things with no rational explanation. So.. we'd best find one." She belatedly looks up as she hears Shamash's question and shoves her PADD away, digging her tricorder out in its place and persuading it to start scanning for anything informative.

Katoka glances sidelong at Reian, a soft smile on her face as she shakes her head. "Shouldn't, couldn't, wouldn't.. is.", she remarks with a light chuckle. Her Tricorder is already out and Katoka tilts it up toward the sky overhead, a few muted beeps sounding as she coaxes results from its computations.

GAME: Trefor contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

As befitting a member of security, Corien is cautious and alert as the group approaches the village. She leaves the analysis of the environment to the science officers, instead concentrating her attention on being paranoid.

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

Being a slightly eager cadet, Trefor already had his tricorder handy and begins scans as soon as they beam down. Once his scans are complete, he pipes up to answer Shamash. "The air will be toxic if the team remains on the planetside for more then a few hours, maybe even soonder depending on each individual's lung strength, Sir."

VonBrockdorf takes out his tricorder and also begins a scan. "Scanning for weapons and other energy sources, Sir."

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: VonBrockdorf contests his Personal Equipment vs Moderate and Succeeds.

"Very good, Mr. Brockdorf." beat "Now, if any of you needs some fresh air", Shamash tells the group, don't hesitate to use the rebreathers. If you want to want to safe face, i suggest you sign a teammate to pretent to have a question for you in private and take a few breaths of clean air while no one is looking. Same goes for me by the way, when i do this" he claps with his hand somewhere on his waist. "make up something to speak to me." he pauses yet again, turning to the coast "As some of you might not know at this point, the coastal line faces a form of rapid erosion, we are here to investigate is causes and, if possible, devise a solution as to avert the danger of cities being lost to the sea."

"As the cadet said, Lieutenant." Reian agrees softly, not adding anything further. She glances towards Katoka, "Care to be my rescuer if I start to go blue?" she checks with her counterpart. "If I kick you in the ankle, I'm probably in trouble..." She nods to Shamash's summary, "Are we going to announce our presence, or just cut to the chase, as it were, Sir? Are they expecting us to just beam down and get to work?"

"I wish I could argue.. " murmurs Katoka as she frowns at her Tricorder. "I didn't expect it to come back this high.. fascinating. Where does it come from?" All this she says quietly, her young face knit in concentration until Reian addresses her. "What? Oh. Sure. If I throw you off a cliff.." No, obviously not. Jamie laughs and shakes her head. "If I scratch my ear." She remarks as she turns back to her Tricorder. "I wonder how much of this reflects in the hydrology."

Corien listens to the mission leader and Reian's questions with careful attention, then turns her gaze in the direction of the sea.

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Trefor's eyebrows go up when he hears about the erosion issue. Turning to Katoka, he suggests, "Maybe we can pull up some historical data on the tidal actions and weather patterns of this region. Perhaps we can find some sort of trend that would cause such a strong eroding force."

VonBrockdorf says, "The locals are quite heavily armed. Besides the normal sidearms there are a number of heavy plasma based weapon systems. We should bear that in mind if relations become strained or if the village is threatened. Scared people, whatever their race, can become irational. Heavily armed irational people concern me."

"Unfortunately, Lieutenant Reian, we are running blind. There is no established point of contact within the town, yet the operation itself is cleared. We will get right to work, Lieutenant Katoka will update all of us as how this will be best done shortly? And what inflichts on the hydrology?" Shamash looks to her, requesting her input with these words "Other than that, we have a Ferrengi Trading Outpost here, so we can ask the resident trader if he sells any hunting trips to giant seacreatures... That would be your field then, Lt. Reian, also from the socio science point of view to interact with the Ferrengi.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Reian looks less than impressed at the idea of interacting with Ferrengis, "You know I'm not able to pick up anything helpful from that particular race, Sir?" she checks with Shamash. "And not entirely doing well in my diplomatic training thus far..." Her eyebrows quirk up slightly, and her expression turns to more interest as she turns towards the coast, still scanning, tweaking her tricorder slightly. "Giant seacreatures.. yes... or..." She blinks a little, "Or possibly hundreds of *small* ones in a group..." A slight frown creases her brow, "Maybe the initial data wasn't quite as revealing as we thought..."

GAME: Trefor spends a courage point.

GAME: Trefor contests his Computer/Research+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Fails.

"It's neither erosion nor tidal; there's nothing in past data to support that. Instead.." And at this Katoka sighs mightily, as if she can't quite believe what she's about to say. "..it does appear to be damage done by either one enormous creature or.." Katoka inclines her head toward Reian. "..perhaps many small sea creatures. The hydrology.." Lt. Katoka trails off, squinting at her tricorder. "What the.. the hydrology is as expected, more toxic then usual but not not lethal. It matches all historical data. What is going on with this thing." She mutters and shakes the tricorder - bad tricorder. "Hang on while I scan for current topography.. again.."

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Trefor closes his tricorder and puts it back into it's holster. Retrieving his PADD, he taps away at it in an attempt to call up the data. After a few moments, he steps over to Katoka. "Lieutenant, I have the archical data from the Thomas Paine's computers. Maybe we can find some inconsistency that can give us an idea where these creatures might have migrated from?"

Corien blinks at Katoka's information. "So, we kill some sea creatures and the problem is solved?" She drops a hand towards her tricorder and smiles the smile of someone confident she'll be back at the station by lunchtime.

"I am not asking you to ..scan anyone, Lieutenant." Shamash replies to Reian, then less audible "I know the Code." At Katokas words Shamash twitches an eyebrow, apparently he was expecting two different sets of missions, that they were connected is... irritating. He start to set out for the town, can't stay here for all ethernity even if one has no idea where to go. Talking can be done while walking. "Very well, Mr. Trefor. Using current data and that of our previous scans, model how the loss of landmass proceeded, and when, if you are able to, this started?" Addressing he group he goes on "I wish to ask the natives for more detailed information to fill in the blanks in our sensor data as it is.

Reian glances towards Shamash, opening her mouth for a moment, before closing it again abruptly. "It's not so much a better of killing them." she notes in response to Corien's comment, "If there is some variant in their natural cycle which is causing them to mass against type, then simply killing a few.. or a few hundred... will have little affect. They will simply remass and continue as they did before." She is intent on her tricorder for a few moments more, before pushing it away and digging for her PADD once more, reading as she walks.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Challenging and Fails.

Katoka nods toward Reian, her words given to Corien as a frown pulls at her lips. "Killing it may well create a much bigger problem then it already posseses.." The woman's tricorder beeps softly and she glances down, smiling. "I've current topography, Mr. Trefor. Are you experienced with modeling?"

Through his rebreather, Trefor looks a bit horified at Corien's suggestion. He turns back to Katoka to compile her data with his. "I have some experience with computer modelling, sir. I will certainly try my best."

VonBrockdorf says, "How rapid a erosion are we talking about? How immediate is the danger to the village or indeed ourselves?"

Corien arches a brow in Katoka's direction. "Because it would become... a ghost sea-monster?" Scientists. She keeps a hand close to her weapon, but falls silent again as the others discuss the matter.

As the group approaches the village more and more Nausicanns filter out to watch them. There are now about twenty to twenty-five milling about and others continue to trckle in.

Shamash to Katoka "There is not neccesarily need to be a lifeform involved after all or do we have an actual scan of something biting a chunk out of the coast? I think not... Right now, I do not wish to rule out this being a rumor to obfuscate some other artificial removal of coastal line. ..for whatever the reason" he shrugs and continues towards the actual coast "The village has, provided current estimates are still valid, still several months to go before it becomes directly endangered" that is to VonB.

GAME: Trefor spends a courage point.

GAME: Trefor contests his Computer/Modeling+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Reian drops back a little as Katoka moves to work with Trefor, falling toward Corien and VonBrockdorf. "Because it would be pointless." she reiterates to Corien. "Phasers aren't always the answer. Disrupting whatever change has occured that has caused an alteration in behaviour." She's given up on her tricorder, apparently not managing to get anything new from it. Although she does glance to Shamash, noting flatly, "Sir, there *is* an unusually large massing of sea creatures, not normal to this world. It would be foolish to rule out the possibility that the indications of the initial scans were in fact accurate. Just as it would be wrong to leap to any ironclad conclusions until we have the data."

Katoka nods at Trefor and prepares to reply, only to have Shamash distract her. She frowns just slightly at the man, then just peels off to walk alongside Trefor and watch the modeling come back.

GAME: Reian contests her Computer/Research vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Trefor follows along in the middle of the group, glancing up from his PADD only enough to keep from tripping over anything. All the while, his fingers tap away to construct the basic model before inserting all the available data. This concentration keeps him from participating in the current conversation.

VonBrockdorf says, "There is at least one industrial grade power source inside the village. When the erosion does reach the village that could be an issue. I would suspect ownership is Ferrengi rather than local although that is pure suposition."

Corien doesn't appear convinced that her phaser isn't exactly the solution to this particular problem, but doesn't argue with Reian. Instead, she's turned her attention to the gathering group of towns-people, whom she eyes suspiciously.

One the Nausicanns steps forward, growling a little and staring at VonBrockdorf. "What are you doing here, Federation man? This is not your home."

GAME: Katoka spends a courage point.

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Challenging and Fails.

Shamash looks over to Reian, a bit surprised "Ah, there are actually bioforms not native to this planet? I had not seen that information yet, is it a recent scan? What can you tell us about those?" He reconsiders, "That would make it more likely that some lifeform or other got transplanted to this planet, either through accident or by a cognitive act." With the sudden occurance of the Naussican in VonB's way, he just holds for a second, nodding to the security man to respond to the challenge without him piping in. It would look bad for VonB's face if he did right away.

Reian sighs softly, "There are more than a few possibilities for what could be grouping together into the mass that we can detect, Sir. And we don't know at this point whether the lifeforms are native, mutated, behaving in a non-standard manner, or... what." she notes softly. "Might I suggest that the sooner we can get to the coast and investigate the source of the problem, the better?" She turns her dark eyed gaze to the incoming Nausicaan, before looking back to her PADD, following her line officer's lead to allow the cadet to answer his own challenge.

A soft beep or two emits as Katoka fiddles with her tricorder - the culmination of her efforts results in a rather annoyed, sharp beep, and a knitting frown across her forehead. "..bloody..", she murmurs, glancing sideways at Trefor to see how his modeling is coming out. The arrival of the oncoming Nausiccan results in a momentary distraction that melts into a horribly wistful smile before Katoka gets back to whatever scan she has underway.

. o O Katoka thinks, "This tricorder sucks."

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.

Trefor doesn't seem to notice the Nausicaan's challenge since he's still working away at his computer model. After a few minutes, he looks up to Katoka. "It appears that the damages started somewhere between 4 to 8 months ago depending on whether damage started slowly and increased in extenet or started at its current rate. If it had started before then, the village would have been destroyed by now."

VonBrockdorf stares right back at the Nausiccan. "Your comrades in the capitol have asked for Star Fleet's scientists to help look for whatever is causing your coast to fall into the sea." He nods back at the Science staff. "Here they are. If you're lucky they'll figure it out before we slide into the ocean. Of course you're the ones who know this land better than anyone. Have you noticed anything unusal lately? We would value your knowledge and local wisdom."

"Aside from the fact the waterbags have destroyed our sea and shipping lanes?" asks the Nausicaan. "Or that they leave toxic waste in places along the shore line? No, we hasn't noticed anything unusual at all. Life is perfect. Except for the part we're broke." The Nausicaan is snarling now, clearly a combination of angry and frustrated.

Shamash nods to Reian "That is where we are going, Lt. Reian, most likely we will have to negotiate for a craft." Then Brockdorf has his attention, a small nod goes to the security officer. He steps to the officer, adding a question to the Nausicaan as well. "But have you noticed a ..change... in the recent past?"

Reian manages to drag herself out of her PADD, tucking it away neatly once more, expression and demeanour both calm. Just a flicker of sudden interest, "Toxic waste?" she echoes. "Along the shore?" She takes a half step forward, intent on answers, "What sort of waste? From where? And exactly where is it depositing?" There is no hiding the eagerness in her tones as her questions progress, "Really, if we are to help you.. and we *are* here to help.. then we need all the information you're willing to share."

"Scan for toxicity.." Katoka asks Trefor. "I didn't pick up anything on my earlier scans, but.." She frowns and casts a glare down toward her tricorder. "I need to get closer." She says quietly. "I can't get anything from here." And at that, Katoka starts to pull off as if intending to walk to the shore.

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Trefor stuffs his PADD under an arm so he can pull out his tricorder again. "Aye, sir." He replies to Katoka as he begins his scans of the water.

VonBrockdorf keeps eye contact with the Nausicaan and awaiting his reaction.

Corien remains tense and watchful as VonBrockdorf speaks with the Nausiccan. At the native's description of life in his village, her fingers again twitch towards her phaser, but she waits silently while Reian gathers the pertinent information.

. o O Katoka thinks, "Ugh. What the hell is that."

The Nausicaan turns to stare at Shamash. "Were you not listening to what I just said? Apparently not," he says turning back to VanBrockdorf. "No, I think I will talk with only you. So, if are you here to help, then what do you plan to do about it?" His tone is more than a little demanding.

GAME: Trefor contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Katoka contests her Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Fails.

GAME: Corien contests its Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: VonBrockdorf contests his Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.

GAME: Shamash contests his Fitness/Vitality+A vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

Shamash coughs, trying to let it sound as an interruption of Brockdorf, not letting the Naussicans insult slide, as this would be weak. "As there has apparently been no change that our good citizen here can think of, there is no need for ..help... as he said. By his own words, everything is perfect and those shipping lanes were always destroyed, the toxic waste has always been here." He nods to Brockdorf to fall in again. "We are going to the coast" he announces, so that Katoka can get her better readings.

Reian frowns, glancing to von Brockdorf for a moment, "We need that information." she notes to him softly. If he's her link to her information, she'll take it without a qualm. "Where has the toxic waste been dumped, since when, and preferably what it is waste *from*." It's quite clear she expects the cadet to find out her answers, even as she turns away, retrieving her tricorder and moving to scan towards the coast once more. Although not actually leaving just yet...

Abruptly Katoka's breath catches, sounding a bit like she inhaled a gnat, and she slows her crisp pace toward the shore and sets her hand atop the center of her chest. Her lungs inflate, deflate, and the woman blinks as a sick, thin wheezing sound accompanies her attempt at respiration - an attempt that quickly slides into a hacking cough as the woman turns away, having gotten not that far in her quest for the shore.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Fails.

. o O Katoka thinks, "..augh, breathe slow Aleshanee.. slow."

Accompanying Katoka, Trefor regards her with some concern when she begins coughing. "Sir, perhaps you should put on your rebreather. As for the water toxicity levels, they are comparable to the air levels but generally safe. Also, I can find no high concentrations of toxins. They appear to be consistent throughout the water."

VonBrockdorf glances at the departing science crew. "So you've had toxic waste dumped near here. Which Waterbags did this, do you know a name? The trade routes, same people? Your enemies?". He shrugs. "They are no friends of ours. The scholars think that maybe the waste has made something very bad out there in the sea. Have you noticed your fishing suffering near any of these dumps?"

The Nausicaan growls loudly towards Shamash, sending the man a feral snarl. Several of the other Nausicaans step forward to join the first. The first, after a long moment, turns back to VanBrockdorf. "No one has dumped waste. It showed up when the waterbags did. They are...plants it seems. And fishing is bad everywhere. We can't even get out on the ocean as the waterbags clog the shipping lanes." One of the other Nausicaans stabs a finger towards Corien's chest. "The Dominion left them. The Ferengi say so!"

GAME: Katoka contests her Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Shamash contests his Fitness/Vitality+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian spends a courage point.

Shamash can't help but smile a bit at the Naussicans response. So a bit of counter insult does give some additional information. "So there was change", he mentions with a few nods. Eyes go to Katoka, yet with the Naussi right here, he does not inquire verbally if she is okay, not wanting to draw attention to her, simply waiting for her to catch up with walking to the shore. Judging Brockdorf well occupied, he asks Reian "Elaborate on the likeliness of these bioforms having a toxic byproduct to their digestive process?"

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.

"Okay... Plants." Reian looks enthralled at this turn of events, looking towards the coast, clearly itching to be out there. "Perhaps some of the locals would be willing to accompany us down to the coast, to show us exactly what they're describing?" Her eyebrows lift slightly at mention of the Ferengi comments on the situation, "Well, if you're willing, we'll have a look and see if we can find out exactly what's going on down there." Not exactly uncaring of the cadets as they are ranted at and prodded, more assuming they can handle themselves, while she is drawn by the prospect of plants. Even if they're annoying and potentially damaging plants... She shakes her head to Shamash, "Not in a position to elaborate, Sir." she notes, "I'm getting no readings that make sense. I'd *really* like to be moving to the coast now."

. o O Reian thinks, "The *Ferengi* say the Dominion left them. Well, obviously that makes it true then. Yes..."

Katoka takes a deep breath in, the movement seeming to calm her spasming lungs, and resumes a pace toward the shore. "..there are.." Better, but not perfect. Katoka pauses a moment to take another long breath before finishing her sentence. "..pockets of solidified waste along the shore. Make adjustments to compensate for their appearance - don't scan for density, since they mimic land mass. The water appears equally as toxic as the land, but.." Another breath. "..not much worse. I'm going to see if I can't pick up these 'waterbags' in a scan."

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Trefor continues his own scans attempting to determine the chemical composition of the waste. He continues to make his way closer to the shore all the while.

VonBrockdorf says, ""The Dominion?" he turns and walks after the science crew "Old Earth saying: The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. So Friend, lets let the scholars have a look at these Waterbags. They could well be some form of 'Science Weapon'. Then again maybe not. Where are they thickest?""

Corien appears more than a little surprised to suddenly have a Nausiccan finger at her chest. She takes a step back, frowning. "Ferengi lie," she notes blandly. "But we'll investigate it. We'll investigate all of it." She jerks her head towards the Science officers in a 'rather, *they* will' gesture.

None of the Nausicaans, most especially the two who were talking, move to follow the group that wandered off. The second Nausicaan, the one with the finger-weapon looks to Corien for a moment before nodding ever so slightly.

As the group moves through the homes and out to the shore the sight is shocking. The length of the shoreline are puddles of thick, porridge like waste. Beyond the waste the water is clogged with thousands of fungi like plants of creatures. There are so many it looks almost someone could walk them out into the ocean. Looking at the close ones shows many of them have a crust like growth on the outside, while others don't. Several Nausicaans are along the shore. A pair of them are armed with weapons, which they point at the toxic waste and discharge. Hot plasma streams out, burning the waste and sending up clouds of thick smoke.

GAME: Katoka contests her Fitness/Vitality vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Reian contests her Fitness/Vitality vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Corien contests its Fitness/Vitality vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: VonBrockdorf contests his Fitness/Vitality vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Shamash contests his Fitness/Vitality+A vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Katoka spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian contests her Intellect/Perception vs Difficult and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Katoka contests her Intellect/Perception+A vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Trefor contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Shamash contests his Intellect vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Trefor contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

And what smoke.. Eyes water, breathing becomes more and more difficult and coughing starts. At first, he tries to shake off the effect, yet with the next coughing fit, Shamash reaches to his mask, face be damned. It has just passed the point of being a nuisance and moved towards an almost dangerous condition. Several breaths of clean air later, he looks around, surveying the coast after checking on his teammates with a quick "Everyone allright?" As he makes sure they is, he simply states "Mr. Trevor, Lt. Katoka, your scan results please. Lt Reian, what can you tell me?" a last issue to Brockendorf "Just keep an eye out for these villagers with the weaponry

Reian ic choking away... no pride from her now as she fishes out her rebreather and starts using it, drawing actual breathable air into her lungs, tears streaming down her cheeks as her hacking slowly begins to calm. She points up towards the shore, "Something there." she manages to get out. "Crust.. by the waste." She heads off in the direction she indicated, keen to get a closer look at the whole mess. She tries again, shaking her tricorder a little before going to persuade it to scan for her again.

The dark-haired science officer has barely gotten a handle on her last attack when the second comes upon her like a blow to the chest. Out of nowhere she hacks again, pausing in her step and again setting a hand to her chest as coughing overtakes her body. For that moment she sways, reddening with the effort it takes to breathe, and fishes for the rebreather on her hip with one hand. Pulling it out she claps it over her mouth and gratefully sucks in a few lungfuls of clean air - color levelling slowly. "..by the shore, naussican.. slugs?" There's a question in Katoka's tone as she glances back at her tricorder. "The creatures.. ripperworms, methane slugs.. " She chokes out, slow to recover from the second assault on her lungs. "I need a reading on that waste.." And again the Planetologist begins to muddle with her tricorder.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Challenging and Fails.

Trefor takes advantage of their proximity to the waste to scan it. When the results come up, he looks over to Shamash and Katoka to report. "The waste is composed mostly of chemicals from the continental shelf and the water. Twenty percent of the chemical composition doesn't seem to come from the land or sea."

VonBrockdorf uses the cover of the smoke to clamp a rebreather to his face. He moves to insure he has a clear line of fire both back to the village and to the shoreline. Who knows what could emerge from that sludge.

As she joins the group moving towards the shore, Corien begins gasping against the poisonous air -- apparently, her stamina has failed her, but at least she made it through the village before resorting to the mask. She struggles to get it into place, then struggles to get her breathing under control again.

GAME: Reian contests her Life Sciences/Botany vs Challenging and Fails.

GAME: Trefor contests his Physical Sciences/Chemistry vs Challenging and Succeeds.

"Not from see or land?", Shamash mentions to Trevor. "Let me take a look at those scan results." He finally takes out his own tricorder, requesting a data download. He nods patiently to Katoka and Reian for them to finish their scans.

Reian is looking increasingly frustrated, her tricorder apparently not helping her much. Nor is her training, deep lines appearing to furrow her brow as she stares at the plantlife almost accusingly. "What the blazes are you?" she demands of them. "More to the point, what are you *doing* here?" She looks from waterbags to waste. "You grow.. form a crust? That detatches?" She shakes her head slightly, and notes to everyone else, "I'm just thinking aloud. I'm getting *nothing* useful. Just in case anyone was labouring under the misapprehension that I'd ever seen anything like this before.."

GAME: Katoka contests her Life Sciences vs Challenging and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Corien spends a courage point.

GAME: Corien contests its Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: VonBrockdorf contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.

Katoka looks up from her studies and frowns at the ruined landscape. One hand slides back through her hair as she sighs and lets her tricorder drop to her side. "It's not natural.." she states, the sentence almost appearing to cause her pain. "That's all I've got so far. It's horrible. Telasa, nothing on the plants?" She looks toward Reian, brow knit, hopeful.

Trefor points his tricorder towards Shamash's instrument to transfer the data to the mission CO. "These chemicals are not naturally occuring. They are chemical byproducts or artificially created. However, it is clear that theu are waste byproducts as opposed to building blocks."

. o O Katoka thinks, "How could they have let this happen?"

Now that she's able to breathe again, Corien moves to join VonBrockdorf's two-pronged watch on the village and waterline. She frowns at Reian's admission that she's learned nothing new, but doesn't seem especially surprised -- science, after all, is no match for the problem-solving abilities of a well-aimed phaser.

GAME: Shamash has the merit of Mathematical Ability at 3.

GAME: Shamash contests his Physical Sciences+A vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Reian spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian contests her Life Sciences/Botany+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Shamash nods slowly, reviewing the data he got from Trefor. A look into the round to wait for more results to come forward. To Corien he directs "Mr. Corien. Try to find out what the Naussicans are shooting at - and why."

"Of course...." Reian's brow clears, and it's almost possible to believe the plants *did* just answer her anguished queries. "Bazgan Floaters!" From her tone of voice, it's clear that the light has dawned, albeit rather slowly. "Here though? You don't belong here..." She turns back towards Shamash and Katoka, informing the group, "They usually float in air.. acting as atmospheric cleansers, in effect. They filter out minerals and chemicals from the air, sloughing off as a crust, which can be cleared away. But they don't belong *here*..." Her eyes narrow a little, "The Ferengi.." No prizes for realising who Reian suspects..

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Fails.

Katoka tilts her tricorder toward the smoke billowing up from the phaser fire. It buzzes angrily and she glares, then starts rerunning the scan again.

"Sirs?" Trefor speaks up to his fellow scientists, "Perhaps if we all adjust our tricorders to specifically look for these chemical byproducts, we can find the source of this material." At Reian's report, he furrows his brow. "Could these creatures have been brought here in attempt to clean the atmosphere but were overwhelmed and ended up in the sea?"

VonBrockdorf says, "An attempt to convert the planet from Nausicaan type to some other genotype? To use the razor of logic, Who gains?"

Corien seems a bit surprised by the mission leader's request, but doesn't question her orders. With a snappy "aye, sir," she sets off to go question the nearest weapon-wielding, mess-clearing Nausiccan.

. o O Reian feels frustration and irritation. A flare of slowly building anger.

The Nausicaans who waited behind before now begin to stream down the road towards the shore. Several are carrying clubs and a couple weapons. The lead one, the same one who was yelling at Shamash and VanBrockdork earlier, leads again. Halfway along the road he yells out to the Starfleet officers. "The Ferengi say that you are only here to try and make a weapon. You're not here to help. We can't let things get worse."

"The Ferengi.", Shamash repeats, half to the Nausicaan, half to Reian. To the later he nods. "Almost onn cue. Right, Lieutenant" break, then to the group "It might be that we are starting to have overtaxed our welcome. Gather up the scans, file for further use..." He does not instruct the security detail, they will see for themself that the situation changes. "The Ferengi lies.", he calls back to the Nausi. "Bring him, so that he can repeat his words, so that i can name him a lier to his face, or is he hiding like a coward?", now that should get the Nausicaans attention.

GAME: Katoka contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.

"It's not the _fault_ of the plants." Reian asserts. "They're doing.. well.. what Bazgan Floaters do. The problem is more in their location." She moves out towards the nearest one she can find, tricorder still being waved. "Chances on the Ferengi having put them here to sell..." Her voice trails away, and an unreadable expression flits across her face. "Ah yes. And here we have the locals being used by the gentle traders to protect their investment. That would seem to lend some element of credence to my surmise?" She nods to Shamash's instructions and starts scanning again.. although still keeping a close ear on the conversation behind her..

GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian contests her Life Sciences/Botany+A vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Shamash contests his Persuasion vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.

"The smoke.." Katoka frowns, shaking her head as she slowly swings the tricorder over the billowing smoke. "..it's just spreading the chemicals up into the atmosphere. I'll have to run an interaction model to see what's being generated in the upper levels of the statosphere. Who knows what's raining back down." The dark haired woman frowns; her expression fixed as she looks at the approaching Naussicaan. "We're not here to do anything but try to heal this planet.." She protests quietly, worry knitting her brow as she looks from Shamash to the Naussicaans, then back. A beat, a pause, and she brings out her PADD as she steps forward toward Shamash and the approaching Naussicaans. "Has it rained? How are your farms?" She asks.

Trefor sighs heavily as his suggestion is ignored by the officers. "Respectfully, I think we can find the source of the problem more quickly if we all try to scan for the chemical byproducts. Then we can leave sooner and still have some answers, Sirs."

GAME: Trefor spends a courage point.

GAME: VonBrockdorf spends a courage point.

GAME: Trefor contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

VonBrockdorf removing his breathing mask VonBrockdorf moves forward to talk to the 'delegation'. "We're here to help, not harm you Friend. We do not make war using plants! However there are those that are not warriors, those that hide behind words and money. Perhaps we should find out where these Waterbags came from? I suspect your merchant associates know where they can be purchased."

"Excuse me," Corien addresses to the nearest beach-cleaning Nausicaan. She speaks rather slowly, and a bit louder than necessary. "Can you tell me why you're doing that?" She indicates his weapon and the piles of sludge that are being fired upon. Having moved away from the group to carry out Shamash's order, she neither hears the conversation nor realizes that the situation has changed.

GAME: VonBrockdorf contests his Persuasion vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Nausicann contests his Energy Weapon+A vs Challenging and Fails.

The lead Nausicaan lifts his weapon, an older model, non Starfleet, dented phaser and aims it towards Shamash. "You dare to insult Vogg! You are a fool!" With that he depresses the trigger, though at the same time another Nausicaan touches his arm. "Wait," says the second, "let us hear their excuses first." As a result the shot goes wide, the nadions slice by Shamash. The first Nausicaan spits and half lowers the phaser. His mandibles click as he watches Shamash. "Do not speak human. We do not like you. Someone else, speak."

GAME: Shamash contests his Command vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Shamash gets his own weapon out in a defensive reaction, targeting the shooter. Yet he does not fire as the Nausicaan is restrained by his companion. "Now that is what i call mutual... Mr. Bockendorf, maybe you speak their language."

GAME: Reian has the merit of Multitasking at 2.

GAME: Reian contests her Life Sciences/Biology+A vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Fails.

Reian isn't giving up, although she pales slightly as the shots go. But there's plenty of people behind her, people that aren't actual botanists. "There's something in their DNA.." she tells the group. "They're.. wrong. Different. I can't quite get my finger on it..." She's engrossed, concerned, but her primary fascination lies with the plants. "I hear your suggestion, Cadet Trefor, but I need to get these readings first. Really. I do." She's getting nowhere fast though, frustration growing again, "Lieutenant Shamash, perhaps you could help the cadet with the readings he needs?"

"Wait, wait.. " Lt. Katoka steps forward as she slides her tricorder into its place at her belt. "There's no need, no need. We're only here to help. These life forms, these plants are what's causing your difficulties. You know this." She lifts her brows, palms extended out, and nods slowly, confident that the Naussicaans have at least figured that out. "We just need to figure out why. There's no reason that we would come here to create a weapon. It doesn't make sense. There are easier ways. Why would we work so hard, decieve so many.. the water is sick. The earth is sick. We are only here to help." There's truth in her words - or at least a lack of deception.

GAME: Katoka contests her Persuasion+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Trefor is startled by the sudden burst of phaser fire. After a moment to make sure that the situation hasn't turned into a complete firefight, the Centauran returns to his scans while Katoka tries to defuse the situation.

VonBrockdorf says, "She speaks the truth. We come in peace. Perhaps we should talk to the Ferengi while my colleagues take their readings?"

When shots are fired, Corien aborts her conversation with the Nausicaan down the beach and hurries back to her group. Her hand, unsurprisingly, has returned to her phaser, but her first objective is to get a good read on the situation. With that in mind, she slows her steps as she approaches them and looks from one face to the next.

GAME: Trefor contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

The lead Nausicaan continues to hold his weapon half cocked and pointed to the ground. He looks first to Katoka and then VanBrockdorf. "I do not like to think that the Ferengi are lying and cheating us, but for the moment I will listen. Tell me why the creatures are eating our land and clogging our ocean, and for now we will listen."

GAME: Reian contests her Life Sciences/Biology+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

"Working on the answer to that, Lieutenant..." Reian calls across in answer to the request to know what's going on. But her brow is clearing again, as once more reaching the point of absolute screaming irritation with herself brings her some semblance of hope... "Something has taken DNA from native creatures, and added it to the Floaters. Hence they're now waterbound. And doing the same as they normally do in the atmosphere... floating, feeding and sloughing off the waste matter. This is no natural occurance. Something has created it. What's drawing them here is another question," She glances across to Trefor, "Any thoughts on that,, cadet?"

Katoka listens to Lt. Reian, a frown etching before she turns back to the Naussicaan. "This is what the plants do - they just usually do it in the air. They leech contaminants and pollutants from the air and form a solid.." She continues explaining as her hands lower back to her side, her attention firmly on the Naussicaans, her expression patient and open. The information is mostly regurgitated from what Telasa said earlier, but it's valid nonetheless. "It's a purification process. But now that they're water bound, the contaminants are forming this scum instead of a solid that's easily put away - so nothing is getting purified. It's just remaining here. Can you tell me if everyone burns the waste? Or is it something you've just started here?"

GAME: Trefor contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Trefor contests his Intellect/Logic+D vs Routine and Succeeds.

Trefor continues his scans, trying to locate the source of the chemicals. He tilts his head slightly as he considers Reian's question. "The only thing I can surmise is that whatever is putting out these chemicals is drawing the Floaters here. But that is only a guess with the limited data we have, Sir."

VonBrockdorf says, "I wonder how 'clean' that industrial powersupply is? If its kicking out toxins perhaps the floaters are drawn to it, trying to clean up?"

The Nausicaans continue to listen quietly, their mandibles clicking as they stand there.

GAME: Reian contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Reian straightens up, turning away from her pet Floater, glancing towards Katoka and von Brockdorf, but they seem to be doing fine. Stepping towards Trefor, she crouches nearby to check his readings and add her own to the mix.

"Could we use that to draw them in?" Katoka asks, squinting as she looks over her shoulder at Reian. "It might be the easiest way to clear them out. If we could.. somehow.. mimic whatever it is they're feeding on. What do they usually eat, Lt. Reian?"

Trefor looks up when Reian walks over to him. Consulting both sets of data, he smirks and shakes his head. "You were right in your suspicions, Lieutenant. Our scans point to that Ferengi business over there on the shoreline. Whatever they are producing is spilling into the water and attracting the Floaters. Perhaps it is waste from the industrial power supply that Cadet VonBrockdorf detected earlier. If we can stop that production, then the floaters should start to move off."

VonBrockdorf turns to the locals. "So what say you? I'm sure shutting down that plant for a few days would be enough to test this out. If the waterbags start to go..."

Corien continues to listen attentively to the Science officers, watchful for any further aggressive developments and ready to take action should she be given another order.

The Nausicaans for their part begin to chitter amongst themselves as they listen, clearly getting more agitated as they listen. The leader turns to VonBrockdorf and nods. "I do not know if we can do it, but we will try. Do you have information we can send to our leaders?"

Shamash watches the Nausicaans warily, still not completely lowering his weapon. Though as they seem to be engaged safely in a conversation with von Bockendorf, he turns to Reian. "You mentioned these floaters were gentically modified. Try to aquire a sample for further analysis. Also some of this... fungus?..." He apparently has no life science knowledge. To Trefor: "And you secure both a soil sample and one of the toxic byproduct."

Reian looks to Shamash, and nods, "Of course, Lieutenant." she responds, turning and heading back towards the water's edge, unfazed by the order. Finding a clean area, unwilling to wander through sludgey waste without good cause, she stoops , and reaches out to lift a 'nice' sample, which she pops neatly into a container. "Should have brought the 'hazardous waste' labels." she notes as she moves to return to the group.

"Only this - the Ferenghi plant is creating the substances that the floaters eat. The floaters are eating the substance and doing what they do, namely making solids out of the pollution. If the Ferenghi care about what is going on, they won't give you any trouble about waiting a few days so we can formulate a way to fix this. But we can fix it.." Katoka has shifted her attention back to the Naussicaans since Lt. Reian was apparently too busy to answer her query. Her statements to the natives are simple, short and to the point, purely factual and intended to be that way. No use muddying things with intent. "It's just a matter of patience.", she says. "If they are honestly your friends, they will comply.. you're all living on the same planet after all. What affects one, affects all."

. o O Katoka thinks, "Oh.. please listen to me, take a moment and listen!"

Trefor takes out an isolinear chip and inserts it into his PADD. After a few taps on the interface, the Science Cadet transfers the accumulated data onto the chip. He then passes it over to Katoka. "Here is the data that we have gathered today that can be given to the Nausicaan officials." Once that is done, he moves off to comply with Shamash's orders to gather samples.

VonBrockdorf says, "That data should make it clear, I'm sure they'll shut down the plant for a few days."

Corien listens to Katoka's explanation to the Naussicaans with admiration. She's relaxed enough to link her hands behind her back, apparently confident that she won't be forced to phaser their way out of here after all.

The Nausicaan takes the chip from Trefor and nods to the man. "Thank you," he says. "We will try and get the factory shut down as soon as we can. Sorry for our anger. We are just very frustrated over all the damage that has been done, and the suffering here."

With the Nausicaans still occupied between Katoka and von Brockdorf, Shamash sets his weapon back on his belt, waiting for Reian and Trefor to finish their sample gathering. "Acknowledge when you are ready to leave this site.", he tells them. Giving then VB the sign to make his excuses so they can get underway.

Katoka leans back, stretching her hand out and taking the chip from Trefor, then passing it toward the Nausicaans. "I understand.", she says simply, honestly. "Please let us know once the factory is shut down so we can run additional scans if need be."

Reian returns to the group with her sample, checking her tricorder to ensure everything's been saved. "I'm *sure* the Ferengi will be reasonable. Absolutely." she notes, before nodding to Katoka, "We're all set?" she checks, then inclines her head to the Nausicaans. "I'm sure that shutting off the power for a few days will categorically prove the source of the problem. And then steps can be taken to rectify it."

Trefor quickly collects the needed samples and stores them away for further study. Once complete, he rejoins the rest of the away team. "I'm ready, sirs."

VonBrockdorf says, "Of course we still have to find who modified these plants, but that can be done over teh coming weeks"

Corien seems quite pleased by the outcome, even if the group won't be back on the station in time for lunch. She smiles at the Science officers -- well done, research-types -- and moves to join Shamash.

Shamash instructs the away team to assume position and taps his communicator. "Lt. Shamash to Thomas Paine. Six to beam up."

Samples in hand and many questions answered, the team beams away in another brief flash of the blue-white ofthe transporters.