Things Unspeakable

 Episode Name:  Things Unspeakable

   Written By:  Daedalus

         Cast:  Daedalus, Harris, Lopez, Matheson, McTiernan, Reian, Soral, Thant and Turtledove.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Daedalus

     Aired On:  Fri Dec 02 19:58:03 2005

     Stardate:  55453.6

Time: Sat Nov 26 14:21:49 2005

Stardate: 55438.6

Fade in to sunrise over a Class-M, or at least nearly Class-M, world, a remote part of it, where sunlight streams over the snowcapped mountains, tufted at their base with clean and un-snow-sullied forest green, and cleft through with deep valleys. The vantage point moves at a perpendicular angle to the horizon, shearing off into orbit, so that the world slowly recedes to a shifting ball of white clouds and snowcaps, blue oceans, and green and brown landscapes, spreading slowly with sunlight over one side.

As the view pulls completely away to a full orbital shot, there is a flicker of light on the side of the planet opposite the spreading rays of the sun, and the vantage point slowly pivots to track that flicker, zooming in until the curvilinear saucer section lines and sharp, angular engineering and warp pylon lines of a blocky, thick Springfield-class Heavy Escort can be seen. Under the open maw of a shuttlebay in the saucer section, the curving lettering can be seen: "NCC-73542 USS Glastnost". And it seems the glinting light comes not only, now, from the brief play of sunlight across the hullplating of the Starship Glastnost, but also the brief kick-in of engines as the shuttle disgorged by the big escort clears Glastnost's SIF and deflector shields, and begins to proceed under its own power.

The vantage tracks again to zoom in towards that shuttle -- 'NCC-73542-2A Shuttlecraft Andropov', and through the viewport as the approach is made, the forms of Robert Harris and Telasa Reian are seen at consoles, both of them and not just the former Lieutenant now in civilian attire. Shadows can be seen behind them, indicative that they are not alone in the Shuttlecraft Andropov. And a voice can be heard, gruff but peevish, over a communications link: "And I'm telling you, Shuttlecraft Andropov, that there *is* a Dessica Landing Authority, and currently, it is me. Are you going to pay the clearance fee to land, or will there be trouble?"

GAME: Harris spends a courage point.

GAME: Harris contests his Streetwise/Orion Syndicate+A vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

"Listen, pal, I'm not going to play this game with you. How about you let me speak to someone who actually has authority to make deals, like your buddies that are in the background, there, or stop wasting my time, because I don't have time for low-level functionaries with delusions of grandeur," Harris replies to the man at the other end of the channel before tapping it into mute. "How do you feel about evasive maneuvers, Mister Reian? Because you might get an opportunity to learn."

Reian looks sideways to Harris, a blank expression, "Any idea?" she asks him, "I wasn't expecting any trouble at *this* point!" Her eyes widen at the query, "You know I *failed* that certification, right?" she murmurs, hopefully quiet enough that the rest of the personnel on the shuttle don't hear. "I'll give anything a try once, but you might end up bailing me out!" Raising her voice slightly, though, she attempts to not let a the sudden flare of nerves show, "You're in charge, boss." she offers. "You say to fly through the eye of a needle, and I'll do my best to do it!"

. o O Harris is calm and collected.

Lopez has positioned herself on the starboard bench, back to the bulkhead as the entertainment continues up front, and one foot ticking up and down within a short span of the weapons rack, as she counts, glancing across to the occupants of the other bench. "Is there going to be trouble?" she mouthes silently and repeats with an upward surge of her eyebrows, half-humored.

Thant, is, as ever, dressed in grey. His boots, however, are not polished, but carefully scuffed. Smart (ignoring the boots), but hardly fashionable. His hands are neatly gathered in his lap where he sits on the port bench; eyes are unfocused, attention apparently elsewhere.

. o O Thant thinks, "May as well take the approach to consider. This is most certainly not a moment where my services shall be required, after all. Although... I'm not entirely clear on what my services -are-, still. Ah, well. All comes clear with time. Or not."

. o O Thant feels calm, with a colouring of excitement.

Soral can be seen sitting on one of the passenger seats with the stoic facial expression his race is famous for. He too, seems to half meditate, looking at that point in infinity.

. o O Reian feels nervous, with just an edge of adrenaline starting to surge.

"I'll tell you what, Andropov ... I'll send up my boss to meet you." The Andorian's voice is, um, frosty. "You'll recognize him by the targeting lock on the space between your eyes, and you can show him either the latinum or your safe passage."

Turtledove looks over to Lopez and offers her a slight grin. "Who knows, maybe we'll make some new friends." She is wearing a black tank-top and heavy black smuggler's pants and vest. Her hair is unrestrained, with the top layers hanging down just past the apples of her cheeks. Leather-quality wrist-bands complete her ensemble.

. o O Lopez thinks, "Sounds like "jefe" already made some to come out and play."

"Not really feeling terribly welcoming, are they?" Reian notes to Harris. "On the whole, I'd think it'd be easier to just pay their clearance fee.. if we can afford to? Don't we have better things to be worrying about down there?" Any excuse to avoid having to show off her limited piloting skills, perhaps? There is a slight crease to her forehead, a hint of a worried frown. "Personally, I prefer a quiet life, but maybe I'm in the minority there?"

"Mister Lopez, Mister Turtledove, if you will please distribute the phasers? Make sure they're set to heavy stun. Everyone else, restraints on." Harris calls back through the cabin before he toggles the channel open again and puts on a nasty tone. "Sure, send him up here. But if he's not in a bargaining mood, I'll be sending him back in less than perfect condition, Control. Andropov out." With the channel closed, he glances at Reian. "I need you to find the scientist's campsite for me. Quickly. In the meantime, I'll drive."

. o O Harris thinks, "You want to play hardball? We'll play hardball."

Thant blinks, more rapidly than usual, for a few moments, apparently returning from... wherever. A hand moves to bring his restraints into place, but doesn't quite conclude the motion immediately. A glance at Turtledove, then the weapons locker. -Then- he completes the action.

"This behaviour lets me reconsider if the ..port authority.. should not have been reminded, that the planet is still a federation world." Soral mentions. "yet i concede, a shuttle is .. not an efficient show of force."

Lopez smirks, leans forward with jacketed elbows to knees as she rises up. "For the love of space, don't tell them if you've got milk-money," she says dryly, but at a volume that likely won't carry far. "Like painting 'mark' on your forehead." Ana reaches for a pair of type two's, fingers adjusting the settings on either, until their levels match. She offers one to Soral grimly, and bends to slide the other (disabled) along the deck up toward the forward stations.

GAME: Lopez contests her Starship Tactics/Planetary Support vs Routine and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Harris contests his Starship Tactics vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

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

Turtledove grins at Soral, as she stands by the weapons locker. "Okay, who wants a phaser?" She takes out two, slides one, as per the Lopez maneuver, to the fore consoles, and then looks to Thant. She offers him a Type II with friendly, if considering, consideration.

GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Challenging and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian has the merit of Multitasking at 2.

GAME: Reian contests her Planetary Sciences vs Routine and Succeeds.

Harris bends down to take hold of a phaser, securing it into the holster at his waist without taking one of his hands off the controls. "ADF troop transport on an intercept course," he announces quietly. "Expedience is key, Mister Reian. Mister Lopez, do we have any latinum on hand?"

Soral mentions to Turtledove "I do not require additional armament at this time, Lieutenant.", carefully avoiding to mention that he carries a phaser concealed already.

A half smile touches Reian's face for a moment as she nods briskly, "I have the most probable location." she assures Harris, "Inputting into the computer now.. Down in a forested mountain valley - not a small area, but it's at least narrowed down that far." Reaching out, she transfers data around so that Harris can see the area to which she is referring. "Geological formation matches the initial data suggested by the logs."

Thant nods, slightly. "Please, Lieutenant," he says politely, while accepting the proferred weapon. He peers at the object thoughtfully for a moment, before stowing it in a trouser pocket... which, the phaser in it increasing obviousness, is probably intended for that very purpose.

. o O Thant thinks, "Hmmm. Last time I held one of these was in a vision. And I was prepared to kill someone, real or not. Let us hope things proceed more charmingly this time around."

Lopez keeps the phaser she was offering, with her eyes narrowing just slightly. She clips it to her side, with a frown. "Glasnost is going to be helpful only as far as the top of the thermosphere-- they're gonna send something small, but bigger and badder than us, -- yes, that would certainly fit the bill..." she comments as Harris makes his announcement. "Uh, we've got maybe a bar-- which would be more helpful to chuck at them than pay them off, I'm guessing. Maybe if we drop in like a stone?"

Turtledove secures the weapons rack, and sits, eyes to Lopez, then to the fore cabin, then back to Lopez. She adjusts her Type II to Heavy Stun. "Looks like it's going to be a hot negotiation."

. o O Lopez thinks, "Why didn't he take the phaser? We're walking directly into a textbook hostile situation? Should I take the extra one, in case?"

"That's plan C," Harris replies to Lopez, tossing an amused glance toward Turtledove for whatever reason before he turns his attention back to the controls and toggles the communications control again. "Shuttlecraft Andropov to the ship coming up to meet us. I hope you're the boss that your little friend on the ground told me to expect, or I'm going to be really annoyed."

. o O Harris thinks, "Okay, so I fibbed just a little bit last night. I'll apologize if we live."

Lopez takes a seat, and straps into the restraints looking across to Turtledove, before saying to Thant and Soral, "Comfy?"

Thant allows himself a small, calm smile. "Quite," he answers Lopez, quietly.

Reian reaches to get around to clipping her seat restraints into place, no fan of crashing across the cabin, all undignified. "I'll try and narrow that location." she notes, more than happy to let Harris keep charge of the piloting. Although mentally taking notes of exactly what he's doing for future reference.

There is a response. "This is Rigellian Basket." It seems to be the name of the ship, unless someone's parents had a sense of humor. "I'm the man you either want to speak to, or never want to meet, depending on how compliant you are."

GAME: Harris contests his Streetwise/Orion Syndicate+A vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

"Well, Basket, let's talk numbers, then. I'm of the opinion that the price your associate quoted me was high," Harris replies into the comms, glancing at Reian and nodding rather emphatically.

Turtledove straps in. She half-smiles to Lopez, offering, "I might have a yo-yo and a few loose slips in my pocket."

Reian argues with the sensors, which apparently aren't being entirely helpful, "Might need to get nearer." she reports to Harris, "It's all pretty much the same information coming back. Trees.. more trees... The sensors aren't really playing ball." She keeps trying, however, quite patently not liking to be beaten so quickly, her fingers flicking across the console as she tries to persuade it to find something helpful. Anything.

"You really *do* want to negotiate a price, then, eh? Pardon me if I find that hard to believe. Starfleet officers who decide not to pay usually decide to dosomething stupid like try and lure us into ionospheres so the ships what brung them can open fire." A pause. "Convince me, Andropov, that I should bother negotiating."

GAME: Reian contests her Planetary Sciences vs Moderate and Fails.

Now, he does have a point. Soral keeps pointedly silent, however glances between Turtledove and Thant with a knowing look.

Reian shakes her head eventually, "We'll need to do a flyover." she finally admits. "I can't get an exact location, I'm sorry. I've got it as close as I can from here." She returns to the rest of the consoles, keeping an eye on the pilot, her fingers twitching slightly as though she is mentally mirroring his moves as he keeps the shuttle so neatly under control.

GAME: Lopez spends a courage point.

GAME: Lopez contests her Starship Tactics/Planetary Support+A vs Challenging and Fails.

Harris puts on a grin. "Why, if I wasn't interested in negotiating, Basket, I wouldn't have bothered having this conversation with you. Fact of the matter is that I want to land on this planet, you seem to be the people to talk to for the time being, and that means that we have to deal with one another. So let's deal, or stop wasting each other's time and get down to non-compliance portion of these 'negotiations'." He mutes the channel, then starts to nose the shuttle into the atmosphere. "What kind of terrain are we looking at overall, Lieutenant? Anything that we can use as cover -- or run our friends into -- around where we want to be?"

Thant remains quiet, hands neatly folded in his lap once again.

"Forested mountain valley, Agent Harris." is Reian's response, "So we have plenty of trees for cover once we're *on* the ground... I suspect it rather comes down to how close you're willing to come to the peaks as to whether you could run anyone into it." She reaches out and indicates on the display exactly where she's talking about, "Given that we still need to do an actual flyover to find the camp, I'd probably recommend *not* having a high speed chase through the area." For a moment, her grin turns mischevious, "I'd rather do the final scans at a normal speed rather than at near-warp, no matter *how* good a pilot you are, I'm not *that* fast at scanning!"

Lopez pulls a lintball out of either side of her coat's pockets. "Unless the Yo-yo is solid latinum... or made of some sort of new explosive that we can jettison..." she offers Turtledove quietly with a smiling shrug. "-it'll at least keep us entertained."

Turtledove grins. "I hate to sound cliche, but if it comes down to trading personnel, I say we do something different and trade the males for once."

"Alright, Andropov, since we like your style, beam 6 slips to this location. That's a cool forty percent discount and I want some damn gratitude in your voice when you thank me. If I don't have 6 slips at these coordinates in 30 seconds, you'll recognize the 'or else' as a photon torpedo up your tailpipe."

Thant's smile fades. "I do believe that gentleman is threatening violent action," he observes, pointlessly... but it could have been a joke. Possibly.

. o O Thant thinks, "When in Rome... play a Roman. Poorly."

Harris lets a long breath go. "That 'almost' bar of latinum you mentioned, Mister Lopez? I want it assembled in fifteen seconds." He tabs the channel back open. "Thank you, Basket, I knew you were a man that I could do business with. Stand by." With another bleep, the channel mutes again, and he adds, "Of course he is. He's a bully. Tera, get your phaser out just in case they've got a different sort of deal in mind."

Reian is quiet now, nothing she can do to help with the transaction, simply organising herself to ensure that everything's organised for when the final approach to the planet is made.

Lopez is only too happy to fork over the 'almost a bar' for transport, layout the funds out for the transport pad.

"All this for six slips?" Turtledove draws her phaser. "Business must be slow." She quietly releases her restraint.

"No kidding," Harris mutters as he keeps his eyes on the controls. "Mister Reian, Mister Lopez -- whichever one of you feels most comfortable with the transporters, go ahead and beam it over." He unmutes the channel once again. "We're sending it over now, Basket, along with a little bit extra for your time and trouble."

Reian glances over her shoulder with a half smile for Lopez, "I somehow suspect you're more practiced with transporter functions than I am." she offers, "I'd hate to accidently land the latinum in space.. then we really *would* have some trouble on our hands."

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

Thant releases his restraint, also, and slides his phaser back out. It rests neatly in his lap... beneath gathered, splayed hands.

Lopez has unstrapped herself, to say, "They might laugh. You never know. I'm on it," from the side of the transporter. The panel bleeps at her in a very unfriendly way as time begins to tick down. It didn't sound good, but then, the bar hasn't shimmered out of being either. "Just... a second..."

"You trying to pull a fast one, Andropov?" The voice is annoyed. "You get one more chance. No tricks."

. o O Lopez thinks, "Focus, Ana."

Harris raises both of his eyebrows, glancing back as the panel bleeps. "Oh, no, we're just having some trouble with the transporter. Sorry about the wait," he transmits before muting the channel once again and putting his hand over the controls to raise the shields.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Succeeds.

Soral still stays silent throught the procedure, though the almost-accident with the transporters has him tilt his head and blink once. A lot of movement from him.

Thant remains quietly still.

"Alright, Andropov. The stuff checks clean. You are cleared to land. Pleasuring doing business with you. Rigellian Bucket out."

Harris sags a bit in his chair, releasing a deep breath. "Well, then, that went a lot better than it could have," he offers as he turns the shuttle toward the valley. "Rigellian Basket indeed. Get ready for your scans, Lieutenant Reian; everyone else, prepare for landing."

Soral is already strapped in and thus prepared. The only thing else he does, is to hold a bit tighter to his equipment which is not strapped in.

Lopez mutters darkly, something about the other vessel pleasuring themselves doing business elsewhere, and then settles back onto the bench after she stalks back from the transporter pad. "Can't imagine why this isn't a prime travel destination."

"Mosquitoes," Thant states, softly.

Turtledove laughs, giving Thant a surprised smile as she re-secures her restraint. Then, looking to the fore-cabin, she says, "I think we're all good to go back here."

"Anything specific that you *know* was at that camp, to help me narrow things?" Reian's query is addressed to everyone in the shuttle, "With it being so long, if the camp's been deserted, there might actually not be a great deal to find..."

GAME: Harris contests his Vehicle Operations/Shuttlecraft vs Routine and Succeeds.

Harris considers that for a moment as he turns the shuttle in a slow bank through the valley. "Try looking for a subspace transmitter, duranium composites, communicator signals, prefab shelters... you know, things that definitely aren't natural here."

GAME: Reian contests her Shipboard Systems/Sensors vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Material Engineering/Personal Equipment+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

. o O Reian thinks, "Calm, Tel, calm. You know how to work sensors, you'll find the campsite. Don't panic. Not yet. Later. You can panic *later*..."

Reian pulls a face, expressive of her disgust with the unhelpful bips from the console, "Finding nothing yet." she admits to Harris, "They've got to be down here somewhere though.." Again, she repeats herself, trying to force an answer from the systems. "Any chance of you coming down a little lower?" she wonders to Harris.

Turtledove pipes up from the back. "Universal translators have some highly specialized trace minerals in their composition --- trackable even if they're off or not-functioning. These guys were doing linquistic research, right?"

Harris raises both of his eyebrows at Reian. "Much lower and we start scraping trees," he replies before he works the controls. "I'll see what I can do though. See if you can follow through with Lieutenant Turtledove's idea and find something."

"I have faith in you, Agent Harris." Reian teases slightly, "I'm sure you're just dying to show me how a *proper* pilot can do it." A flicker of mischief just surfacing for a moment before she gets back to work, concentrating on getting something actually useful.

GAME: Reian contests her Shipboard Systems/Sensors vs Routine and Marginally Succeeds.

Lopez sits forward a little. "It might be wise when we find our landing sight to do an area scan for bio-signs, also."

. o O Lopez thinks, "Unless you fancy being jumped by the locals, I guess.."

Reian glances over her shoulder, "Will do." she assures Lopez, "But isn't the camp the first place to start? There is likely a lot of information at the camp that might give us a clue just what happened." She half nods, although still not seeming entirely confident of herself, "There's quite a few sources for universal translator traces.." she admits, "There's one though, that looks more likely than the rest." She enters the detail into the flight computer so that the spot is indicated. "There."

. o O Reian thinks, "And if luck's with me, it's even the right one..."

Thant remains silent, apparently simply listening and watching.

Cut to a few minutes later, the shuttlecraft on the ground near what remains of a campsite that has either been ransacked or blown apart by a highly localized windstorm. The shuttle's hatch opens.

Harris steps out of the shuttle first, nose wrinkling as he takes a look around. "Looks like we're not the first people that have been here," he remarks softly before clearing the ramp and tugs his phaser free of its holster. "Computer equipment will be our first priority after any survivors. Mister Reian, scan for lifeforms or corpses. Mister Lopez, you'll be with Agents Soral and Thant to look for computer hardware and see if you can do anything with it. Mister Turtledove, we'll secure the perimeter of the campsite and take a look around."

Turtledove eyes the wreckage as she steps from the shuttle to stand by Harris. She remains quiet, otherwise.

Lopez unholsters her own weapon as she clears the hatch, and grimly opening her pack for a tricorder. "Gentlemen?" prompts Lopez of Soral and Thant. "A widening spiral from the center seems most efficient," she suggests, and starts walking.

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

Soral exits the shuttlecraft looking around the area. He nods at Harris' words. "The situation is not as good as it could have been." He inclines his head to Lopez. "If there is only one person seraching, you are correct. However i suggest a sectorwise search, each of us covering a 120° arch." he takes out his tricorder to scan.

Thant nods to Harris - but only moves far enough that he's out of the way of everybody else leaving the shuttle, once he disembarks. Then he digs around inside his tunic... and brings out a tricorder. Silently, he picks an arc to scan, and sweeps the tricorder through it.

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

GAME: Lopez contests her Search vs Challenging and Fails.

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian contests her Search vs Challenging and Fails.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Search+A vs Challenging and Fails.

GAME: Soral contests his Personal Equipment vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Soral contests his Search vs Challenging and Dramatically Fails.

GAME: Lopez contests her Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

Lopez applies gently, "If there are three people searching, and you don't want anyone isolated and potentially attacked, and or cut off from the rest of the group, then you keep those people within view of one another, agreed?" Lopez takes up the part of the curved path behind Soral's position and ahead of Thant, aiming her tricorder at each of them very briefly, before they spread themselves.

GAME: Harris contests his Search vs Challenging and Fails.

Before anyone escapes out of view, Reian scans each of her companions in turn, "I don't want my scans telling me that any of *you* are our missing scientists." she explains as she does so. "So, well, don't mind me..."

GAME: Thant contests his Search vs Challenging and Marginally Succeeds.

. o O Lopez thinks, "Tossed like a dormitory during a panty-raid. Who did this? Was it someone, or a bunch of someones? Did their subjects turn on them?"

Thant motions with his free hand. "There is some broken equipment over by that tree," he announces - quietly, while his gaze roves. "There has been heavy traffic through this way. At least one bout of violent action." A small sound, almost a chuckle, but very brief. "Though that much was probably obvious. - But it does not look like anyone has lived here for about... four weeks, I would estimate."

Soral takes his time to set off in his direction of the self assigned arch, his concentration on the tricorder. Suddenly he derivates on his course as if he has found something, zooming in on a nearby tree. However, he does not seem to have noticed, that such trees tend to have roots that are above the ground as well. For as his foot connects to the root, he just stumbles over it and falls. The last on his face is a very surprised expression before he goes down.

Harris moves toward the edge of the camp, glancing around. "See anything out of place?" he asks Turtledove.

"There's... blood." Reian's comment confirms Thant's commentary on the violence. "Plenty of it. But.." She swallows, before setting her jaw and squaring her shoulders visibly. "There's biomatter matching human.. over there." She indicates one of the rather beaten up prefab shelters. "Checking for other races." She is clearly planning on letting someone *else* investigate the probable findings...

McTiernan steps through the airlock access.

McTiernan has arrived.

McTiernan walks off the ship via the airlock.

McTiernan has left.

Matheson steps through the airlock access.

Matheson has arrived.

Matheson walks off the ship via the airlock.

Matheson has left.

Lopez glances up from her own readings to call forward, "Are you injured?" Lopez turns her head to glance towards Thant's search radius. "They've been... missing for that long? A month?"

The corridor Airlock Access sparkles as a forcefield engages, blocking passage through it.

GAME: Reian contests her Receptive Telepathy vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Mind Shield vs Challenging and Fails.

"Nothing that stands out, really." Turtledove studies the perimeter with a slow sweep. "They had a perimeter alert. Doesn't look like they were using a logging module, though."

Harris nods slowly, glancing back toward the shelter indicated by Reian. "Cover me while I check that out?" he asks softly. "If there's a corpse in there... it's not going to be pretty."

. o O Harris thinks, "Understatement of the year, I think."

Soral gets to his feet again, brushing off dirt from his pants and checking that his equipment is still working. To Lopez, he replies, "No injuries, Lieutenant." He pauses, then turns to the tree he almost stumbled against, and does a more thorough scan at that area.

Turtledove offers Harris a slight smile, for whatever reason. "Aye-aye." She otherwise stands by, phaser ready.

CRACK. There is a sharp sound as the tricorder falls from Reian's suddenly nerveless fingers, her legs giving under her as she staggers, colour draining from her face. A low moan breaks from her as her hands lift, pressing her her temples, "Too loud.." The words barely break from her as her eyes close tightly, as though shutting out extraneous noise, the Betazoid fighting to get control back. A fight that, right now, she doesn't appear to be winning.

Harris frowns as he passes Reian, glancing toward Turtledove in an attempt to meet her gaze, then indicating the Betazoid with a flick of his head. After that, he raises his phaser into a ready position and steps through the door into the indicated shelter.

Thant wanders slowly in the general direction of the tree, peering at it with something almost akin to suspicion - but a bit too calm to really be described thus. Soral's plight was carefully ignored. But it's a wandering which halts sharply at the sound. He whirls around, hand going for his phaser... but he doesn't finish the movement. Instead, he peers at Reian, hand nonetheless settled on the butt of his weapon. "Lieutenant?"

Lopez sets the tricorder back in its satchel. The energy-weapon however, remains out. "Whats going on?" she calls, moving to the edge of what she estimates is her search perimeter.

GAME: Reian spends a courage point.

Soral looks up at the tree and notices a cavity. With the sudden alarm caused by Reian, he just quickly searches through the space, taking out what he can find and rejoins the group, instinctivly moving down to a semi-crouch as he walks back. One hand reaches to a pocket of his suit.

Turtledove picks up the pace, giving Harris a quick, somewhat unhappy glance, as he steps into the shelter. She speaks mostly to herself. "Back-up? Remember, Rob?" She looks to Reian, makes an executive decision, and says, "What's wrong, Lieutenant?" She tries to keep an eye on both the shelter and the struggling telepath.

. o O Turtledove feels unimpressed with herself, mostly.

GAME: Harris contests his Search vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

Reian's breathing slowly calms, her tightly closed eyes starting to open slowly as she straightens up slowly, looking blankly at the tricorder lying on the floor. "Someone's out there. Injured. Dying. But.. there's so much.. so much noise. I.. I can't hear through it..." Blindly, she reaches for it, "We need to find them. They're starving.. hurt... we need to find them." Shaking fingers wrap around the tricorder, "I.. can't try again yet.. Give.. give me a minute."

Lopez turns to eye Soral who seems to be approaching with his hand at his pocket. "Find anything?" she asks, having gotten no response from the other members of the team.

Harris reappears from the interior of the shelter, holstering his phaser in favor of his tricorder -- and, coincidentally, holding the fabric of his jacket over his nose. "There's something dead in there, all right," he calls before turning and heading back inside.

Turtledove watches Reian, then says over her commpin. "Lopez, can you suspend what you're doing and run an emergency scan for biosigns? They might be weak. Reian's picking up something telepathically." Looking to Reian, she says, "Maybe you should take it easy, Lieutenant."

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

Soral's hand comes away from the pocket again, it must be where he keeps his weapon. At Lopez' question he metions, "Indeed. Someone has hidden these" he opens his hand "In a hollow in the tree." He examines his find, also seeing it for the first time now.

Reian stares at her tricorder for all the world as though she isn't sure what to do with it, before she taps at it almost absently, changing her scanning. "Trying another scan. With the equipment, this time." Her expression is bleak as she looks up, speaking to Turtledove, "Whoever's out there might not have time for me to sit around taking it easy." she whispers. She glances briefly towards Soral, but she's narrowing her focus back to her search, urgency from that brief mental brush driving her.

. o O Harris' stomach rolls with revulsion at the stench.

. o O Reian is a mass of raw edges, unwilling to let the chaotic whirl of noise back into her head.. but unable to leave alone the sense of someone being out there.. in need of help.

"By all means, then, scan away." Turtledove looks over to the shelter, meanwhile, and then looks around the camp. "You might want to elaborate on what just happened, though, in case it happens again." She smiles lightly to Reian. "I don't want to phaser you if I don't have to."

Appearing once more, Harris is silent before he moves behind the shelter. After a few moments, he reappears, folding his tricorder shut as he heads toward the main group. "It's Lieutenant Commander Simmons," he offers to Thant, his voice strained and color absent from his face. "Take her off the list; she's definitely dead."

Thant gives a slight nod to Harris. "Noted," he states, flatly. Again, he peers at Reian. "Any idea what that... other loudness is?"

. o O Harris thinks, "I'll find whoever did this to you, Commander. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Reian manages a smile up to Turtledove, "Yes.. you're right." she agrees, giving herself a mental shake. "They're out of reach of my tricorder anyhow.. down the ravine, I think. We'll either need to go that way, or perhaps fly over?" She glances to Harris questioningly. "As to what happened.. I searched for any mental voices.. and got rather more than I bargained for. Someone's out there, trapped in a cave, I think. But there's *also* a massively loud, psychic noise out there. Uncontrollably loud. I couldn't keep it out. My best guess? The Wawus are the only lifeforms supposed to be here. But if it's *them*.. they're unbelievably loud.. with some sort of hivemind deal mixed in.." She looks from one face to another, "I can reach out again.. maybe it will be easier now I expect it. But they're still there, even now. In the back of my mind. I can't shut them up completely.."

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

GAME: Soral contests his Computer/Research+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Lopez asks Soral, "What are they?" and hears the muffled message from Turtledove through a layer of cloth, peering at Soral's hand as she responds, "Aye-aye," she says, popping the device, and gives an apologetic look as she makes tracks for the shuttle, motioning for Thant with a waved arm which points toward Agent Soral. She holsters her weapon along the way. Once inside the cabin, she punches up sensors, and goes to work.

In Soral's hand are three isolinear chips. He puts one after the other into the tricorder to scan through its contents, or rather the indices of what might be on it. "I can not say until i finished looking through all three of them" he replies to Lopez, only mildly intrigued over her curiosity, "At least this one seems to contain research notes." He removes the first chip, holding it up briefly to Lopez before taking the next one. "If you have some idle time, mayhap you can skim this one for useful information already?"

Turtledove's eyes rest on Reian as she speaks. When she's finishes, she says over the comm, "Did you get that, Agent Harris?"

Turtledove's eyes rest on Reian as she speaks. When she's finishes, she looks over, in Harris' general direction. "Did you get that, Agent Harris?"

Harris is silent for a moment, giving Reian a thoughtful gaze. "I want to know if you can resist the hive's influence before you try again, because the last thing I want to do is be forced to stun you if you come under their influence." He tips his head back toward the shelter, apparently meaningfully. "If you can't, just say so, and we'll just get on with the mission. Don't feel like you absolutely have to."

. o O Lopez thinks, "Like bait."

"I have no idea." is the honest answer from Reian. "On the whole... if I can't shut them out completely, probably not. On the other hand, they didn't seem to be actively attempting any sort of control. Just.. loud. But using the tricorders and sensors to scan is probably the safer option. But we could get nearer and then we *should* be able to track the lifesigns that way. But if there are survivors out there, surely we should at least attempt to reach them? One way or another?"

Thant's brow furrows, thoughtfully. "Wouldn't the shuttle be better suited for fine sensor work?"

Lopez observes the data that is returned from the shuttle, and taps her pin. "I've got a human lifesign, two kilometers off. Its alone, and its faint-- so either fading fast or shielded... no one goes off alone into woods like these in a place like this.

. o O Harris thinks, "I'm such an idiot. Why didn't I bring a doctor?"

GAME: Soral contests his Computer/Research+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Turtledove regards Reian with peculiar curiosity, meanwhile. "Well, Of course we're going to try to find them." She looks to Harris, then back to Reian. She gives Reian a slight smile of encouragement.

Soral scans through the next chip, about to repeat the process with the third and last.

Harris taps his communicator. "If you can get a transporter lock, Lieutenant, contact the ship and advise them of the survivor's coordinates, and to beam directly from sickbay. If you can't, get some pattern enhancers, enough of the emergency transporter armbands for everyone, a medkit, and hustle out here." He pauses to nod toward Reian. "We're not leaving anyone behind."

Reian turns her gaze to Lopez, hopeful suddenly, "There we are then." she murmurs quietly. "Not even far away." She settles as Harris gives his orders, nodding, "It's still strange though." she murmurs softly, turning to look out into the surrounding forest. "So *much*.. out there." Distant, her eyes are, as she does another scan of the area, her brow furrowed deeply, lost in concentration.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems/Transporter vs Challenging and Succeeds.

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

GAME: Soral contests his Computer/Research+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Turtledove stands by Harris while Lopez rallies, meanwhile.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Thant falls silent again, silently peering around the area.

"Mr. Thant", Soral draws his colleagues attention to himself, giving him two isolinear chips. "Those are the logs and research notes of Sieran and Andreas Colon. It would be more efficient if we shared the task of analysing the data for any addition of note." Soral himself takes the last chip again, analysing it some further.

"There's Wawus out there." Reian muses, almost to herself, looking into the forest. "But not enough. Not unless.." She shakes her head, "They could have an incredible range. Logic would suggest that's the most likely explanation." The biosciences officer is more than a little lost to the idea of a primitive, telepathic lifeform out there, quite happy to let everyone else be competent, although she does manage to note, "If I can be of any help analysing the data, just say.."

"Standby," Lopez relays to the remnants of the team outside. She speaks to the Glasnost. The Glasnost speaks back. And Lopez frowns, talks to the Glasnost again, and transfers some information away. Wait. Watch. Scratch your head, Lopez. Listen to the Glasnost. She relays, "They've got him, they needed help with the lock and it took some time and..." She pauses. "Get in the shuttle! NOW! Inbound, repeat, we have multiple probable hostiles rapidly inbound! Move!"

. o O Lopez thinks, "It was bait. He was bait, and we sprung the trap. They wanted us to come out there. Its a -pack-."

GAME: Soral contests his Computer/Data Alteration+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

"You heard the lady," Harris orders, tugging his phaser free from his holster. "Thant, Reian, fall back to the shuttle now. We'll be right behind you. Lopez, get it fired up." He glances at Turtledove and adds, "What was that about adventures that you asked me?"

"I believe I was wondering why you weren't more /excited/?" Turtledove grins broadly to Harris. Her phaser is already drawn, so she just falls back with him, helping to cover the rear.

Reian turns her head towards the shuttle, then starts to move on Harris's orders, with only one longing glance back to the forest as she hotfoots it towards the vehicle, getting herself out of the way so as not to hold anyone up.

Soral moved to the shuttle already to facilitate the better computers there to process the last chip he has so the distance he has to cover is somewhat shorter so he simply reassumes his previous seat. If he is annoyed that he can not continue his research, he does not show it

GAME: Lopez contests her Vehicle Operations/Shuttlecraft vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Mind Shield vs Routine and Succeeds.

Thant gives a quiet grunt, but falls back towards the shuttle. Rather than withdrawing his phaser, however, he simply keeps a hand near to it, for swift(ish, probably) removal.

Lopez powers up the shuttle from its still warm state, saying over and over, "Go, go, go, get aboard so I can seal this tub, come on..."

Reian's eyes widen as she runs, "Get.. out.. of.. my.. head.." she hisses, soft, yet with near venom in her usually tranquil tones. The frown is back on her face, utter determination as she dives for the shuttle. If she's going to lose this battle, she's *not* going to lose it before she's onboard..

And it is with Reian and Thant making frantic last-second stumbles back onto the shuttle, and the resultant shutting of hatch behind them as the last stragglers, that the first wave of angry, hairy primates, halfway between oranguntans and neanderthals, leap from the treeline. Some of them, the largest ones, simply *grab* the shuttle, while others 'cover' them with primitive projectile weapons -- javelins and even things halfway between javelin and bow that launch miniature spears. The spears can't HURT the shuttle, of course -- indeed, if it weren't for the deadly, primal, earnestness, it'd be almost comical.

And it is with Reian and Thant making frantic last-second stumbles back onto the shuttle, Harris and Turtledove pushing them with more frantic energy, and the resultant shutting of hatch behind them, that the first wave of angry, hairy primates, halfway between oranguntans and neanderthals, leap from the treeline. Some of them, the largest ones, simply *grab* the shuttle, while others 'cover' them with primitive projectile weapons -- javelins and even things halfway between javelin and bow that launch miniature spears. The spears can't HURT the shuttle, of course -- indeed, if it weren't for the deadly, primal, earnestness, it'd be almost comical.

Turtledove eyes the primitives from inside the shuttle. "Well, that's a heck of a way to go."

Lopez mutters from one of the forward stations, "Stick and stones, my wooly, murderous little friends. Sticks and stones..."

"They're attacking." Reian whispers.. she's made no move to get anywhere near the copilot seat for the return trip, just finding the nearest seat and flopping into it, her jaw clenched. "Not just.. out there..." She closes her eyes for a moment, seeking equilibrium, "Did we get the information we needed? Can we go yet?" Clearly, she is not a happy little scientist right now.

Thant sighs, quietly, as his breathing quickens. Notably -after- he's finished running. "That... was fun," he observes, evenly, "in an entirely unwanted way." A pause. "What about the others? Was the biomass equal in mass to the known rough mass of the team, discounting our one survivor?"

Soral, cool as always, "An unfortunate arrival. Yet we can return at a later time as it is.."

Harris settles into one of the seats in the cockpit, watching the mad attack for a few moments. "We can't leave while they're swarming us -- we'd kill them, if not with the thrusters, with the fall." He glances at Lopez. "So, how about this: let's make it so the hull gives them a painful, but non-lethal shock when they touch it. We'll get airborne, we'll scan for more survivors, and then we'll get the hell off this rock." To Thant, he adds, "Work with Agent Soral on looking over the research notes. I want to know why the Wawus are being openly hostile now. Mister Reian, I need you to look over the scans that I took of Commander Simmons' body; I want to know a cause of death." He grins, then adds, "Mister Turtledove, you'll work with Mister Lopez on Operation: Zap Wawus."

Harris adds, "Oh, and Mister Reian? If you could look up the next of kin information for the Commander, I'd appreciate that too."

Thant speaks slowly, thoughtfully, and quietly. Perhaps he's working out what he says as he says it. "Were there Wawu lifesigns around the survivor before beamout? If they realised or guessed that Lieutenant Reian was linked to the disappearance of the survivor, I would hazard the guess that their victory ritual may have been interrupted. Perhaps they had only just caught the individual in question... in which case that individual would then be one Andres Colon, who would be most likely to survive this long." He opens his hand, peering at the chips Soral gave him just before the rather hasty flight back to the shuttle. "I'll get to work on these," he adds.

GAME: Reian contests her Medical Sciences vs Routine and Succeeds.

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

GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Soral asks Thant to return the chip of Siran once more, mentioning "The other chip is encrypted, and as first tests showed, we would need better equipment as to start the decryption process, so if i may have the other chip back so we can work on those at least."

GAME: Thant contests his Computer vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Lopez gestures to the adjacent console and smiles at Turtledove, "What say you we give they all new hairdo's? Ideas for how we're gonna do it?" She glances over her shoulder at Thant, "I didn't note any of their vitals around him, I have to confess. I could have used the XO, or the transporter chief or someone down here, it was hard enough getting him out."

"Her neck was snapped." is Reian's initial response after looking over the data provided, "But.. there's something a little odd about it.. give me a few more minutes.. have the next of kin though.." She continues at her work, trying to ignore the sounds of the creatures outside, for all that her eyes occasionally flick to the hatch that closed so reassuringly behind them.

The shuttle begins to rock with the impact, as over two dozen Wawus swarm over the thing.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Turtledove smiles in spite of the situation. She looks to Lopez. "Hmm. We could.. dust-off the anti-riot controls. They look pretty out of whack, but should do the trick, once re-calibrated."

GAME: Turtledove has the merit of Excellent Balance at 1.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Shipboard Systems/Security vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Soral contests his Mind Shield vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

"I've reconfigured the phasers to a stun setting, should they not get the hint with the shocks," Harris reports after a few moments. "Last resort, we'll lift off and roll the shuttle to knock them off." He glances at Reian then. "In the next of kin information, does it mention how she'd like her remains to be... dispositioned?" He doesn't like that word, it's clear on his face. "What I found... wasn't pretty."

Lopez descends several levels into the shipboard functions of the shuttles, saying seriously, "Lets see what we can do about anti-wackifying those controls, then." Ana's green eyes flick up toward the ceiling at the rocking, and then turn back to the console. "I'm tempted to give them a near-deafening auditory pulse in addition, but... okay. Looks good from here. Fire it up."

Thant suggests while he works, "Why not just kill the lights? They might believe the shuttle is 'dead' and leave of their own accord. Associating a Federation shuttle with lightning might have adverse effects... then again, -settling- the world probably already did that." He sniffs, slightly, with distaste.

Turtledove taps the console, engaging the anti-riot protocols.

Soral suddenly looks pained, he manages to set down his tricorder, but it comes down rather apprupt. Hands reach up to his temples. "There is.... an.. unwanted wave of... emotions. I must invoke the Khat-T'Kel. NOW.. Mr. Thant, Directive 27-Victory-Tango-Tango!" Soral's eyes flutter close as he still continues to rock, but starting to slow down, yet does not open his eyes again. The Directive is not aimed to be invoked in this situation, but it is clear what it means: Stun or sedate him if Soral twitches within the next hour.

GAME: Reian contests her Receptive Empathy vs Routine and Succeeds.

Reian flicks a glance towards the exit again, before she gets back to her job, "Simple disposal." she confirms, "Launch into space via torpedo tube if possible, otherwise cremation." She continues her job on the medical sciences before she looks towards Soral, clear concern flickering on her expression, but she doesn't move to try and interrupt the Vulcan, leaving him to employ his own defences as he sees best.

Thant simply glances at Soral for a moment, his expression becoming very carefully controlled. Since the Vulcan clearly isn't going to respond to anything he says anyway, he goes back to his work - but remains vigilant, all the same.

. o O Thant thinks, "How it would be pain me to carry out that order."

. o O Thant feels a small twinge of dislike.

Lopez sits back as the shuttle unleashes its nasty little surprise for the Wawus outside. "Special Agent Harris, permission to get this barge off the ground. I think they are getting the point."

Harris glances over his shoulder toward Soral, his hand dropping to the butt of his phaser as he eyes the Vulcan for a long, silent moment. "Permission granted. We'll sweep the valley a few times, scanning specifically for non-Wawu biomass, and then..." he pauses, then turns back to face the front of the shuttle. "I have an errand to take care of at the camp."

Turtledove is pleased. She crosses her arms as the Wawus receive the nasty taser-like shock. "That's right, fellas. Shuttles bad." Harris' last statement gets her attention. "Body recovery?"

Reian bites her lower lip at Harris's pronouncement, sadness in her gaze before she looks back to her readings. "I wouldn't want to be left out there." she agrees, "I don't really think we have much choice there.."

Thant remarks dryly, with what -sounds- like absolutely zero humour, even if the wording is somewhat different: "Think this'll convince them to skip the dirty industrial phase?"

GAME: Lopez contests her Vehicle Operations/Shuttlecraft vs Moderate and Succeeds.

And with that, the shuttle does begin to lift off the ground, shaking slightly, delicately from side to side as it does to shake off the stunned Wawus before the shuttle achieves enough height that the drop would kill the primitives. Soon, it is just over 60 meters above the forest floor, about 10 meters above the highest trees and jutting hillside promontories of the valley, and clear of physical obstructions...

GAME: Reian contests her Mind Shield vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Reian contests her Receptive Telepathy vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

Lopez frowns, despite being by posture generally pleased with the takeoff. "You're sure you don't want me to try and get a lock on the space the... deceased was last in?" Stink-city...

Reian moans softly, shaking her head, "I.. don't know.." she whispers, "Why what?" Black eyes look out, but beyond the shuttle, not really seeing it. Reian's not even making a pretence at doing her job now, everything set aside, her gaze blank.

. o O Reian thinks, "Why *what*??"

"No," Harris replies softly. "I'll take care of it." He glances back over his shoulder at Reian. "Turtledove, take the helm. Lopez, check on Reian. Mister Thant? Stand by with your phaser."

Lopez gets up from her station with a nod, leaving Tera and Harris and passing by Mr. Thant. "Telasa?" she questions softly, and puts out a careful hand intended for the Scientist's arm. "Are you with us?"

Thant glances over at Reian, brow furrowing for a moment with near-obvious concern, but returns to his work almost without pause nonetheless.

GAME: Reian contests her Receptive Empathy vs Routine and Succeeds.

Turtledove gives Harris a curious glance. "Sure." When Lopez passes by, she moves to take the helm.

Turtledove sits at the co-pilots console.

GAME: Lopez contests her First Aid vs Routine and Fails.

"Ana?" Reian's eyes unfocus, refocus, as she tries to drag herself back. "They're hurting too." Her voice is quiet and still. "They're confused.. upset... I don't know why. There's too much... Too much anger. They're just.. young." She doesn't avoid Lopez's touch.. hardly seems to notice it in fact. "They're as unhappy as anyone.."

GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

Lopez closes her hand around Reian's arm, and reaches out the other hand to hold Reian's other arm. Its a slow immobilization as much as an action meant to try and bring the focus back. "I'm sure they are," she says, as soothingly as possible. "But you need to stay with us now. We can't help anyone down there with them so angry... we can't even understand them. Come on back, now, Telasa."

GAME: Thant has the flaw of Obsessive Tendencies at -3.

GAME: Thant spends a courage point.

. o O Lopez is extremely concerned for Reian, as well as curious about the Wawus on the ground.

Thant -finally- looks up, blinking slowly. "Uhhh... yeah," he now answers Harris. "Sorry." He withdraws his phaser, but doesn't go so far as to point it at Reian. Keeping an eye on her (with obvious distraction), he adds, "I found something. Andres Colon's last log entry was rather hurried. It reads, uh," hurried glances at his screen to confirm each chunk as he speaks, "'Siran did it... and now we're in deep trouble... I'll have to stash this and hope someone finds it... in case I don't make it to safety.'"

. o O Lopez thinks, "What did the last team do to set them off?"

. o O Thant thinks, "Hmmm, interesting - wait, he said to - damnit, I'm working! Wait, that's work too. - Mind on that, mind on this. Shut up, Thant, and speak. - That's an entirely illogical thought."

A slow blink, "I'm here." she promises Lopez. "I can just.. hear them. Maybe someone stronger than me could keep them out completely. But they're... intruding." She starts to lift a hand to rub a temple, almost surprised as she realises that Lopez's gentle grip is stronger than it seems. "I'm here, Ana. Honestly. Don't worry..."

Harris turns to face the sensor controls as he listens to Thant, his brows furrowing. "Siran did it? Wasn't she the Vulcan on the expedition?" The console buzzes at him then, and he looks back. "I've got nothing here. I think our survivor was probably the last one, and..." he sighs. "I'm not detecting any remains, either."

Turtledove's eyes move to Harris. She offers him a quiet smile. "We can do another sweep."

"Okay," Lopez says, and glances in puzzlement toward the others in the shuttle, particularly now Thant. "Telasa, can they hear you, too? Can you think about a question? The other team... what did they do? Something the team did made them angry enough to kill. Something that hurt them? -- Rob, someone needs to contact Glasnost. If he's conscious, someone needs to ask our survivor..."

Reian hears Harris and blanches slightly, "I didn't.. there wasn't any anger.. not before I searched for survivors.." she points out. "Nothing that I noticed. Maybe.. maybe it's telepaths that set them off? Maybe my looking for lifesigns is what triggered them?" She looks positively appalled at the thought. But she answers Lopez, "I can ask.. I might even get an answer. But you'll have to ask me what it is later, I think... Any reply is likely to be.... overwhemlming."

GAME: Reian contests her Intellect/Logic vs Moderate and Succeeds.

"One more pass," Harris replies to Turtledove. "And contact the ship to see if our survivor's awake."

Harris turns to face Reian then. "Ask if any of them are left alive."

"It's telepaths." Reian's words are soft, speaking half to herself, half to Lopez. "That's what did it today. It.. it's the only logical explanation." There is open fear on her expression for a moment as Harris confirms her orders, before she nods briefly, "Yes, Sir." she responds automatically.

Turtledove nods. She turns the shuttle around, then taps the console. "USS Glasnost, this is the Andropov, checking on the status of our survivor. Is he alert enough to answer a few questions?"

Thant nods, slightly. "Indeed, a Vulcan graduate student on research leave from the Vulcan Science Academy, as I recall it," he answers Harris. He hesitates, for a moment. "I wonder..." He blinks, rapidly, clearly lost in thought.

Reian pauses for a long moment, crushing the fear, forcing logic to the fore. Considering, "Agent Harris." she finally says. "I haven't asked them anything. Because.. if I'm right.. any further mental intrusion, well intentioned or not... will aggravate the matter." She winds her fingers together, one against the other, knuckles whitening. "You're in charge. Obviously. But.. this doesn't seem like a good idea. Not if I'm right."

. o O Thant thinks, "What if Siran attempted a meld? No, that's unthinkable. - Or attempted to gain permission for one? Would they have realised her intent?"

"Andropov, this is Glastnost. Patching you through to sickbay. Stand by." A pause. "Sickbay, Doctor Sirawati speaking. Is there trouble with the away team?"

Harris folds his arms over his chest. "Unless it's a Code issue, Lieutenant, ask the question," he orders softly. "We need to know."

. o O Lopez thinks, "Oh, and how."

"The initiation of telepathic contact may have been what caused this," Thant says hurriedly, after several long moments of hesitation - he wears a frown as he says it. "Perhaps alien," an apologetic glance at Reian, "telepathy... conflicts with their communicative process? Like... jamming. I suppose that would even be painful, like someone shouting loudly. Incompatibility? So they lash out at it in any way they can?" Yes, he's clearly forming an opinion even while he... protests?

Turtledove speaks to the console. "We're scanning for more survivors, Doctor. We're hoping your patient can help us find them."

Lopez says, "If she asks the question, they might kill whoever's still alive down there,"

. o O Thant thinks, "Siran -couldn't- have. Surely?"

GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Reian swallows, her gaze steady as she meets Harris's eyes, a steely glint suddenly visible, "I will not force mental contact on a race that does not wish for it. Sir." she states in tones that are soft, but entirely even. "We have no proof this race welcomes mental contact. Indeed, quite the reverse. I am not in a position to comply with your order." The Betazoid is pale, the impetus to obey the mission leader strong, but her own convictions. She does try to offer a compromise, however, "I can try and open up my mind and see if I can pick anything up from them, but enforcing a direct contact at this point would seem to be irresponsible at best, criminal at worst."

The disembodied voice of Doctor Sirawati continues: "The patient's not coherent at the moment, Andropov. He's lucky to be alive. He seems to have survived for almost 3 weeks on a handful of protein rations and some catchwater, despite a badly broken and infected leg. It may be a while before I can get answers out of them."

"That's all that I needed to know," Harris replies flatly as he turns back to the console to run a second sensor sweep. "Thank you, Lieutenant."

. o O Harris thinks, "When I find the bastard that made command by committee fashionable, I'll pick him up and shake him until his eyes pop out of his head."

. o O Harris is irritated.

. o O Reian feels distressed and confused, guilty and unhappy.

. o O Reian thinks, "How would you like it if I stuck my mind into *your* head uninvited? Haven't I done enough damage already? You want answers? Fine. I just hope someone's going to pour my brain back in through my ears later.."

"Well, it was worth a try. Thank-you, Doctor. And godspeed to your patient. Andropov out." Turtledove looks over to Harris, but doesn't say anything. She turns back to the console.

Thant glances at Harris - and sheathes his phaser again. He moves over towards Soral, with clear intent towards extracting something from said Vulcan's outer-jacket pocket. Gingerly. As gingerly as he can manage, at least...

GAME: Reian contests her Receptive Telepathy vs Moderate and Dramatically Fails.

Lopez continues to holds Telasa Reian's arms by their upper portions, standing by.

GAME: Thant contests his Coordination/Dexterity vs Routine and Fails.

Reian glares at Harris' back for long moments, before she allows that distant, 'listening' look to appear once more. For all of about two seconds, before her face crumples in pain and she screams, jerking back in her seat, only Lopez's hold stopping her falling. The sound is anguished, but thankfully short lived, as Reian slumps in her seat. Unmoving.

"I've got the bodies of Arrosch and... Siran, it looks like. There's a lot more that I can't identify -- more than there were scientists, in fact." Harris sighs heavily. "It looks like the Wawus went on a fairly sizable rampage." He scrunches his shoulders together at Reian's scream, then adds, "Transmitting coordinates to Glasnost for body recovery."

GAME: Daedalus forces Soral to contest his Presence/Willpower vs Routine and Succeeds.

When Thant's hand comes back, unfortunately, it snags on the Vulcan's jacket, tugging. The Vulcan's face is momentarily disturbed in its look of forced passivity, and then is still once more, as the isolinear chip comes free.

Thant probably would've breathed out a sigh of relief, but with screaming Betazoids (well, one) collapsing nearby, there are other priorities. Which turn out to actually be getting to work on reading the isolinear chip: he returns to his station (with a brief and utterly uncharacteristic glare directed at Harris), and hunkers down with a thoughtful expression. A thoughtful... guarded expression. He remains silent, as far as spoken words go.

. o O Thant thinks, "I do not trust myself to think too much right now. So I should concentrate on my work, and be silent. But when I am calm... then I shall have -much- to say."

. o O Thant feels a conflict of emotion; curiousity, anger, and a strangely linked combination of disgust and fear. The fear seems to lead to the disgust, or perhaps the fear is -of- the disgust.

GAME: Thant contests his Computer vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Harris finishes the transmission to the ship in orbit, then looks at Reian for a moment. "Anyone else have any pressing business which we need to take care of right now here on Dessica?"

Lopez says, "No sir."

Thant sighs, suddenly, and very heavily. He looks up, his face rigid with control. "Agent Harris," he begins, slowly, as if not entirely willing to be speaking at all, "I just skimmed through Siran's log entries." His smile rapidly fades into a frown, and he shakes his head. "She intended to attempt a meld; even made preparations. She did not believe that they even had a spoken language, and intended to prove it." He sighs, heavily. "I would go so far as to suggest that this was what Andres Colon was referring to."

. o O Thant thinks, "Disgusting. Without communication, how could there be permission? Unthinkable!"

. o O Thant feels a rising gorge of disgust.

Turtledove throws in her reply to Harris, meanwhile. "Nothing here." After a pause, she adds, "Did you copy the coordinates for the campsite?"

Reclaiming the flight controls from Turtledove, Harris angles the nose of the shuttlecraft toward the stars. "And the Wawus attacked in retribution, slaughtering the scientists and people who weren't involved." He shakes his head. "Let's get the hell off this planet." Turtledove's question gets a sad sort of look in reply, but nothing more.

The Andropov rockets toward the heavens, leaving the Wawus -- and the unidentified dead, save for one -- behind.

Some time later...

The dirt of the campsite crunches under Robert Harris' boots as he rounds the structure that concealed Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Simmons' body from the rest of the encampment. He stands silently for a moment, then takes a deep breath and starts to speak to the trees in the deepening twilight.

"I'm not good at speechmaking, and I didn't know you well enough to be able to celebrate your life in the way that it should be -- nor, frankly, do I have the time. That will come later, somewhere far away from here. We don't know exactly what happened here yet; we've got a theory, and the days to come will reveal the full answer. But we do know that you died in the persuit of knowledge, learning about the indigenous population here so that one day, the Wawus can either be integrated into our society or left alone to develop in the way they were meant to. I only wish that we had come earlier, so that your studies here hadn't ended like this, in pain, violence, and death."

He pauses, then slides his phaser out of his holster and taps the buttons to increase power to a level sufficient to vaporize a humanoid. "You died on a settled planet inside Federation space, and no one cared because we've allowed this place to exist as an anarchy. Maybe now, we'll actually step up and take responsibility for this place so that something like this never happens again." With a heavy sigh, he takes aim. "Godspeed, Commander Simmons."

The red lance of phased energy lights the forest, and then the mortal remains of Elizabeth Simmons vanish into the air.

Harris stands there for a moment more, then lowers his phaser and reaches inside his jacket to tap his communicator. "Harris to Glasnost, one to beam up."

The transporter effect claims him then, and the silence of the forest is restored as the moon rises over the hills, light streaming in brilliant shafts through the trees.