Something Rotten

Posted on Jun 11, 2014 @ 5:36pm by Lieutenant Commander Aerdan Jos & Thomas Varn & Phia
Edited on on Jun 11, 2014 @ 5:37pm

Mission: http://thefrpg.com/sim/missions/id/7

"Something Rotten" (Continued from: "Spoilers: They heroically perished in a fiery crater of wreckage.")

~*~
Location: USS ARMSTRONG
Stardate: 2.1406110220
Scene: Bridge*Turbolift

~*~

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"
~Shakespeare, Hamlet Act 1, Scene 4

~*~

“Lt. Commander Varn, if you could assist Lt. Commander Bomba on the away team?” Harcourt looked around, wondering if the winged man would be up to it. From the little she heard from sickbay, this away team had taken a beating – Varn in particular. But the doctors had cleared him to leave, and she had to trust their judgment and these officers’ own decisions. It was an unusual spot for her to be in. For years she was used to knowing her senior officers closely, working with the same ones year after year. Now she felt adrift and somewhat lost, trusting others at their word. She had little other recourse.

“Certainly.” Thomas nodded, already in the process of calling the scan data to his tricorder.

“You should take a medical officer along, just in case Towers is actually down there and in need of assistance.” Captain Harcourt continued, casting her eyes towards Foster. He was one officer she was at least aware of. It was hard to miss a reputation like Cade Foster’s. In person she found him quite a bit more tolerable than the horror stories made out.

“I’m going, too.” O’Malley’s voice was sharp and convicted.

“Angus…” Rose gave a soft protest, turning towards him.

“Rosie.” He returned, “Nobody knows systems like this better than me. If I go along and we find something strange, my expertise will drastically increase our response and research time. In, out, done. Promise.”

Rose Harcourt took a second to steel herself. Deep breath in, deep breath out. She looked towards Varn and Foster, repeating, “Get in, find the signal, get out, we leave. No dallying.”

“Understood.” Thomas nodded.

Elsewhere Lt. Cmdr. Storm Bomba was already preparing (read: primping) for the Away Mission, but strutting around the Bridge, the undefinable beat back to his step. Walking to the monitor he said, “Keep it up, Ensign. But you want to leverage the readings from the ionic polarizing unit when looking at the quantum imaging sustainer.”

Then he finished off what he considered valuable feedback by winking at the Ensign, snapping his fingers at the poor newbie, and then confirmed his hair looked fabulous in the reflection.

“I think he just made that up,” Cade muttered. Furrowing his brows he said, “I know he said words, and by themselves they mean something, but together they make no sense.”

Phia, who had been slightly off to the side and behind Cade, watched this all with dispassionate eyes. Spinning on her heel she went to the turbolift and waited.

Then she heard footsteps behind her. She exhaled a little more harshly through her nose but that was the extent of her response. When the doors opened up with a slight “whoosh” she stepped into the turbolift and the heels behind her came along too.

The Bolian/Vulcan said nothing and stared straight ahead as the doors “swooshed” closed.

“Sickbay.” As the lift moved he said while sparing a glance to the CNS, “You could end this charade if you wanted to,” said the voice next to her. “You could make one call. It’s one call to EARTH to Secretary--”

The dark haired woman turned to the older man standing there. “You know I don’t ever like talking about…*her*.” Jabbing her index finger in the doctor’s chest to make another point she momentarily pushed herself back as if stung.

Cade Foster smirked at that. “What’s the matter?” Raising an eyebrow in challenge he said, “Not able to handle--”

“Stop lift - Counseling override,” Phia called out. The lift immediately jerked to a stop. When Cade’s nostrils twitched in annoyance the Bolian/Vulcan smiled with a venomous edge, “What’s the matter? Unable to handle the pressure of being with me?”

Foster narrowed his eyes and waited the all of...10 seconds before calling out, “Medical override, resume course.”

That they made it to Sickbay in one piece was a miracle.

=/\=
Scene: CNS’ office

Phia had Colonel Alexander Towers’ bio and SF history one one screen was typing up her analysis on another screen:

Colonel Alexander Towers is a Marine. This is not a job description, it is a descriptor
of the man himself. While his records do not indicate that he was on any solo missions;
one cannot discount that a highly decorated Marine with high-level Security clearances would be called upon to perform a mission that would voided out from his records.

It is this officer’s opinion that it would be highly unlikely that he would go anywhere -- even
on a Secure mission -- by himself. Every other record of his has been cross-checked
with other officers and enlisted -- both Starfleet and Marine. Every other mission from
the time he first entered service, Alexander Towers has *always* served with another.
Even those records which have been redacted or beyond my clearance, I can reference
with another officer/enlisted he served with at the same time. It is then probable to
conclude that he went on a mission with another.

Additionally, given his meticulous nature (please see Counseling Record - Towers 2917AlphaTowers887) it is unlikely that Towers simply “lost” his commbadge on a solo mission.

Taking all that under consideration, I calculate that the probability of Col. Towers being by himself on a mission and having lost his commbadge at a 3.6%. If I were calculating the odds of Towers being on a solo mission and the commbadge having been taken from him, the percentage goes up to 8.54%.

~BRING~

Phia’s head snapped up at that. She frowned at being interrupted. Egads, what if someone wanted a Counseling Session?

“Damn it,” she muttered. The ship was full of newbies, they might be scared, and she’d have to help them. “Damn it,” she muttered again for entirely different reasons.

“Enter,” she called out.

Aerdan Jos entered then. “Counselor,” he began looking around the sterile room.

“Doctor,” she nodded. She knew he had other titles, ranks, etcetera but to her he was a Dr. Jos. When he looked lost she said, “Did you need a Counseling Session?”

“No but...I know it’s none of my business but did Dr. Foster seem ok to you?” Aerdan asked.

“Why?” Phia asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

“He’s getting ready for the Away Mission and he keeps muttering--”

“Old age.”

“About you.”

Phia blinked her eyes at that. Then she folded her hands on the desk and said, “It’s perfectly normal to feel lost about your role on a new ship. If you’d like to discuss it, please have a seat.”

“You’re avoiding my question.” Commander Jos shot back, blue eyes cutting through her. “However, all things considered, I’m going to let that drop…” She looked up, a hint of relief bleeding into her stony expression until the Andorian raised two fingers and added, “...for now.”

“Letting things drop, that’s not like you Doc.” she returned, flicking a finger over her PADD to start the thing compiling data again.

“Doctor.” He immediately corrected, without thinking. “And I can tell by your tone that it’s something personal, which means that whatever else, neither of you are in immediate dangers and I can address it later.”

She frowned a bit. “Which one of us is the counselor here? I don’t think it’s you.”

“I’m not here to talk to you as a counselor.” Aerdan replied candidly.

Phia narrowed her eyes, she could guess what was coming next. “OK. What are you here for?”

“What the hell is going on with this ship?” he pressed.

The Bolian hybrid perked a brow. “You should ask that of Captain Harcourt.”

“I just did.” Commander Jos returned. “I didn’t get an answer. Just a whole lot of silence.”

Slowly the counselor took a breath in through her teeth. “I was recently transferred here. Just before they set out on this mission.”

“Coincidence?” he queried, already quite sure it wasn’t.

“Snowball’s chance on Vulcan.” she replied tartly. “The vast majority of the crew was re-assigned within the last three months and the ship was loaded up with kids just off their cadet cruise.” She stopped there, giving him a meaningful stare.

“Which would be routine, if the Armstrong stayed in safe territory with routine missions.” Aerdan filled in with his light lisping tone. “Which this is neither.”

Phia nodded slowly. “There are other ships available, but backup was not sent.”

“A set-up?” Commander Jos blinked very slowly. “Coming down from Starfleet Command?”

Phia pushed a PADD towards Aerdan. “I did my research before I came onboard. Captain Harcourt’s father was Philip Harcourt, aka Commodore Harcourt, aka the man who first broke news about the Neo-Essentialists to Starfleet Command with conclusive proof. Funny story, her great-grandfather was an intelligence agent that outed parts of the Optimum movement in the 2370’s.”

“So she comes from a line of legitimate conspiracy theorists?” Aerdan shook his head a little, not quite getting what she was pushing at.

“Perceptive people who know what to look for and how to sort all the data out.” Phia rose and took up her own PADD. “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, Doctor. But I still found that to be some mighty compelling reading.”

Aerdan Jos frowned, scanning the PADD in his hand. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“No.” she replied honestly. “Not one bit.” She sighed as the doors swooshed open. “Sorry, Doctor, session’s over. I’m late for a very important away team date.”

~*~

Scene: Transporter Room -> NIMBUS III

Phia headed into the transporter room with just enough time to spare Cade Foster an all too satisfying glare as Thomas made the last checks.

“Is everybody ready?” Lt. Commander Bomba asked, grinning as if they were all going on vacation rather than into an alien deathtrap.

Looking up Thomas shook his head, "something is not right here Bomba can't you feel it?"

Angus looked to the science officer, who at best he could tell wanted to be a medical officer with the type of coat he was wearing. Bomba looked at Thomas trying his best to stay positive and perky despite the unfamiliar company. The group, minus Bomba, was on edge and rightly so as something was definitely not right, as Thomas had stated moments before.

Stepping down from the transporter pad Bomba smiled before putting hand on Thomas shoulder, "it's ok to be scared kid but just remember, we are Starfleet officers. We will do what is right and do it to the best of our ability. There is no wavering, no retreat, and no rest for we are on a mission. Oh, and you, you my friend are going to be an invaluable asset to said mission."

Looking down at Bomba’s hand Thomas inhaled deeply, "with all due respect Commander if you do not remove your hand from my shoulder I'll remove it from your wrist."

Bomba jerked his hand back slightly shocked at the ineffectiveness of his time tested speech for the "men". Leaning to the side Angus whispered to Cade, "he won't become a problem will he?"

Cade merely smiled and shrugged, "yes, no, I don't know. I've never served with him have you?"

Angus' s face slightly dropped losing its color before looking to Phia who gave a quick response of a firm, "no."

“We should get going. The Captain specifically said to be ‘speedy’” Bomba reminded, forcing a smile onto his face. Why did this mission have to include a whole bunch of jaded ranking officers? They were seriously trying both his patience and his style.

“The captain said, in out and get gone.” Phia returned, stepping onto the transporter PADDs. “Might I suggest that everyone stay quiet and focused?”

“I’m sure we’ll all use our library voices.” Bomba smiled back, earning himself a look of pure disgust from Phia

Storm Bomba decided against a charismatic ‘shhh!’ to kick off the exploration and simply waited as the rest of the team silently assembled on the platform and a shimmering blue light enveloped them.

~*~

Scene: Sickbay

Aerdan Jos felt his stomach sink into the pit of his gut as he absorbed the data on the PADD Phia had given to him. It was, in a word, bad news.

Actually that was two words. Aerdan’s brain seemed to automatically fill in Cade’s quips, even without him being there. The longtime familiarity was comforting, even in dire situations like this one. The looming sense of dread over this mission left Aerdan with a jumbled pile of thoughts on the matter. Jumbled thoughts and questions. Too many questions. There were too many pieces of this puzzle that he couldn’t quite fit together.

And without thinking he found himself in sickbay, as if his feet immediately gravitated there. Not that it was particularly hard with the proximity to the counseling officers, but there was a quiet familiarity of the place.

And quiet was wholly accurate. There was a gentle buzz of machinery tending the injured NESTIS VII civilians, but otherwise the place was sedate. Cade had already left for the away team, the rest of the PENDRAGON staff had either headed to duty posts elsewhere or had been medically relieved of duty. Still Aerdan was hoping – counting on – one person still being there. As he poked his head around the corner and into the main bay he was rewarded with a familiar voice.

“Commander Jos?” Suvek queried evenly, “Are you feeling any ill effects from the skirmish?”

Aerdan perked a brow. ‘Skirmish.’ How like Suvek to phrase things in the least impressive manner possible. “A bit of discomfort in my shoulder, nothing I can’t deal with over the short term.” He paused, “Suvek, how much do you know about Starfleet command?”

The Vulcan surgeon perked a brow. “As in how command officers operate, or the overarching political structure that guides the organization?”

“The latter.” Commander Jos settled a bit, watching Suvek. He knew the man had some strong contacts with the highest ranks in Starfleet, most of them directly from his skill as a biochemist.

Doctor Suvek leaned back, considering. “I understand how the command structure works and why things are set in the places they are set, however I have no substantial contacts anywhere outside of Starfleet medical.” He paused and perked a groomed brow at his longtime Andorian crewmate and added, “Why do you ask?”

“Something about this mission is wrong… and I don’t know how to pinpoint what that is.” Aerdan frowned deeply. For a moment he checked over his shoulder, and finding sickbay clear of listeners he sighed and turned back to Suvek. “Or I know what’s wrong, I don’t know why.”

“The what seems simple.” the Vulcan surgeon returned. “This crew is far too inexperienced to be in an area of space this dangerous without considerable back up. Even the enlisted crew have an average of less than two years of service.”

“Which leaves the ‘why.’” Commander Jos let his antennae curl downwards deeply in dismayed thought.

Suvek fell silent as well, letting thoughts run through his memory. “It is possible that the rebuilding effort after the second Dominion War was substantially delayed in our absence.”

“Possible, but it’s not showing on the public records.” Aerdan shook his head.

“The idea that someone may have ordered the Armstrong to this mission knowingly putting them in danger is a serious crime.” The Vulcan returned, mulling it over. It was not an accusation or even an idea one threw around lightly. Then again, what he knew of Aerdan Jos, the Commander was never one to jest. “Are there other possibilities?”

“Incompetence?” The Andorian shrugged. “Captain Harcourt already indicated that she protested the orders and they stood, so that rules out a simple mistake.”

“Are there other back up ships within range?”

“Yes.” Aerdan nodded a dark assent. “They have specific orders that sent them elsewhere.”

This was enough to hike Suvek’s brow. He was neither a conspiracy theorist nor one to dwell on things that did not directly relate to his mission. He had been busy with more pressing medical issues up until this point… but the sudden convergence of facts left a curiously unpleasant, unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. “We are alone?”

“Functionally, yes.” Aerdan reviewed the facts in his own mind, still feeling they were adrift in a sea populated with plenty of facts and no connecting lines. “I could understand if there was a personal vendetta against the Captain… I mean, no, I couldn’t *understand* it, but it least there would be a motive. But this ship has almost 400 people on it! 400 innocent children…” He trailed off, lost in thought.

“The inexperienced are easier to dupe, and unfortunately make for easier targets.” Suvek started with a sorrowful note to his voice.

“Children, Suvek.” Aerdan’s eyes widened. “You have access to the ARMSTRONG’s medical records, right?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“Can you call up the family of our crew, and cross reference by those with immediate family who has notable rank or position in either Starfleet or the Federation?”

The Vulcan doctor nodded. “I can…” He pulled the screen of the nearest console towards him, dark brows furrowing slightly. “Am I looking for something in specific?”

“No.” Commander Jos sighed. “I think that if there is something there, it will make itself apparent.”

Suvek pursed his lips, about to make a comment about illogical behavior when the results started to come through. Instead he found his eyes riveted to the screen, and his jaw very nearly fell open.

“What is it?” Aerdan’s antennae perked up and curled forward.

Suvek took a few moments to emotionally compose himself before turning the results towards Commander Jos. “It appears that this crew has quite the familial connections…”

“How so?” Aerdan rose and leaned forward to read the list of data that Suvek was showing him. He found he did not have Suvek’s Vulcan emotional fortitude. His jaw did fall open and stayed there, lolling, for several long seconds.

Over half the crew of the ARMSTRONG had a close connection to someone - parent, brother, aunt or uncle - in a sensitive or leadership area of either their home planet government, Federation government or Starfleet. Ministers and cabinet members, high ranking officers, up and coming officers, the list of names was impressive. Aerdan guessed the ones without a visible connection had something similar but perhaps a friend, godparent or similar was connected to them.

“The crew is leverage.” Aerdan murmured.

“Either that or a message.” Suvek noted coldly, the same tone he used to discuss medical cases involving criminal actions. He noted to himself that it had been too long since he had undergone the Kohlinar. He was starting to feel the embers of returning emotions, enough that it stirred in him a deep settled sense of unsettled worry.

“Either way it’s disgusting.” Aerdan pulled back, tucking the PADD Phia offered him away. “I have to get to the bridge. Make sure sickbay stays on full standby. Our chances of casualties keeps growing.”

“Understood.” Suvek nodded in agreement, wiped the console data and turned to ready the sickbay around him.

~*~

Scene: NIMBUS III, Cave region.

The away team materialized on a shallow plateau under the red glare of the setting sun. The caves stretched out just to the west of them, laying low in the arid desert glow.

The second Thomas drew in a breath he could feel the heat of the air prick the back of his throat and burn. He put a hand over his mouth, coughing a little, hearing most of the away team do the same. “We should get to the cover of the caves as soon as possible.”

As the group moved to cover each of them reached for devices that assisted in respiration. As the moved into the cave enclosure Thomas began scanning the area. Moving around touching the cave walls Bomba's mind could almost be seen filling with delusions of grandeur.

“Commander Varn, what can you tell us about the planet's local wildlife and fauna," Bomba quizzed.

Thomas stopped dead is his tracks turning to the executive officer, "Excuse me?"

Smiling Bomba stepped forward with delight in the fact, that to him he was about to educate and motivate Thomas, "Well you area science officer on the away team and this implies..."

"I know very well what it implies Commander; however, as this is the Planet of so called Galactic Peace and not some unknown barely charted world we are all very familiar with the wildlife or lack thereof. I am more concerned with current political standing with the Federation, which if I am not mistaken is your area, Bomba, being assigned here with the ARMSTRONG," Thomas chided watching Bomba’s smile fade.

"Well yes," Bomba fidgeted.

“What part of be quiet didn’t you understand, Bomba?” Phia hissed in a low tone. Cade had already set his tricorder to silent mode and started moving out. She cast a glance over at Angus as Thomas followed Cade, a clear message that said ‘he’s yours, YOU babysit him.’

Commander O’Malley, for his part, sighed quietly and sidled up to the Risian. “C’mon Bomba. We’re not here tae argue, we’re here tae find a signal.”

Cade was beelining it towards one of the center caves. Thomas double-checked his readings and quickly saw why. The signal wasn’t hidden particularly well. No more than fifteen meters in a tunnel, directly down one of the main caves.

Following Cade as quickly as possible the remainder of the group tried to stay close by incase he waltzed into a trap. As the signal got closer the cave opened up into a large room that was what appeared to be a lab by design. Looking around everyone's eyes stopped on several containers containing what appeared to be misshapen organs and tissue.

Stepping closer Cade began his scans and was quickly joined by Thomas. The two slowly moved from container to container before Cade slowly closed his tricorder. Turning to the group who had begun scouring the room for the source of the commbadge signal. Angus had been sweeping the room with his tricorder and Phia was making mental notes along with the scans she was picking up. The one odd ball in the group was Lieutenant Commander Bomba, who had spent much of the few minutes they had been in the location staring back into a pair of eyeballs suspended in fluid that he would swear were looking at him.

As the group gathered together Angus managed to wrangle Bomba away from the eyes. It didn't look good to anyone let alone those with medical or scientific backgrounds but to Angus it was a horror story and to Bomba it was, well a unique situation.

"Well we've found the DNA needed to activate Towers' combadge," Cade stated.

Looking around with his jaw slightly dropping Bomba waved, "you meant all of that and those are Towers?"

"Well yes and no," Thomas stated ,"the DNA is Towers but it's off."

Angus furrowed his brow, "exactly what are ye meaning by off?"

Cade looking at the scans again sighed, "there is a breakdown in key markers and sequences. The degradation only matches on explanation, cloning and bad cloning at that. Whoever started these growths probably only had a small sample to pull from, so the genetic chains are unstable. Sure, the DNA is there… but it could never ‘live.’"

Bomba puffed up slightly, "it can't be this is an illegal practice even here on the outskirts of civilization."

Thomas quickly looked at the man, "Doctor Foster is a well known medical doctor and surgeon and I have extensive knowledge of Xenobiology so believe us when we say the DNA is off."

It wasn't until the clapping from the darkness started that the group realized it was being watched, and seconds later a mutilated hand with a combadge attached to it came flying out of the darkness. Thomas suddenly realized how the DNA coded signal could be transmitted, while Bomba dearly hoped that hand did not originally belong to Colonel Towers.

Only Cade and Phia had the immediate reaction to duck and cover, one that was immediately rewarded as a flash of yellow-white light filled the chamber followed by a percussive blast. The cacophony grew as Angus let out a startled yell, Bomba a terrified shriek and several of the containers shattered.

“Get DOWN!” Phia screamed, wrenching Bomba towards the ground by the back of his tunic. The Risian gave a high pitched squeal as he was dragged downwards.

Beside her Angus rolled underneath the specimen table, while Thomas grabbed the hand and ducked into one of the side tunnels. Cade was tense, darting towards the engineer as Phia reached for her weapon and muttered, “I thought weapons were dampened on this damn planet.”

“Only phasers and disruption weapons.” Cade growled. “We should get the hell out of here.

“Brilliant.” Phia spat back, ducking again as another percussive round tore through the small cave. “Then what the hell is shooting as us?”

Cade was silent for a few unnatural seconds before he hissed and muttered back. “Slug throwers.”

“What…?” Phia started to query before she turned and noticed the gaping hole in Commander O’Malley’s chest, complete with a growing dark red slick. “Shit. We need to get out now.”

She didn’t have to tell Bomba twice. He was already up and running like a chimp stuck with a needle. He blew past Thomas and out towards the open air, screaming like a banshee. To her eternal dismay, whoever was shooting at them did not take the opportunity to put a slug through Bomba’s all too open backside. She turned towards Cade, swallowing her ill contained disgust, and focused on the problem at hand. “Can you carry him?”

“I’ll manage.” Foster nodded.

“Get ready. I’ll cover you.”

Cade perked a brow, thinking for a second that was a surprisingly generous offer from the Bolian hybrid, until he saw what she pulled out of her pocket: a flash grenade. Understanding flickered through his expression and he shielded his eyes. “Go for it.”

A third round of percussive firing plastered them against their sheltered hiding places and Phia waited until the last round hit the cave wall before she pulled the pin on the little device and screwed her eyes shut.

A flash of white, bright enough to burn straight through the unprotected retina filled the area, and she heard a satisfying squeal of pain. As soon as the flash faded, she heard Cade grunt, hoisting Angus and his feet beating a path towards escape.

Opening her own eyes, she debated between the sanity of getting the hell out, and the chance of taking a prisoner who might possibly know something of what the hell was going on here…

~*~

NRPG: So this is 12 pages already… I decided to cut and send and we can continue on with this!

Also: one more time with the right freakin' title this time...

~*~

A JP by:



Sarah Albertini-Bond
Lt. Phia
Counselor
USS ARMSTRONG

and

Justin Owens
Lt. Commander Thomas Varn
Chief Science Officer
USS PENDRAGON

and


Jamie LeBlanc
Lt. Commander Aerdan Jos
Executive Officer
USS PENDRAGON