Would You Like To Know More? Part 1/2

Posted on Wed Feb 23rd, 2022 @ 10:04am by Lieutenant Commander Lochlan Noir [GM] & Lieutenant Nikolai Andropov [Adoptable] & Lieutenant JG Corus Sprint [GM] & Lieutenant JG Jem Lockley [GM] & Lieutenant JG Ralph Furlong [Adoptable] & Ensign Anastasia Targus [Adoptable]
Edited on on Fri Jul 5th, 2024 @ 4:07pm

1,524 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Interdimensional Archives
Location: Starbase 616 Docking Bay 4/5 Terminal <> Other Areas
Timeline: After "Enter Starbase 616"

Non-Manifest NPCs
Master Warrant Officer Bhen Dae played by Talrain
Acting Security Chief

Petty Officer Alexander Garber played by Talrain
Security Team Lead

on

Somewhere in Bay 4's disembarkation lounge shrouded in shadows, a blurred figure observed the new arrivals. Lighting wasn't that great throughout the lounge so many places had on mass many shadowy areas for it to hide. It did the same as with all the others, watch and gather intel on those it managed to make the station's computer capture or lure in. It saw that there were many about to board according to the sensors it had access to. The figure seemed pleased that there were so many, it quickly checked on the security fields were in place to force them into the stasis bay it had put the last arrivals.

At Noir's command, Dae gave the signal. Beta and Delta teams rushed through the opened airlock and fanned out immediately to take up defensive positions around the ship. Dae watched as they moved and then at the chorus of "clear" he stepped out of the airlock, his rifle up, Garber and Sprint following. Dae kept moving forward, scanning the room as he made slight twists from the waist to keep his eyeline in keeping with the phaser rifle sights. Alpha and Gamma moved right behind them but stopped at the airlock to keep others from trying to leave until the go ahead was given.

"Atmosphere and life support seem to be functioning properly," Garber said as he read the scanner information on his field lenses. "Security fields detected just beyond the docking bay door."

"Copy," Dae said as he lead the other two. The door controls activated as he'd expected and the docking bay doors slid open leading them into the corridor. He swept the dimly lit area. A security field was erected to the right, preventing movement more than five feet in that direction. To the left was completely open. Scans indicated nothing ahead.

"Good to go, Captain," he said over an open communicator channel. At that Alpha and Gamma moved into the docking bay and formed the escort position, the five of them watching the others while also scanning the area to ensure no hidden threats were overlooked. "Though scans show the only open paths in the corridors lead to the stasis area still."

"Looks like waking those in stasis is our first order of business," Lock said and led the Righteous' Alpha shift out into the Bay's Terminal then out into the corridor.

Once out in the corridor, Nikolai approached the forcefield and touched it. "Well they aren't lethal, that is a good sign."

"Agreed." Lock said and went to touch the field as well but his hand went straight through.

"No, don't do-" Dae started but was immediately cut off by the computer's voice.

=/\=Forcefield deactivated,=/\= the computer announced. Lochlan blinked before glancing back over at Nik then he walked a few steps in the direction the field had blocked. Though another field activated further down the corridor, those present saw the flash.

Again Lochlan glanced back at Nik and those present. "Well that ends that, let's go." He walked back and followed the security teams.

"What in the ever loving fuhrkirk?" Dae muttered watching as the first field deactivated but a second reactivated further down. He glanced at Garber and Sprint, wondering if they had any ideas about that. More than he did, because that is not how security fields were supposed to work. They could be set up on a cascading pathway connected to a person's commbadge signature but...at their touch? That indicated some sort of haptic feedback system in place. Which, as a security officer that had ran into several fields in the course of a chase of a suspect he was very much in love with the idea of that as a system.

"Move out," he said, shaking his head. A short time later he stopped them. "We'll have to take it in stages with the turbolifts because we all can't fit in one at once. The security officers will split this force into groups. You will remain in those groups. I don't care what your rank or position is at this time, until we have determined there is no risk on this station, or it's been nullified when we find it, security is in charge."

He quickly glanced to each of his security officers. "Captain, Commander, you're with me, Garber and Sprint. We'll be the first group, then the others will follow after." After stating this, he did a quick check to ensure that the communications channels were still open so everyone could keep in contact in case an emergency came up. Then, satisfied that he could still communicate with the docking bay, as well as the various groups being formed in the corridor, he activated the turbolift.

"CnC," he stated once they were inside the turbolift and the doors closed. He waited for the acknowledgment.

Nothing happened for several moments. "Isn't it called Operations?" Lock asked conversationally and the turbolift chirped twice. It began to ascend towards the top of the station, Lochlan glanced over at Nik then at Dae. "Could you order it again to the same place?" He asked, there was something going on and he needed more information.

"Computer, CnC," Dae said, watching the commander with a "rank must be nice" expression. Though, he regretfully admitted to himself, the urge to shoot something was rising.

=/\=Invalid location,=/\= the computer replied, its tone slightly off, Lock only caught it in the last syllable of location and wondered why but the lift continued but abruptly altered course. It took a few minutes before it stopped, its doors opening where indicators demanded they follow its direction.

"This isn't Operations," Nik commented helpfully.

Lochlan stepped out and walked slowly in the direction they were being herded.

"Leashes are wasted on pets and small children," Dae muttered as he jogged to get ahead of Noir. Honestly, he longed for his nice comfy, cushy job as a security investigator on the now missing station. There the most dangerous thing he had to deal with was chasing down violent suspects. Not now, no. Now he had to play diplomacy with commanders. "Security. Leads. The. Way. Commander." he said out of the side of his mouth, just above a whisper, as he passed Noir.

"Master Warrant," came a voice over his comm channel. "We've found a second ship, unknown design but appears to have been in battle. Warp capable but not exactly like warp drives we're aware."

Dae nodded despite the security officer having no chance of seeing him do so. "Secure the ship best you can," he answered, "we'll go over it later once we figure this place out." He gave a quick glance to Noir to see if he heard the conversation.

How did they find another ship if most of the station is cut off from them? Lochlan wondered as he caught parts of the conversation. The rest weren't loud enough as he followed Dae towards the Stasis chamber. He nodded to Dae as he agreed with the Master Warrant Officer's reply.

Dae glanced at the group of others with them and decided the conversation regarding finding other ships would be for another time. But it stood to reason that there would be other ships considering the number of people in stasis. But he didn't like the possibility it presented. There was already one shielded Federation ship in the docking bay. Where those in stasis ahead the crew of that ship? He let out a sigh. Only one real way to find out.

"Sensors indicate the stasis pods are just ahead," Dae said as they turned down a corridor. But then he stopped at a junction. Security fields blocked the two side passages. "You wanna try that waving hand and bringing down forcefields trick here?" he asked Noir.

"Maybe later, we should see to those in Stasis." Lock said and smiled. "Secure it now, I get the sense time may be something we may not have much of. I can't put my finger on why, it is just a gut feeling." His smile turned into a neutral state.

"For future reference, Commander, that would be my line when I want you to do something crazy I suggest," Dae said before turning to Garber and Sprint. "You two are with me. We're going to sweep the cargo hold to ensure there are no threats to this crew. We are not concerned about what's inside the stasis pods at this time. Not until we know the area is safe, is that clear?"

"Clear," Garber said. As one they turned to Sprint.

"Crystal." Corus replied and got his weapon ready for use.

Dae nodded as the other two men prepared themselves for entry. He went back to Noir. "We don't know what is in there, if anything. Everyone but Security stays out here until I give the explicit clear to enter. If sensors are accurate this shouldn't take long."

Lochlan smirked. "Yes, tempus vastitas Master," he gestured to the door.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

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