USS Penumbra Sim Narrative, SD 202111.19

 

 

Introduction:

The Penumbra was at all-stop in interstellar space. Delta Bravo, the Flyers numbered 5 through 8, had returned with one "passenger": the Cardassian female that the Zhenkarian V'Rot, Ka'Gun, had brought to meet with the Breen Thot, Yurl, aboard the small luxury yacht belonging to the Ferengi, Galex.

Technically, the Cardassian had been "abducted" since she hadn't contacted them and requested a ride, but it could also be argued that she was "rescued" from a known pirate and a Ferengi with a questionable reputation. The Penumbra crew was definitely operating in the "partial shadow" of that moral dilemma.

Meanwhile, in Sickbay, they had the dead body of a Breen Officer taken from the Scout Ship that had brought Thot Yurl to meet Galex. It was hoped that using Borg nanites extracted from LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke they could extract "recent memories" from the dead brain by tracing recent neural activity and chemical signals even though the Breen's brain was dead. Even if that didn't work, this was the first time the Federation had managed to get a dead Breen, and the autopsy might provide useful information on their physiology, at least.

 

Bridge, Part One:

"See to our guest"

As Cdre. Zak Taylor and Col. Travis Patterson emerged from the Turbolift after speaking in Sickbay, Cmdr. Relok rose from the Command Chair and surrendered it to the Commodore, stepping over to the Primary Science Station. Zak took his seat in the Command Chair but Patterson just stood in the center of the Bridge and addressed Relok. "Report, Commander."

Relok responded, "Delta Bravo has just landed in the Hangar Bay. Their guest is a bit confused, and perhaps a touch recalcitrant."

Zak said, "Den, maybe you and Patterson should go and escort our 'guest' to VIP quarters, where she will be 'requested' to remain for her own safety."

LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke straightened and said, "I was just about to. I can test my theory later. Yes, sir." He tapped his commbadge as he waved for Lt. Re'Libel Standin to take the Tactical Station, then started for the Turbolift, "T'Lin, how are those tests going?"

But Patterson turned to face them and shook his head. "Belay that, Hawke. Have them bring our new guest to the Bridge immediately."

Col. Patterson had been given responsibility (and command) for the mission to gather intelligence within the Breen Confederacy directly from Admiral Sulyk, even though Cdre. Taylor retained his superior rank, and command of the ship and the crew. If it pertained to their mission, Patterson was in charge.

Den stopped and with a gesture towards Standin, resumed his station.

Patterson turned, "Mr. Relok ... get me the Ferengi."

But instead of opening a comm line, Relok said, "Sirs, as I understand it, T'Lin has delivered Den's nanites into the Breen brain. I'd like to be present if and when we begin receiving any signals."

Zak turned to him. "Good idea, Commander. Den, do you need to be in Sickbay? We can send Khal'Gon to work Security of our guest if necessary."

Den answered, "Not that I'm aware of, unless T'Lin needs me there. I forgot to go play on my little shuttle project. Sorry, sir."

Zak nodded at Den and said, "Then see to our guest first."

Den nodded, "On it."

Zak said, "Standin, you have Tactical."

The stoic Vulcan Security Officer nodded, "Acknowledged," and then turned to his Department Head. "Commander?"

Den nodded to Standin and turned back to the Turbolift once more. Just as he did, his commbadge chirped as the big half-Nausicaan, half-Klingon Marine MstSgt. Khal'Gon called him, "Khal'Gon to Bridge. I am at Delta 5." He acknowledged as the lift doors closed.

Relok headed to the other Turbolift to head to Sickbay.

 

"Bovine excrement!"

With their Chief of Operations, LtCmdr. Tabeshk Tibris, off the Bridge at the moment, Ens. Proxy Filler was handling the station. He had not picked up on the earlier request for a comm line to Galex, so  LtCmdr. Jason Carter at the Helm beside him figured he might remind them all of it. He said, "Confirming you want to hail Galex?"

Zak looked up at Patterson, still standing in the center of the Bridge. "Colonel, do you want to handle Galex, or secure our guest? Den and Khal'Gon can handle her, I'm sure."

Patterson turned to him with a nod. "I believe it's best if I handle Galex personally, sir." He paused, then formally stated, "I relieve you."

Zak stood and stepped to his left, in front of the XO seat, and said, "By all means, Colonel."

But before Filler could actually open the commlink, he was startled by a flashing light on his board. "Sirs!" he called, "We're being hailed ... by Galex!"

Zak glanced at Patterson and gave a little shrug. Patterson turned around and took his seat in the Command Chair. He sat quietly, ignoring the hail for a moment, and instead tapped his commbadge. "Khal'Gon, Hawke is on his way down to assist with escorting our guest to the Bridge."

After another long moment, Filler said, "Um, sirs, Galex is sounding a little ... frustrated. He's hailed us like 3 times now."

Finally, Patterson gave a nod and said, "Well let's not keep him waiting any longer ... on screen."

The main viewer switched to show the aged Ferengi ranting, "... with my attorney! This is an outrage! I won't let you get away with ... Oh! There you are! About time!"

Patterson sat with a leg propped on his opposing knee, drumming his fingers on the arms of the CO chair. He calmly asked, "What seems to be the urgency, Galex?"

The Ferengi continued, fuming, "You know damn well what's the urgency! You took her, didn't you? I should've known you couldn't leave well enough alone! The Thot is beside himself! He threatened me! Me!"

Zak looked at Patterson, raising an eyebrow, and mouthed silently, "The Thot threatened him?"

Patterson held up his hand to ward off Galex's anger, then said, "Galex of Ferenginar, I can assure you our actions were entirely justified. We witnessed the exchange of a Cardassian female to your ship via airlock rather than transporter, under escort, from a vessel known for piracy. Based on the information we have, we can safely assume you are indeed partaking in the capture of Cardassian refugees for slave-trade with a known pirate, and we of course happen to be in a position to intervene, in the best interests of the Federation and our Cardassian allies. And you? Are in serious trouble."

"Bovine excrement!" Galex shouted. "Absolute crap! We both know better, so spare me the lies, Colonel. No, no, I haven't shared my knowledge with the Thot, no profit in that. But ... do you have any idea what you've messed up here?"

 

Hangar Bay:

Feisty Cardassian Female

MstSgt. Khal'Gon, the seven-foot half-Nausicaan, half-Klingon Marine, stepped towards Delta Five with his bat'leth folded along his arm. He was waiting to escort their "guest" if needed. They'd just "rescued" a Cardassian female from a Zhenkarian pirate and a Ferengi long suspected of illicit activities, and he wasn't quite sure what to do with her. For now, she was kept secure within Delta Five. He tapped his commbadge, "Khal'Gon to Bridge. I am at Delta 5."

Several seconds passed before he received a response from Col. Travis Patterson, "Khal'Gon, Hawke is on his way down to assist with escorting our guest to the Bridge." He quickly acknowledged and stood patiently awaiting the Chief of Security.

After a short time, LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke stepped into the Hangar Bay. As he did, he accessed a weapons locker and took out a Type 2 Phaser, just for good measure, and holstered it on his hip. He stepped up to Khal'Gon, "What have we got?"

Khal'Gon smiled, showing nasty fangs among his Nausicaan tusks. "Feisty Cardassian female. Colonel wants her to the Bridge."

Den said, "I got that part, that's all? She's been searched?"

Khal'Gon gave a curt nod. "Searched, shy of a full stripping. Didn't find anything hazardous but teeth." He opened the Flyer and grabbed the woman's arm to "help her out".

Den said, "What's your name? So we can stop calling you 'her', or 'she'." He already knew it, he'd pulled up a database already on her transporter signature, he was just trying to establish some kind of rapport.

The woman straightened, lifting her chin. She wasn't quite as tall as Den, and nowhere near as tall as the half-Klingon, but she proudly proclaimed, "I am Yani Damat. Why have you abducted me?"

 

To The Bridge

Den answered, "That's a bit of a loaded question, and will have some explaining to do. If you promise to cooperate, we won't physically restrain you. You're requested on the bridge. You will be stunned if you try anything. Agreed?"

The Cardassian balked, "Physically restrained? You've already had this ... Nausicaan ... man-handle me! And ... stunned if I don't cooperate? What's going on here? That's a Starfleet uniform you're wearing. Aren't we supposed to be friends?"

Den responded, "Either you don't know what's going on, or you're playing feign. We also have our ship to protect. So please," he gestured towards the inner doors. He also gave a signal to the deck crew to have that shuttle thoroughly checked.

The woman, Yani Damat, was obviously frustrated but said, "Fine. I'll speak with your Commanding Officer. Maybe he can explain this. Obviously you low-level officers have no idea." She stalked past Den with her head held high.

Den just shook his head as he fell in behind her. "Of course," he said stepping past her to lead into the corridor to the Turbolift.

The lift ride was silent with the angry Cardassian, a Marine, and the Chief of Security all staring at the door. Suddenly a klaxon sounded and the lights flashed red as the ship went to Red Alert. Den's commbadge chirped and they heard the voice of Col. Travis Patterson, "Hawke, where's our guest?"

Den did not respond over the commlink. Instead, the Turbolift doors slid open and he, MstSgt. Khal'Gon, and the Cardassian female stepped out. He waved to the woman and said, "May I present the particularly energetic and royally pissed, Yani Damat."

 

Sickbay:

Waiting Impatiently

Dr. Shadow K'Trevala had taken a much-needed rest in his quarters and was now returning to Sickbay rested. He'd been following the ongoing activities and knew that the Assistant Chief of Sciences, LtCmdr. T'Lin, was performing an autopsy on the body of a dead Breen, so as he entered he called, "Need any help T'Lin?"

But T'Lin was "in her element" removing, weighing, cataloguing, and otherwise analyzing the various organs and other parts of the dead Breen and didn't even notice Shadow's question. Knowing the process was in good hands, Shadow left her to it and continued around Sickbay making sure everything else was ship-shape.

After a while, the doors slid open and Cmdr. Relok stepped in. He called, "Shayana? You here?" The word "shayana" was Tayledrian, Shadow's native language, and meant something like "oath brother" or "wing brother". They'd begun using the term after their minds had bonded after a psychic battle with a "spirit" from the Soul Spheres years ago on the Darmok.

Shadow smiled at him, "Heyla, Shayana, how's things going?"

Relok smiled back (not quite as unusual for this particular Vulcan), "I wanted to observe T'Lin's attempt to get data from the dead Breen's brain."

Shadow nodded, "I see. Well, I have also heard of a way similar to your capturing the Katra to get the memories of the dead, if we want to try that as well."

They glanced over towards the autopsy bay and found that T'Lin was sitting on the floor. Like Relok, her "tribe" of Vulcans weren't as strict about suppressing emotions and she virtually radiated her annoyance, coupled with a significant amount of exhaustion. She was waiting for the nanites to do ... something ... and she hated waiting.

 

"A dozen cups of coffee"

Relok looked at his Assistant Chief sitting on the floor in the autopsy bay and strolled over and said, "Commander, that is an odd place to .... nevermind. Anything from the nanites?" He stepped over and took a look at a monitor.

It showed that the nanites in the dead brain would send the occassional 'spark' but hadn't yet managed to 'revive' the dead tissue or collect any data that could be correlated into specifics.

T'Lin shook her head, a grimace on her face that combined her annoyance with disappointment. "Nothing substantial. It has been hours, and I have had nothing but fragments, and about a dozen cups of coffee."

Shadow stepped to the container where the brain was held and touched it, reaching out with his powerful empathic abilities to see if he could "jump-start" something with his own life energy. But ... the brain was dead and nothing he could do would change that.

Relok continued his conversation with T'Lin. "That much coffee usually results in two things: jitters and excessive urination, neither of which is entirely helpful."

T'Lin extended a hand. It was steady without the slightest twitch. "D'Vir do not tremble ... or 'jitter'." Then she allowed herself a slight smirk as she lowered the hand and said, "And the full bladder is only mildly annoying."

Relok returned the smirk. "Mild annoyance is still annoyance, and distracting." While his people from Chetzoplan did not have D'Vir like the N'Ereon, he was a Sentinel of the Order of the Sehlat and new what advance training could accomplish.

T'Lin rolled her shoulders and said, "What is hitting hardest is the waiting. Just staring at the shell of another lifeform, where their soul once sat, forcing them to wake up." She paused and then added, "I am still trying to convince myself that it is worth it."

Then Relok saw a flicker on the monitor. "Wait! What was that?" He pointed at it and moved closer.

 

"We might have a problem."

T'Lin turned her head to see the monitor herself. Finally, something was beginning to coalesce out of the data. The nanites had been slowly retracing the dead neurons to trace which had last fired, and analyzing chemical signals to see where the most energy had been concentrated. And something was coming together.

Quickly Shadow hit "record" on the monitor to capture the data, and then the nanites began post-processing the data and building images that represented the last visions, and thoughts, of the dead Breen! It was remembering about telling Patterson that Patterson didn't know what the Thot was doing out here ... and then the Breen recalled that the Thot was selling something to that Ferengi, something about fitting Borg devices to Breen warships.

T'Lin was scribbling rapidly with her archaic pencil and paper notebook. She suppressed any emotional response in order to focus solely on the incoming data in front of her. She said, "If they attached Borg devices to their ships, then the Borg have complete control over those ships, and access to all information the Breen have. And as inquisitive as the Breen are ... this is a match made in hell."

Relok, too, had slipped into logical analysis mode, though he frowned at what T'Lin said. "That is a logical conclusion, T'Lin, except for one thing: surely the Breen would know how vulnerable they'd be to Borg control. Undoubtedly they disabled the Borg interlink."

Suddenly, Relok stiffened. "The Borg interlink! That's it! They tried to disable it, but ... missed something, and that's what Kat and Den picked up!"

T'Lin said, "Just one backdoor they missed."

"And now," Relok concluded, "the Borg have all the intel the Breen do, and we need to tell the Federation." He tapped his commbadge, "Relok to the Bridge. Sirs, we might have a problem."

It was the voice of LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke, their Chief of Security and Tactical Operations, that responded. "Relok, go ahead, we're here."

Relok continued, "Sirs, the dead Breen relayed that the Breen are indeed altering Borg technology on their ships. And T'Lin and I suspect the Borg might have detected it. That would be bad."

He heard the voice of Cdre. Zak Taylor, "OK, this has officially gone from bad to worse. Are the Breen working WITH the Borg now? Or ... are the Borg just using the Breen now?"

 

Bridge, Part Two:

Red Alert

Patterson answered Galex, "I know exactly what is at stake here, Galex. You're well on your way to not only losing your profits, but your life should you continue to fail your outstanding contract with Starfleet Intelligence. I have standing orders to destroy ANY vessels who have been confirmed conducting piracy ... and with your now obvious interactions with the Corsaires in this region, your vessel is within those same parameters." He quickly gave a nod to Filler and the 'cut comms' gesture.

Galex was still fuming. He responded, "You won't get ...," but then the comms went dead as Filler cut the channel.

Zak turned to the Colonel and with a smirk said, "Well ... that went well, I guess."

But Patterson merely turned towards Standin at the Tactical Station, "Red Alert. Load all torpedo bays with maximum yield quantum torpedoes. Lock onto Galex's engines and life support systems and await further orders from me directly." He waited as Standin executed the orders. The klaxon sounded and lights flashed red all around the ship.

Then Patterson tapped his commbadge, "Hawke, where's our guest?"

Den did not respond over the commlink. Instead, the Turbolift doors slid open and he, MstSgt. Khal'Gon, and a Cardassian female stepped out. He waved to the woman and said, "May I present the particularly energetic and royally pissed, Yani Damat." He glanced at the flashing red lights and quickly moved to take over for Standin, motioning for the Lieutenant to keep an eye on their "guest".

The Cardassian woman was also startled by the klaxons and flashing red lights. She asked, "What's going on?"

Patterson stood and approached the woman. He said, "You're going to tell me what you were doing with a Breen Thot ... before I blow him and his Ferengi host into dust."

Her face flushed bluish as she said, "A Breen? They're detestable! I hate the Breen!"

Den stammered, "Did she just ...?" He closed his mouth which had gaped open for a moment and then let out a thoughtful, "Hmm."

 

"Ferengi arts of negotiation"

Patterson sighed and then told the Cardassian woman, "We have sensor logs confirming you and the Thot in close proximity to each other for an extended length of time. Do not lie to me." He turned to Den and asked, "Weapons are locked onto Galex's yacht, correct?"

Den checked then nodded, "They are locked." Then he said, "Hmm ... interesting. Did no one else notice that? Never mind. I think you caught it also, Colonel."

Patterson nodded at him and turned his attention back to the Cardassian. "If you detest the Breen so much, Yani, you will have no issue with me destroying the Breen Thot aboard that vessel, then." He paused and then added, "And returning you to the Federation for questioning on why you were in such close proximity to a high-ranking member of a race with known hostilities to the Federation."

Beads of sweat formed on the Cardassian's forehead. She said, "Well, I wouldn't want an innocent merchant to be killed along with the nasty Breen! And, well, yes, I did meet with him, and ...," she trailed off.

Patterson rolled his eyes at her and then turned his back to her to look at the main viewer. "You're wasting my time then. Mr. Hawke, prepare to fire everything we've got."

Den nodded and said, "Weapons armed." He turned to the Cardassian. "Last chance to tell the truth we've figured out, Yani. He says fire, I'm firing, regardless. We could be wrong."

Suddenly, the face of the aged Ferengi, Galex, appeared on the screen (though no-one had actually responded to his hail). He was shouting, "I will not be ignored!" Then he calmed and smiled, "Look, folks, you need to learn the Ferengi arts of negotiation! You're not doing a very good job at it!"

Zak turned towards Den and muttered, "We have to find how Galex is controlling our comm feeds!"

Den had been analyzing various data feeds and muttered, "Wait, micro-transmitters!" He was about to start searching for it and then shook his head, afraid he might end up doing something stupid, like switching the internode on or something.

Patterson scowled at the Ferengi. "Galex, you've got 30 seconds. Get the Thot on the line... now."

Galex continued with his plastic smile. "That's better, Colonel. State your price, then I state the counter-offer. The Thot does not wish to speak with you, but has authorized me to speak on his behalf ... for now, at least."

Patterson was growing frustrated. He reached and grabbed a Breen Type 3 Disruptor he'd taken from their Away Mission on Lampros Three, then stepped and grabbed the Cardassian by the wrist, tugging her to the center of the Bridge. He announced, "The life of one Cardassian woman, and your own, Galex."

 

Hostage and Asylum

With Patterson holding the Cardassian woman hostage with a disruptor to her head in the center of the Penumbra's Bridge, on the viewscreen the Ferengi, Galex looked shocked and then the helmeted head of a Breen shoved its way into Galex's video stream. A harsh crackling sound issued from him and then the Universal Translator kicked in. "Do not harm Yani! What do you want?"

Zak gave Patterson a curt nod, acknowledging that his plan was working. Patterson lifted the disruptor to the Cardassian's head and said, "The Borg signature near Lampros Three ... what was it?"

The Thot straightened. He began, "Lampros Three? I have no idea what ...," he stopped, then seemed to bend nearer to the viewscreen. "Wait, wasn't that where ...? Hmm, I see."

Patterson increased the settings on the disruptor held to the woman's head. "What is a Thot doing on a scout ship without escort so lightly-manned?"

Even though his face was concealed by his helmet, they could easily discern the Thot's confusion. He said, "The Scout? Hell, that was just my taxi. Easier to get one of those than fly a Battle Cruiser on a personal errand. But you ... you were at Lampros Three. I suspect you had something to do with that farmer's death, didn't you? I just knew there was something weird going on."

Zak's commbadge suddenly chirped, "Relok to the Bridge. Sirs, we might have a problem."

Patterson glanced at Zak and gave a slight nod. Den took that to mean mute Galex's call and then tapping his commbadge, "Relok, go ahead, we're here."

Relok continued, "Sirs, the dead Breen relayed that the Breen are indeed altering Borg technology on their ships. And T'Lin and I suspect the Borg might have detected it. That would be bad."

Zak frowned and looked to his XO. "OK, this has officially gone from bad to worse. Are the Breen working WITH the Borg now? Or ... are the Borg just using the Breen now?"

Patterson grimaced. "As we feared," he said. He released the Cardassian woman, giving her a shove towards Khal'Gon, who still stood guard near the Turbolift. The big Marine quickly grabbed one of her arms and pulled her to him.

Then Patterson turned and walked back to the Command Chair and took a seat. Once seated he un-muted the call with Thot Yurl and said, "Thot Yurl ... the Breen are attempting to incorporate Borg tech into their vessels. We've confirmed that from the recent memories of your deceased Officer's brain when we boarded your Scout. And my two ex-Borg officers detected that. If they picked it up ... so did the Borg Collective."

The Thot sounded even more confused, "Dead officer? And how would ...?" Then he visibly slumped. "Bloody hell. I think we need to talk." He looked up and announced, "I officially request asylum aboard your ship."