Armed with the knowledge of the anomaly's sensor profile and the location of the Jem'Hadar fleet, Eliza tags the threats across her navigational charts. Even if they move or shift, she'll be able to identify and skirt them.
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Yes sir, engaging course to at warp factor .
Eliza deftly plots the course against the chart she previously mapped out, sharing the navigational data to whomever is running the communication's station to share with the rest of the convoy. When she has the Bastion pointed in the right direction, she smoothly engages the warp drive and the ship slides effortlessly into faster than light travel.
She sighs contentedly and spins her chair away from the console. I've read so much about the Constellation frame, but this is my first time behind the wheel. She has more kick than I expected, but I...I have some good ideas about her.
Eliza recalled some essays she wrote back at the Academy, essays that no one assigned and no one especially wanted to read. Essays with titles like "Stop fighting physics: Everything you teach about momentum arresting is wrong" or "Evasive actions or firing solutions: Why not both?" or "The Cunningham Maneuver: A six point guide." Essays that were returned to her with comments like "Why would you write this?" or "Please promise me you'll never do anything in this essay."
A ship with redundant warp nacelles? One that can go from full stop to full impulse in less than five seconds? Oh yes. Yes...she had some good ideas indeed.
Frowning, Tobin says, "Do you think polaric energy explosions could account for the subspace distortions?"
He shakes his head, and says, "I see a number of possibilities, and all of them bad. Including the possibility that D'Gor purposely let the cargo be taken."
Before proceeding with any further actions, he looks to his first officer to consult, though his body language seems to be open to thoughts from any of his command crew. "I don't have much experience with Klingons, but my impression is that Captain Akul is an honourable Klingon, and may not have known what the transports were carrying. Do you think he could help get answers from D'gor?"
While prior conduct suggests that D’gor would act dishonorably, it also makes him more inclined toward acts of self preservation. If he was responsible for the theft, there’d be no need to damage his own ships in the process of the robbery. I also suspect that the subspace anomalies were in place before our arrival. The Jem’Hadar likely used existing phenomenon as an ambush point, and I can help the convoy avoid them for our journey. Perhaps we focus on repairing the damaged ships and get the heck out of contested space...sir?
"Let me double check my sensor readings with that in mind Captain." He taps away on the console.
The subspace distortions don’t show any evidence of tachyons or temporal eddies that would be present in the kind of spatial-temporal disruptions caused by polaric ions. They also aren’t historically out of place near the Argolis cluster. This is a place of strange subspace anomalies going back as far as anyone knows. Which doesn’t mean that no one is manipulating them.
Jalla nods along slowly before she gives her assessment to Tobin, "Lieutenant Cunningham's reasoning is sound. There are too many potential variables for us to be sure of any judgment, not the least of which is the potential attack of a foe we cannot presently withstand. Let us repair and rearm, and continue our deliberations in safety.
I do agree that Captain Akul's aid will be paramount in appropriately dealing with any subterfuge from these freighters, sir."
Lt. zh’Qjaqir, you’re more familiar with the Bastion’s communication suite than I. I’ve plotted a safe course to DS9, but if some of our convoy is compromised, we might put everyone in danger by advertising our course. Is there a way for us to share the benefits of the navigation without sharing the specifics of our course. Maybe send the navigation in encrypted format so their computer can interpret the path but it can’t be shared?
"Polaric energy isn't being used to exacerbate the natural anomalies around the Argolis cluster but it was worth double checking."
Jalla's antennae perk up at the interesting challenge, "Encrypting the data is simple enough, but to prevent any traitors from passing along the information, I'll need to set up some sort of dynamically shifting encryption, where the act of communicating it via subspace transmissions renders it inaccessible.
I've done some theoretical work on some similar concepts in the past; I'll see what can be done."
"Polaric energy isn't being used to exacerbate the natural anomalies around the Argolis cluster but it was worth double checking."
If I may, sir...there’s another option. I’ve plotted a safe course through the anomaly. We can intercept the thieves and blow them to smitherienes. It’s...it’s not great for the Dominion to get their hands on this technology.
She reviews the logs and the charting. I’m reasonably confident that this wouldn’t be a suicide mission.
Tobin nods to Eliza, seeming to welcome the suggestion, but after a moment's thought says, "I understand. I don't want to let them have it anymore than you do, Lieutenant Cunningham, but I have to agree with Lieutenant zh'Qjaqir. It's too risky after our previous damage, not to mention we'd be abandoning our ordered escort duty. But trust me, this isn't over."
Straightening, he says, "Open a secure channel to the Mupwl." Once this is done, he says, "Captain Akul, this is Captain Tobin Dell. I'm afraid I have to inform you that when we attempted to ascertain the status of the transports after the battle, our scans revealed evidence that they had been smuggling Polaric Ion technology under a cloaking field. I'd like to request your assistance in investigating this while we continue on towards Deep Space Nine."
Eliza nearly opens her mouth to argue, but thinks better of it. After a beat, her response is uncharacteristicly clipped.
Of course sir. Readying a course to Deep Space 9 on your order.
Akul appears onscreen, his forehead now bandaged. The bridge around him is in better shape than previously, at least it is not venting gases from damaged systems.
"Captain, I'm disappointed to see that you have chosen not to pursue our attackers. But what you say of Polaric Ion technology is troubling. Polaric Energy research has been banned for a hundred years. I will order the crews of the freighters confined to quarters and replace them with members of my own crew. And since we are in Federation territory, I will concede the investigation of the freighters in question to you."
Captain's log, supplemental: We are dispatching an away team to investigate the signs of Polaric Ion energy on the Klingon freighters. Because of the ongoing subspace distortions, I have dispatched the a shuttle to transport them.
Eliza cedes control of the helm to an ensign. I presume you want me to fly us to the “empty” freighter? What, precisely are we looking for? There isn’t anything harmless that leaves these traces and the Jem’Hadar knew exactly which ships to target. If you don’t mind me saying, it’ll hardly take an Android in a deerstalker to get to the bottom of this one.
She takes a deep breath Perhaps I can bring someone from the engineering department with us? If nothing else we can speed work on repairing their damaged engines.
She settled in behind the helm of the shuttlecraft, comfortable behind the helm of the small craft. When everyone was on board, she jaunted over to the empty freighter.
Securing a Phaser and medical kit/tricorder, Pegira will make her way to the transporter room.
Gareb heads to the shuttle bay with the Eliza keeping his tricorder and phaser a once over before they leave. "So much for a straightforward shake down cruise."
Securing a Phaser and medical kit/tricorder, Pegira will make her way to the transporter room.
Captain's log, supplemental: We are dispatching an away team to investigate the signs of Polaric Ion energy on the Klingon freighters. Because of the ongoing subspace distortions, I have dispatched the a shuttle to transport them.
Eliza extends a hand to Hagen, first to shake and second to help her up into the shuttlecraft. You must be Dr. Hagen. I'm Eliza Cunningham and I'll be your pilot this afternoon. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable, we'll be there soon enough!
Eliza makes the hop across the expanse of space easily and pulls the shuttlecraft alongside the docking bay for the freighter.
On behalf of the flight crew of the Shuttlecraft Tesla she points at herself And all of us at Bastion Spacelines, we hope you enjoyed your flight today. Please take care retrieving your gear from the overhead storage as some items may have shifted in flight. As the pressure equalizes between the two vessels and the airlock spins open she turns to the ranking officer (either Gareb or Hill, depending on who attended this mission).
Sir, shall I join the away team on board or would you prefer me to stay with the Tesla in case we need to make a fast departure?
"I'd recommend you accompanying the away team, Cunningham. The freighters aren't huge, and we can move to cover your escape if needed."
Jalla likewise snags a tricorder on the way out.
"Remember, in an incident such as this, recorded readings will be paramount. We want to give no cause for this to create any sort of incident with the Klingons.
Beyond what they will likely provoke when we search this ship that is."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance. When we get back to the ship, please stop by the sickbay so that we can run some tests to make sure that your inability to open doors was a temporary thing."
Eliza laughes good naturedly. You get Hill to fix the cracked emergency manual hydrolic pump on my door and we’ll talk.
She picks up her tricoder and enters the freighter.
"If things go badly I think we'll need the extra phaser on hand to get back to the shuttle. Lets go to their cargo bay and get some clear readings on the situation."
As they move to get out of the shuttle Gareb body language changes as he prepares to encounter Klingons, he's still smiling but it's like he's been walking around with a pebble in his boot all day and with sufficient excuse he'll unleash that foul mood on someone.
Pegira draws her Phaser, sets it to stun and checks the charge, before starting to take point.
It takes her a few steps before she remembers that she is support personnel, not security.
Finding a spot to take cover, she waits for the others to pass her.
Nodding to Cunningham to take point, Hill follows close behind, his tricorder in hand.
Jalla follows close at her heels with all the stillness of a fully compressed spring.
As an invited guest on a ship recently commandeered by the Klingon military (our partners in peace), Eliza didn’t think it prudent to enter the ship with her phaser drawn. She takes point as commanded, but does so as an ally to the Klingon soldiers who now control the ship.
Did Akul tell us who is now in charge?
As you lower the exit ramp of the shuttle and enter the hangar bay of the Klingon freighter, you see three Klingon warriors, each wearing the typical grey brown armor. While they wear disruptors and carry D'k tahg daggers, they hold no weapons in their hands.
"I am Surgh, second to Captain Akul. We have secured the crew of the freighter. They will not cause you any difficulty in your investigations. I have been ordered to cooperate fully with you. Follow me to the cargo bay."
You notice a small puddle of orange blood congealing on the deck behind him.
Surgh turns on his heel, not waiting for you. He is an impressive individual. You might be cowed by his size or intrigued by the idea of facing off against him, but you can't ignore him.
The cargo bay is adjacent to the hangar bay, so it is a short trip. The doors split in two and slide open. As expected, the cargo bay is empty.
Gareb doesn't waste any time and starts scanning the cargo bay. "Hill, will you have a look at what augmentations have been made to the cargo bay. If everyone else has a poke around while I try to clear up these readings."
Eliza asks to interview the original crew, provided that "confined to quarters" isn't a euphemism.
She invites Dr. Hagen to join her and sits with the former captain of the freighter.
Things aren't looking great for you, but you're in a better position than your captors think. Most Klingon? They'd die before admitting to doing something so dishonorable as aiding the enemy...but not you. You have self-preservation. I respect that...but we need information. You tell me what we need to know and you'll live to see another day. How did the Dominion contact you?