Summary

Three days ago, the Andromeda crew recovered two ensigns from the USS Eridani and left in search of the out-of-contact science vessel. Eight hours ago, she arrived to find the Nebula class ironically trapped within the Minturi Nebula, its entire crew complement apparently unconscious.

The shuttle Icarus dispatched to the Eridani to investigate found itself likewise trapped within the nebula, and one of its crew incapacitated.

Although the remaining crew was able to reengage engines via the Science Officer's modifications, some form of attraction between the twinning particles and the nebula seemed to slow the shuttle and possibly distress the Executive Officer's body.

The shuttle Odessey, dispatched with medical aid, was likewise stalled upon reaching the perimeter of the nebula, the nurse and pilot incapacitated.

However, back on the Andromeda the Chief Engineer's modification to the deflector enables the Ambassador vessel to disperse the particles in a short-range area enough to make contact and utilize the tractor beam to bring both shuttles within the shuttle bay.

In the past two hours, the Andromeda has continued its investigation into the nature of the particles and possible methods to disengage or block them.

Telemetry from three probes (one traversing the perimeter of the nebula, one crossing the nebula and returning, and a third approaching the Eridani and returning) has been retrieved and analyzed.

In the meantime, the Science Officer's methodical prodding seems rewarded when the Executive Officer seems to awaken distressedly twice, passing along a message: "Inverse." "Five minutes."

The Science Office and a medic on the other shuttle attempt the inverse frequency at the time given, and the Exeuctive Officer springs to life.

Unfortunately, the two within the Odessey remain unconscious. The fourth probe is overdue - if it had followed it trajectory flawlessly with no delays it should have arrived thirty minutes ago.

Is the probe damaged or destroyed? Is the wormhole stable? To where does it lead? Can the particles be contained? Why did the inverse frequency work on the Executive Officer, but not the other two? What is the fate of the Eridani crew? Too many questions...

~'~'~'~'~'~'~Resume Mission 11: "Safe Passage" 11103.26~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
::pacing the bridge, awaiting for some sort of answers::
Dr_Storm says:
::Finally closes the tricorder, looking XO Power over one last time, then hitting the comm panel:: *CO*: Captain, Dr. Storm here. Commander Power is fit for duty. No presence of the particles detected.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
*Storm*:  I'm sorry, did you say he is fit for duty?
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
::hits his comm badge:: *CO* Yes, she did.
Dr_Storm says:
*CO*: Yes Sir. There was some crainial trauma, but we've treated the bleeding - luckily, we found it in time. ::Looks over the XO critically:: I recommend he come in for a follow-up visit within the next twenty-four hours, to ensure there is no lasting trauma.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
::is a bit shocked::  *XO*:  I tell you what Conor, how about meeting me in my RR.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
*CO*: See you in five then.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
*Storm*:  Is there anything, anything at all as far as signs I should look for to make sure he is okay?
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
::hops up off the biobed and strolls out of sickbay towards the TL::
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
TL: Bridge
Dr_Storm says:
*CO*: Any sort of bleeding from the eyes, nose, or ears, or bloodshot eyes. I'll send you a full write-up of his condition within the hour, Sir.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
*Storm*:  Understood, thank you Dr.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
::steps out on to the bridge and makes his way towards the CO's RR::
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
::Steps inside and sees the CO:: CO: Good to be home, next time you can head out of your own shuttle mission.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
::smiles as he sees the XO walk in::  XO:  Conor, a simple request for time off would suffice.  Don't know why you always need to be so dramatic for time off!
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Yeah but my slave driver of a boss tends to refuse them! ::smiles and takes a seat::
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  Okay, truthfully....how are you feeling at the moment?
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Small headache but given we've dislodged some random particles from my body, I'm not surprised.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  Well, just to be on the safe side, when we are done here I'd really like you to get some rest.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  So, do you remember anything while your were unconscious?
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Well either it was a very vivid dream or I was in "my body" in another dimension.#
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  It would be of great help if you could elaborate.  What kind of dream?
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Long story but, woke up in a jefferies tube on the Andromeda which was being stormed by commandos, when I wasn't gun-ho enough against these people, it raised the suspicion of the CTO and you who tried beam me into the brig. I then got into a fire fight to only be gassed by you.

ACTION:
Sketchy scans indicate Probe 4 is emerging from the wormhole within the nebula.

OPS_Matthews
*CO*: Captain, I believe we've detected the fourth probe exiting back into our space. Sensors are inaccurate, but it appears to be intact. ETA is twenty minutes.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
::takes a breath:: CO: I then woke up in a brig where I got into a little fight with the CTO while trying to escape. His security team then shot me. I woke up in sickbay to find myself in a restraint field.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
*OPS*:  Acknowledged.  As soon as we retrieve that probe, I want it picked apart piece by piece.
OPS_Matthews says:
*CO*: Understood. OPS out.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  What about these particles?  Was there anything about these particles that jump out at you?  As of right now, we still know absolutely nothing about these particles.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Then our of our medical crew also showed up on this ship and released me. I then tackled your wife to the ground when she found out and put her in the restraint field. I then escaped into the jefferies tube and toyed with the internal sensor grid in that section so they couldn't find me. I sent our medical crew member back to try blend in with the crew for intel purposes. She ended up being caught.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: According to the sensor scans of "me" on the other side, I was one of the few crew members on that ship who had them still stuck in their body. They had passed through a nebula similar to ours recently.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Anyway, I ended up making a truce with you to be allowed figure out what was going on. We blasted me with the inverse frequency of the particle stuck in me several times and then I ended up back in the shuttle.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  This is very disturbing.  My first thought is to treat this as "your body" in another dimension theory.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Seemed pretty convincing to me.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  Well, right now the rest of the senior staff are going over the probe data.  Once they are finished with that, I plan on pursuing this "other dimension" theory.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: What do we do with this nebula though?
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  At this moment I am unsure.  That is why the rest of the crew is working so diligently on the probe information.  I think once we can analyze that, we might have a better understanding of the nebula and these particles.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
::pauses temporarily to "scan" Conor telepathically and ensure he is okay::
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
::senses the scan:: CO: I'm fine.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  What, can't a friend be worried about you?  ::smiles::
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  I mean, on the outside you may appear to be perfectly normal.  But we are still unsure just exactly what or how these particles could have affected you more internally.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: Well your wife thinks i'm ok.
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  Oh, and since when have you ever taken Sierra for her word?
OPS_Matthews says:
*CO*: Captain, the probe has exited the nebula and is within our deflector field, apparently particle-free.   And Captain...it appears to be...hailing us.
XO_LtCmdr_Conor says:
CO: I think this may be one of the few times when it suits me
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
XO:  I tell you what, if you're feeling up to it, how about joining the other staff to perhaps help in analyzing the probe data.  I'm sure they could use an extra set of eyes.  ::hears the com from OPS::
Host CO_Capt_Knight says:
*OPS*:  Answer the hail, I'll be on the bridge momentarily.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~Pause Mission~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~