Last time on the Seleya....

Chris Esterhuyse as Captain Varesh & EO Parsons
Eldad Ben-Tovim as Commander Maor & OPS Ensign Gareb
CCM as FCO Ensign Robin & SFI LtJG Joseph
Toros Asadourian as Operations Sorsion & EO Stakhouse
Karriaunna Scotti as SO Ensign Nightwind & TO Ensign Nightwind, TO Larson & Jena

After the captain read through the testimonies sent by the sanctuary planet he spoke with his first officer.  He was going to have to make a decision soon. With the XO they head down to talk to the newest captured shifter.

On the bridge, things were quiet.  There was little more science could do without going down to the planet below and OPS mainly just listened, waiting as he finds himself instead of enjoying lunch with Crystal he is in charge of the bridge SFI interviewed the last of the captured shifters while the TO listened.  Grisim had planted a small charge near the coupling to interfere with the ship leaving should they choose to take them away.  The TO heads down to engineering, tagging Parsons along the way to let him know what is going on.  To her bemusement, wants her to help him with the charge instead of one of his own people.  And SFI heads to the bridge to talk with the captain about what he has learned.  Crossing paths with the captain the three of them head to the Read Room.

Time lapse: None

Captain's Log 11805.27: I'm close to a decision, there is one more piece of information I need, and I believe the prisoners have it.

<<<<<<<<<< Night of  the Moon XII>>>>>>>>>

SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: On the bridge, at her station, her stomach telling her it was past meal time.::
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: Following Parsons with a tool kit.  A touch of humor in her eyes::  EO:  Are you sure it is safe having me helping you?
 EO Parsons says:
::hurries along:: TO: Probably not, but I trust you to do what I say and not argue. Engineers argue.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::sits in the command chair reviewing the OPS stations work like a helicopter parents::
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: Lifts a brow.  In his field, he was correct, she trusted him and would not argue in this.::
OPS Ens Gareb says:
::Glances up from his console as he feels the OPS's glance at his direction::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
::settles in his chair behind his desk, nodding Maor to one facing him::
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: Turns around and just looks around the room, considering.::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::smiles warmly at Gareb and turns his attention to the tactical readiness reports from all departments::
EO Parsons says:
TO: What was the location again? ::keeps hurrying in that general direction::
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::hits the door chime to the captain's ready room and waits::
TO Ens Nightwind says:
EO:  All he said, was "A small charge near the coupling that would prevent you from leaving immediately... if need be."
OPS Ens Gareb says:
OPS:  Just keeping your chair warm, Chief. ::He signs::
TO Ens Nightwind says:
EO:  You meaning, us, the ship.
XO Cmdr Maor says:
::Sits down on the Captain's sofa as he studies the direction of the doors::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::nods approvingly:: OPS: You're doing a fine job Ensign, not to worry.  One day the seat will be yours if you wish, and I will know it's in good hands.  SO: Anything on sensors?
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: brings her eyes back to the center::  OPS:  Nothing, zilch.  :: frowns::  Let me rephrase that, nothing has changed.  The ships remain in their position.  In away, it is kind of eery.
 EO Parsons says:
:: frowns:: TO: Port or starboard? I'm assuming its the warp nacelle coupling?
TO Ens Nightwind says:
TO:  Sorry, I did not ask for clarification.  I was assuming, hoping, you would know where he would most likely put a charge.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
SO: Perhaps they're not actually there.  Please activate our sensor array in the most obvious and intrusive pattern.  I suspect that they may be phantom ships.  Not for any other reason than no movement at all.. ::notes the quantity of torpedoes and their readiness::
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: nods and turns around::
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: Where before she had used simple passive scans, she switched sensor modes, altered frequencies and increased energy output.::
EO Parsons says:
::sighs:: TO: There are a myriad of couplings but that would be the most logical in stopping us going anywhere. ::taps his badge:: *Main Engineering* Parsons to main engineering. All teams check any and all couplings in and around the warp core. Thompson, take a team to the starboard coupling joining the nacelle to the ship, I'll take the port.
 CO Capt Varesh says:
SFI: Enter.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::looks around the bridge and stands:: All: We are about to initiate a minorly aggressive maneuver.  That said, we are simply conducting a sensor calibration exercise to ensure we are up to Federation standards.
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::straightens his uniform before entering, noticing Commander Maor and giving him a short nod before returning his attention to Captain Varesh:: CO/XO: Sirs. 
TO Ens Nightwind says:
EO:  I am curious.  If it was just enough to disrupt and keep us here, how long would it take you to fix it so that we could leave?
 CO Capt Varesh says:
::nods towards a chair:: SFI: Sit, tell me what is so urgent.
SO Ens Nightwind says:
OPS:  Interesting...  :: puts the current image up on the main screen.::  Watch...
XO Cmdr Maor says:
::Nods silently in return::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::looks towards the main viewer with curiosity:: SO: Let's see it Ensign Nightwind.

ACTION:  On the main view screen, several ships can be seen to move slightly in formation, at the same time, one-third of the ships "vanish" from the screen.

SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::takes a seat, sitting a little too stiffly:: CO: Sir, I believe we've been given information that adds a dimension to our... situation with the locals. 
 EO Parsons says:
TO: I'm assuming the worst. It can be blowing the nacelles off the ship, or it can be disrupting the EPS conduit flow to the deuterium intermix chambers.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::raises both eyebrows:: SO: Am I to understand that we are not actually out manned and out gunned? ::readies a brief report to the CO and XO entitled "G Ships" waiting to send pending the SO's reply::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
SFI: And that would be?
TO Ens Larson says:
OPS:  Sir, two ships, one on either end, have activated weapons.
SO Ens Nightwind says:
OPS:  From what I understood, we were never out gunned.  I believe it was more for show or solidarity.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
All: Yellow alert. ::taps his comm badge:: *CO/XO*: Captain and First Officer to the bridge please.  TO: Shields up, SO: I want to know everything about those two ships.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
TO: Make sure you keep our weapons offline, we don't want to appear ile, only prepared.
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
CO/XO: As we speak, Lieutenant Nightwind's team is working to remove an explosive charge from one of our critical systems. I only know this because we were able to capture one of the shape-shifters loose on the ship and get him to talk. The location of the device was payment in advance for my promise to speak to my Captain on their behalf. 
 CO Capt Varesh says:
XO: Go see what it is, I'll there shortly.
TO Ens Larson says:
:: nods and turns back to continue monitoring.::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
::motions to Joseph to keep talking::
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::feels a little disoriented at the violent interruption to the little speech he'd worked out on his way up in the turbolift::
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::watches Maor head for the door before continuing:: CO: Captain, The shape-shifters believe we are complicit in their continued enslavement by the Slaminians. 
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: Scanning the vessels she does pulls up a comparison chart and enters some numbers.::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
SFI: Assume I am using profanity at that statement and explain further. Or is that all they said?
XO Cmdr Maor says:
::Raises from his seat, he makes his way outside the Captain's ready room:: OPS: What's going on?
SO Ens Nightwind says:
OPS:  The two vessels could sting, but unless they try to ram us and get very lucky, they would not be able to do the ship much damage.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::hands the padd to the XO:: XO: Commander, two ships have powered their weapons, and as you just heard the SO pose little threat to us.  However, it appears the quantity of ships in the area are far fewer than we were originally led to believe. ::nods to Gareb::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::nods to the SO in thanks for that timely report::
XO Cmdr Maor says:
OPS: Understood. Open a channel to whichever of them. ::Takes his seat::
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::nods:: CO: Essentially, sir. I was attempting to keep this from turning into a shooting war so I cut to the chase and told him you would need to know *why* they're doing what they're doing. ::takes a breath and lets it out slowly:: As motivations go...
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::nods and assumes the OPS station:: XO: Aye sir. ::identifies the lead ship based on ship placement and opens a channel:: XO: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
OPS Ens Gareb says:
::Hands the control back to the OPS before moving back to one of the auxiliary consoles::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
SFI: Ok, I guess I will have to go speak to them directly then. ::gets up:: Anything else?
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: Looks patiently at Parsons::
XO Cmdr Maor says:
Com: Nearby ships: This is Commander Maor of the USS Seleya. Please state your intentions. ::Looks back at the direction of the SO:: SO: Someone find me the TO and make sure all of our guests are still where they should be. This could be a diversion.

ACTION:  On the screen appears the serious face of very young woman.  Half her face is badly scarred.
 
EO Parsons says:
TO: Sorry, lost in thought there. ::hurries along the passage again:: Don't you need to be on the bridge with yellow alert? Or is this important enough?
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::looks up at the woman and maintains a straight face while inwardly feeling horror::
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::thinks:: CO: In my opinion, Captain. The only options for deescalation are in our hands. They're desperate and enraged. They won't back down, not until we've killed enough of them. So if it's going to happen, we're going to have to be the ones that fold. In some way. 
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: nods::  ~~~~ TO: The first officer wants you to check our guests and make sure they are all accounted for and where they should be.~~~~
TO Ens Nightwind says:
EO Parsons: I am needed elsewhere.
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: With a quick nod, she heads out...::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
SFI: Understood, I'll keep the killing to a null amount. :: heads for the door:: I'll have a chat with whomever is aiming weapons at us. ::exits onto the bridge::
EO Parsons says:
TO: I thought so. ::stops briefly outside a maintenance hatch and clambers in, closing and locking it down behind him::
Jena says:
@ COMM: XO: Our intentions have not changed.  However, yours have?  :: her eyes narrow::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
All: Captain on the bridge.
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: Her first stop is deck 14 to check on their guests not behind a forcefield.::
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::follows the Captain out and heads back to his usual haunt, clapping Gareb on the shoulder on the way::
XO Cmdr Maor says:
Com: Alien ships: Jena: Our intentions has not changed. I'm just baffled as to why two of your ships just has powered your weapons. We were promised more time by your government.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::as the XO finishes he mutes the comm momentarily to look back at the XO and nod to the padd:: XO: Sir, we activated our sensor array in a ... normal calibration of our sensor palette which may or may not have appeared aggressive.  The intent being, of course, to further identify our surrounding aggressors.
XO Cmdr Maor says:
OPS: Who authorized this? ::Raises, he turns toward the OPS's direction::
Jena says:
@ :: looks over at her sensors::  COMM: XO: Check your equipment.  We did not start anything.
 CO Capt Varesh says:
::walks up to the Big Chair, letting Maor handle it still, the internal cameras focused on the commander::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::looks a bit indignant:: XO: It was under my orders, Commander. The SO had indicated that the ships in our area were surprisingly still, a tactical assessment would be that there was some clandestine activity occurring, up to and including cloaked ships.
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: As she steps off the lift, she checks in with her people one by one.::
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: nodding to the security officer, she taps the chimes and waits.  After a moment, Rasha answers the door.::
XO Cmdr Maor says:
::Sighs, he motions for the OPS to un-mute the channel before returning his attention back to the viewscreen:: Com: Alien Ships: Jena: I'm afraid we've had a bit of a misunderstanding. Due to a malfunction in our short range sensors we had to restart the entire array. Your system must have picked up our restart sequence. We apologize for the misunderstanding.
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: As the first officer talks, she quickly alters the sensors back to passive.::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
::thinks about ruffled feathers and given who they were talking to it seemed doubly apt... making him almost guffaw::
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::crosses his legs and smiles a little with divisional pride as the old spook lies impressively::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::notes the power dip in the sensor array and looks back at the SO with understanding but annoyance::
Jena says:
@ :: as the energy levels return to normal she looks up with suspicion in her eyes::  COMM:  XO:  Acknowledged.  :: and cuts the image.::
TO Ens Larson says:
XO: The two vessels are powering back to normal.
XO Cmdr Maor says:
OPS, SO: Tell me we got something at least.
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::looks to the SO to reply to the XO as he notes the ship is still at yellow alert and with shields raised:: Self: Maybe not all bad?
SO Ens Nightwind says:
SO: There are about one-third less ships than we see visually.  They have some sort of holo-emitter.  Though I am a bit surprised if they have that kind of equipment, why not put up ships that look more intimidating... :: frowns::  unless they were afraid we would scan them and learn sooner.
XO Cmdr Maor says:
::Nods:: TO: Back to normal operations. ::Turns to the CO:: CO: Do we have something new?
 CO Capt Varesh says:
XO: Yes, let's go talk to our prisoners. I'll fill you in on the way.
TO Ens Larson says:
 :: nods and quiets yellow alert::
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::looks back sheepishly at the XO/CO wondering if they'll leave him in charge again::
XO Cmdr Maor says:
OPS:  Off the record ::Makes sure the Captain doesn't hear:: I would have done the same thing. ::Joins the Captain in the TL:: You have the bridge.
TO Ens Nightwind says:
*XO*: Commander, all Slaminians are accounted for.  And those not in the brig have everything packed.
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: There is an unspoken question in the last.::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
OPS: Don't get us blown up while we're away.
XO Cmdr Maor says:
CO: Did you tell our guests your decision yet?
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
::smiles brightly:: XO: Aye sir! ::stands from his seat and nods to Gareb to assume Operations and chuckles at the CO's comment:: CO: Aye sir...
SFI LtJG Joseph says:
::stands as the commanders approach the turbolift:: CO/XO: Shall I accompany you?
 CO Capt Varesh says:
XO: Rasha and her people are free to leave any time. It's the fate of the prisoners I'm quibbling over. ::nods to Joseph to join them::
 CO Capt Varesh says:
::enters the lift and orders it to the brig as soon as the others are on board::
SO Ens Nightwind says:
OPS:  You realize, if you had gotten into trouble, we might have gotten lunch.  If you do not need me, I am going to quickly get something.  Do you want me to bring you anything back?  There is no telling how long they will be.
TO Ens Nightwind says:
:: heads for the brig::  *EO Parsons*:  Are we good?
 CO Capt Varesh says:
::speaks as soon as the doors are closed:: XO: Joseph here basically said that the shifters we have in custody are under the impression that the Federation is complicit in their slavery by the Slaminians. Their words. We're going to get the information directly from the horse's mouth... so to speak.
XO Cmdr Maor says:
CO: Honestly, do we really care about their opinion of us?
OPS Lt Sorsion says:
SO: I'll have what you're having, thank you Ensign.
EO Parsons says:
*TO*: Still checking the area. I don't think they would have conveniently labled it "Big Bomb".
SO Ens Nightwind says:
:: not sure what she is having, she nods, stands and heads for the lift while things were still quiet::
TO Ens Nightwind says:
*EO*:  I think it is a "little" bomb.  Call me if you need me.
 CO Capt Varesh says:
XO: If it reflects badly on the Federation, then yes we do.
 XO Cmdr Maor says:
CO: Let's not forget who these people are, Captain.  We have to keep things in perspective.

<<<<<<<<<< Pause >>>>>>>>>>

Time lapse: None....