Brett:
 Summary: The Delphyne has followed the kidnapper's trail to an isolated system containing several mining operations.  Now, they must decide how to proceed.

Brett:
 <<<<Resume Mission  "The Galaxy Princess" - Part 8>>>>

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::finishes configuring the probes and sends them out:: CO: Probes away, Sir.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CSO: Good work, lieutenant.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CO: Sir, I did some research with Starfleet, and the Tellarites in this system haven't made any request.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CNS: Thank you, counselor. 

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CNS: I'm going to try talking to our guest one more time. Bring us into the system slowly…. maybe getting closer to his comrades will shake his nerve, eh?

Brett:
 Action: The probes begin their pass through the asteroids.  So far, they detect no mines.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CO: Hopefully, and if not we could just use him to set off one of those mines ::grins::

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 :: Wondering if anything will come of this, he heads for the brig. ::

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 FCO: Keep correlating your course with the CSO's readings, we don't want to hit one of those mines.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 :: Enters brig, looks at the man before him. ::

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: What is the status of the probes?

Brett:
 <Man> ::Sitting despondently on his bunk::

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: Nothing so far…

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Man: I never learned your name?

Brett:
 <Man> CO: I didn't give it.  ::Sighs::  It's Larkin Walker.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO:  How far are we from the nearest Mining operation?

Brett:
 Action: The probes complete their sweep and detect no mines.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker:  Well, Mr Waler, I'm Captain Tar Rin Mash'ev. Do you know where we are now?

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: well, I'm still in this cell… I don't know where you are.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: I am thus far unable to detect any mines.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::taps her chin in thought::

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: We are in the Pradaxil System, traveling at one-quarter impulse.

Brett:
 <Walker> ::Hangs his head::  CO: Ohhhhh, why me?

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 ::sitting on the bridge wondering what information the captain is getting out of their guest::

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: Because you joined up with the wrong people. I'd like to help you out but I need you to help us out, too.

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: You don't understand, ::Whines::  They'll kill me if they think I talked to you.  I didn't do anything!

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: Are you picking up anything on the long range sensors, mining ships or any other kind of activity?

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: I understand that, Larkin. ::sits:: I will do everything I can to protect you once we get out of here. But we can't leave without looking for Linea San Martine first.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::thinks about her problem then hears the CNS as he interrupts her train of thought:: CNS: I will check. ::goes to look at what the sensors are telling her::

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: Explain to me how a gravitational mine works?

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: ::Shakes his head::  If that guy had just paid the boss, none of this would have happened.  Man, I shoulda been an accountant.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: ::chuckles::  Maybe it's not too late to be an accountant?

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: What guy? San Martine's manager?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: Sensors detect one small freighter at the Tellarite facility and nothing else in this system. The freighter appears to be idle, maybe it is loading or off-loading. The Orion facility has some abnormal power emissions… Will have further information on that for you in a moment… ::tries to scan those emissions to further analyze it::

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: Yeah, yeah.  ::Waves his hand::  That rat has been stealing from her for years.  He's into the boss for a lot of money too.  I heard the Captain sayin' all we had to do was apply a little pressure and he'd cave in, or she would, and cough up the money.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: I see. And did you know that she was broke?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: A mine detects a gravitational field of a nearby mass… like that of a ship and automatically attacks. It is more like a torpedo than a conventional land mine, which makes it so dangerous.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: What would be some ways of setting these mines off, besides flying the ship into the middle of them?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: My thought is to reconfigure the probes to emit a gravitational field that would make any that are out there think that it is a ship… and therefore the mine would harmlessly destroy a probe.

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: ::Looks at the CO, squinting::  What?  What do you mean broke?

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: Between your friends and her manager, Ms. San Martine doesn't have enough to pay anyone anymore.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: Any…. ::pauses:: We've been looking in the wrong place…. ::quickly presses keys:: the asteroid field is full of things with mass and gravitational fields….

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: Could we not just send a massive gravitational field using the ship?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: With what? The deflector dish? I would be concerned about the torpedo tracing that back to its source.

Brett:
 <Walker> ::Sits down with a curse::  CO: So… what happens now?

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: That is true, but we have a limited number of probes, and we aren't sure how many mines there are.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: Now? Now you have a chance to do something right and help rescue someone who will not have a chance otherwise.

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: And…you'll let me go?  If I help you I mean?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::goes back to trying to reconfigure the probes to put out a high frequency emission, emulating the gravitational field of a ship, then looks up to the Counselor:: CNS: As you are sitting in that chair it is your choice to risk the ship in such a manner. It is my duty to obey your orders and express my concerns with them.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: I will speak for you before any investigative committee. As, I'm sure, Ms. San Martine will do so, too. With us on your side, you would likely get probation and placed into a witness protection program as well.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: I agree. I am just concerned that we send out the probes to only blow up a few of the mines, still leaving us not knowing what is out their.  If we stayed far enough back would we not be able to detect an incoming mine like we would a torpedo?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: We can replicate more probes… we cannot replicate another ship.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::takes a moment to consider the other half of his question::

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: If you don't help us, she will surely die and this ship may be crippled, leaving us at the mercy of those who would do you harm.

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: Swell… ::Sighs and sits down again, obviously resigned::  What do you want to know?

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: Once you have finished the probe calibration let me know, did you decide against using the asteroids from the field?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: I have configured additional probes now and will retrieve the others.  I await your orders to launch them.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: We need to know how to get to their base without being spotted, if that's even possible. If it isn't, we at least need to arrive safely.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: Considering the nature of gravitic mines they would not be effective in the asteroid field. They are probably hiding where there is not so much mass so that they can more easily detect a passing ship.

Brett:
 <Walker> CO: The base has passive sensors, and several automated listening posts on nearby asteroids.  They'll detect the power emissions of a ship entering the asteroid field and alert the base.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: Is there a way that is free of mines?

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::scans the system for areas of low mass and prepares the probes to take a circuitous route through them::

Brett:
 <Walker> CO:  ::Sighs again:: There are no mines.  I just told your flunky that to get him to let me go.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CO: ::chuckles::  I see. That was a very good effort on your part.

Brett:
 <Walker> CO:  ::Looks around::  Yeah, worked like a champ.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CNS: Did you miss my report on the strange power emissions from one of the Orion mining facilities? If I am to get a better read on them we will need to be closer to it.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: We're going to try to fool their sensors as much as we can, to get as close as we can. I'm afraid I'll have to leave you here, for now. If all goes well, you'll be placed in a cabin until we can get to a Starbase.

Brett:
 <Walker> CO:  The base has several particle projection guns, but it isn't built to withstand an assault.  There are a lot of people there… pirates, sure, but some traders, some merchants, some just hiding from something… If you go in blasting you'll kill a lot of innocent people.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker: Going in there with guns blazing isn't my style. I'd like to get in quietly and get out again, if at all possible.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 Walker:  ::stands up::  I need to prepare my ship. I will be back, though. Try to get some rest.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: I didn't miss anything, you told me I would have more information on that and I have been waiting.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 :: Leaves the brig, heads for the Bridge. ::

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::blinks:: CNS: My apologies, sir.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: When the Captain returns, we will see what information he has, maybe he will be able to tell us more about these mines or exactly where we are going

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 *CNS*:  Prepare the ship for Gray Mode. I'm on my way to the Bridge.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 *CO*: Aye, Sir

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::nods to the CNS::

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CSO: Prepare the ship for grey mode… ::turns to the Lt:: and good work with the probes, your idea of the gravitational field was very wise thinking ::smiles and turns forward::

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 :: Exits the TL and moves quickly to the Big Chair. ::  CNS/CSO: Do you have a fix on their location yet?

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 ::stands and let the Captain have the chair::

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::raises an eyebrow at the counselor and decides she will never understand him, briefly misses D'von again::

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CO: One of the Orion mining facilities has a strange power emission… I cannot fully analyze it unless we get closer. I would suspect that is the place we are looking for.

Brett:
 INFO: The Delphyne slips into Grey Mode and slowly enters the asteroid field, en route to the Orion "mining" camp.

CNS_LtCmdr_Llewellyn:
 CO: By the look on your face I assume you got more information from our guest then I was able to?

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CNS/CSO: Our guest told me that he was using the gravitic mines as a ploy to negotiate his release; that there are, in fact, no mines.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CO: That would explain why I was unable to detect any. ::hint of a wry tone::

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CNS/CSO: The Orions have passive sensors scattered around the Asteroid Belts, designed to detect ship's power emissions. I hope that our Gray Mode will fool their sensors, at least long enough to get closer.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 ::nods:: CO: Aye sir. When the FCO tells us we are clear of the asteroid field I should do another sweep to determine the nature of the power emissions.

Brett:
 INFO: As the ship gets closer, the sensors show that the Orion mine is actually a habitable facility that is, in fact, underground on a large asteroid.  On the surface are several emplacements, landing facilities and a central building.  The power emissions come from a subterranean power core; quite powerful for such a small facility.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CNS/CSO: Though the pirates are there, as well as their captive, there are also traders and merchants there as well. I'd like to avoid violence if at all possible.

CSO_Lt_Rhykmal:
 CO: Sir, the Orion facility has an exceptionally powerful power core for such a small facility. I wonder why they need so much power.

Brett:
 INFO: An energy field covers the mine, preventing transport and providing a pressure done over the building.  Several small vessels sit in the landing area.

CO_Capt_Mash`ev:
 CSO: Let's hope it isn't for weapons systems, lieutenant.

Brett:
 <<<<Pause>>>>