[NeoDyne Reasearch Station – Ch'Hirexa System]
Beyond the shattered ruminants of an old planet the sleek Romulan bomber decloaked. Its sudden arrival, unexpected as it was, brought with it a wave of unease. It spun past several large asteroids and then darted for the spindle shaped station. Aboard, when the notice came of the bomber's arrival, Doctor Hans Bittenfield scrambled to the docking bay along with several of his fellow scientists. As the group meandered in the bomber's landing clamps touched the polished deck with a noticeable 'clink' and the back door slowly lowered. Waiting at the entrance way was Terrh; the normally irritable Romulan wore a rather vexed expression. His hollow eyes immediately locked gazes with Doctor Bittenfield "lead me to the remaining samples of Memento Mori."
Clearly flustered by the surprise visit and unusual request Bittenfield stiffened "what happened? Where are the other ships? Where is the Knvuk? Why do you need the other samples? What happened to the test?"
"It was too slow." Terrh snapped, he reached out and grabbed the Doctor's collar jerking the scientist a bit "and now we have a larger issue. The Galae have our scent and Knvuk as well as the other ships are gone. Now- where are samples? We must salvage something from this failure."
Bittenfield pulled away "fine, Linley, tell Doctor Ulysses to get the samples out. I'll be there shortly." He looked at Terrh and then started down the hallway "will they find us?"
"The Galae is incompetent, it will take them time." Terrh festered in thought- his biggest concern was the Charon. Could they have survived in that nebula? "Your people will need to evacuate the station as a precautionary measure. A secondary facility will be constructed once the fire has died down. I assure you- our commitment to NeoDyne will remain."
The Doctor's head bobbed "I hope so." They entered one of the secured laboratories. On one of the tables Doctor Ulysses was moving vials into a stasis case. "Do you have them?" Bittenfield asked Ulysses as he and Terrh approached.
"Yes, putting the last sample in stasis now." He slid the vial into its little niche and shut the case holding it out.
Terrh grabbed the case, smiled, and then revealed the disruptor he had pocketed. It only took an instant from the exchange before Doctor Ulysses was consumed by a green light. Bittenfield, horrified, had jumped across the table and now was scurrying across the lab's floor towards one of the back doors "Doctor Bittenfield, I apologize. You are now a liability that must be remo-" Terrh's eyes moved towards the ceiling as alarms blared.
"Emergency alert, I repeat emergency alert! Romulan warbird has decloaked and is demanding surrender! Doctor Bittenfield please report to the primary lab!"
Terrh hissed and spun on his heels charging out of the lab.
[IRW Endless Sky]
Istak looked rather bored as he sat in his command throne studying his honor blade. He would have rather destroyed the station but he agreed to give Shiarrael those Federation scientists. A wry laugh burst from his throat. She was ridiculous in that uniform and allowing that man to prattle on like a fool was too unlike her. It was certainly fitting.
"No answers, Rekkhai."
"Hanaj." He glanced at his executive officer "lead the Gai'Shian aboard. Try to avoid too much bloodshed. I do not like to have my word broken."
Hanaj cracked a grin "perhaps we should have borrowed their Federation phasers Rekkhai." The bridge erupted in laughter but Itsak simply grinned. There was something else he needed from this place and Hanaj was already aware of it. The Federation scientists were only a means to satisfy curious gazes. As Hanaj dematerialized he waited. In the corner of the view screen he could see the Charon lingering like a wounded thrai- and somewhere in the darkness there was that other ship. How curious it was.
[NeoDyne Station]
A thousand heavily armored Gai'Shian dematerialized instantly. Most of the scientists were wise enough to surrender. Those that were foolish enough to resist were hacked apart as sport. It was always a bad idea to resist a bored Gai'Shian's request. And, in the cavernous docking bay Hanaj stood with three dozen soldiers. One of the Gai'Shian frowned "its empty Rekkhai!"
"Is it?" Hanaj asked. He lifted his disruptor and fired. Nothing. He fire again, and again, and again, and then finally it hit something amidst the emptiness. A small area in the massive hanger rippled like the oceans of Romulus and Hanaj knew he had found his prey. The others opened fire and finally the cloak failed and the bomber materialized. They surrounded the ship and then a group forced open the door. An explosion ripped the first group of soldiers into tiny particles but others immediately took their place and forced their way into the bombers' interior. Flashes of light could be seen from the cockpit but resistance was quickly subdued by sheer numbers and the solders dragged out a single Romulan. He grinned "I have friends."
"Yes, I know, from what we gather Galae'EnRiov tr'Verelan has been looking for you, for several years, regarding what happened to his wife." Terrh's reaction told Hanaj all he needed to know. As he was dragged away one of the Gai'Shian brought him the stasis box "we found this on him rekkhai."
"Good work." Hanaj smiled. He took the case and returned to the Endless Sky.
[IRW Endless Sky]
It was not eventful. Not that Itsak had expected it to be anything more so. "Deliver the scientist to Charon. Kill their speci-" he paused remembering that the men had reported finding a Human and Bolian among the specimens "have them sent to Charon and inform the Charon to join us at I'Rak Prime. I will allow them use of our fleet facilities to repair." He stood up "I will be in my room. Contact me if anything arises."
As Itsak left the bridge he smiled.
[End]
