[USS Quantum Fury]
"No, it does not seem so Captain." Nik Nok said.
"Whew." Onarin sighed "don't see many of those these days. I would have thought the Romulans would have phased those things out by now."
"This is the frontier commander- they are the last ones to receive any technology. This has been and will always be the least of the Empire's focus." Khiy frowned at the threatening visage now haunting his viewscreen "Lieutenant Nik Nok, scan the area meanwhile Ensign Three, scan the planet. Run passive scans to avoid detection from the D'Deridex."
"Yes sir." Both officers echoed.
It took only a minute for Nik Nok to find something interesting- and distressing "Captain. Sensors are detecting residual weapons residue. From analysis the computer believes they originate from Romulan disruptor fire and Starfleet phaser discharges." Khiy wasn't the only one surprised by the news. Everyone on the bridge stopped to look up at the reptilian save for Three and T'Ern who were busying themselves with their consoles.
"There was only one other-"
"The Charon." Khiy said interrupting his executive officer's thought. "Were they destroyed?" He asked. His stomach churned. While he had no love for Shiarrael t'Rehu the crew of the Charon was another matter. Nik Nok's clawed fingers loudly rapped on the console as he worked to get the information- however T'Ern spoke up in his stead.
"Forgive me Captain; I have taken the liberty of accessing the tactical data." Khiy looked at T'Ern, Nik Nok seemed somewhat relieved by her interjection "according to the debris data I have gathered the Charon has not been destroyed. However, it appears to have been significantly damaged and judging from the pattern of residual weapon discharges, debris, and impulse signatures, they were being pursued by at least four other vessels. The signatures lead directly into the nebula."
Khiy sighed and leaned back in his chair "perhaps they were able to escape."
"Unlikely Captain." T'Ern said; her tone cold and neutral "they were pursued into the nebula by four other ships. While the Charon has certain advantages in such an environed the level of damage based on the debris greatly decreased their chances of survivability."
"Thank you for that ray of sunshine Lieutenant." Onarin quipped- his original mood having soured considerably in the span of minutes.
T'Ern's brows perked "ray of sunshine sir? I do not believe I understand your statement. Certainly a ray of sunshine would be impossible to-"
"It is a terran aphorism." Onarin said grimacing "never mind Lieutenant, thank you." He looked at Khiy "do you think they set up the Charon sir? They would have come here just like we did- to help. But why is this ship still out here?"
"I believe I can answer that question." Three said from his science station "I have been scanning the planet and I have detected one thousand three hundred life signs- however in this short time period that number has already decreased to one thousand one hundred and fifty- or approximately eleven point six percent of the population had died in one minute and twenty seven seconds." Three's short blond hair obscured the obsidian implants which covered his slightly tanned skin "upon further inspection I detected a thin layer of abnormal biomatter located in the stratosphere. I believe a biological weapon is being tested on the planetary population sir."
"They're here to record their work." Khiy was disgusted- this was the exact reason why he despised these people. His blood may be Romulan but his heart would never be anything close "the Charon may have accidentally stumbled upon something they should not have."
"It seems that way." Onarin grimaced- and odd expression for a Cardassian. "What should we do? The Charon may be in danger and those poor people on the planet…" His voice trailed off.
"They're dead." Khiy stated it simply "they will all have died long before we have any plan of action formulated. If we act without thinking we will be no better off. We are no match for that D'Deridex warbird- not without a plan." Khiy stood up and slowly made his way towards the view screen "shift image to system-wide holographic display."
T'Ern simply nodded and the view screen dimmed and in front of it a holographic diagram of the solar system appeared. Khiy stepped into it- his fingers sliding through stars and nebula gasses. He touched the planet and it zoomed on the holographic display "we are here- it appears to have two moons; both are on the other side." He turned around and looked at the bridge crew "we will use one of the moons to aid us in our cover. In the meantime we will find a way to help the Charon." If there is still a Charon to help.
[To be continued…]
