The Founder, the war and an ‘eagle - Subterranean Pt 1

Posted on Fri May 26th, 2023 @ 6:42pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kilbane & Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis & Lieutenant Kell Asaa Dr
Edited on on Fri May 26th, 2023 @ 6:46pm

3,180 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: Planet Runamen
Timeline: Current.

Planet Runamen - Subterranean.

Shon set her phaser and exited the shuttle. “Good luck everyone” she said in a low soft voice. “Don’t get caught and don’t get killed.” She smiled to herself not really knowing if she would be coming back. “There is a large door over there with what look like steps, hopefully that is the way below. She moved over to the heavy metal door and waited for the rest of the team.

Finchley followed Shon out, he in turn was followed by Karadis and Kilbane. Karadis looked at Kilbane "What did he mean when he said 'If the balloon goes up and we're discovered, then it's our Alamo, Butch and Sundance, Custer's Last Stand...you get the picture'?"

"You're not a history buff then?" Kilbane asked.

"Of Earth history, no, not entirely, I know bits and pieces" Karadis replied.

"Let's just say that his meaning was 'dead' pan humour..." Kilbane answered.

"Oh...OHHHHHHH..." Karadis then muttered "We'll all be de..."

"Yes, Just so" Kilbane concluded.

Shon turned “shush people this is not a holiday jaunt!” She exclaimed as she opened the door into the dark cavernous space.

"Oooooooh, get her!" Kilbane said "Knickers a little too tight Commander?" he sniggered quietly.

Finchley tapped him on the shoulder and quietly said "Not now Kev...but it was funny."

He walked passed Kilbane and Karadis and caught up with Shon "What makes you think we're going the right way Commander?"

Shon, with her increased hearing had heard the comment and was sure, if she lived they would be having a ‘conversation’. “For some reason I seem to know the way Sir.” Shon informed him as she began to head down some stairs. “Be careful here,” she whispered. “Two of the steps have worn away and it is a long way down.”

Kell kept silent, watching her step and alternately glancing at her forearm PADD as it monitored the XO...

Finchley was happy for Shon to take the lead if she felt she knew the way. They descended the stairway, keeping an eye out for faulty and worn steps. It was a steep descent, and as they went, the heat increased, in itself not unusual as hey were now underground, but this heat was a rapid increase, and Finchley found himself wiping his brow several times. Finally, they reached the bottom and the team spread out.

The tunnel they were in stretched as far as the eye could see in each direction, so Finchley looked at Shon and said "What does your internal navigation say now Commander?"

“We carry on for approximately fifty meters then we cross the corridor that leads to the main reactor core. I…” Shon stopped. “As far as my little friends remember there are security precautions there.” She stood still waiting a few seconds before continuing. “They do not know what these precautions are but they seem to think they are lethal. I am sorry sir I must sit down for a moment.”

Kell glances at Kerr as he looks over at her. She shows him her thumb on the red button. Previously that would've activated a personal containment field and triggered a beam out into space. Now, it would just do the containment part, plus a heavy shock to stun the nanites, and inadvertently Shon as well, and maybe, just maybe, delay any explosion...

Finchley discreetly nodded 'no', he didn't think there was particular danger at the moment, if there had been, Shon would have been in much more distress he'd have thought.

Kell then returns to the info on her PADD. "Her system doesn't like sharing with the nanites... Shon, you're gonna have to relax. Think of Puss. Purring. On your lap..."

Shon shot her a look of pure un Vulcanlike anger. “You try to relax with a bomb in your head Doctor!” She retorted. Then looking ashamed she whispered “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to say that, it just seemed to come out.”

Kell smiled lightly. "No worries XO, we'll all go with you I'm sure."

"Karadis, Kilbane...double up the corridor forty five meters, no more, take a look, see if you can spot anything out the ordinary" Finchley said.

"Me???" Kilbane asked, rather louder than he'd meant to.

Grabbing him by the arm, Karadis replied for Finchley "You heard what Bird said, both of us. Think of it as a chance to be a hero."

"What if I don't want to be a hero...again, I've already been there and done that, 'several' times over!" Kilbane complained as he was dragged away.

"Then you'll be used to it" Karadis replied, half dragging, half pushing Kilbane up the corridor.

Finchley laughed out loud as he watched the pair go "You know, I could almost imagine them as a married couple. Her the matriarch, him the downtrodden hubby."

Shon stood and gave a snort. The joke of Kerr’s had just been the boost she had needed. Now she felt eager to press on. “There are living quarters once we overcome the ‘security measures’. Living quarters good enough for a Founder!”

Finchley rubbed his chin thoughtfully "Perhaps, but my gut tells me they're not here, in fact, I doubt they're even on Runaman. They wouldn't risk being this near to what could become the new front in a new war. No, they'll be holed up somewhere safe, well out the way."

“Maybe you’re right Captain. The nanites have not yet got excited. Hopefully we will find some information, or catch a passing scientist or two.”

Karadis jogged back into view, and approaching Finchley said "Yep, the Commander's correct, there's a number of safety precautions along there. Surveillance camera's, pressure pads...and can you believe it, snares!"

"Snares???" Finchley repeated questioningly, then realised Kilbane wasn't with her. "Where's the idiot?" he asked.

"Caught in one of the snares..." Karadis answered.

"Oh my G...and you left him?" he asked.

"Yes" Karadis answered.

"Why?" Finchley asked.

"Come and see" Karadis replied, unable to keep the grin off her face.

Finchley closed his eyes, he really didn't want to, but he knew the urge to see had gotten the better of him "Ok, let's go."

Gleefully, Karadis turned and led them back down the corridor some forty meters, but there was no sign of Kilbane.

"I thought you said he was caught in a snare?" Finchley asked.

"I am!" an angry reply came back.

Finchley turned round, then round again. He'd heard Kilbane's voice, but couldn't see him.

"Where is he?" he asked Karadis.

Unable to hold her laughter in any longer, Karadis pointed upwards. Finchley looked up, then started to guffaw loudly. There's, some fifteen feet of so above them, was Kilbane, hanging by one leg, and rope around his ankle!

"Will one of you get me down from this bloody thing!" he yelled.

“Only if you are quiet” called Shon softly. “Goodness knows how many people know we are here now, Surak help us they will hear you on the ‘eagle. She took her phaser and aimed it at the rope, moving nearer to him. She depressed and the phaser fired breaking the rope. Kilbane fell into Shon’s outstretched arms and she stood him up on his feet. Everyone was looking at her. She tapped her head. “Nanite strength.” She said.

"Oh nooooooooooooooooooooo......." Kilbane called out as he fell. As he landed in Shon's arms and was put down right way up, he looked a her in amazement at the fact she held onto him and he hadn't crushed her.

"Thank you" he said, then he looked at Karadis and whispered loudly "I can't believe you left me hanging up there!"

"Oh come on, I thought it was funny, I just had to let the others see you" Karadis grinned.

"Whatever!" Kilbane replied, disgusted with her.

"Whatever" Finchley said, cutting across their chatter "we need to get to those quarters, but first we have to get past these security measures."

"That's easy, they're not live" Karadis said, I checked the board over there, there's no live connections here, I think that's why the snares were put up."

Finchley looked at Shon "This is your show Commander, and your little friends, the calls yours."

Shon stood quietly for a moment then pointed down a dark thin passageway allowing only one person at a time to get through. “This way Captain,” she said. “This is the shortest way to the living quarters and the labs. Follow me.” She half turned sideways and disappeared into the darkness the nanites pushing her on despite her own warning voice.

Finchley watched her go, then went after her. It was a thin corridor indeed, and he found himself breathing in a little "I must get back to the gym..." he said to quietly to himself.

As they walked, he asked Shon "When you communicate with these nanites, can you actually hear a voice in your head?"

Kell trailed along quietly, still alternating her gaze between the corridor and her data stream.

Shon turned her side and breathed in as she navigated a thinning of the passage. “No Sir, not a voice in my head, it is more like thoughts that are not mine, as If I am just listening to them talk. Stop!” She held her hand up as if they could see her in the dark. A slight hiss sounded in front of them. “There is a leak of Metrion gas ahead. It is only deadly if you breathe it in so I suggest you do not.” She held her breath and pushed ahead. In a couple of seconds she was passed the leak and out into a larger corridor. She took her phaser from her belt. “If anyone is about we may find them here” she whispered waiting for the rest of the group.

Once past the haze, Kell watched the component count on her display drop to an acceptable level and tapped the tiny medical respirator to breathe the regular air. She nodded to the others that it was clear... or enough not to harm them anyway... She kept to the side, trying to move carefully.

Finchley, Kilbane and Karadis passed where the leak was and entered out inti the wider corridor.

"Right, for the moment, I think we forget about the quarters and concentrate on the finding the labs" Finchley said "The overriding need is to find this Vorta scientist and get answers."

Shon turned, “The Vorta love comfort Captain, we are far more likely to find her in comfort than the coldness of a lab. Although it is your call sir? the labs are this way.” She pointed down another corridor brightly lit.

"Can you tap into the power feeds? I might be able to scan and if the quarters are sucking up a lot of juice, then we know someone is there?" Kell shrugged.

Shon looked at Asaa. “That is an excellent idea doctor, I concur.” Shon waked to a part of the wall that looked completely the same as the rest and placed her hand over the wall. There was a click as a panel was revealed alive with what looked like with bio neural circuitry arcing into flowing colours. Shon stood for a moment and then her face went blank and she sagged against the wall. A deep blue line of colour slid up her arm and she opened her mouth. “Try now Doctor?” She said I Voice not her own.

Kell's eyes rounded a bit more than normal and she switched some of her scanning over to frequencies for power analysis... "Whoa, it's like getting a firehose connection... lemme just... quarters is this one.. and this one... and labs... something else... the quarters are almost idle, the labs are pulling a pretty steady flow. There's another area here that's pulling almost as much..."

The blue line turned into multi colours and began to flood Dex’s upper body and face. “Stasis pods and flight control” suddenly she let go and with a cry slid to the floor the colour disappearing rapidly from Dex’s body.

Kell leaned into Shon, pushing her against the wall and just controlling the slide to the floor. "I think it's a good thing you're in shape... and half Vulcan... let's not do that kind of thing too often, it put a strain on your nervous system." Once Shon's eyes cleared and the reading trended towards a more normal display, she nodded at the CO as she held out a hand to give the XO a lift.

“Thank you Doctor” Shon said. “That feeling was very…….different.” She said after she had recovered. I knew I was talking but it was not me…most curious.” She looked towards Kerr. “Well Captain?” She asked.

'This is gonna be one heck of an AAR,' Kell thought to herself...

Finchley waited patiently till the Commander was back on her feet. He'd listened to what was said, what power feeds had gone where, then made a decision.

"The lab is the important place, it's where the answers to your particular situation can be found" he replied, "I have no doubts that the Vorta in question would live in comfort, but it's unlikely that they would house their work in their quarters. No, the lab, that is where we're heading" he finished, heading down the well lit corridor.

Kell nodded. "Sound logic. The flight deck or whatever that is technically isn't pulling much power for what it is; the lab, however, must have something going on, if not multiple somethings. My creds would be on that. Good thing we made you the Captain!"

Kell fell into place as they moved stealthily on...

In the lead, Finchley smiled at Kell's comment. At his side, Karadis glanced at him and saw the smile "Just give her a little while, she doesn't know you yet..."

Finchley slapped her arm "Don't you go telling her any of my embarrassing secrets."

"Who, Moi...little ol' me?" Karadis faked surprise.

"Yes you" Finchley answered "Just remember, so far, only you, me and Shon know what happened between you recently...that could change."

Karadis harrumphed, then glanced back towards Shon, "Yes, well, that score needs to be settled."

The corridor was now well lit, and Finchley slowed the pace down, something wasn't quite right. "Where are the guards, in fact, why haven't we come across anyone down here?"

Kell looked forward, and behind. "Mechanical traps, gas... maybe their power isn't always reliable, or maybe they pull too much with whatever they're doing in the labs? Or maybe it's all automated? Have we come too late to see what's going on?" Kell shrugs. "'Course this may be a waystation for their comings and goings, like a remote testing facility that isn't manned all the time.. lots we don't know, but if we can find a terminal somewhere..."

"I don't think this place is automated, that's not the Dominion MO, mark you, so far, nothing in this place is like the Dominion MO" Finchley said.

"That's correct Finchley" a voice said behind him, but from what seemed like further down the corridor.

Finchley whirled round and knelt all in one movement, phaser at the ready, then relaxed before showing a surprised look on his face "KELLY!!!...What...How...Where did you come from...you went missing..."

"All in good time...what brings you here?" they asked.

"We're looking for a Vorta scientist" Finchley replied.

Karadis immediately drew her phaser when Finchley turned and drew his, looking back down the corridor. When he spoke, she was perplexed and asked "Bird, who are you speaking to?"...there was no-one there.

For a moment it was as though Shon had been switched off. She stood silently, perfectly still, arms by her side taking slow deep breaths her eyes rolled back. She wanted to speak, tried to shout but she was perfectly paralyzed.

"Shon? Uh oh... convince them it's not the creator Shon..." She urged in a strong voice that she knew would carry as far as the CO... Kell rubbed the red button and concentrated, centered herself.

Shon returned and was herself again. She had once again felt the duality inside her, nanites acting taking her over, subsuming her personality. She touched her phaser unwilling to go through that again. “The Vorta is nearby Captain, hiding I believe. There is a stasis room behind the labs. She is there, do you want me to show you the way?”

Kell hugged the wall, pointing back through the group, speaking quietly. "The Captain was talking to someone when you froze..."

Finchley turned to look at Karadis and said "What do you mean, there's no-one there, it's Kelly, we all served together during operation Trojan, she went missing in the mine, she's right there!" he added emphatically, looking and pointing back down the corridor.

Karadis looked again, but there was still no-one there. She looked at Kilbane, but he was staring back down the corridor as well, a quizzical look on his face.

"We looked for you for hours..." Kilbane said out loud "but we never found any sign of what happened to you, you just disappeared."

"Like I said, all in good time..." the figure said.

Finchley's concentration was broken when Shon spoke to him about a stasis room, but he was now more interested in what was happening where they were.

"Wha...what, oh, the Vorta...yes, you and Dr Asaa go and check" he replied, waving his hand vaguely down the corridor, "but don't try and...and...don't try and...arrest them" he faltered, and turned his attention to looking back down the corridor again.

“Captain….are you okay?” Shon was immediately worried about her Captain. “Maybe we should take a break ?” She suggested.

"No, I'm fine" Finchley said, looking to Shon, "It's just...I can't believe it's Kelly" he said, turning back and looking down the corridor again.

Karadis was about to interject again that no-one was there, when she suddenly stared hard "Kahless preserve us, it is you Kelly!"

The figure moved forward, out of the shadows "Yes, it's me, now, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to our lab and explain everything that has happened."

“NO” Shon shouted. “Captain, Karadis, there is no one there. This is a trick.” She brandished her phaser not sure what she was going to do with it. There was no one there she could see!

"Put your phaser away Commander!" Finchley said to Shon "This is Kelly, our computer specialist, or was..."

Karadis and Kilbane both turned their phasers on Shon, Karadis saying "You fire that phaser and hit her, you're dead, have you got that, now drop it!"

Shon smiled, “you are forgetting that if you shoot me the bomb in my head goes off and this place is vaporized. Doctor?” She said in desperation there is no one there is there, tell them so?”

Kell nodded mutely.

TBC

 

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