"Searching for a Solution"
[ Previous post Jessica's "The Scientific Approach Is not Always A Good Things" ]
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{There are only two rules to tactics: never be without a plan, and
never rely on it.}
- Okri Swessin, Marshal of the Selay Lancers
--==(/\)==--
The Oltharian Chief Engineering Officer had taken the time to insure
that each and every member of the crew who had been brought to the Mess Hall
had not suffered any severe injuries. Although Elan had become an
Engineer, his peaceful nature, upbringing and childhood dreams of becoming a member of the Religious Circle still dictated many of his actions as an adult. Attending to the weak and injured had seemed perfectly normal to the gentle giant who had returned to his starting point with a confused expression on his face.
"Is everything all right Sir?" Ensign Kea, the Chief of Operations of
the HATHOR asked, worried that maybe one of the prisoners had been beyond
the ability of the large engineer to help.
"Everything is fine Ensign," Elan replied with a deep bow of his head,
thanking through his gesture the officer for his concerns. "No one as
suffered any injuries."
"Give me one minute with any one of those Breen and I will show them what an injury really is," the Nausicaan Chief of Security hissed as he glared at the nearest of the armed guards. Elan tilted his head ever so slightly as he looked at Nico, observing in the warrior a way of thinking which actually was completely alien to the Oltharian. On OLTHAR PRIME, only the warriors of the Klaj~Ra'Shall could fight and take a life, and that could only be done under the need of protecting the lives of others. To become a member of the elite warriors, a hopeful needed to first become a member of the Religious Circle and pass a simple final test, to take the life of a sacred animal. All of the members of the Religious Circle needed to pass this test and that had been the reason why Elan had eventually become a member of the Scientific Circle despite his childhood dreams. To the giant, all life was precious, regardless of what form it took.
"Isn't that good news?" Ensign Kea quietly asked of the pensive
Oltharian, not quite understanding why the Chief Engineering Officer had seemed to troubled by the fact that none of the crew members present in the Mess Hall had been injured by their attackers.
"It is," Elan replied with a gentle smile confirming that he had been
happy to make the discovery. "What is weighing on my mind is the fact that
the Breen have never been known to be 'merciful' in their conquests."
"Maybe they need hostages to insure they will get out of Federation
space unchallenged?" The Chief of Operations suggested, glancing past the now
sitting Oltharian to the growling Nausicaan.
"That is a possibility," the Oltharian agreed. "But why venture so
deeply into Federation space only to capture a ship which for all intents and
purposes does not exist?"
"Let me crack open their heads," the Nausicaan offered proving that
although his attention had been fixated on the Breen, he had been listening in
on the whispered conversation. "I'm sure I can get at least one of them to
talk before I jettison his broken armour out of the closest airlock."
"In due time Ensign," the Olthairan said in as peaceful and calming of a voice as he could, knowing better than to simply go against the combative instincts of the Nausicaan. "A confrontation at this point could endanger the rest of the people in this room, what we first need to do is insure their continued safety before we can plan any sort of action. Finding out about their true numbers and the status of the rest of the senior staff would also prove to be useful."
"How do we accomplish that?" Ensign Kea asked, appearing willing and
ready to do whatever the Oltharian would ask of him.
"For the moment," the Oltharian whispered back, "we wait. Before I was taken away from Main Engineering I was able to throw the warp engines slightly out of phase. This will leave an ion trail that other ship will be able to follow. Hopefully this will lead to an opportunity for us to gain an advantage without having to rely on force."
"What if no ship detect this trail?" Carft asked.
"It is not like we are in a heavily travelled sector of the Federation," the Naussican added, hoping that the Chief Engineering Officer had an alternate plan to fall back onto.
"Our only other option at this time is to observe our guards and wait for something to happen," the Oltharian engineer answered not at all liking the idea that in the end they might have to resort to fighting if they wanted to regain control of the HATHOR, an option that the peaceful Oltharian would never be part of unless lives were in danger.
--==(/\)==--
Lieutenant Junior Grade Elan Talak Fairborn 2005 post #565
Stardate: 60331.1915
Setting: USS HATHOR, Mess Hall
Francois Charette {f_charette@hotmail.com}
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA
&
Chief Engineering Officer
USS HATHOR
