**SD: 90520.1643**
**Scene: Captain Ruane's Office**

>Hi'Wee swam out onto the deck.  He turned into what he thought was CO's
>office and got a rude awakening from a young ensign who was just
>getting herself out of a stall.  Hi'Wee made a hasty retreat out of the
>now confirmed crew's head.
>
>The other door lead correctly into the red-eyed Captain's Office.
>
>"Ahh, Hi'Wee, hello."

  Ruane greeted the Dolphinoid.  It was impossible to mistake Hi'Wee for
anybody else...as far as Ruane knew there were only two Dolphinioid's
serving in StarFleet, strangly enough both served as engineers.  The
other was currently a LtCmdr and CEO of the USS SAGAN.

  "Hello Captain.  Reporting for duty as CEO sir!"  The Dolphinoid's
clicks were barely audible, but the warm voice of his translater worked
perfectly in communicating their meaning.

  "Well, welcome aboard Hi'Wee, we've been awaiting your arrival with
eager anticipation.  This station needs an engineer!"  Graeme smiled
before continuing, smile disappearing.

  "It is however unfortunate that that station is going to have to wait.
I want you to take the D-Warp shuttle TURIN and a pilot out to the
location of the USS BANGALORE...the pilot will drop you off and bring
the shuttle back."

  "Yes sir.  What is the BANGALORE's status?"  Hi'Wee asked.

  "The BANGALORE is on a routine survey mission of a planet.  Last
reports indicated they were encountering heavy communications
interference, most recent indications are of a ship entering the area;
they informed us they would be hiding from the ship behind the planet.
Since then we've had no contact with the BANGALORE.
I would send you in a Runabout, but d-warp seems more appropriate.  The
TURIN has been pre-programmed to arrive at co-ordinates behind the
planet, thus allowing the BANGALORE's position to remain secret.
Any questsions?"  Ruane waited.



  "Dismissed Lieutenant, and good luck."  Ruane watched as the
Dolphinoid swam out of the office, kept suspended in the air by his
anti-gravity unit.  This would be an interesting officer to serve
with...

**Scene: Ruane's Quarters**
**Time: Several Hours after meeting Hi'Wee**

  Ruane smiled as he observed the scene infront of him.  His room was
lit by five candles, three near the walls, and two on the carefully
decorated table.  A metal bucket sat on a shelf, containing a bottle of
chilled champagne, kept chilled by the ice with it.  
Crystal glasses were placed infront of the two places layed opposite of
one-another, several different knifes and forks were lay at each place
along with a desert spoon.  In each Champagne glass Graeme had placed a
folded napkin.  At one place was a small and smartly wrapped box.

    The door whistled indicating the arrival of Graeme's
guest.  This had taken a long time.  It had been two months since he had
first met Michelle Gordon.  He had been careful to just keep it as
friends at the beginning, but he knew immediatly there would be
something more to it.  Three weeks ago they had finally shared their
first kiss, albeit a very brief one.  Two days ago Graeme had finally
asked her to dinner in his quarters, he felt it signified more than just
a lunchen in Club 101 or one of the eateries on Deck 15.

  "Come."  Graeme said having straightened his civilian clothing.  His
neatest clothes.  The doors hissed open to reveal Michelle Gordon.  She
stood smiling, dressed in a long red dress.  Her dark hair was loose,
flowing around her delicate shoulders, revealing her small earings.
Graeme stiffled an urge to grin at the beautiful woman standing in the
doorway.

  "Hello."  He walked towards her, and she towards him.  They met almost
eye to eye(Graeme wasn't that much taller than her) and shared a
'welcome' kiss.

  "This is beautiful."  Michelle said as she finally looked around
Graeme's quarters.

  "And so are you."  Michelle smiled a soft and warm smile at Graeme's
words.

  "Please, take a seat.  The food will be here shortly."  Graeme pulled
a chair out for Michelle to sit in, pushing it in again so she was
comfortable.

  "Thank you."  Michelle looked at the table.

  "Is this for me?"  She gestured to the wrapped box.

  "Who else?"  Graeme said lightly.

  "Thank you."  She said once more, picking up the box and reading the
label.  She smiled again as she read the note, hand written by Ruane.

  "Don't thank me.  It's my pleasure."  The door chimed.

  "Come."  A man entered with a silver trolley, several silver trays
with covers sat on it.  He wheeled the trolley into Ruane's quarters
before leaving, having received thanks from Graeme and Michelle.  By now
Michelle had started to open the gift...

**Scene: Console Room**
**Time: The Next Day**

  Graeme sat at the operations console, allowing himself the pleasure of
working closely with the crew.  He had delt with a couple of suprised
freighter Captains...somewhat puzzled that the Captain was dealing with
them personally.  Graeme was happy though, and often men did strange
things when they were happy.

  Last night had gone well.  Michelle was enchanting, they had eaten and
talked about all manner of things, enjoying one-anothers company late
into the night.  After six hours Graeme had walked Michelle back to her
quarters in the lower decks.  They had indulged in a more passionate
kiss than their previous exchanges had allowed before they had wished
one-another good night.  Graeme had practically skipped back to his
quarter in pleasure; often receiving the odd stare from the civilian and
StarFleet population alike.

    The computer interupted Graeme's
thoughts of the previous night.  An alert klaxon sounded, lights flashed
indicating this was no drill.  Deck 31 was the top deck of visitors
quarters, and one of the more frequently used.

  "Ruane to Engineering, emergency on deck 31."

  [We're on it Captain.]  Engineering responded.  Graeme stood up and
headed out of the Console Room and to the turbolift.

  "Deck 31."  He ordered.  The turbolift began to grind it's way down
the shaft, slowly.

**Scene: Deck 31**

  An Orion slave girl worked frantically at the plasma conduit.  It was
a small leak, but could develop into something dangerous very quickly.
What was more; Rissa didn't particuarly want to be seen by anybody.  It
took her two minutes to finally seal the leak so that it was harmless.
with that done she decided to make herself scarce.  She walked briskly
away from the scene.

  At this moment Ruane walked into the area of the leak.  He blinked
slightly as he thought he saw a long cloak turning around a corner.
Looking again he saw nothing and dismissed it as an effect of the small
amounts of plasma gas present in the air.  Following Ruane were an
engineering crew, who stood somewhat dazed at what they saw.

  "It's been repaired."  One said in shock.  Ruane looked at him, a
little suprised himself.

  "We better have security investigate this."

Submitted by Phil Long
Capt.Graeme Philip Ruane
Commanding Officer
Deep Space 101, Amgine Sector
Antelope Squadron, Cocoon Fleet

**SD: 90520**
**Scene: DS 101 Docking bay**

Admiral Tulok stepped aboard DS 101 and looked around for a 
Starfleet officer. An Engineering Chief was busy working on a 
Shuttle nacelle nearby, so Tulok walked over to him.

"Chief, could you tell me where I can find Ensign Selak?"

Smallwood looked at the Vulcan, he was dressed in a dark grey cloak
and the hood was drawn up over his head.

"And who would be looking for him?" Asked Smallwood, 
suspiciously.   

"My name is Admiral Tulok, I'm his father."

"Oh...Right...Er. He is not on the station at the moment, he is on a 
mission. I expect he should be away for a day or two.....Sir"

"Captain Ruane is in charge of this station, is he not?"

"Yes, you should be able to find him in OPS or his office on deck 1.
Would you like me to tell him you want to see him Sir."

"Not necessary Chief, I will find him myself."

**Scene: OPS**

Tulok walked into OPS and asked for directions to Ruane's office.
He pressed the door chime and waited to be admitted.

"Come." Ruane's voice came back.

Tulok walked into the room and as soon as the door shut behind him,
he removed the hood and undid the cloak. 
Ruane looked up at the Vulcan, he could see the uniform of a 
Starfleet Admiral, now visible under the cloak.

"Admiral." Said Ruane, getting to his feet. He was a little confused as 
to who this Vulcan was, he could not remember seeing him before.

"Please Captain, sit down. I am not here in an official capacity. I am 
here to discuss my son."

Ruane looked into the Admiral's eyes, and then realised who he was.
"You must be Selak's father, Admiral Tulok. We had received word
that you were coming, but I must admit the uniform threw me. 
I thought you had retired Sir." 

"I have, However, Starfleet asked me to investigate a growing 
problem on my home planet. It seemed logical to accept a temporary
reinstatement of duty to help me accomplish it. Once this is over, I
intend to go back to that retirement."

"What is the problem, sir." Asked Ruane.

"There have been a number of assassinations of various people 
within Vulcan society. It is Starfleet's assumption that they have been 
carried out by the Vulcan Isolationist Movement. If that assumption
is correct, then the implications for Starfleet might be considerable."

"What has that got to do with Selak?" 

"Selak has in the past been quite outspoken against the movement.
On his journey to OTC, his shuttle crashed as it was coming into 
land. Two days ago, I was given a copy of the report on the incident.
The crash was no accident. It is my belief Selak has become a target
and they may send someone here for another attempt." Tulok said.  

"Selak is currently away on assignment, I will find you some quarters
until he returns."

"One other thing Captain. Are there any other Vulcans on this
mission." Asked Tulok.

Ruane understood what the Admiral was getting at. "My first officer
Alyza is in charge of the mission, but I can assure you she is totally
loyal to Starfleet, besides, she is only half Vulcan herself." 

 
Respectfully submitted
Shaun
Ensign Selak FCO/CNO
DS 101

All: A forwarded post from Shaun. :)

Shaun: An interesting little plot starting me thinks. :)

        -Cheers, Pinky.

  ------- Forwarded message follows -------
**SD: 90520**
**Scene: DS 101 Docking bay**

Admiral Tulok stepped aboard DS 101 and looked around for a 
Starfleet officer. An Engineering Chief was busy working on a 
Shuttle nacelle nearby, so Tulok walked over to him.

"Chief, could you tell me where I can find Ensign Selak?"

Smallwood looked at the Vulcan, he was dressed in a dark grey cloak
and the hood was drawn up over his head.

"And who would be looking for him?" Asked Smallwood, 
suspiciously.   

"My name is Admiral Tulok, I'm his father."

"Oh...Right...Er. He is not on the station at the moment, he is on a 
mission. I expect he should be away for a day or two.....Sir"

"Captain Ruane is in charge of this station, is he not?"

"Yes, you should be able to find him in OPS or his office on deck 1.
Would you like me to tell him you want to see him Sir."

"Not necessary Chief, I will find him myself."

**Scene: OPS**

Tulok walked into OPS and asked for directions to Ruane's office.
He pressed the door chime and waited to be admitted.

"Come." Ruane's voice came back.

Tulok walked into the room and as soon as the door shut behind him,
he removed the hood and undid the cloak. 
Ruane looked up at the Vulcan, he could see the uniform of a 
Starfleet Admiral, now visible under the cloak.

"Admiral." Said Ruane, getting to his feet. He was a little confused as 
to who this Vulcan was, he could not remember seeing him before.

"Please Captain, sit down. I am not here in an official capacity. I am 
here to discuss my son."

Ruane looked into the Admiral's eyes, and then realised who he was.
"You must be Selak's father, Admiral Tulok. We had received word
that you were coming, but I must admit the uniform threw me. 
I thought you had retired Sir." 

"I have, However, Starfleet asked me to investigate a growing 
problem on my home planet. It seemed logical to accept a temporary
reinstatement of duty to help me accomplish it. Once this is over, I
intend to go back to that retirement."

"What is the problem, sir." Asked Ruane.

"There have been a number of assassinations of various people 
within Vulcan society. It is Starfleet's assumption that they have been 
carried out by the Vulcan Isolationist Movement. If that assumption
is correct, then the implications for Starfleet might be considerable."

"What has that got to do with Selak?" 

"Selak has in the past been quite outspoken against the movement.
On his journey to OTC, his shuttle crashed as it was coming into 
land. Two days ago, I was given a copy of the report on the incident.
The crash was no accident. It is my belief Selak has become a target
and they may send someone here for another attempt." Tulok said.  

"Selak is currently away on assignment, I will find you some quarters
until he returns."

"One other thing Captain. Are there any other Vulcans on this
mission." Asked Tulok.

Ruane understood what the Admiral was getting at. "My first officer
Alyza is in charge of the mission, but I can assure you she is totally
loyal to Starfleet, besides, she is only half Vulcan herself." 

NRPG: Phil: Anything you would like to add?


 
Respectfully submitted
Shaun
Ensign Selak FCO/CNO
DS 101

Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end 
-- Commander Spock
-- 
Shaun Darlington
shaun@burn-naze.demon.co.uk



Stardate: 90522

>**Scene: Deck 31**
>
>  An Orion slave girl worked frantically at the plasma conduit.  It was
>a small leak, but could develop into something dangerous very quickly.
>What was more; Rissa didn't particuarly want to be seen by anybody.  It
>took her two minutes to finally seal the leak so that it was harmless.
>with that done she decided to make herself scarce.  She walked briskly
>away from the scene.
>
Laying one delicate hand against the side of her hood, she glanced back
once to assure herself that no-one had indeed noticed her. Then she moved
backwards, deeper into the fog the escaping gases had created. Assured that
no-one was indeed following her, she turned. Straight into someones arms.
He didnt wait for a scream but immediately went to incapacitate her,
twisting the one arm he had in grasp behind her back.

She knew her agressor simply didn't want to dance or be friendly.  And she
knew from experience and training that time was limited before he injured
her to the point that she would be defenseless.  Her only choice was to act...

Her training took over and she assessed the situation within the few
seconds it had taken for the man to spin her around. It allowed her to
realize that most of his weight seemed centered on his right leg, and hence
she slammed her heel down across his right kneecap.  A sickening crunch was
heard as his knee was driven down across nerves, ripping ligaments in the
process.  Her would-be assailant howled in pain and began to drop to the
floor, pulling her down with him. Gritting her teeth against the possible
pain of a dislocated shoulder or worse, Rissa threw herself forward to pull
him further off balance. The man let go suddenly to clutch at his destroyed
knee and to throw himself a half step back to regain his balance.

With the grace of a cat, Rissa rolled to one side and instantly came to a
crouching stance, ready for any attack he might make, needing the time to
reassess the situation.

Managing to stagger back onto one leg, he wasn't about to let his catch get
away, despite the intense pain still throbbing in his right knee.  Drawing
a knife, he was determined to kill her... the rage was clear in his eyes.
Damned be the consequences of not bringing her back alive. He lunged.

She smiled, her eyes lit up. She had expected just such reaction from a
Nausicaan. The wide arced swing of his knife would have severed her head if
not at least given her a close shave, had she remained where she was.
Instead, she threw herself onto her hands, swinging her legs around Her
right leg impacted with his unsteady left ankle. With a howl he came
crashing down onto his back. Knowing the danger he was in, he rolled aside.
Not fast enough. A flick of the wrist, and a small black knife was imbedded
in his chest. Unable to stop his momentum, the weight of his own body drove
the knifes tip further into his chest, striking the heart.

Rissa had instantly changed position after throwing her knife, and was now
crouched behind the large form of the Nausicaan listening for his last
sigh. Uncertain she stepped forward and placed the knife he had dropped
against the base of his spine to finish the task she had started. With one
swift cut, she had severed his jugular and danced away from the spray of
blood. There was a foamy rattle, and the body sagged into itself.

The sound of running feet startled her, and she ducked into the nearest
access tunnel. Of course! The Nausicaans last howl would have alerted
anyone checking on the plasma leak! Regretting the need to leave her knife
behind buried as it was, Rissa rushed off silently.

She was now glad she had taken the time the first few days here to acquaint
herself with the layout off the station. The air was more humid in the
lower levels once she got there, and the air itself had a almost living
quality to it. Rissa had attributed it to the stations organic architecture
and the fact that these areas were totally unused. Of course she had
immediately set about investigating them, having acted more out of a sense
of self-preservation and instinct then curiosity. It never hurt knowing
possible bolt-holes. 

After winding her way through unused passage after unused passage, she sat
down for a while before eventually making her way back to the civilized
areas of the station. It wasnt hard for her to do unnoticed, she hadnt
managed to stow-away on a starship for three weeks for nothing. She was
afraid to return to her quarters, afraid of what or who might be waiting
there. Perhaps she should just go to security and turn herself in. That the
goon hadnt been there by accident was clear. Or was it? ZAck would say it
was coincidence. After all...no-one could have known she was closest to the
plasma leak and would rush to repair it. Sighing to herself she went home
nonetheless. It was the only place for her *to* go. 

At the doors to her shared quarters, she stopped and checked the seals.
They seemed to be intact, even the tiny piece of thread she had left where
the opening of the doors would move it was still in place. She checked with
the computer anyway, always the paranoid.

"Computer," her husky voice wafted throught the air, and more then one male
passing by almost stumbled into the walls at the sound of it.
"Computer...scan interior of quarters one-one-nine-three. Lifeforms?"

[There are no lifeforms within quarters one-one-nine-three]

With a sigh of relief she entered her and Zacks spacious quarters.....and
froze.

"Well...but it *is* a pleasure meeting you finally," the disruptor never
wavered. Neither did the pleasant smile on the vulcanoids face. He glanced
past her obviously expecting one more person as two more males grabbed her
and pulled her inside. The doors closed with a swish behind
her..................


********************************************


well..looks like our little defenseless, vulnerable appearing orion dancer
isnt all she appears to be 

Shaun: I need to talk to you about a possible way of threading our two
storylines together ;)

Phil: sorry...looks like you have a dead body on your hands 

*hugs*
Tatya

SD 90521.1806 EST
Scene: Planet's surface, in the tunnels

Alyza opend the tricorder that was not attached to a comm badge and made
some modifications to it, giving it a slightly better range even with the
interference.  She then took out a small light emitting device, as small as
the pen-lights on earth of the 20th century, but capable of producing more
light and with a cell that lasted for a longer time.   Still, its light
would only create a dim glow in the darkness the tunnel would soon become.
She set the tricorder to alert her if she and Selek strayed too far of the
course that Alyza knew would take her closer to the others of the landing
party.  The tricorder would also beep if something unusual, such as a
life-form or sysmic activity were up ahead. After an innital scan, Alyza
hooked her still active tricorder on her belt.  She looked at Selek, who
had his lighting device turned on.  They were ready to go.

Alyza logically wanted to connect with Roberts and McLeary as soon as
possible. She did not know that Ip'sc and some security personnel had
joined the two humans, nor did she know about the ship.  Though Starfleet
trained their peronnel well in the ways of survival, they did not have to
spend four months in the Vulcan desert as a right of passage.  She had.
She wondered if Selek had also.  At any rate, had she been able to detect
the desert envioronment before beeming down, she would have taken
precautions, place each human with a Vulcan and provisioned them with
water.  It had been two hours.  Alyza did not know how long a human could
survive without water under such desert conditions, especially those who
did not grow up in Earth's desert regions.

"Let's get moving.  We are going to try to keep our course such that we as
close as possible to where the humans should be in half an hour" said Alyza

Alyza lead the way in silence, checking the tricorder now and then, for
bearings and their relative position to the others predicted location.
Selek, for some reason, felt the need to talk.

"What do you think of the isolationist movement on Vulcan?" he asked

"It is illogical and conterproductive." replied Alyza, who wondered why
Selek felt the need to talk about this topic, or any unrelated to the
current mission. They were, after all, on duty.

"What about your husband?"

"Barak is a very logical individual.  He is not a supporter of the the
isolationist movement." answered Alyza.


----------

NRPG:More to come....



Live long and prosper \\//
Gretchen A. Haas

Stardate: 90521.1618
Scene: Planet surface

	"Roberts to Alyza or Selak. Please respond.", said Roberts again.
Looking at McLeary, who shook his head, Roberts knew it was futile to
contact them.
	"The modifications to the tricorder is working.", said McLeary.
	"Either they are incapacitated or entered a location blocking the
signal.", offered Roberts. "We'll head in the direction of their last
location."
	"And what is to stop us from falling prey to what happened to
them?", asked Ip'sc Carbo, who was silent the whole time.
	Roberts just gave him a serious look. "There isn't. Let's go."
With that Roberts proceeded forth, followed by McLeary, Ip'sc, the sickbay
tech, then the security officers. As they walked the formation changed to
a standard Starfleet security formation.

Respectfully submitted
Robert Stadnik
Lt. John Roberts
Specialist, currently Chief Operations Officer
Deep Space 101
stadnr01@student.ucr.edu


The D-Warp shuttle fell out of dimensional subspace and into a orbit
behind the Bangalore.  "Hi'Wee to Bangalore, one to beam over."
[Acknowledged.]

NRPG: Short but sweet until I can get a idea of what's going on.  I
usely post more, believe me.

**SD: 90522**
**Scene: Beneath the planet surface**

"WAIT!" Shouted Alyza, as they walked along. "I'm Picking up 
something directly in front of you."

Selak looked around. Just in front of him was a small hole about half
a meter in diameter in the ground. He bent down to investigate it.

"Commander, come here." Said Selak.  

Alyza kneeled down beside Selak, she felt the colder air coming from
the hole and the distinct smell of fresh clean air that usually
meant only one thing. "Water." She scanned the hole with her 
Tricorder. "About 2 Meters down. It reads as drinkable, no poisonous
elements detected."

"That only leaves the problem of how to reach it." Added Selak.

Nether of the two Vulcans heard the spider come out of the shadows 
behind them until it was too late to react. It's body was over a meter 
in length and each leg was nearer two meters. Alyza was the first to 
realise it's presence and spun round. Unfortunately, the action 
resulted in the spider attacking her first. It swung out a leg and 
sent Alyza crashing to the ground. Selak saw a chance and brought the 
phazer rifle crashing down on the spider's head, but the creature just 
shifted it's attack to advance on the now retreating Ensign. 
As the leg of the spider swung at Selak, he brought the rifle up to 
defend against the blow, but the force of the impact was more than he 
was prepared for and was sent crashing into the side of the cavern.
His head struck the wall with some force and the last thing he saw 
before he blacked out was the spider looming over him.
Alyza was now back on her feet and quickly assessed the situation.
Selak was lying on the ground and the head wound, illuminated, in 
somewhat of a macabre fashion, by his torch, did not appear to be to
bad. The spider was stood over him. The only thing she could do was 
attempt to draw the spider away. She grabbed a rock and hurled it at 
the creature. At first the spider did not react, but the second one 
got it's attention. It turned around, deciding that the one below it 
could wait, and focused its attention on the thing attacking it from 
behind. 
With nothing to defend herself with, Alyza reasoned the best thing to
do was attempt to lead the spider away in the hope she could double
back and loose it in the tunnels, some of the passages they had passed
had been quite narrower than this and the spiders movement would be
seriously limited.
It took her almost 10 minuets until she was satisfied the spider could 
not follow her any further, the last passage she had gone through had 
almost been to narrow for her to squeeze though. She had kept a 
careful note of the turns she had taken and was confident she could 
retrace her steps. Slowly she made her way back to where she had left 
Selak.
But the spider, with an intellect beyond Alyza's reckoning, had 
anticipated her move and was lying in wait. As she re-entered the 
cavern where Selak lay, the spider pounced. Alyza's reactions proved 
to quick for it, however and she managed to duck and roll out of it's 
reach. Unfortunately, as she stood, she realised she was cornered.
Selak opened his eyes, his vision was a little blurred and his head 
hurt but otherwise he felt fine. slowly his memory of the spider came
back. 

"SELAK." Shouted Alyza, as she saw him getting to his feet.

Selak looked over to where Alyza was trapped by the spider and looked
around for a weapon. His now clearing sight fell on the phaser rifle.
He remembered Lt Roberts warning about the phasers, but he could not
see what else he could do. *Unless........* 
He grabbed the rifle and charged at the spider. A memory of the time
he spent onboard the Klingon vessel came into his mind. If he was 
about to die, then at least it would be in the defence of his 
commanding officer. Surely an honourable way to die.
He drove the end of the phaser rifle into the softer part of the 
spiders body, between the front and back parts of its trunk as if it 
was a spear and fired.
The rifle exploded in Selak's hands, but luckily most of the explosion
was directed into the body of the spider. Selak was thrown back by the 
force and for the second time that day was knocked unconscious.
Alyza had been a lot luckier, the body of the spider had shielded her 
from all of the blast and she was able to pick the bits of body of 
her. She looked at Selak, he had burns to his hands, arms and face, 
non of them to serious but she would have been happier if she could
have got him to a sickbay.  

NRPG:
ALL: I wrote to Phil asking him the size of the spiders on this planet 
but haven't had a reply yet. If he had something smaller in mind then 
we can assume this was a mutant or a one off. 

Gretchen: I hope I have not spoiled your ideas to much. Selak's 
injuries are not necessarily as bad as they may seem if you want to 
have him back on his feet after some TLC.  


Respectfully submitted
Shaun
Ensign Selak FCO/CNO
DS 101

**SD: 90524.1019**
**Scene: Deck 31, Corridors**

>The sound of running feet startled her, and she ducked into the nearest
>access tunnel. Of course! The Nausicaans last howl would have alerted
>anyone checking on the plasma leak! Regretting the need to leave her knife
>behind buried as it was, Rissa rushed off silently


  Ruane turned the corner to see the slumped body of a Nausicaan.  He
tapped his comm badge immediatly.

  "Ruane to sickbay and security, we have an injured or dead Nausicaan
on deck 31.  I am in pursuit of suspect."  He tapped his comm badge
again before heading off in the opposite direction from which he had
just come.  There was a faint trail of blood marking the floor that was
only just visible through the clouds of gas.  More than anything Ruane
could almost SENSE it.  He ran in the direction it was heading only to
find it suddenly stop.  He looked around.  The clouds of gas had started
to dissipate, leaving only a slight mist along the floor.
Ruane saw no reason why the blood would stop here, he decided to
continue his run along the deck...perhaps the blood had just dried on
the criminal.  After running for another minute Ruane came to the
conclusion that *his* search was not going to turn up anything.  He
headed back to the location of the Nausicaan.

  The Nausicaan lay on a stretcher, two nurses held it at either end,
the Dr.Dan Moorokian stood next to it, a couple of security officer were
also present.

  "Is he dead?"  Was the first question Ruane asked.

  "Yes, it's pretty obvious how too."  Moorokian said, several deep
wounds were clearly evident on the huge alien.

  "We found this."  A security officer produced a knife.

  "Okay.  Perform DNA scans on the knife, also check out a trail of
blood in that direction,"  Ruane pointed.  "see whether there might have
been an access duct the suspect might have disappeared into."

  "Aye sir."  The security officers said simultaneously.

  "If you need me, I'll be in the Console Room."  Ruane walked away from
the scene and towards the nearest turbolift.  His thoughts focused on
the murder and the strange accident(and then repair) that had occured on
deck 31.  He knew there was a link...all they had to do was find the
murderer to find out what it was.

Submitted by Phil Long
Capt.Graeme Philip Ruane
Commanding Officer
Deep Space 101, Amgine Sector
Antelope Squadron, Cocoon Fleet

<**NRPG**>
Tat: Okay, security will be looking for you shortly. 

        -Cheers, Pinky.



**SD: 90527.1641**
**Scene: Near the Planet**

  The sleak hull of the small vessel flew quickly and gracefully towards
the planet.  It looked alot like the old DEFIANT-Class vessels, if a
little bulkier and quite obviously with a lower armament.  The STARLIGHT
INTRUDER was a frieghter, a frieghter with a few modifications...most of
which had come off StarFleet Engineering's drawing boards, albeit
indirectly.  
The sensors were old, salvaged from an old AMBASSADOR-Class vessel found
almost complete in one of the ALPHA-Quadrants most dangerous
places...the Badlands near Bajor.  The weapons came mostly from that
same vessel, with the addition of a phaser array from a CONTITUTION-II
class vessel 'borrowed' from a moth-ball yard.  Other parts had been
given by those who believed in the cause but weren't prepared to
sacrifice their StarFleet careers for it.  
The STARLIGHT INTRUDER was a Maquis vessel...or rather ex-Maquis vessel;
and this was one of it's supply runs that had, until now, gone
undetected.

**Scene: STARLIGHT INTRUDER, Bridge**

  "This is the 'INTRUDER to Camp Red.  STARLIGHT INTRUDER to Camp Red."
The 'Captain' of the vessel repeated his signal, he stood by the comm
station, a girl in her early twentys sat infront of him.

  "It's no use.  The static generators must still be on."  The girl
said.

  "I suppose we are early."  He paused to think a moment. "I doubt we
could be mistaken for anybody else.  Take us in."  The Captain returned
to the centre chair, his coat was draped over the back.  He sat and
looked at the view screen.  The planet was approaching quickly, the Helm
officer started changing the vessels course to land the ship, the planet
disappeared form view to be replaced by space and the system's sun.
Slowly the viewer showed a brighter image as the STARLIGHT INTRUDER
dropped into the planet's atmosphere.

  "Inirtial dampners, full power."  The Captain said as the ship started
to be buffeted by turbulence.

...ten minutes later.

  The STARLIGHT INTRUDER hovered above a large area of flat land.  50
metres away the door of the nearest make-shift house opened.  An
'American Indian', around 50 years old, emerged to see the landing gear
of the frieghter appear from the recesses in the hull.  The retro's
fired and the vessel slowly lowered itself to the ground.  A few seconds
later the whine of the engines cut, seconds later still a loud hiss and
clang came from the hull as it altered pressure and the ramp began to
lower.  The Indian rushed to great the crew of the STARLIGHT INTRUDER.

**Scene: USS BANGALORE, Bridge**

  "Sir, the vessel appears to have landed on the planet...around twenty
kilometres away from the away teams."

  "Understood."  Hogan said as he listened to the report.  Lt.Hi'wee
had by now 'swam' onto the bridge and had been listening to the reports
on the unknown vessel.  He swam over to the sensor console and started
sifting through the data.

  "From what I can tell, that vessel matches an old Maquis ship that
went missing about two years ago."  The Delphinoid's warm voice said to
nobody in particular.  Lt.Hogan looked at him.

  "That might explain the static interference we're reading, and
possibly the radio waves."  Hogan walked over to Hi'wee and looked at
the data, a schematic of the STARLIGHT INTRUDER was animated on the
screen.

  "Both are classic methods of jamming and communication in Maquis
circles.  But what are they doing here?"

**Scene: Planet, Camp Red**

  The crew of the STARLIGHT INTRUDER and the members of Camp Red had
quickly begun to unload the supplies that the frieghter had procurred.
They were much needed, although trips were short the price was high and
the ex-maquis could afford only the bare essentials.  Their only
currency was the items they crafted from the materials present in the
Desert area of the planet.

  They would have set up their home elsewhere, but other areas were
either too cold, too wet or too dangerous.  Dispite it's drawbacks, the
region they had chosen was the best, it was just 50 kilometres away from
the nearest water...a short trip in the land transport they had
constructed from the STARLIGHT INTRUDER's shuttle.

  As the last of the supplies was unloaded the head of the camp met the
Captain underneath the vessel.  The sun was in the background, beginning
to drop below the Horizon.

  "Whilst you were gone we recieved reports of a Federation starship
heading for this planet.  Did you detect anything on your decent?"

  "No, nothing.  Could the reports have been mistaken?"

  "We doubt it.  We are keeping an eye out."  He looked towards the sun
and the beautiful light it was casting upon the desert and the hull of
the STARLIGHT INTRUDER.

  "We should go inside, it will be dark soon."  The Captain nodded at
the heads words.

  "I'll just shut up the ship."  The camp's head walked away to his
house, leaving the Captain by himself.

He tapped at the buttons that would seal the STARLIGHT INTRUDER for the
night, the ramp began to raise.  He watched it in a daze, his thoughts
focused elsewhere.
The Federation, Starfleet.  The STARLIGHT INTRUDER had come here to
escape them, them *and* the Maquis.  When the crew had decided to come
here they knew that the Maquis' cause was not to be accomplished with
violence.  They knew they must leave, but the only place that would have
receive them was Starfleet, and it would have received them as
criminals.  They saw only one choice, to espace them both and find a
planet of their own...a planet that might perhaps share the same spirit
as the planets that had been put behind the Cardassian border with the
Federation/Cardassian treaty; they had found that planet now.  The
Captain wasn't going to let another place be taken from him.  
.  He was woken from his thoughts by the sound of the ramp making
contact with the main hull.  He looked up to check everything was secure
and then headed to his new home.  The sounds of the desert wildlife were
beginning to grow in volume as he entered his hut...the hunters were
out.

Submitted by Phil Long
Capt.Graeme Philip Ruane
Commanding Officer
Deep Space 101, Amgine Sector
Antelope Squadron, Cocoon Fleet

<**NRPG**>
All: Okay, so we have an ex-maquis ship and camp.  A static field that
prevents communications(controlled from the camp).  And it's night time,
the beasts are out and no doubt hungry.
Hope I've given you enough to go on! 

        -Cheers, Pinky.


Stardate: 90527.2325
Scene: USS BANGALORE bridge

Hogan sat back in the command seat, HIS command seat for the moment.
Carefully he considered the things that had transpired.  So far, no
further contact with any of the away teams had been made.  So far an
unknown vessel had landed on the planet with no forms of identification on
it anywhere other than the fact that it could possibly be a stolen vessel
from the Maquis.  

*Not much to go on,* Zack considered.

Sensing his tumultous thoughts more by his body language than anything
else, the new CEO moved over to stand at Hogan's side.  

"Not many choices eh?" spoke up the dolphinoid to Hogan.  

So far Hogan hadn't said much to the new CEO...time just hadn't permitted.

"No, ensign, not very much to make a decision on," answered Hogan.  "Not
very much at all," his voice trailed off.

*So far all I've been doing is keeping the seat warm for the commander.
Dammit I'm a security chief!  I'm not supposed to be patient.  Time to do
something other than sitting on your sorry ass!*

Zack turned to the new CEO.  "Get down to engineering.  The next few
minutes could get a little dangerous."  Zack spoke softly.  The CEO would
have raised an eyebrow had he one, because there was a quiet sense of
determination in his voice that just seemed odd.

Tapping the intercom button on his seat more for effect than anything
else, "Yellow alert."

Immediately the cautionary lights on the bridge came on.  Zack then
watched his readouts quietly as the BANGALORE's shields came on line.
"Mister, keep the weapons powered down for the moment.  That ship is a
sitting duck right now on the surface so I don't want to alarm them
anymore than necessary.  Broadcast on all frequencies the following:

Unknown inhabitants of the planet below, this is the USS BANGALORE out of
Deep Space 101.  I respectfully request that respond to this hail.

Mister," added Zack to the ops officer, "repeat the hail on all
frequencies until we get a response."

*Finally some action, you spineless wimp* thought Zack.  He only hoped the
response he would receive would be a hail and not some sort of fire from
hidden planetary batteries.

Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Thigpen
Lt(jg) Zachary Hogan
DS 101 CSO

SD 90528.2127 EST
Scene: In the tunnels at night

Alyza had stayed watch over the injured Selek for a number of hours.  Had
she not been pregnant, she might have tried to carry him, after all, the
gravity on this planet was mild in comparison to either Bajor or Vulcan.
Unfortunalty, the tunnels became too narrow for her carry Selek and squeeze
through.  

Getting to the water would have been no problem, had they had something to
carry it in.  Neither Selek nor Alyza needed the water.  They could go a
number of days without drinking.  

Alyza remembered her initiation on Vulcan.  There were long spans of
barren, flat desert with no water for days, no shade.  Just her, the
desert, the sun, and of course, the constant awareness of the other...

Selek moved, awakened, breaking her out of her thoughts.  Alyza helped him
to his feet.  The needed to get moving.  It was probable that Roberts and
his team were looking for her and Selek.  Probably, they were indulging
their emotions and were worried.  Neither her nor Selek knew about the ship
that had just landed on the surface...


________________
NRPG:  Well, that is all I can come up with at the moment.  Shaun, it is
your turn :-)


Live long and prosper \\//
Gretchen A. Haas

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