Part 3
Chapter 7
Galen, Wesley, and the security officer explored the dark hallways of the building they occupied. It appeared that it was once used as an information depot containing displays and communications equipment more on the level that the Drakh and Technomages used then what the Shadows used. Galen noticed a tachyon relay similar to the kind used by Technomages next to one of the communication stations. He knew that if one existed in this location that there could be an entire network that would be unknown to other races in this universe. Reaching out with his hand he associated with the communication Station in order to gain complete control of the unit. What he found was disturbing. On top of there being a secret communications network, he found that parts of it were actively being used. He turned around to face Wesley.
"Could I see your tricorder for a moment?" "Sure"
To Wesley it appeared that the tricorder had been possessed. The screen flashed wildly as if recording some unseen, absurd amount of data. Galen handed the device back to its owner.
"We need to go back to the shuttle to analyze this data. I don't think that the tricorder has enough power for our needs." Stated Galen
Aboard the shuttle Wesley uploaded the data from the tricorder. Eager to see what had been recorded in the device he ordered the computer to analyze the data.
There were a few chirps from the computer and a few seconds later a computerized voice relayed the findings. "The uploaded data contains one starmap, four hundred and fifty five thousand hours of voice and video communications, as well as twelve thousand and four data transfers."
"Computer, display the starmap" commanded Wesley With a quick chirp a map was displayed showing the tachyon network. It appeared to exist over the entire federation as well as parts of the Romulan and Klingon territories. "Wait," asked Galen "Computer, display all communications occurring between 0800 and 0900 on this date." Another chirp was given. "There were 31 communications in progress and communications started during the specified time. "Limit the results to those that used beacon 331" added Galen "One communication matches the specifications." "Display"
Wesley gasped as he recognized the man in the communication. "We need to inform the Enterprise at once!"
Chapter 8
The Enterprise was one hour away from its destination. "Yellow alert! Lets be ready for this one." Commanded Picard "Captain, we are receiving an emergency transmission from Ensign Crusher." Beverly looked over to Picard. "On screen." She then looked at the screen half relieved that he seemed all right.
"Captain!" Wesley's features showed some panic. "Calm down ensign Crusher, what is the problem?" asked the captain "Sir, you are running into a trap, I mean you are being used!"
"What do you mean? You are going to have to be more specific then that." Replied Picard "I'm sending you a communication that we picked up over a secret communications network. It is from someone you know.... Sloane." "Sloane" Picard whispered "Wesley, we will contact you shortly. Stay in the shuttle for now."
"Captain, we have received the data upload." "Good, I'll take a look at it in my ready room."
Picard sat down in his chair and swiveled the monitor to face him. "Computer, open the file" Picard saw Sloane talking to someone unseen. Sloane asked the unidentified person if the mission was a success. That person responded by saying "Yes, the Romulans now think that Starfleet attacked their station, hopefully they will do as we expect and attack the Federation 'peace' envoy when they discover that there aren't new warships in the fleet." Sloane looked directly into the camera "and if they don't?" "Don't worry, we have a backup plan, blue14 is already in place in their capital city" replied the unknown man. With that, the message ended.
Picard pondered on what was said, and then immediately had the computer analyze the message to confirm that it was Sloane. When he received the results he made up his mind.
Chapter 9
A sigh of relief was released when Picard's face appeared on the comms screen. "We are on our way to pick you up. I sent a copy of your transmission to Admiral Hawke. Hopefully he will order the ships on the boarder to vacate the area near the Aegonis system. We are moving at maximum warp so we should be there in approximately 6 hours." Galen turned towards the screen. "I think I have found out some more information, expect another upload soon." That was news that Picard was happy to hear. He would need all the evidence he could get to convince Starfleet that section 31 was behind the mysterious destruction of the Romulan research station, and even more evidence to convince them that Starfleet ships and crew were in great danger." While staring at the small screen in his ready room he heard a small tapping noise from the shuttle. Suddenly there was an explosion, and the back hatch of the shuttle blew off. The security officer began to raise his weapon when a bolt of some kind hit him. It was at this moment that the signal was jammed.
Galen swirled around into action sending a volley of fireballs in the general direction of the attackers. This successfully pushed the attackers out of the shuttle. In this time he conjured a shield in place of the former hatch. Knowing that it was quickly being overwhelmed with fire he yelled at Wesley to takeoff. Wesley looked back at Galen. "Where should I go? If they have a ship in orbit we can't go to space, plus we are missing a back door!" Galen thought quickly. "Just take us over to that building. Do you think the shuttle can fit in that opening?" Wesley glanced at the building that Galen pointed to while taking off. It looked like a tight fit but he thought he could make it. To him the building looked like it was a hanger of some sort. While the shuttle was in the air they received more fire from the ground but not much connected. Unfortunately one lucky shot hit the port nacelle and caused it to loose eighty percent of its power. Wesley could barely weave the crippled shuttle around the buildings. On approach the shuttle clipped the side of the entrance and finally made a spinning stop in the cavernous hanger.
Wesley sat hunched over his console bleeding from several areas. Galen was starting to stand up. He had a gash across his forehead. Galen found Wesley to be in bad shape and decided to transfer some of his healing nanites over to him. He knew they couldn't stay in the shuttle for long so he began to drag him out of the shuttle. There was a reason that Galen told Wesley to fly into this particular building. On previous missions to places with shadow structures he had seen many similar structures. These structures as Wesley had correctly guessed were hangers. Unfortunately this hanger was empty, but Galen knew that they usually had easy access to underground caves and structures that the Shadows always built in places such as this. Sure enough there was access to such a tunnel in this structure. Knowing the distances often involved in such tunnel systems Galen felt it was best to conjure a flying platform to take himself and Crusher below.
Chapter 10
Picard was shuffling through the latest upload when he received a new transmission from Admiral Hawke. He sighed momentarily and then opened up the channel.
"Captain, do you realize that you have disobeyed a direct order?" "Admiral, in the interest if the security of the Federation I thought" "Captain, we don't need you to think about these things, you were ordered to find a way to resolve the Romulan situation." "But what about the evidence we uncovered? Our computer indicates" "I don't care what your computer indicates. Computers can be fooled. This is obviously a false communication. Any such message would have been intercepted by Starfleet intelligence." "But Admiral, these communications came from a completely different system that doesn't even use subspace." "Captain, turn back now, I won't tell you again." "Two of my crewmembers may have been killed trying to get this information, don't tell me that there isn't something going on here." "Captain you leave me no choice..." Picard finally made a decision. He cut the transmission and decided it was time to make a ship wide speech. He also sent a copy of most of the information he had to the ships already assembled around the Aegonis system. All those who didn't want to participate would be dropped off at a nearby colony. Those that stayed would risk it all in attempt to save the Federation.
Galen and Crusher came to rest in a side room almost five miles into the tunnel system. He had taken enough turns to throw off virtually anyone who would follow and the shadow tech inside released enough exotic energies to make tricorders almost useless over 20 yards. The room he chose was interesting because it was filled with technology that didn't originate from the Shadows. Interestingly the language printed on the computers and instruments was English, but the technology looked to be about a century older then what he saw of the Federation.
Chapter 7
Galen, Wesley, and the security officer explored the dark hallways of the building they occupied. It appeared that it was once used as an information depot containing displays and communications equipment more on the level that the Drakh and Technomages used then what the Shadows used. Galen noticed a tachyon relay similar to the kind used by Technomages next to one of the communication stations. He knew that if one existed in this location that there could be an entire network that would be unknown to other races in this universe. Reaching out with his hand he associated with the communication Station in order to gain complete control of the unit. What he found was disturbing. On top of there being a secret communications network, he found that parts of it were actively being used. He turned around to face Wesley.
"Could I see your tricorder for a moment?" "Sure"
To Wesley it appeared that the tricorder had been possessed. The screen flashed wildly as if recording some unseen, absurd amount of data. Galen handed the device back to its owner.
"We need to go back to the shuttle to analyze this data. I don't think that the tricorder has enough power for our needs." Stated Galen
Aboard the shuttle Wesley uploaded the data from the tricorder. Eager to see what had been recorded in the device he ordered the computer to analyze the data.
There were a few chirps from the computer and a few seconds later a computerized voice relayed the findings. "The uploaded data contains one starmap, four hundred and fifty five thousand hours of voice and video communications, as well as twelve thousand and four data transfers."
"Computer, display the starmap" commanded Wesley With a quick chirp a map was displayed showing the tachyon network. It appeared to exist over the entire federation as well as parts of the Romulan and Klingon territories. "Wait," asked Galen "Computer, display all communications occurring between 0800 and 0900 on this date." Another chirp was given. "There were 31 communications in progress and communications started during the specified time. "Limit the results to those that used beacon 331" added Galen "One communication matches the specifications." "Display"
Wesley gasped as he recognized the man in the communication. "We need to inform the Enterprise at once!"
Chapter 8
The Enterprise was one hour away from its destination. "Yellow alert! Lets be ready for this one." Commanded Picard "Captain, we are receiving an emergency transmission from Ensign Crusher." Beverly looked over to Picard. "On screen." She then looked at the screen half relieved that he seemed all right.
"Captain!" Wesley's features showed some panic. "Calm down ensign Crusher, what is the problem?" asked the captain "Sir, you are running into a trap, I mean you are being used!"
"What do you mean? You are going to have to be more specific then that." Replied Picard "I'm sending you a communication that we picked up over a secret communications network. It is from someone you know.... Sloane." "Sloane" Picard whispered "Wesley, we will contact you shortly. Stay in the shuttle for now."
"Captain, we have received the data upload." "Good, I'll take a look at it in my ready room."
Picard sat down in his chair and swiveled the monitor to face him. "Computer, open the file" Picard saw Sloane talking to someone unseen. Sloane asked the unidentified person if the mission was a success. That person responded by saying "Yes, the Romulans now think that Starfleet attacked their station, hopefully they will do as we expect and attack the Federation 'peace' envoy when they discover that there aren't new warships in the fleet." Sloane looked directly into the camera "and if they don't?" "Don't worry, we have a backup plan, blue14 is already in place in their capital city" replied the unknown man. With that, the message ended.
Picard pondered on what was said, and then immediately had the computer analyze the message to confirm that it was Sloane. When he received the results he made up his mind.
Chapter 9
A sigh of relief was released when Picard's face appeared on the comms screen. "We are on our way to pick you up. I sent a copy of your transmission to Admiral Hawke. Hopefully he will order the ships on the boarder to vacate the area near the Aegonis system. We are moving at maximum warp so we should be there in approximately 6 hours." Galen turned towards the screen. "I think I have found out some more information, expect another upload soon." That was news that Picard was happy to hear. He would need all the evidence he could get to convince Starfleet that section 31 was behind the mysterious destruction of the Romulan research station, and even more evidence to convince them that Starfleet ships and crew were in great danger." While staring at the small screen in his ready room he heard a small tapping noise from the shuttle. Suddenly there was an explosion, and the back hatch of the shuttle blew off. The security officer began to raise his weapon when a bolt of some kind hit him. It was at this moment that the signal was jammed.
Galen swirled around into action sending a volley of fireballs in the general direction of the attackers. This successfully pushed the attackers out of the shuttle. In this time he conjured a shield in place of the former hatch. Knowing that it was quickly being overwhelmed with fire he yelled at Wesley to takeoff. Wesley looked back at Galen. "Where should I go? If they have a ship in orbit we can't go to space, plus we are missing a back door!" Galen thought quickly. "Just take us over to that building. Do you think the shuttle can fit in that opening?" Wesley glanced at the building that Galen pointed to while taking off. It looked like a tight fit but he thought he could make it. To him the building looked like it was a hanger of some sort. While the shuttle was in the air they received more fire from the ground but not much connected. Unfortunately one lucky shot hit the port nacelle and caused it to loose eighty percent of its power. Wesley could barely weave the crippled shuttle around the buildings. On approach the shuttle clipped the side of the entrance and finally made a spinning stop in the cavernous hanger.
Wesley sat hunched over his console bleeding from several areas. Galen was starting to stand up. He had a gash across his forehead. Galen found Wesley to be in bad shape and decided to transfer some of his healing nanites over to him. He knew they couldn't stay in the shuttle for long so he began to drag him out of the shuttle. There was a reason that Galen told Wesley to fly into this particular building. On previous missions to places with shadow structures he had seen many similar structures. These structures as Wesley had correctly guessed were hangers. Unfortunately this hanger was empty, but Galen knew that they usually had easy access to underground caves and structures that the Shadows always built in places such as this. Sure enough there was access to such a tunnel in this structure. Knowing the distances often involved in such tunnel systems Galen felt it was best to conjure a flying platform to take himself and Crusher below.
Chapter 10
Picard was shuffling through the latest upload when he received a new transmission from Admiral Hawke. He sighed momentarily and then opened up the channel.
"Captain, do you realize that you have disobeyed a direct order?" "Admiral, in the interest if the security of the Federation I thought" "Captain, we don't need you to think about these things, you were ordered to find a way to resolve the Romulan situation." "But what about the evidence we uncovered? Our computer indicates" "I don't care what your computer indicates. Computers can be fooled. This is obviously a false communication. Any such message would have been intercepted by Starfleet intelligence." "But Admiral, these communications came from a completely different system that doesn't even use subspace." "Captain, turn back now, I won't tell you again." "Two of my crewmembers may have been killed trying to get this information, don't tell me that there isn't something going on here." "Captain you leave me no choice..." Picard finally made a decision. He cut the transmission and decided it was time to make a ship wide speech. He also sent a copy of most of the information he had to the ships already assembled around the Aegonis system. All those who didn't want to participate would be dropped off at a nearby colony. Those that stayed would risk it all in attempt to save the Federation.
Galen and Crusher came to rest in a side room almost five miles into the tunnel system. He had taken enough turns to throw off virtually anyone who would follow and the shadow tech inside released enough exotic energies to make tricorders almost useless over 20 yards. The room he chose was interesting because it was filled with technology that didn't originate from the Shadows. Interestingly the language printed on the computers and instruments was English, but the technology looked to be about a century older then what he saw of the Federation.