Star Trek Hunter
Episode 7: The Great Mushroom
Scene 13: A Shared Vision
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7.13
A Shared Vision
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Neither the City of Porte Abello nor the planetary administration of Pillo were anywhere near equipped to handle the aftermath of a nausicaan civil war, which was what had more or less happened. In all, Lt. Cmdr. Mlady had stunned more than 200 nausicaans in the fight that had wounded Pep. Tolon's tactical squad had quickly run out of restraints and had to improvise using local rope - which was not really strong enough to hold the nausicaans and several had escaped.
And while this was the largest uprising, it was not the only one. Few of the nausicaans were talking, but by interviewing other residents of Porte Abello who knew the nausicaans, Lt. Tauk, Investigator Lynhart Shran and Investigator Buttans Ngumbo were able to derive that the fights had pitted local nausicaans against interlopers. The few local nausicaans who were talking identified at least a few of the interlopers as members of the Collective (or "Collectors" as most nausicaans referred to them.)
Tauk and Investigator Shran were questioning one uncharacteristically talkative nausicaan - a young female named Yuum - on the promise of her anonymity. Her father and sister had been killed by a Collector in one of the brawls.
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"We were told right from the start never to talk about the visions," Yuum said. Her anger was evident and Shran and Tauk maintained a respectful distance. "We have had them just like everyone else, but the Collective didn't want anyone to know about it. They wanted to know if the visions showed anything beyond the immediate area of this star system. They wanted to use the visions to prey on the trade routes near this system."
Tauk coughed heavily, then said, "So did the visions expand beyond this system?" He coughed again.
Yuum nodded. "Right from the beginning we were seeing visions about people we knew on our homeworlds - family members. But that wasn't what the collectors were looking for. They were looking for evidence the visions could be used to control the trade routes."
Tauk continued coughing. Investigator Lynhart Shran took over questioning at a gesture from the young ferengi.
"So I take it they found what they were looking for?" Shran asked.
"Several, all at once. It led to a successful attack on a tellarite freighter last week," Yuum replied. "The Collective was willing to risk half their fleet to take over this colony. If they had managed it, they could have taken tens of thousands of hostages and it would have been nearly impossible to get them off this planet. Is it true that a small Star Fleet patrol craft destroyed three of the Collective's heavy cruisers?"
"That's the report," Tauk attempted, but could not continue as he was coughing harder.
"Are you all right, boss?" Shran asked.
Tauk waved impatiently, gesturing for Shran to continue.
Shran turned his attention back to the young nausicaan. "Yes. We don't know the details yet, but we've been told our boat was attacked by three nausicaan heavy cruisers and won. I have no idea how."
Yuum lit up at this news. "I want to join Star Fleet! I want to see the Collective taken out! I want to be there!"
Tauk managed, "You would be the first nausicaan in Star…" His coughing came back, far worse than before, blood dripping from his mouth and nose.
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Lt. Kenny Dolphin had just secured the tactical unit after docking.
2nd Lt. Gaia Gamor was still in the captain's chair.
Commander David Pepper was laying in sick bay recovering from heart surgery, Mlady and Dr. Tali Shae next to him.
Dr. Sarekson Carrera had returned to the Hunter and was on his way to inspect the tactical unit.
Investigator Buttans Ngumbo was with Ensign Tolon Reeves and the tactical squad, arranging for long term containment of the members of the Nausicaan Collective who had started fights throughout Porte Abello.
Justice Minerva Irons was just leaving the courtroom.
Dr. Jazz Sam Sinder was cleaning up after successfully managing delicate heart surgery in the middle of a fire fight.
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The vision of Tauk coughing up blood in desperation hit all of the Hunter's crew simultaneously.
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"Medical Beamout!" Shran's voice was so gravelly it sounded as if his throat was about to shred itself.
Transporter Engineer K'rok was already in process of beaming Lt. Tauk and Investigator Shran directly to Medical.
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7.13