Star Trek: Season 2 - Gathering

[iceman]

Dr. Peterson glanced at the Commander in the transporter room and said' "you were not planning on leaving without me were you? After all, there may be survivors that need medical attention, and if there's a fire fight there will undoubtably be wounded that I will need to attended to."

[Jen]

"We detected weapons fire on the surface Doctor. Once the area is secure we will request that you beam down to our coordinates." Sevryll looked down at the doctor, standing ready at the door. "Prepare for a massive influx of wounded doctor."

"I'm a very accurate shot. Please allow me to accompany you to the surface...If we are met with hostile fire you'll need an extra phaser.  And if we're met by a mass of wounded civilians..."

"...I will need your expertise." Sevryll finished his sentence for him in an even tone. She chewed on his statement for a fraction of a second then nodded her approval. Lt. Peters tossed the doctor a phaser as he stepped onto the pad and Sevryll motioned to the Denobulan Transporter Chief that they were ready to beam down.

Glittering particles of light bonded to form five Starfleet Officers, within the outpost on the surface of Altair III. The Klingons transported within seconds of the Tiberius away team. Their corresponding transporter coordinates placed them within a large complex in the center of the settlement. Upon materialization, the crews of the Quataa and Tiberius drew their side arms in preparation of hostile fire.

Lt. Peters ignited the light he carried in his right hand. Its hazy beam revealed the bodies of armed civilians,  laying in twisted heaps about the facility. The corpses bore the scorched marks of recent annihilation.

K'Renth and Sevryll approached one another as the away teams united their effort to inspect the immediate area. Stepping over the dead of several worlds, the Vulcan and Klingon met in the center of the room.

"I am Lt. Commander Sevryll, and this is Ensign Enoch," Sevryll's introduction of Enoch was met with a sidelong glance by the Klingon Captain. She growled quietly as she she took in the Vulcan's stolid expression.

K'Renth's striking green eyes narrowed before she turned them on Enoch. She considered the young helmsman carefully before replying in a curt voice,"I am Captian K'Renth".

"Commander," Lt. Peters spoke quietly as he advanced from the far side of the room, "I'm picking up bio signs in the west wing of the complex."

[iceman]

The doctor could see the bodies sprawled all over the complex. The smell of burned flesh was overpowering.

The damage to the bodies was quite extensive. Every cell within them had imploded upon impact. A Scan from his tricorder told him that energy weapons were the cause. And these particular weapons had been outlawed in the Federation due to of their barbaric nature. 

The doctor pressed his comm badge and informed Sevryll of his findings, indicating that it was extremely unlikely any survivors would be found.

Peterson continued to survey the scene and record the damage with the use of his medical tricorder.  Then he searched for anything, that might indicate why this particular outpost was chosen as a target.

Peterson's  comm Badge beeped, it was Lt. Commander Sevryll.
"Peterson here."

[Jen]

"Commander," the chief of security,  spoke quietly as he advanced from the far side of the room, "I'm picking up bio signs in the west wing of the complex."

The Vulcan nodded and signaled for Lt. Peters to wait before advancing. She gazed across the vast space within the compound, in search of the doctor. His search for life amongst a multitude of motionless forms, had taken him to the far side of the complex and she could barely make out his shadowy figure, from her location, on the opposite side of the room.

Sevryll tapped her comm badge, and informed him of the security chief's discovery.  "I do not want to jeopardize the safety of the away team; the up most care should be taken in our investigation. Please meet us at these coordinates. We will wait for you and Ensign Manrique before investigating further."

"On my way." He replied.

As Doctor Peterson and Ensign Manrique ran the obstacle course of debris and dead, two energy discharges struck them both in the back. The two crew members abruptly plunged to the cold, stone floor. Though conscious, they were unable to move a single appendage to defend themselves from their unseen aggressors. The doctor's eyes met Manrique's. His gaze was stubborn and angry as he shifted it in the direction of the away team.

Through the gloom Manrique could see the Klingon and Tiberius away teams progressing towards them, firing at the attackers. Beams of energy crisscrossed the darkened war zone, illuminating its once obscure contents.

The anonymous aggressors provided cover for two of their own, as they grabbed the paralyzed Starfleet officers and hauled them into a near by corridor. With their hostages in tow, the shadowy assailants disappeared within the multitude of dark passageways inside the immense complex. In an instant, they transported off the surface of Altair III, leaving the winded away teams behind in frustration.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Lt. Commander Sevryll
Chief Science Officer/Acting First Officer
USS Tiberius
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[iceman]

He awoke in what was little more then a small empty room, bare of of the normal tapastries that one would expect to find.  It looked as if the make shift cell was put together at the last moment.

The doctor could hear the muffled sound of voices, but could not make out what was being said. Although groggy, from being hit with the beam weapon, he was otherwise uninjured.

Peterson still had his medical equipment and managed to modify his comm badge to that of a homing beacon. He hoped that the Tiberius and the commander would check all frequencies once they knew he had been beamed off the planet.

All he could do was wait and see what his captors wanted with them, and hope that his career in Starfleet would not come to an abrupt end.

[Geekyfanboy]

Quinn yelled, "SHIELDS UP" and quickly pressed his comm. Badge "ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT.. I REPEAT ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!!!

The ship shook back and fourth, Quinn fell to the floor but quickly regained his footing.

"Photons full spread" Quinn yelled.

Lt. Nagumo turned to Quinn, "Sir they are pulling back, do we pursue?"

"Stand by Lt." Quinn pressed his comm. Badge. "Number One what is the status of the away team"

Sevryll voice could be heard, "Captain, the aggressors just beamed away, and they took Doctor Peterson and Ensign Manrique with them."

"What?" Quinn announced, "Stand by we are going to beam you back. Transporter room, beam the away team directly to the bridge."

A few seconds later the away team appeared on the bridge.

"Helm set a pursuit course" Quinn turned to Sevryll, "Where are the Klingons?"

TBC

Commander Quinn
Acting Captain
USS Tiberius

[Jen]

Before she could answer the commander, the communications officer interjected.
"Sir, the Quataa is hailing us."

Quinn nodded, "on screen."

K'Renth's eyes sparkled with exhilaration.
"These piles of rotting forshak will wish they never crossed our paths commander." A fierce smile spread across the Klingon female's face.

"As you know, they've taken two of my officers. Do not  destroy the ship..."

"Of course," she hissed. "Our vessel is currently cloaked aft of the Tiberius. We are maneuvering into attack position now. Once their ship has been disabled, I want the baktag who commands it, and his cargo... to myself." She tilted her head as she emphasized the last word of her sentence.

The bridge of the Tiberius shook again as the aggressors fired once more. "Shields are holding commander," reported Lt. Corran. Quinn looked over his shoulder at the tactical officer, then back to the view screen. A frown formed on Quinn's face.

"We'll talk about that later Captain. I'm a little busy right now. Again, your help is appreciated. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Certainly commander, " replied the Klingon.

Quinn turned and motioned for communication to be cut, then faced the Lt. Corran.

"Return fire. Target their weapons."

Sevryll fell into her chair as the ship lurched again. "Captain, before they were was taken, the doctor mentioned the civilians' wounds were made with outlawed weapons. It is my assessment that we are dealing with marauders."

"I believe you mean murderers," replied Quinn as the bridge lurched again.



Ensign Manrique and Doctor Peterson braced themselves as their kidnappers' ship shook violently with each volley from the Tiberius.  An armed Acamarian approached their cell and motioned for them to stand away from the force field. The doctor looked at Ensign Marique; it was clear they wouldn't be able to take him, for he was armed to the tooth and heavily armored. They stood back and the field was deactivated. "You," the Acamarian Gather pointed at the doctor with his phase rifle, "come with me." Marique stepped forward in defense of the doctor, but Peterson advised against it with a motion of his hand and a concerned look on his face.

The man took Peterson to a medical bay, filled with wounded Gathers. All were clad in the same armor as the individual who escorted him there. Peterson presumed they were injured in the assault on the surface and that they were sole the reason for his abduction.

"Get to work!" Shouted the escort, before shoving the doctor in the back with his rifle.

On the bridge of the Acamarian ship, Chorgan barked orders at his crew. "What is our status?!"

"The Quataa has decloaked. She's taking up a defensive position along side the Starfleet vessel. Replied the helmsman frantically.

Mattack, the second in command, whispered to his captain: "Chorgan, we must leave now, we can't take them both. You know what she'll do to us! You killed her son—she won't stop until we're all dead."

"Shut up!" Chorgan shouted aloud as he paced the bridge. The Tiberius continued to pound them rattling the crew as well as their equipment. "Slek...get us out of here, maximum warp! Fire the aft pulse cannons to disrupt their sensor arrays."


Before the Tiberius and the Quataa, had completely disabled the alien ship, a blinding pulse filled the bridge of the Tiberius and the ship was gone.

"What happened?" Barked Quinn as he rubbed his eyes.

Corran's fingers ran across his panel. "They've fired pulse cannons...Sensors are off line commander."

"Get them back Lt!" Quinn ordered, the edge in his voice was now clearly evident.




---------------------------------------------------------------
Lt. Commander Sevryll
Chief Science Officer/Acting First Officer
USS Tiberius
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[iceman]

As doctor Peterson surveyed the injured crew, he noted that many of the wounded were not seriously injuries, however, one was bleeding internally and required immediate surgery.

He recalled the words "above all else do no harm, then informed his captors of his needs. He asked to speak to his captors' leader so that he could find out what this was all about.  At the least, he could learn the reason he may end up dying. There was also an off chance that he could, perhaps, find a diplomatic way out of this situation... without the loss of further life.

The doctor hoped that Lt. Commander Sevryll could still hear his thoughts, even though he had not tried to reach her, and was not sure that his telepathic abilities would be strong enough at this distance. Luckily, the doctor still had the Iconian artifact in his possession. He hoped that with its enhancing effect, it might allow him reach her...he would use it to tell her to track his comm frequency so that they could find them.

For now, all he  could do was hope that the fates would be kind  and that he would live to see another day. He would continue to serve Starfleet to the best of his abilities, which at the moment he could not say was his best,  or anywhere close to it.

[Jen]

Acrid smoke rose from the consoles on Chorgan's bridge, filling the vicinity with a white haze. His gruff voice snapped orders at the bridge crew as he sliced through the haze that had obscured his armored form. "Status?" he snarled over the railing from the higher command level.

Mattack, Chorgan's second in command, answered him promptly from below, "We are safely away from the Starfleet vessel and the Quataa." He paused a moment as he gathered the courage to continue, "I shouldn't have to remind you Chorgan that K'renth will not stop until she has satisfied her Blood Oath."

Chorgan's hard glare eventually caused the second in command to avert his eyes and drop the subject. Mattock had not been present when the raid on the settlement went wrong—he had no idea what really happened...yet his constant nagging was damned annoying. It was worse than his late mother's persistent harassment. What Chorgan needed was a second officer, not an overbearing parent.

"I'm going to the medical bay to see how our new doctor is handling things. Find a sector where we can lay low. Someplace where we can pick up more capable mercenaries. And Contact someone who will purchase our spoils. "


Doctor Peterson worked frantically to save the injured Acamarian  that lay stretched on the med table before him. The detained physician found himself conducting a delicate operation with rudimentary equipment. The kit he had brought on the away mission, was not outfitted with the precision devices available back on the Tiberius. If it was, this surgery would not be as difficult or time consuming.

Chorgan strode into the crowded med bay, stepping over the injured as he made his way to where the doctor stood.

"Will he live?" he inquired coarsely.

"I'm doing my best to insure that he does. Who are you?" The doctor asked without stopping to look at the man.

"What does it matter? Make sure he doesn't die." Chorgan turned to leave the med bay, but the doctor's next statement stopped him in his tracks.

"You're an Acamarian Gatherer." The doctor sensed Chorgan's annoyance at the term he used. There was an awkward pause before the man replied.

"I am a Gatherer...Acamar III is no longer our home." He growled.

"Well, Gatherer, your Acamarian blood is composed of an odd composite of iron and copper based blood chemistry. Your friend requires a transfusion if he is going to live. Take a seat." Peterson knew he could probably aquire the blood needed, from any of the healthy Gathers injured in the attack, but he wanted a bit more information from the man who had just entered the medical bay. The seriously injured patient was important to him some how. He was certain that the man would donate the blood and because of it, he would become the doctor's captive audience for a few hours.

Chorgan stared up at Peterson as the abducted Starfleet doctor prepared his arm for the transfusion.

"It's obvious why I'm here," the doctor began, "and I'm guessing that you're the one who made that decision." Peterson pushed the needle roughly into Chorgan's arm as he finished his statement.

Chorgan grimaced but did not react to the doctor's purposeful lack of bedside manner. "Yes." He replied through clinched teeth.

"Then you're the leader of these cut-throats?" The doctor looked up from his work and held the other's eye for a moment before continuing the transfusion.

"Cut-throats," he said with a chuckle. "I've never heard that term." Chorgan continued to glare at the doctor as Peterson connected the crude transfusion device, to the unconscious patient. A few minutes went by before the doctor continued his questioning.

"Is murder your primary occupation, or is it just something you like to do to... unwind on the weekends?"

Chorgan laughed at the doctor's last question. "You brave doctor...." He eyed Peterson before continuing, "no, killing is an unfortunate by-product of my 'primary occupation'."

The doctor's face twisted in disgust but he managed to keep his temper. "It was my understanding that Acamar III's Sovereign Marouk, offered a repatriation for the estranged Gatherers. The negotiations were mediated by a Starfleet Captain. From what I've read, Picard was eventually successful and the Gatherers agreed to return home the same year."

Chorgan's smile was replaced by a frown. Anger boiled out in his reply, "Sovereign Marouk used Picard to lure us into a trap. Once he left, the so called  'conservative Acamarians', wiped out most of our clans. We're all that's left...we're gathering the best weapons and mercenaries  to return the favor." Chorgan stated flatly.


Sevryll sat across from Quinn in his Ready Room. " The remaining sensors are failing to track the alien ship's course. What's worse, K'renth's vessel suffered the same damage to primary and secondary sensor arrays. They cannot assist us in our search."

Quinn sat back in his chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose as Sevryll continued "As you know commander, the artifact that the doctor and I studied, created a telepathic link between Margon and ourselves. I do not know how long its effect will last, but I have been receiving  faint impressions from the doctor."

Quinn straightened in his chair and leaned forward. "What sort of impressions?" he asked with renewed hope.

"Images, fragments of conversation...they are faint and infrequent at best."

"Perhaps I can help you enhance them. I'll ask Margon to join us. It's possible that he has also sensed the doctor."



---------------------------------------------------------------
Lt. Commander Sevryll
Chief Science Officer/Acting First Officer
USS Tiberius
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[iceman]

The surgery, although difficult, went well and the patient who should have died,  would soon make a full recovery. All that remained to do was complete the final sutures.

Doctor Peterson spoke to his captor and told him that wished to help him in his plight. He believed that he had been treated unfairly, I asked Chorgan why the Klingon had taken a blood oath against him.

Peterson told Chorgan that Tiberius had a Jag officer on board who could help, if he could provide proof of his accusations. After an uncomfortable pause he barked an order to his second in command and then stated, "I don't know why, but I believe you are a man of honor who is either extremely stupid or very brave. I'm not sure know which, but I prefer to think the latter is true." He gave the doctor the required information and his version the raid that resulted in the blood oath"

Peterson sent the information to the last known position of the Tiberius, on a scrambled alpha channel: priority one, and hoped the JAG officer was as good at law, as he was at diplomacy, for his very Life hung in the balance.

He then sat and pondered his predicament. Unfortunately all he could do now, was sit and wait...

[iceman]

Peterson hoped that the Tiberius received his message but wondered if the Commander could read or receive his telepathic thoughts, reaching out to her from so far away.

He supposed, that all I could do was be ready to act when the moment presented itself.

[Darkmolerman]

"Whoa, whoa what's happening?"
Councilor Suder had just woke up from staying in the holodeck for a very very long time.
"Hey Councilor Margon?" He was not there. "Well I better 'clock in'..."

Chirp =/\= "Councilor Margon, I am here." Chirp =/\=

Suder then had some scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. "Hashbrowns!"
Ever since Suder came to Earth, he fell in love with hashbrowns. After he was done eating he went to the councilor's room and searched the Starfleet records.

"Whoa what are Bizarro Borg? I better ask Commander Quinn!"

"Who wrote this report on me? It came from a starbase not some random space station! And I never stole anything!"

The one thing that was right in the report was that Suder didn't like wearing the normal uniform and that he twisted the rules on other Starfleet ships. Instead of wearing the jumpsuit he wore Black Cargo pants and a jacket with the uniform color on it.

[moyer777]

The turbo lift doors opened and Counselor Margon stepped onto the bridge.   He made his way to the ready room.  The door chirped and Commander Quinn said-  "enter"

Margon walked in to see Sevryll seated at the captain's desk.

"Ok, my head is swimming with surgery images and an impatient Vulcan"  he grinned.

Sevryll gave him a look of disgust.  "I used my com badge Counselor" she stated bluntly.

"Yes, but I knew your call was coming about 10 seconds before it happened"  he grinned again and sat down in another chair next to the Sevryll.

"So we need to find the Dr do we?"  he asked looking at Quinn.

Quinn smirked, amused by Margon's light hearted mannerisms.  "Couselor, can you assist Sevryll in her search?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact if you ask her to scan for an iron and copper based blood signature in a system with three M class planets in sector... hmmmm.. "  He rubbed his nose ridge... "the Dr overheard a navigation command from an officer on the ship he is being held on..."

Sevryll nodded... "Eight" she said. "Sector Eight." 

Margon chuckled.  "Eight, yes Eight, that is what it is.  Find him Commander, I can't handle much more of these bloody images in my head!"

She got up from the chair.  "If you will excuse me gentlemen, I have a Dr. to find."

She walked out of the room and the doors hissed shut behind her.

[Glynnpeters]

Meanwhile...incoming message..." This is Gorjano Pedro....Beaming back aboard...Apologies for absence. I recently choked on a groatcake ( there is a shortage of syrup of squill and thusly the cake was dry) & my mentor beamed me out to a passing lightship.  I was unconscious at the time and also thusly was unable to inform the Captain. Those pesky sail ships take an age...I was hospitalised in a Bajoran fundamentalist hospice...I was nursed back to health by the Prylars and they take a long time due to their fondness of chanting. Nor did they pass on my messages as it co-incided with their vow of silence that occurs every 27th rotation.
Is Brex still aboard?" ...message ends.

[Jen]

Mattock interrupted Chorgan and Peterson timidly, "we have reached Dessica II."

Chorgan turned to the doctor, "You're coming with us. Get your kit in order. "

Doctor Peterson frowned as he began to prepare his med kit for the unexpected expedition to the surface. Dessica II was in Sector 8, and if he wasn't mistaken, it was a hot bed of illegal activity. The Orion Syndicate often utilized Dessica II's congested bars as a smokescreen. Elasi, Orion, Osaarian and Nausicaan interstellar pirates flanked their operation and camouflage The Syndicate's transactions. If one was looking for mercenaries, illegal weapons and fast ships, Dessica II was definitely the place to locate them in abundance. Unfortunately, it was also the best place to find a tragic end.

The young boy of eleven or twelve, clad in black armor, mumbled unconsciously on the table behind him. The doctor wondered if his young patient had been apart of the raid on the Altair III. Chorgan's concern for the kid, led Peterson to believe that he was related some how. The doctor primed a hypospray and administered the sedative to the boy. As he watched his patient relax, he told himself that he would see to it that the child would no longer be involved in Chorgan's plots. How Peterson would accomplish that task, would have to be determined at a later time...

Ensign Manrique paced his holding cell anxiously as a group of Gathers entered the brig. "Stand away from the containment field." One of them growled. Manrique stood back and balled his fist in preparation. The field was deactivated and Chorgan entered the small room.

"You're on my ship because I require men capable of killing. Have you ever taken a life?"

Johnny considered Chorgan's question, he hadn't had to kill anyone, but he was confident if he had to... he could. The ensign determined that a lie was the best response, so Johnny answered with a macho, "yeah.... what are you doing? Writing a book?"

Chorgan took a step forward and sized up the young officer. Johnny stood his ground and maintained eye contact.

Chorgan saw this as a challenge and swung a fist hard at Manrique's face. The young officer stepped back with his right leg and parried the attack with an extended left forearm. He then quickly countered the attack by stepping forward again, sliding his right leg behind Chorgan's, while simultaneously hitting the armored Acamarian in the throat with falcon strike. Chorgan fell flat on his back, gasping for air on the floor. The other Acamarians rushed Manrique but Chorgan stopped them from punishing the Starfleet officer for his bold display.

Between his labored gasps for air, he laughed aloud. Two Gathers hurried to help him off the floor, but he waved them off and stood to face Manrique once more.

"You'll make an excellent member of my crew." He turned Mattock "Get him some armor...he's coming with us."



"Have you located a customer?" Choragn asked Mattock as they strode through the corridors leading to the transport bay.

"Yes, he is waiting for you at The Brintek Bar," replied the second in command. The transport crafts have been loaded with the freight and outfitted with additional weaponry and hardware in the event that you need them."

"Tell him I am expecting the payment in full." Chorgan entered the transport bay where a small contingent Gathers awaited his arrival. Doctor Peterson and Ensign Manrique were among them, clad in the same black Acamarian armor as their captors.


Two of the Gather's transport crafts landed in a prearranged docking bay. Once they secured their freight, they headed for the coordinates their contact had given them.

The Brintek bar was dark, smoky and filled with the voices of various patrons, most of which were Elasi, Orion, Osaarian and Nausicaan.

Several Nausicaans looked up from their dom-jot game as they walked in, and Orion Slave girls danced around the room to the rhythmic beat of drums. They whirled around the group of Gathers who's tough exteriors, began to melt into dull-witted grins and glassy-eyed stares. One particularly beautiful Orion, slid her seductive greens arms around the doctor's shoulders then wrapped her sheer veil around his waist. Her devilish smile kept his eye as she pulled him gently towards the center of the crowded bar. Before he wandered too far, Chorgan grabbed him by the arm and hauled him away from the trance. "Get back..." he growled at the slave girls. They danced away as the group of Acamarians muttered to one another in disappointment.