Evil Will See Itself (Part IV)

Posted on Sunday, 27 September 2020 - 2:02pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Dreamweaver
Location: USS Standing Bear | Deck 06 | Torpedo Bay
Timeline: MD 5

Commander Stillwater was grasping at straws. Several members of the starship crew had gone missing over the past few days including his First Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Engineer. Many hypotheses were proposed in the meeting of the ship's senior staff and additional advisors. Steadily, the starship was bleeding officers and Stillwater could not but worry that he would be the next.

Warp bubbles, phase cloaking, standard tachyon based cloaking technology, micro black holes, and so forth. Everything seemed like a possibility. Stillwater's standing orders had been broad, all-encompassing: eliminate the possibilities. He had placed added pressure on Lieutenant Alex Kingsley, the Chief Science Officer turned Acting First Officer with Soral's disappearance.

He consulted the ship's computer, relived that she was still accounted for. Her location was on deck six of the starship within the forward torpedo bay. Clearly, the lieutenant had taken to heart the standing orders. Try everything and reduce the possibilities. One of those had been phase cloaking technology. Even with the crew's life at stake, Commander Stillwater could not utter a word about Pegasus. There was a divide between public knowledge and still very sensitive files.

Commander Stillwater walked into the torpedo bay and found three women performing what looked like open heart surgery on a torpedo. Clearly an inactive one, defused by the capable hands of Chief Eyelaya undoubtedly. There, hunched over the torpedo was: Chief Eyelaya and Petty Officer Baciami. Lieutenant Kingsley had a PaDD in hand and clearly was the foreman of the trio.

His background as a tactical officer came in handy. He knew enough to know they were making modifications to the torpedo. He caught sight of a phase discriminator. "Early birds getting the worm I see," he said to the Trio having noted it was before 06:00 hours.

“I think night owls is more apt,” Lieutenant Kingsley corrected with a tired smile, glancing up from the carcass of the torpedo to see their CO enter. “Fortunately the Chief is worth triple her weight in gold and then some. Baring any unforeseen issues, we should be ready soon.”

Stillwater nodded. As many incident reports that were one file in regards to Eyelaya, she was efficient and skillful. "Keep up the good work, Chief, and the both of you as well. Launching this torpedo will certainly help either confirm a phased cloak ship or rule it out."

T’Lanna walked into the torpedo bay with a tired and troubled expression on her face. Her hair was tied up but not in its usual precise and neat manner. “Commander!” She rushed over to Stillwater. “Ryan ... Doctor Rose is missing!”

Commander Barret Stillwater wanted to reply by asking how, but he knew damn well how. Whatever was happening, it had claimed yet another member of his crew, and a crucial one at that: The Chief Medical Officer. "Damn it!" he shouted and he wanted to hit the bulkhead or smash a console, but he kept his anger bottled up. "Explain what you know," he added.

“I went by Sickbay to see Ryan, I was hoping he could help me get some sleep but when I walked in there was no sign of him” she took a deep breath. “According to the computer he’s not onboard ship.”

Adrianna looked up, snapping out of concentration, "Sir, if it's not too rash, being that we're dropping like-buzzy wing things, may it be worth actually rounding up those left, or buddying them up. I'm sure Eyelaya won't be long, but for safety. Heaven forbid if a doctor goes missing in the middle of surgery and the EMH fails."

"Agreed," replied Stillwater grunting. "Petty Officer Baciami," he said sharply. "This was supposed to carried out by Soral at a later date, but I feel it more prudent now to take effect immediately. I will be promoting you in rank to Petty Officer Second Class and I would like to offer you the position of Chief of Intelligence, joining the Senior Staff and overseeing Intelligence matters as Department Head."

"I'm sorry, what?" Adrianna looked a little blank

"You, promotion...job department head, I offer..you say 'Yes, thank you, Captain," Stillwater replied. "I need Intelligence at its best, and right now you are the person for that job."

Adrianna remained silent a moment. Sure it was one hell of a compliment, but dammit he must have been out of his mind, "perhaps we can save this for later, sir. This tale precedence, and I think your lack of sleep if affecting your judgement."

"I thought so as well, but then my crew started to disappear to who the hell knows where," replied Stillwater. "We can discuss this later...if I or you are still around, but for the time being, Intelligence is yours" added Stillwater.

"I guess, sir," Adrianna replied, grateful but still in shock if she was honest.

He looked at the Chief. "Eyelaya, with Hobbes missing, you are Acting Chief Engineer."

Eyelaya blinked.. "Um...."

“Congratulations,” Alex offered to them both. “Eyelaya, chief engineer means miracles on demand - are we almost ready?”

Adrianna didn't feel much like celebrating at that moment, guessing she may have been right about promotion. Either way, she needed to talk to Soral first about a lot of things. Graciously, she smiled anyway and punctuated it with a thankful nod.

"Yes ma'am." Eyelaya replied to Alex and then, "OH! I have an idea!"

T’Lanna was miles away but snapped herself out of it. “Sorry ... Congratulations to you both.” She felt totally creeped out by a sense that they weren’t alone, but it could simply have been her lack of sleep causing it. She started looking around before there was a sudden peculiar sensation and a nearby crewman vanished causing T’Lanna to drop her PADD in shock.

Adrianna cussed in her own language and reached over, barely catching the Crewman's PaDD. Adrianna looked to Eyelaya, "whatever your idea is, it need to be a quick fix."

Alex stared at the spot where the crewman had been standing, for a moment quite unable to believe what her eyes were telling her. Snapping out of it as Adrianna spoke up, she glanced at Eyelaya. "No pressure but she does have a point..." she glanced down as a message popped up on her padd. Scanning it quickly she sighed. "The anyon sweep is complete, nothing found. It was a long shot but it is still frustrating. Chief, what's your idea?"

Eyelaya was taken aback for a moment but snapped out of it quickly. "Crap!" She hurried to her tool box and started pulling things out madly. She pulled out a disc and hurried back to the group. "This...I only have one for now and I came across it by accident but we could replicate more....it will take time though." She handed it to Stillwater. "Attach it to your belt and press the red button."

"And what is it, exactly?" Alex prompted.

"Woah, no," Adrianna shook her head. "No risks to cap-ee-tans. We need leadership. Is it safe?"

"It is from Eyelaya," Stillwater said crisply. "Is it safe? To paraphrase Lieutenant Commander Soral, 'highly unlikely'" quipped Stillwater. He looked at Eyelaya "However, we do not have much left to risk. So, what is it and yes...safety?"

Eyelaya looked at Stillwater hand on her hips. "Hey! I do good work!" She shook her head. "Well it was supposed to be a shield for the away team to protect them during away missions from phaser fire. I body tight shield that adapted to phaser strengths like the Borg have but....I wouldn't recommend a phaser shot. It doesn't work BUT it does block transporters and modulates to block it. Turn it on I'll try with the site to site in here. This way you're safe."

Stillwater cleared his throat. "I believe Ms. Baciami volunteered herself in my place, thank you Petty Officer."

Eyelaya was slightly hurt by that comment but she tried to not let it show accept for a small scowl. "Alright." She turned to the transporter. She shouldn't have been stung by that. He was no different, sadly, then her other COs. Most people had no faith in her. She waited until Adrianna signaled she was ready. "When your ready." She said.

Adrianna was surprised, she genuinely thought that was a yes to being a guinea pig from the captain. Regardless of how much she trusted Eyelaya she still cursed in her native tongue at Stillwater not wanting to be a human sacrifice again, though this time in Starfleet not Italy. She took a breath and look apologetically at Eyelaya. "You wouldn't try this unless you thought I was safe. Go ahead." Adrianna took a hair bobble off her wrist and tied her curly hair up into a messy bun. And removed both a phaser and a Baciami crested dagger from her person, just in case.

"Wait o turn on the belt." She made a few adjustments. "Computer Transporter read out lock on to Adrianna Baciami."

She waited and the computer's voice filtered through, "Lock confirmed." Eyelaya didn't look up from the readings. "Activate the device. Deep breath, hold it, and press the red button. Wait three seconds then breathe normally."

Adrianna did a little prayer, whilst not religious, she liked to hedge her bets when faced with danger. A quick Catholic cross across her chest with her fingers and she did as she was told. It worked without issue though was weirdly claustrophobic." Minus a tingly sensation on my fingertips. I think we're good.

The computer confirmed it by saying, "Unable to maintain lock."

Barret watched the demonstration. This has potential he thought to himself. He was not sure if it would combat the transporter tech that had taken Mackenzie, that had penetrated their shields. "Chief, how many of these can you make and how quickly can you produce them if we redirect all industrial replicators towards it and cut Holosuite usage?"

She did the mental map. "Twelve hours. I can have engineering and ops directed to them. It works on a phase so when it detects transporters it absorbs it and adapts to prevent lock function. The components can be replicated but they have to be assembled by hand." She motioned to Adrianna's I would suggest you use that one since you are the CO and regulations state you must be protected at the expense of anyone."

"I place my crew's safety and well being above my own, but yes, I am technically high priority. I'll wear it," replied Stillwater. The Commanding Officer approached Baciami and took the device from the woman. "I'll be in my Ready Room if anyone needs me. I have reports to file and a crew to worry about" he noted. "Carry on with this, and launch that when it is ready," he said gesturing to the torpedo.

The Commanding Officer of the USS Standing Bear took a deep breath and headed out the nearest exit.