| May 16th, 2155
| E-Deck, Main Engineering, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0730hrs

Tal was thrilled to finally have full cooperation on board. The MACO's trusted him, and he knew he could trust them on facts alone if not principle. He now had to get the Maco's investigation notes in his report along with the technical data. His meeting with Anziano would accomplish exactly this.

The doors to Engineering were already open; two MACO's on patrol were inspecting a repair team’s investigation report of the plasma manifolds. Follow up investigation were largely a waste of time but in this regard the MACO's and Tal were the only ones above reproach. Though it pained Tal to think the people he could be working with were xenophobic terrorists, he knew extremism was common to violent races. He would have to hold Anziano in suspicion for now, but he still needed the man to do his assigned job.

"I am looking for the Chief, has anyone seen him recently?

One of the techs working with the MACO's pointed to the Engineers alcove above the Warp Reactor Dilithium port. She shot a dirty look at the MACO, continuing her lecture, "... like the report showed, the copper gradient hasn't dissolved to any appreciable measure. Used parts are common even in a newer ship like Discovery..."

Tal entered the Main engineering room, the prone warp core a daunting sight. This was not his place, in Andorian vessels the Engineers were sequestered with the engine for safety, leaving only to mingle and eat. They were the second masters and first loves of their ship, Engineers were the ones to go down with their ship in Andorian military culture. The separation became unofficially enforced over time while their technical high-speech and academic elitism ensured the mingling was seldom pleasant.

Anziano had very much resembled that kind of engineer, maintaining an around the clock vigil over matters in the engine room, but only because this mission necessitated all hands on deck. With some of his usual flare, Anziano caught up Tal and flashed a big smile, "A visitor, are you lost?"

Extending an unarmed and open hand for social truce and bridging was a Human custom Tal found saved immense time. He had spent half his time on the Docona counting the hidden blades of his fellow crew lest he run afoul of them. No Andorian would approach so openly unless they were a friend. Pink-skins were a gregarious lot, but this was a quality Tal could appreciate.

"i am not lost if you are Chief Aanzeannnoo..." Tal found himself wishing he had practiced that out loud, it was far easier to say in his head. Andorian enunciation was not flattering to Italian nomenclature. Nonetheless he wishes to shake the man's hand and ask for his help, as a Human would.

"I am Anziano," he said breezily as he wiped his hands on his pants before shaking the Andorian's hand. "So have you have brought me a new project?"

"What remains of the device used to disable your systems and killed Commander Cayne. I wanted your assistance in investigating its original design and intended function." Tal set the small hard plastic case on the workstation bench next to them.

"Great," the engineer said, "let’s have a look at it."

Tal unsnapped the clasps, setting out the bits and pieces in a grid for easy reference, the particulate matter he believed to be explosive material remained in the sealed canister, which he left in the hardened case. Tal had analyzed the pieces ad nauseam to no effect; Human technology was foreign to him.

"These are the external components I believe, that orange twisted bit in the containment cylinder was most likely "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)", there wasn't much in the first place, but even this amount is still lethal."

"Didn't quite catch that," Anziano said, flicking with his finger the universal translator Tal wore. "But I think I get the drift. Go on."

"As far as I can deduce from the facts at play, the explosive was meant to destroy the device and the proximity systems switchover relays. This would have left primary systems undamaged, but when disabled your first recourse would have been to switch to backup, which would have created the explosion. Commander Cayne was unfortunate enough to trip the anti-tamper mechanism on the device. Either somebody intended to sneak on, or sneak off, but given your level of technology I don't know how this would be possible."

"Pretty sophisticated. I don't think anyone on board is really qualified for this kind of investigation," Anziano said as he began picking up each piece in turn and eyeballing them. He was being a little modest in the statement insomuch that he had a real talent for figuring out how things ticked. The Andorian was right though, that Andorian technology was time tested and mature compared to their own. "I wish Terran technology were up to the task."

Tal chuckled, he hadn't meant any insult, "No sir, I didn’t mean to offend, my pardon. If you can feed the "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)" into your scanner booth I'll show you how it was catalyzed. The saboteur had to use a Terran lubricant "tungsten disulphide" to prevent the bonds from forming prematurely. It would require a precise signal, and that signal was the same as isodine relay from the primary matrix."

"Let's take this to the engineering lab," Anziano said, taking out his tricorder to satisfy a growing hunch. "It's probably the best chance we have."

As soon as Anziano's tricorder hit an EM cycle there was an alarming spark, followed by a abrupt flash bang. Anziano felt himself pinball of the wall, or maybe the roof and the wall. As he came to rest he felt that he was on all fours against something hard. His vision went from all black to all red, and he could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in his ears.

Tal was fortunate to have been neighboring the console, the canister exploded, but it had only caused momentary flash blindness aside from startling him completely dumb for a moment. The significant blast had actually been from the console itself it appeared as he looked at the site of the explosion. As his senses returned he tried to find Anziano but Medical had already taken him. Sure enough he felt firm grips gently lift him onto a gurney and he realized he could not hear a word as they spoke to him. He was deaf; it had not recovered as his vision had.

| May 15th, 2155
| E-Deck, Sickbay, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0900

He cooperated with the medics; the journey was swift only a few decks, then the restraints kicked in. An automatic function to prevent him from falling off the narrow bed, he nonetheless bent the bars back to free his legs and began to fight, his deafness and injuries with on-setting shock creating a panic in unfamiliar surroundings.

Doctor Maya restrained him by pressing two fingers under his collarbone, causing the Andorian to grow limp and lie back down. It was obvious from his face that he was still conscious and when the little Vulcan removed her hand he could move again. The little Vulcan’s other hand held some sort of medical instrument.

"What happened?" Curtis asked as she strode into the room, the sickbay doors just barely opening quick enough for her to get through without having to sidestep through the opening.

“He has sustained injury to his ears,” the little Vulcan replied. “I was repairing his eardrums when he regained consciousness and started struggling. I need him to hold still if I am to complete the procedure."

"What about Anziano?" the captain asked, looking around at the other beds trying to identify her chief engineer through the other people moving about the room. She was pleased that their new colleague wasn't seriously injured, but she needed to know the status of the second member of her senior staff to get caught up in one of these small explosions before she could start to relax and deal with the situation.

"Lieutenant Anziano was very fortunate," the little Vulcan replied without looking up from her work. "He sustained a concussion but I was able to treat it with thy-pless'kom therapy," she continued, using a medical term in her native tongue that apparently didn't translate into Terran easily. "I was able to reverse the damage to his retinas as well. The damage wasn't as severe was we first supposed. His vision should return to normal in an hour or two."

"That's good," Christina said, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. At least there were no more serious injuries as a result of their resident saboteur, even if it did take her chief engineer out of commission for a couple of valuable hours. She looked back over to Tal Sek, who she assumed would be quite confused and worried about what was going on around him without anyone being able to talk to him. She walked over and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him down against the medical bed. She held her other hand up in the universal symbol for 'wait', instructing him to stay still for the doctor to complete her work. "Try doing what you need to do now, Doctor."

The greenblooded physician responded with a single nod before staring into the wounded Andorian's eyes. She placed the tips of the long spidery fingers of her left hand on the lieutenant's face and murmured. "Relax. You're quite safe here," in a volume almost too soft for Christina to hear.

It wasn't the deafness or the ringing in the ears that alarmed half as much as going under the knife of a strange Vulcan. However it was a necessity as he also wanted to have his hearing restored. He had to put his faith in the Humans, not this Vulcan. but if it had to be any Andorian Tal was the most friendly to Humans so he decided to let the faith he had been granted be returned and take him for a ride. Destiny awaited those who could weather the rising waters and still make their course. He nodded and closed his eyes, a stoic trance he began to calm himself and pass time without awareness.

"He should be still now," the little Vulcan announced as she turned his head and applied her medical device to the Andorian's ear. "After I finish both ears, he should be fit for duty in a few hours, but I don't recommend exposing him to loud noises for the next few days."

"Right." Christina looked around for something that she could use to relay this information to the deafened Andorian, before spying a padd lying on the worktop. "Crewman, hand me that," she instructed, reaching for the device. As it was handed to her, she tapped out a quick message and turned it around to show the tactical officer.



Code:
Stay still. When the Doctor is done, you will be fit for duty in a few hours




Tal felt her gentle nudge of the padd device on his arm and opened his eyes. The message was a pleasant confirmation as the local anesthetics took hold and other relief allowed him to relax. A gentle nod wasnt painful and he managed it in respect to her attempts to soothe him.

"As soon as you're done with his procedure, I need him to tell me what they found out before the device exploded," Curtis said to Maya. "We can use the padd to talk to him until his hearing returns."

Maya's large hazel eyes locked on the PADD. "Of course Captain," she murmured in her mezzosoprano voice, "I'll inform you when the procedure is completed."

Tal had no desire to befriend the Vulcan, and trusted her to her duties. He handed the padd with a typed message back to Curtis.


Code:
I believe we can isolate the frequency and find any other devices on board. Advise Caution.

OOC: Maya is going to wait until the captain leaves (and give Anziano a sedative, so she can speak with Tal alone.

tag


(After Curtis leaves and Anziano is in recovery sleep)

Tal stared at the Vulcan, fighting his lethargy from the anesthetic. He wouldn't allow his guard to drop. Not to a Vulcan.

A myoclonic jerk from his ancestors instinctual fear of falling from the ice caves made hims full body convulse for a split second as he fought sleep.

"Hello Lieutenant, we have not been properly introduced," the little Vulcan said in a calm quiet mezzosoprano tone. "My name is Doctor Maya. I believe that we are the only extraterrestrials onboard. Have they informed you of the current situation?"

tag Tal Sek

| May 16th, 2155
| E-Deck, Main Engineering, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0730hrs

Tal was thrilled to finally have full cooperation on board. The MACO's trusted him, and he knew he could trust them on facts alone if not principle. He now had to get the Maco's investigation notes in his report along with the technical data. His meeting with Anziano would accomplish exactly this.

The doors to Engineering were already open; two MACO's on patrol were inspecting a repair team’s investigation report of the plasma manifolds. Follow up investigation were largely a waste of time but in this regard the MACO's and Tal were the only ones above reproach. Though it pained Tal to think the people he could be working with were xenophobic terrorists, he knew extremism was common to violent races. He would have to hold Anziano in suspicion for now, but he still needed the man to do his assigned job.

"I am looking for the Chief, has anyone seen him recently?

One of the techs working with the MACO's pointed to the Engineers alcove above the Warp Reactor Dilithium port. She shot a dirty look at the MACO, continuing her lecture, "... like the report showed, the copper gradient hasn't dissolved to any appreciable measure. Used parts are common even in a newer ship like Discovery..."

Tal entered the Main engineering room, the prone warp core a daunting sight. This was not his place, in Andorian vessels the Engineers were sequestered with the engine for safety, leaving only to mingle and eat. They were the second masters and first loves of their ship, Engineers were the ones to go down with their ship in Andorian military culture. The separation became unofficially enforced over time while their technical high-speech and academic elitism ensured the mingling was seldom pleasant.

Anziano had very much resembled that kind of engineer, maintaining an around the clock vigil over matters in the engine room, but only because this mission necessitated all hands on deck. With some of his usual flare, Anziano caught up Tal and flashed a big smile, "A visitor, are you lost?"

Extending an unarmed and open hand for social truce and bridging was a Human custom Tal found saved immense time. He had spent half his time on the Docona counting the hidden blades of his fellow crew lest he run afoul of them. No Andorian would approach so openly unless they were a friend. Pink-skins were a gregarious lot, but this was a quality Tal could appreciate.

"i am not lost if you are Chief Aanzeannnoo..." Tal found himself wishing he had practiced that out loud, it was far easier to say in his head. Andorian enunciation was not flattering to Italian nomenclature. Nonetheless he wishes to shake the man's hand and ask for his help, as a Human would.

"I am Anziano," he said breezily as he wiped his hands on his pants before shaking the Andorian's hand. "So have you have brought me a new project?"

"What remains of the device used to disable your systems and killed Commander Cayne. I wanted your assistance in investigating its original design and intended function." Tal set the small hard plastic case on the workstation bench next to them.

"Great," the engineer said, "let’s have a look at it."

Tal unsnapped the clasps, setting out the bits and pieces in a grid for easy reference, the particulate matter he believed to be explosive material remained in the sealed canister, which he left in the hardened case. Tal had analyzed the pieces ad nauseam to no effect; Human technology was foreign to him.

"These are the external components I believe, that orange twisted bit in the containment cylinder was most likely "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)", there wasn't much in the first place, but even this amount is still lethal."

"Didn't quite catch that," Anziano said, flicking with his finger the universal translator Tal wore. "But I think I get the drift. Go on."

"As far as I can deduce from the facts at play, the explosive was meant to destroy the device and the proximity systems switchover relays. This would have left primary systems undamaged, but when disabled your first recourse would have been to switch to backup, which would have created the explosion. Commander Cayne was unfortunate enough to trip the anti-tamper mechanism on the device. Either somebody intended to sneak on, or sneak off, but given your level of technology I don't know how this would be possible."

"Pretty sophisticated. I don't think anyone on board is really qualified for this kind of investigation," Anziano said as he began picking up each piece in turn and eyeballing them. He was being a little modest in the statement insomuch that he had a real talent for figuring out how things ticked. The Andorian was right though, that Andorian technology was time tested and mature compared to their own. "I wish Terran technology were up to the task."

Tal chuckled, he hadn't meant any insult, "No sir, I didn’t mean to offend, my pardon. If you can feed the "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)" into your scanner booth I'll show you how it was catalyzed. The saboteur had to use a Terran lubricant "tungsten disulphide" to prevent the bonds from forming prematurely. It would require a precise signal, and that signal was the same as isodine relay from the primary matrix."

"Let's take this to the engineering lab," Anziano said, taking out his tricorder to satisfy a growing hunch. "It's probably the best chance we have."

As soon as Anziano's tricorder hit an EM cycle there was an alarming spark, followed by a abrupt flash bang. Anziano felt himself pinball of the wall, or maybe the roof and the wall. As he came to rest he felt that he was on all fours against something hard. His vision went from all black to all red, and he could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in his ears.

Tal was fortunate to have been neighboring the console, the canister exploded, but it had only caused momentary flash blindness aside from startling him completely dumb for a moment. The significant blast had actually been from the console itself it appeared as he looked at the site of the explosion. As his senses returned he tried to find Anziano but Medical had already taken him. Sure enough he felt firm grips gently lift him onto a gurney and he realized he could not hear a word as they spoke to him. He was deaf; it had not recovered as his vision had.

| May 15th, 2155
| E-Deck, Sickbay, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0900

He cooperated with the medics; the journey was swift only a few decks, then the restraints kicked in. An automatic function to prevent him from falling off the narrow bed, he nonetheless bent the bars back to free his legs and began to fight, his deafness and injuries with on-setting shock creating a panic in unfamiliar surroundings.

Doctor Maya restrained him by pressing two fingers under his collarbone, causing the Andorian to grow limp and lie back down. It was obvious from his face that he was still conscious and when the little Vulcan removed her hand he could move again. The little Vulcan’s other hand held some sort of medical instrument.

"What happened?" Curtis asked as she strode into the room, the sickbay doors just barely opening quick enough for her to get through without having to sidestep through the opening.

“He has sustained injury to his ears,” the little Vulcan replied. “I was repairing his eardrums when he regained consciousness and started struggling. I need him to hold still if I am to complete the procedure."

"What about Anziano?" the captain asked, looking around at the other beds trying to identify her chief engineer through the other people moving about the room. She was pleased that their new colleague wasn't seriously injured, but she needed to know the status of the second member of her senior staff to get caught up in one of these small explosions before she could start to relax and deal with the situation.

"Lieutenant Anziano was very fortunate," the little Vulcan replied without looking up from her work. "He sustained a concussion but I was able to treat it with thy-pless'kom therapy," she continued, using a medical term in her native tongue that apparently didn't translate into Terran easily. "I was able to reverse the damage to his retinas as well. The damage wasn't as severe was we first supposed. His vision should return to normal in an hour or two."

"That's good," Christina said, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. At least there were no more serious injuries as a result of their resident saboteur, even if it did take her chief engineer out of commission for a couple of valuable hours. She looked back over to Tal Sek, who she assumed would be quite confused and worried about what was going on around him without anyone being able to talk to him. She walked over and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him down against the medical bed. She held her other hand up in the universal symbol for 'wait', instructing him to stay still for the doctor to complete her work. "Try doing what you need to do now, Doctor."

The greenblooded physician responded with a single nod before staring into the wounded Andorian's eyes. She placed the tips of the long spidery fingers of her left hand on the lieutenant's face and murmured. "Relax. You're quite safe here," in a volume almost too soft for Christina to hear.

It wasn't the deafness or the ringing in the ears that alarmed half as much as going under the knife of a strange Vulcan. However it was a necessity as he also wanted to have his hearing restored. He had to put his faith in the Humans, not this Vulcan. but if it had to be any Andorian Tal was the most friendly to Humans so he decided to let the faith he had been granted be returned and take him for a ride. Destiny awaited those who could weather the rising waters and still make their course. He nodded and closed his eyes, a stoic trance he began to calm himself and pass time without awareness.

"He should be still now," the little Vulcan announced as she turned his head and applied her medical device to the Andorian's ear. "After I finish both ears, he should be fit for duty in a few hours, but I don't recommend exposing him to loud noises for the next few days."

"Right." Christina looked around for something that she could use to relay this information to the deafened Andorian, before spying a padd lying on the worktop. "Crewman, hand me that," she instructed, reaching for the device. As it was handed to her, she tapped out a quick message and turned it around to show the tactical officer.



Code:
Stay still. When the Doctor is done, you will be fit for duty in a few hours




Tal felt her gentle nudge of the padd device on his arm and opened his eyes. The message was a pleasant confirmation as the local anesthetics took hold and other relief allowed him to relax. A gentle nod wasnt painful and he managed it in respect to her attempts to soothe him.

"As soon as you're done with his procedure, I need him to tell me what they found out before the device exploded," Curtis said to Maya. "We can use the padd to talk to him until his hearing returns."

Maya's large hazel eyes locked on the PADD. "Of course Captain," she murmured in her mezzosoprano voice, "I'll inform you when the procedure is completed."

Tal had no desire to befriend the Vulcan, and trusted her to her duties. He handed the padd with a typed message back to Curtis.


Code:
I believe we can isolate the frequency and find any other devices on board. Advise Caution.

OOC: Maya is going to wait until the captain leaves (and give Anziano a sedative, so she can speak with Tal alone.

tag


(After Curtis leaves and Anziano is in recovery sleep)

Tal stared at the Vulcan, fighting his lethargy from the anesthetic. He wouldn't allow his guard to drop. Not to a Vulcan.

A myoclonic jerk from his ancestors instinctual fear of falling from the ice caves made hims full body convulse for a split second as he fought sleep.

"Hello Lieutenant, we have not been properly introduced," the little Vulcan said in a calm quiet mezzosoprano tone. "My name is Doctor Maya. I believe that we are the only extraterrestrials onboard. Have they informed you of the current situation?"

That he could listen to the soft tones of her voice was a miracle. His deafness was reversed only under the extremely adept Doctor touch of this Vulcan. He reserved the animosity for Vulcans he usually wore with pride for this, but his lip curled at her talking to him so level and calm. He had spent too long seeing those pointed ears behind blue plasma rifles. They were terrorists to him, each one capable of heinous actions in the name of their biased logic.

"Doctor. I am Tal Sek Thaan. Unless there have been new developments since my treatment I dont believe I need to be updated." Maintaining the conversation was for the benefit of himself and the ship, but he didnt have to exchange pleasantries.

| May 16th, 2155
| E-Deck, Main Engineering, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0730hrs

Tal was thrilled to finally have full cooperation on board. The MACO's trusted him, and he knew he could trust them on facts alone if not principle. He now had to get the Maco's investigation notes in his report along with the technical data. His meeting with Anziano would accomplish exactly this.

The doors to Engineering were already open; two MACO's on patrol were inspecting a repair team’s investigation report of the plasma manifolds. Follow up investigation were largely a waste of time but in this regard the MACO's and Tal were the only ones above reproach. Though it pained Tal to think the people he could be working with were xenophobic terrorists, he knew extremism was common to violent races. He would have to hold Anziano in suspicion for now, but he still needed the man to do his assigned job.

"I am looking for the Chief, has anyone seen him recently?

One of the techs working with the MACO's pointed to the Engineers alcove above the Warp Reactor Dilithium port. She shot a dirty look at the MACO, continuing her lecture, "... like the report showed, the copper gradient hasn't dissolved to any appreciable measure. Used parts are common even in a newer ship like Discovery..."

Tal entered the Main engineering room, the prone warp core a daunting sight. This was not his place, in Andorian vessels the Engineers were sequestered with the engine for safety, leaving only to mingle and eat. They were the second masters and first loves of their ship, Engineers were the ones to go down with their ship in Andorian military culture. The separation became unofficially enforced over time while their technical high-speech and academic elitism ensured the mingling was seldom pleasant.

Anziano had very much resembled that kind of engineer, maintaining an around the clock vigil over matters in the engine room, but only because this mission necessitated all hands on deck. With some of his usual flare, Anziano caught up Tal and flashed a big smile, "A visitor, are you lost?"

Extending an unarmed and open hand for social truce and bridging was a Human custom Tal found saved immense time. He had spent half his time on the Docona counting the hidden blades of his fellow crew lest he run afoul of them. No Andorian would approach so openly unless they were a friend. Pink-skins were a gregarious lot, but this was a quality Tal could appreciate.

"i am not lost if you are Chief Aanzeannnoo..." Tal found himself wishing he had practiced that out loud, it was far easier to say in his head. Andorian enunciation was not flattering to Italian nomenclature. Nonetheless he wishes to shake the man's hand and ask for his help, as a Human would.

"I am Anziano," he said breezily as he wiped his hands on his pants before shaking the Andorian's hand. "So have you have brought me a new project?"

"What remains of the device used to disable your systems and killed Commander Cayne. I wanted your assistance in investigating its original design and intended function." Tal set the small hard plastic case on the workstation bench next to them.

"Great," the engineer said, "let’s have a look at it."

Tal unsnapped the clasps, setting out the bits and pieces in a grid for easy reference, the particulate matter he believed to be explosive material remained in the sealed canister, which he left in the hardened case. Tal had analyzed the pieces ad nauseam to no effect; Human technology was foreign to him.

"These are the external components I believe, that orange twisted bit in the containment cylinder was most likely "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)", there wasn't much in the first place, but even this amount is still lethal."

"Didn't quite catch that," Anziano said, flicking with his finger the universal translator Tal wore. "But I think I get the drift. Go on."

"As far as I can deduce from the facts at play, the explosive was meant to destroy the device and the proximity systems switchover relays. This would have left primary systems undamaged, but when disabled your first recourse would have been to switch to backup, which would have created the explosion. Commander Cayne was unfortunate enough to trip the anti-tamper mechanism on the device. Either somebody intended to sneak on, or sneak off, but given your level of technology I don't know how this would be possible."

"Pretty sophisticated. I don't think anyone on board is really qualified for this kind of investigation," Anziano said as he began picking up each piece in turn and eyeballing them. He was being a little modest in the statement insomuch that he had a real talent for figuring out how things ticked. The Andorian was right though, that Andorian technology was time tested and mature compared to their own. "I wish Terran technology were up to the task."

Tal chuckled, he hadn't meant any insult, "No sir, I didn’t mean to offend, my pardon. If you can feed the "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)" into your scanner booth I'll show you how it was catalyzed. The saboteur had to use a Terran lubricant "tungsten disulphide" to prevent the bonds from forming prematurely. It would require a precise signal, and that signal was the same as isodine relay from the primary matrix."

"Let's take this to the engineering lab," Anziano said, taking out his tricorder to satisfy a growing hunch. "It's probably the best chance we have."

As soon as Anziano's tricorder hit an EM cycle there was an alarming spark, followed by a abrupt flash bang. Anziano felt himself pinball of the wall, or maybe the roof and the wall. As he came to rest he felt that he was on all fours against something hard. His vision went from all black to all red, and he could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in his ears.

Tal was fortunate to have been neighboring the console, the canister exploded, but it had only caused momentary flash blindness aside from startling him completely dumb for a moment. The significant blast had actually been from the console itself it appeared as he looked at the site of the explosion. As his senses returned he tried to find Anziano but Medical had already taken him. Sure enough he felt firm grips gently lift him onto a gurney and he realized he could not hear a word as they spoke to him. He was deaf; it had not recovered as his vision had.

| May 15th, 2155
| E-Deck, Sickbay, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0900

He cooperated with the medics; the journey was swift only a few decks, then the restraints kicked in. An automatic function to prevent him from falling off the narrow bed, he nonetheless bent the bars back to free his legs and began to fight, his deafness and injuries with on-setting shock creating a panic in unfamiliar surroundings.

Doctor Maya restrained him by pressing two fingers under his collarbone, causing the Andorian to grow limp and lie back down. It was obvious from his face that he was still conscious and when the little Vulcan removed her hand he could move again. The little Vulcan’s other hand held some sort of medical instrument.

"What happened?" Curtis asked as she strode into the room, the sickbay doors just barely opening quick enough for her to get through without having to sidestep through the opening.

“He has sustained injury to his ears,” the little Vulcan replied. “I was repairing his eardrums when he regained consciousness and started struggling. I need him to hold still if I am to complete the procedure."

"What about Anziano?" the captain asked, looking around at the other beds trying to identify her chief engineer through the other people moving about the room. She was pleased that their new colleague wasn't seriously injured, but she needed to know the status of the second member of her senior staff to get caught up in one of these small explosions before she could start to relax and deal with the situation.

"Lieutenant Anziano was very fortunate," the little Vulcan replied without looking up from her work. "He sustained a concussion but I was able to treat it with thy-pless'kom therapy," she continued, using a medical term in her native tongue that apparently didn't translate into Terran easily. "I was able to reverse the damage to his retinas as well. The damage wasn't as severe was we first supposed. His vision should return to normal in an hour or two."

"That's good," Christina said, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. At least there were no more serious injuries as a result of their resident saboteur, even if it did take her chief engineer out of commission for a couple of valuable hours. She looked back over to Tal Sek, who she assumed would be quite confused and worried about what was going on around him without anyone being able to talk to him. She walked over and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him down against the medical bed. She held her other hand up in the universal symbol for 'wait', instructing him to stay still for the doctor to complete her work. "Try doing what you need to do now, Doctor."

The greenblooded physician responded with a single nod before staring into the wounded Andorian's eyes. She placed the tips of the long spidery fingers of her left hand on the lieutenant's face and murmured. "Relax. You're quite safe here," in a volume almost too soft for Christina to hear.

It wasn't the deafness or the ringing in the ears that alarmed half as much as going under the knife of a strange Vulcan. However it was a necessity as he also wanted to have his hearing restored. He had to put his faith in the Humans, not this Vulcan. but if it had to be any Andorian Tal was the most friendly to Humans so he decided to let the faith he had been granted be returned and take him for a ride. Destiny awaited those who could weather the rising waters and still make their course. He nodded and closed his eyes, a stoic trance he began to calm himself and pass time without awareness.

"He should be still now," the little Vulcan announced as she turned his head and applied her medical device to the Andorian's ear. "After I finish both ears, he should be fit for duty in a few hours, but I don't recommend exposing him to loud noises for the next few days."

"Right." Christina looked around for something that she could use to relay this information to the deafened Andorian, before spying a padd lying on the worktop. "Crewman, hand me that," she instructed, reaching for the device. As it was handed to her, she tapped out a quick message and turned it around to show the tactical officer.



Code:
Stay still. When the Doctor is done, you will be fit for duty in a few hours




Tal felt her gentle nudge of the padd device on his arm and opened his eyes. The message was a pleasant confirmation as the local anesthetics took hold and other relief allowed him to relax. A gentle nod wasnt painful and he managed it in respect to her attempts to soothe him.

"As soon as you're done with his procedure, I need him to tell me what they found out before the device exploded," Curtis said to Maya. "We can use the padd to talk to him until his hearing returns."

Maya's large hazel eyes locked on the PADD. "Of course Captain," she murmured in her mezzosoprano voice, "I'll inform you when the procedure is completed."

Tal had no desire to befriend the Vulcan, and trusted her to her duties. He handed the padd with a typed message back to Curtis.


Code:
I believe we can isolate the frequency and find any other devices on board. Advise Caution.

OOC: Maya is going to wait until the captain leaves (and give Anziano a sedative, so she can speak with Tal alone.

tag


(After Curtis leaves and Anziano is in recovery sleep)

Tal stared at the Vulcan, fighting his lethargy from the anesthetic. He wouldn't allow his guard to drop. Not to a Vulcan.

A myoclonic jerk from his ancestors instinctual fear of falling from the ice caves made hims full body convulse for a split second as he fought sleep.

"Hello Lieutenant, we have not been properly introduced," the little Vulcan said in a calm quiet mezzosoprano tone. "My name is Doctor Maya. I believe that we are the only extraterrestrials onboard. Have they informed you of the current situation?"

That he could listen to the soft tones of her voice was a miracle. His deafness was reversed only under the extremely adept Doctor touch of this Vulcan. He reserved the animosity for Vulcans he usually wore with pride for this, but his lip curled at her talking to him so level and calm. He had spent too long seeing those pointed ears behind blue plasma rifles. They were terrorists to him, each one capable of heinous actions in the name of their biased logic.

"Doctor. I am Tal Sek Thaan. Unless there have been new developments since my treatment I dont believe I need to be updated." Maintaining the conversation was for the benefit of himself and the ship, but he didnt have to exchange pleasantries.[/quote]

The little Vulcan blinked and tilted her head to the right at she peered at him with the blank expression of a cat. With her large hazel eyes wide open she appeared to be perpetually surprised, but with her people it was hard to tell. "This ship is on a mission to apprehend the new leader of Terra Prime, an extremist xenophobic terrorist organization dedicated to the expulsion of all non-Terrans from Earth and the Sol system," she reported in a soft, clipped mezzosoprano voice that had a slight lilting accent. "The organization is known to have infiltrated Earth's Starfleet. So far two explosive devices have been discovered after the ship has left Earth making it quite likely that Terra Prime has managed to place an agent onboard."

OOC: I suspect that this thread should be split into two scenes: One in main engineering and one in sickbay.

tag

| May 16th, 2155
| E-Deck, Main Engineering, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0730hrs

Tal was thrilled to finally have full cooperation on board. The MACO's trusted him, and he knew he could trust them on facts alone if not principle. He now had to get the Maco's investigation notes in his report along with the technical data. His meeting with Anziano would accomplish exactly this.

The doors to Engineering were already open; two MACO's on patrol were inspecting a repair team’s investigation report of the plasma manifolds. Follow up investigation were largely a waste of time but in this regard the MACO's and Tal were the only ones above reproach. Though it pained Tal to think the people he could be working with were xenophobic terrorists, he knew extremism was common to violent races. He would have to hold Anziano in suspicion for now, but he still needed the man to do his assigned job.

"I am looking for the Chief, has anyone seen him recently?

One of the techs working with the MACO's pointed to the Engineers alcove above the Warp Reactor Dilithium port. She shot a dirty look at the MACO, continuing her lecture, "... like the report showed, the copper gradient hasn't dissolved to any appreciable measure. Used parts are common even in a newer ship like Discovery..."

Tal entered the Main engineering room, the prone warp core a daunting sight. This was not his place, in Andorian vessels the Engineers were sequestered with the engine for safety, leaving only to mingle and eat. They were the second masters and first loves of their ship, Engineers were the ones to go down with their ship in Andorian military culture. The separation became unofficially enforced over time while their technical high-speech and academic elitism ensured the mingling was seldom pleasant.

Anziano had very much resembled that kind of engineer, maintaining an around the clock vigil over matters in the engine room, but only because this mission necessitated all hands on deck. With some of his usual flare, Anziano caught up Tal and flashed a big smile, "A visitor, are you lost?"

Extending an unarmed and open hand for social truce and bridging was a Human custom Tal found saved immense time. He had spent half his time on the Docona counting the hidden blades of his fellow crew lest he run afoul of them. No Andorian would approach so openly unless they were a friend. Pink-skins were a gregarious lot, but this was a quality Tal could appreciate.

"i am not lost if you are Chief Aanzeannnoo..." Tal found himself wishing he had practiced that out loud, it was far easier to say in his head. Andorian enunciation was not flattering to Italian nomenclature. Nonetheless he wishes to shake the man's hand and ask for his help, as a Human would.

"I am Anziano," he said breezily as he wiped his hands on his pants before shaking the Andorian's hand. "So have you have brought me a new project?"

"What remains of the device used to disable your systems and killed Commander Cayne. I wanted your assistance in investigating its original design and intended function." Tal set the small hard plastic case on the workstation bench next to them.

"Great," the engineer said, "let’s have a look at it."

Tal unsnapped the clasps, setting out the bits and pieces in a grid for easy reference, the particulate matter he believed to be explosive material remained in the sealed canister, which he left in the hardened case. Tal had analyzed the pieces ad nauseam to no effect; Human technology was foreign to him.

"These are the external components I believe, that orange twisted bit in the containment cylinder was most likely "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)", there wasn't much in the first place, but even this amount is still lethal."

"Didn't quite catch that," Anziano said, flicking with his finger the universal translator Tal wore. "But I think I get the drift. Go on."

"As far as I can deduce from the facts at play, the explosive was meant to destroy the device and the proximity systems switchover relays. This would have left primary systems undamaged, but when disabled your first recourse would have been to switch to backup, which would have created the explosion. Commander Cayne was unfortunate enough to trip the anti-tamper mechanism on the device. Either somebody intended to sneak on, or sneak off, but given your level of technology I don't know how this would be possible."

"Pretty sophisticated. I don't think anyone on board is really qualified for this kind of investigation," Anziano said as he began picking up each piece in turn and eyeballing them. He was being a little modest in the statement insomuch that he had a real talent for figuring out how things ticked. The Andorian was right though, that Andorian technology was time tested and mature compared to their own. "I wish Terran technology were up to the task."

Tal chuckled, he hadn't meant any insult, "No sir, I didn’t mean to offend, my pardon. If you can feed the "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)" into your scanner booth I'll show you how it was catalyzed. The saboteur had to use a Terran lubricant "tungsten disulphide" to prevent the bonds from forming prematurely. It would require a precise signal, and that signal was the same as isodine relay from the primary matrix."

"Let's take this to the engineering lab," Anziano said, taking out his tricorder to satisfy a growing hunch. "It's probably the best chance we have."

As soon as Anziano's tricorder hit an EM cycle there was an alarming spark, followed by a abrupt flash bang. Anziano felt himself pinball of the wall, or maybe the roof and the wall. As he came to rest he felt that he was on all fours against something hard. His vision went from all black to all red, and he could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in his ears.

Tal was fortunate to have been neighboring the console, the canister exploded, but it had only caused momentary flash blindness aside from startling him completely dumb for a moment. The significant blast had actually been from the console itself it appeared as he looked at the site of the explosion. As his senses returned he tried to find Anziano but Medical had already taken him. Sure enough he felt firm grips gently lift him onto a gurney and he realized he could not hear a word as they spoke to him. He was deaf; it had not recovered as his vision had.

| May 15th, 2155
| E-Deck, Sickbay, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0900

He cooperated with the medics; the journey was swift only a few decks, then the restraints kicked in. An automatic function to prevent him from falling off the narrow bed, he nonetheless bent the bars back to free his legs and began to fight, his deafness and injuries with on-setting shock creating a panic in unfamiliar surroundings.

Doctor Maya restrained him by pressing two fingers under his collarbone, causing the Andorian to grow limp and lie back down. It was obvious from his face that he was still conscious and when the little Vulcan removed her hand he could move again. The little Vulcan’s other hand held some sort of medical instrument.

"What happened?" Curtis asked as she strode into the room, the sickbay doors just barely opening quick enough for her to get through without having to sidestep through the opening.

“He has sustained injury to his ears,” the little Vulcan replied. “I was repairing his eardrums when he regained consciousness and started struggling. I need him to hold still if I am to complete the procedure."

"What about Anziano?" the captain asked, looking around at the other beds trying to identify her chief engineer through the other people moving about the room. She was pleased that their new colleague wasn't seriously injured, but she needed to know the status of the second member of her senior staff to get caught up in one of these small explosions before she could start to relax and deal with the situation.

"Lieutenant Anziano was very fortunate," the little Vulcan replied without looking up from her work. "He sustained a concussion but I was able to treat it with thy-pless'kom therapy," she continued, using a medical term in her native tongue that apparently didn't translate into Terran easily. "I was able to reverse the damage to his retinas as well. The damage wasn't as severe was we first supposed. His vision should return to normal in an hour or two."

"That's good," Christina said, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. At least there were no more serious injuries as a result of their resident saboteur, even if it did take her chief engineer out of commission for a couple of valuable hours. She looked back over to Tal Sek, who she assumed would be quite confused and worried about what was going on around him without anyone being able to talk to him. She walked over and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him down against the medical bed. She held her other hand up in the universal symbol for 'wait', instructing him to stay still for the doctor to complete her work. "Try doing what you need to do now, Doctor."

The greenblooded physician responded with a single nod before staring into the wounded Andorian's eyes. She placed the tips of the long spidery fingers of her left hand on the lieutenant's face and murmured. "Relax. You're quite safe here," in a volume almost too soft for Christina to hear.

It wasn't the deafness or the ringing in the ears that alarmed half as much as going under the knife of a strange Vulcan. However it was a necessity as he also wanted to have his hearing restored. He had to put his faith in the Humans, not this Vulcan. but if it had to be any Andorian Tal was the most friendly to Humans so he decided to let the faith he had been granted be returned and take him for a ride. Destiny awaited those who could weather the rising waters and still make their course. He nodded and closed his eyes, a stoic trance he began to calm himself and pass time without awareness.

"He should be still now," the little Vulcan announced as she turned his head and applied her medical device to the Andorian's ear. "After I finish both ears, he should be fit for duty in a few hours, but I don't recommend exposing him to loud noises for the next few days."

"Right." Christina looked around for something that she could use to relay this information to the deafened Andorian, before spying a padd lying on the worktop. "Crewman, hand me that," she instructed, reaching for the device. As it was handed to her, she tapped out a quick message and turned it around to show the tactical officer.



Code:
Stay still. When the Doctor is done, you will be fit for duty in a few hours




Tal felt her gentle nudge of the padd device on his arm and opened his eyes. The message was a pleasant confirmation as the local anesthetics took hold and other relief allowed him to relax. A gentle nod wasnt painful and he managed it in respect to her attempts to soothe him.

"As soon as you're done with his procedure, I need him to tell me what they found out before the device exploded," Curtis said to Maya. "We can use the padd to talk to him until his hearing returns."

Maya's large hazel eyes locked on the PADD. "Of course Captain," she murmured in her mezzosoprano voice, "I'll inform you when the procedure is completed."

Tal had no desire to befriend the Vulcan, and trusted her to her duties. He handed the padd with a typed message back to Curtis.


Code:
I believe we can isolate the frequency and find any other devices on board. Advise Caution.

OOC: Maya is going to wait until the captain leaves (and give Anziano a sedative, so she can speak with Tal alone.

tag


(After Curtis leaves and Anziano is in recovery sleep)

Tal stared at the Vulcan, fighting his lethargy from the anesthetic. He wouldn't allow his guard to drop. Not to a Vulcan.

A myoclonic jerk from his ancestors instinctual fear of falling from the ice caves made hims full body convulse for a split second as he fought sleep.

"Hello Lieutenant, we have not been properly introduced," the little Vulcan said in a calm quiet mezzosoprano tone. "My name is Doctor Maya. I believe that we are the only extraterrestrials onboard. Have they informed you of the current situation?"

That he could listen to the soft tones of her voice was a miracle. His deafness was reversed only under the extremely adept Doctor touch of this Vulcan. He reserved the animosity for Vulcans he usually wore with pride for this, but his lip curled at her talking to him so level and calm. He had spent too long seeing those pointed ears behind blue plasma rifles. They were terrorists to him, each one capable of heinous actions in the name of their biased logic.

"Doctor. I am Tal Sek Thaan. Unless there have been new developments since my treatment I dont believe I need to be updated." Maintaining the conversation was for the benefit of himself and the ship, but he didnt have to exchange pleasantries.[/quote]

The little Vulcan blinked and tilted her head to the right at she peered at him with the blank expression of a cat. With her large hazel eyes wide open she appeared to be perpetually surprised, but with her people it was hard to tell. "This ship is on a mission to apprehend the new leader of Terra Prime, an extremist xenophobic terrorist organization dedicated to the expulsion of all non-Terrans from Earth and the Sol system," she reported in a soft, clipped mezzosoprano voice that had a slight lilting accent. "The organization is known to have infiltrated Earth's Starfleet. So far two explosive devices have been discovered after the ship has left Earth making it quite likely that Terra Prime has managed to place an agent onboard."

OOC: I suspect that this thread should be split into two scenes: One in main engineering and one in sickbay.

OOC: Agreed. Let's try and get Curtis involved so we can advance the plot and get us to the good stuff. I'll end it on a good note and we can do a whole new scene after they are healed and Anziano is recovered more.

tag

| May 16th, 2155
| E-Deck, Main Engineering, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0730hrs

Tal was thrilled to finally have full cooperation on board. The MACO's trusted him, and he knew he could trust them on facts alone if not principle. He now had to get the Maco's investigation notes in his report along with the technical data. His meeting with Anziano would accomplish exactly this.

The doors to Engineering were already open; two MACO's on patrol were inspecting a repair team’s investigation report of the plasma manifolds. Follow up investigation were largely a waste of time but in this regard the MACO's and Tal were the only ones above reproach. Though it pained Tal to think the people he could be working with were xenophobic terrorists, he knew extremism was common to violent races. He would have to hold Anziano in suspicion for now, but he still needed the man to do his assigned job.

"I am looking for the Chief, has anyone seen him recently?

One of the techs working with the MACO's pointed to the Engineers alcove above the Warp Reactor Dilithium port. She shot a dirty look at the MACO, continuing her lecture, "... like the report showed, the copper gradient hasn't dissolved to any appreciable measure. Used parts are common even in a newer ship like Discovery..."

Tal entered the Main engineering room, the prone warp core a daunting sight. This was not his place, in Andorian vessels the Engineers were sequestered with the engine for safety, leaving only to mingle and eat. They were the second masters and first loves of their ship, Engineers were the ones to go down with their ship in Andorian military culture. The separation became unofficially enforced over time while their technical high-speech and academic elitism ensured the mingling was seldom pleasant.

Anziano had very much resembled that kind of engineer, maintaining an around the clock vigil over matters in the engine room, but only because this mission necessitated all hands on deck. With some of his usual flare, Anziano caught up Tal and flashed a big smile, "A visitor, are you lost?"

Extending an unarmed and open hand for social truce and bridging was a Human custom Tal found saved immense time. He had spent half his time on the Docona counting the hidden blades of his fellow crew lest he run afoul of them. No Andorian would approach so openly unless they were a friend. Pink-skins were a gregarious lot, but this was a quality Tal could appreciate.

"i am not lost if you are Chief Aanzeannnoo..." Tal found himself wishing he had practiced that out loud, it was far easier to say in his head. Andorian enunciation was not flattering to Italian nomenclature. Nonetheless he wishes to shake the man's hand and ask for his help, as a Human would.

"I am Anziano," he said breezily as he wiped his hands on his pants before shaking the Andorian's hand. "So have you have brought me a new project?"

"What remains of the device used to disable your systems and killed Commander Cayne. I wanted your assistance in investigating its original design and intended function." Tal set the small hard plastic case on the workstation bench next to them.

"Great," the engineer said, "let’s have a look at it."

Tal unsnapped the clasps, setting out the bits and pieces in a grid for easy reference, the particulate matter he believed to be explosive material remained in the sealed canister, which he left in the hardened case. Tal had analyzed the pieces ad nauseam to no effect; Human technology was foreign to him.

"These are the external components I believe, that orange twisted bit in the containment cylinder was most likely "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)", there wasn't much in the first place, but even this amount is still lethal."

"Didn't quite catch that," Anziano said, flicking with his finger the universal translator Tal wore. "But I think I get the drift. Go on."

"As far as I can deduce from the facts at play, the explosive was meant to destroy the device and the proximity systems switchover relays. This would have left primary systems undamaged, but when disabled your first recourse would have been to switch to backup, which would have created the explosion. Commander Cayne was unfortunate enough to trip the anti-tamper mechanism on the device. Either somebody intended to sneak on, or sneak off, but given your level of technology I don't know how this would be possible."

"Pretty sophisticated. I don't think anyone on board is really qualified for this kind of investigation," Anziano said as he began picking up each piece in turn and eyeballing them. He was being a little modest in the statement insomuch that he had a real talent for figuring out how things ticked. The Andorian was right though, that Andorian technology was time tested and mature compared to their own. "I wish Terran technology were up to the task."

Tal chuckled, he hadn't meant any insult, "No sir, I didn’t mean to offend, my pardon. If you can feed the "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)" into your scanner booth I'll show you how it was catalyzed. The saboteur had to use a Terran lubricant "tungsten disulphide" to prevent the bonds from forming prematurely. It would require a precise signal, and that signal was the same as isodine relay from the primary matrix."

"Let's take this to the engineering lab," Anziano said, taking out his tricorder to satisfy a growing hunch. "It's probably the best chance we have."

As soon as Anziano's tricorder hit an EM cycle there was an alarming spark, followed by a abrupt flash bang. Anziano felt himself pinball of the wall, or maybe the roof and the wall. As he came to rest he felt that he was on all fours against something hard. His vision went from all black to all red, and he could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in his ears.

Tal was fortunate to have been neighboring the console, the canister exploded, but it had only caused momentary flash blindness aside from startling him completely dumb for a moment. The significant blast had actually been from the console itself it appeared as he looked at the site of the explosion. As his senses returned he tried to find Anziano but Medical had already taken him. Sure enough he felt firm grips gently lift him onto a gurney and he realized he could not hear a word as they spoke to him. He was deaf; it had not recovered as his vision had.

| May 15th, 2155
| E-Deck, Sickbay, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0900

He cooperated with the medics; the journey was swift only a few decks, then the restraints kicked in. An automatic function to prevent him from falling off the narrow bed, he nonetheless bent the bars back to free his legs and began to fight, his deafness and injuries with on-setting shock creating a panic in unfamiliar surroundings.

Doctor Maya restrained him by pressing two fingers under his collarbone, causing the Andorian to grow limp and lie back down. It was obvious from his face that he was still conscious and when the little Vulcan removed her hand he could move again. The little Vulcan’s other hand held some sort of medical instrument.

"What happened?" Curtis asked as she strode into the room, the sickbay doors just barely opening quick enough for her to get through without having to sidestep through the opening.

“He has sustained injury to his ears,” the little Vulcan replied. “I was repairing his eardrums when he regained consciousness and started struggling. I need him to hold still if I am to complete the procedure."

"What about Anziano?" the captain asked, looking around at the other beds trying to identify her chief engineer through the other people moving about the room. She was pleased that their new colleague wasn't seriously injured, but she needed to know the status of the second member of her senior staff to get caught up in one of these small explosions before she could start to relax and deal with the situation.

"Lieutenant Anziano was very fortunate," the little Vulcan replied without looking up from her work. "He sustained a concussion but I was able to treat it with thy-pless'kom therapy," she continued, using a medical term in her native tongue that apparently didn't translate into Terran easily. "I was able to reverse the damage to his retinas as well. The damage wasn't as severe was we first supposed. His vision should return to normal in an hour or two."

"That's good," Christina said, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. At least there were no more serious injuries as a result of their resident saboteur, even if it did take her chief engineer out of commission for a couple of valuable hours. She looked back over to Tal Sek, who she assumed would be quite confused and worried about what was going on around him without anyone being able to talk to him. She walked over and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him down against the medical bed. She held her other hand up in the universal symbol for 'wait', instructing him to stay still for the doctor to complete her work. "Try doing what you need to do now, Doctor."

The greenblooded physician responded with a single nod before staring into the wounded Andorian's eyes. She placed the tips of the long spidery fingers of her left hand on the lieutenant's face and murmured. "Relax. You're quite safe here," in a volume almost too soft for Christina to hear.

It wasn't the deafness or the ringing in the ears that alarmed half as much as going under the knife of a strange Vulcan. However it was a necessity as he also wanted to have his hearing restored. He had to put his faith in the Humans, not this Vulcan. but if it had to be any Andorian Tal was the most friendly to Humans so he decided to let the faith he had been granted be returned and take him for a ride. Destiny awaited those who could weather the rising waters and still make their course. He nodded and closed his eyes, a stoic trance he began to calm himself and pass time without awareness.

"He should be still now," the little Vulcan announced as she turned his head and applied her medical device to the Andorian's ear. "After I finish both ears, he should be fit for duty in a few hours, but I don't recommend exposing him to loud noises for the next few days."

"Right." Christina looked around for something that she could use to relay this information to the deafened Andorian, before spying a padd lying on the worktop. "Crewman, hand me that," she instructed, reaching for the device. As it was handed to her, she tapped out a quick message and turned it around to show the tactical officer.



Code:
Stay still. When the Doctor is done, you will be fit for duty in a few hours




Tal felt her gentle nudge of the padd device on his arm and opened his eyes. The message was a pleasant confirmation as the local anesthetics took hold and other relief allowed him to relax. A gentle nod wasnt painful and he managed it in respect to her attempts to soothe him.

"As soon as you're done with his procedure, I need him to tell me what they found out before the device exploded," Curtis said to Maya. "We can use the padd to talk to him until his hearing returns."

Maya's large hazel eyes locked on the PADD. "Of course Captain," she murmured in her mezzosoprano voice, "I'll inform you when the procedure is completed."

Tal had no desire to befriend the Vulcan, and trusted her to her duties. He handed the padd with a typed message back to Curtis.


Code:
I believe we can isolate the frequency and find any other devices on board. Advise Caution.

OOC: Maya is going to wait until the captain leaves (and give Anziano a sedative, so she can speak with Tal alone.

tag


(After Curtis leaves and Anziano is in recovery sleep)

Tal stared at the Vulcan, fighting his lethargy from the anesthetic. He wouldn't allow his guard to drop. Not to a Vulcan.

A myoclonic jerk from his ancestors instinctual fear of falling from the ice caves made hims full body convulse for a split second as he fought sleep.

"Hello Lieutenant, we have not been properly introduced," the little Vulcan said in a calm quiet mezzosoprano tone. "My name is Doctor Maya. I believe that we are the only extraterrestrials onboard. Have they informed you of the current situation?"

That he could listen to the soft tones of her voice was a miracle. His deafness was reversed only under the extremely adept Doctor touch of this Vulcan. He reserved the animosity for Vulcans he usually wore with pride for this, but his lip curled at her talking to him so level and calm. He had spent too long seeing those pointed ears behind blue plasma rifles. They were terrorists to him, each one capable of heinous actions in the name of their biased logic.

"Doctor. I am Tal Sek Thaan. Unless there have been new developments since my treatment I dont believe I need to be updated." Maintaining the conversation was for the benefit of himself and the ship, but he didnt have to exchange pleasantries.[/quote]

The little Vulcan blinked and tilted her head to the right at she peered at him with the blank expression of a cat. With her large hazel eyes wide open she appeared to be perpetually surprised, but with her people it was hard to tell. "This ship is on a mission to apprehend the new leader of Terra Prime, an extremist xenophobic terrorist organization dedicated to the expulsion of all non-Terrans from Earth and the Sol system," she reported in a soft, clipped mezzosoprano voice that had a slight lilting accent. "The organization is known to have infiltrated Earth's Starfleet. So far two explosive devices have been discovered after the ship has left Earth making it quite likely that Terra Prime has managed to place an agent onboard."

OOC: I suspect that this thread should be split into two scenes: One in main engineering and one in sickbay.

OOC: Agreed. Let's try and get Curtis involved so we can advance the plot and get us to the good stuff. I'll end it on a good note and we can do a whole new scene after they are healed and Anziano is recovered more.

"So far I have not been able to eliminate a single person as a suspect except one: you," the little Vulcan continued. "Not only were you not onboard but your species lowers the chance of your cooperation with Terra Prime to a near impossibility. As the only non-Terran assigned to this ship, I am likely in personal danger. Tal Sek Thaan, you are the only person aboard I can trust."

tag

| May 16th, 2155
| E-Deck, Main Engineering, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0730hrs

Tal was thrilled to finally have full cooperation on board. The MACO's trusted him, and he knew he could trust them on facts alone if not principle. He now had to get the Maco's investigation notes in his report along with the technical data. His meeting with Anziano would accomplish exactly this.

The doors to Engineering were already open; two MACO's on patrol were inspecting a repair team’s investigation report of the plasma manifolds. Follow up investigation were largely a waste of time but in this regard the MACO's and Tal were the only ones above reproach. Though it pained Tal to think the people he could be working with were xenophobic terrorists, he knew extremism was common to violent races. He would have to hold Anziano in suspicion for now, but he still needed the man to do his assigned job.

"I am looking for the Chief, has anyone seen him recently?

One of the techs working with the MACO's pointed to the Engineers alcove above the Warp Reactor Dilithium port. She shot a dirty look at the MACO, continuing her lecture, "... like the report showed, the copper gradient hasn't dissolved to any appreciable measure. Used parts are common even in a newer ship like Discovery..."

Tal entered the Main engineering room, the prone warp core a daunting sight. This was not his place, in Andorian vessels the Engineers were sequestered with the engine for safety, leaving only to mingle and eat. They were the second masters and first loves of their ship, Engineers were the ones to go down with their ship in Andorian military culture. The separation became unofficially enforced over time while their technical high-speech and academic elitism ensured the mingling was seldom pleasant.

Anziano had very much resembled that kind of engineer, maintaining an around the clock vigil over matters in the engine room, but only because this mission necessitated all hands on deck. With some of his usual flare, Anziano caught up Tal and flashed a big smile, "A visitor, are you lost?"

Extending an unarmed and open hand for social truce and bridging was a Human custom Tal found saved immense time. He had spent half his time on the Docona counting the hidden blades of his fellow crew lest he run afoul of them. No Andorian would approach so openly unless they were a friend. Pink-skins were a gregarious lot, but this was a quality Tal could appreciate.

"i am not lost if you are Chief Aanzeannnoo..." Tal found himself wishing he had practiced that out loud, it was far easier to say in his head. Andorian enunciation was not flattering to Italian nomenclature. Nonetheless he wishes to shake the man's hand and ask for his help, as a Human would.

"I am Anziano," he said breezily as he wiped his hands on his pants before shaking the Andorian's hand. "So have you have brought me a new project?"

"What remains of the device used to disable your systems and killed Commander Cayne. I wanted your assistance in investigating its original design and intended function." Tal set the small hard plastic case on the workstation bench next to them.

"Great," the engineer said, "let’s have a look at it."

Tal unsnapped the clasps, setting out the bits and pieces in a grid for easy reference, the particulate matter he believed to be explosive material remained in the sealed canister, which he left in the hardened case. Tal had analyzed the pieces ad nauseam to no effect; Human technology was foreign to him.

"These are the external components I believe, that orange twisted bit in the containment cylinder was most likely "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)", there wasn't much in the first place, but even this amount is still lethal."

"Didn't quite catch that," Anziano said, flicking with his finger the universal translator Tal wore. "But I think I get the drift. Go on."

"As far as I can deduce from the facts at play, the explosive was meant to destroy the device and the proximity systems switchover relays. This would have left primary systems undamaged, but when disabled your first recourse would have been to switch to backup, which would have created the explosion. Commander Cayne was unfortunate enough to trip the anti-tamper mechanism on the device. Either somebody intended to sneak on, or sneak off, but given your level of technology I don't know how this would be possible."

"Pretty sophisticated. I don't think anyone on board is really qualified for this kind of investigation," Anziano said as he began picking up each piece in turn and eyeballing them. He was being a little modest in the statement insomuch that he had a real talent for figuring out how things ticked. The Andorian was right though, that Andorian technology was time tested and mature compared to their own. "I wish Terran technology were up to the task."

Tal chuckled, he hadn't meant any insult, "No sir, I didn’t mean to offend, my pardon. If you can feed the "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)" into your scanner booth I'll show you how it was catalyzed. The saboteur had to use a Terran lubricant "tungsten disulphide" to prevent the bonds from forming prematurely. It would require a precise signal, and that signal was the same as isodine relay from the primary matrix."

"Let's take this to the engineering lab," Anziano said, taking out his tricorder to satisfy a growing hunch. "It's probably the best chance we have."

As soon as Anziano's tricorder hit an EM cycle there was an alarming spark, followed by a abrupt flash bang. Anziano felt himself pinball of the wall, or maybe the roof and the wall. As he came to rest he felt that he was on all fours against something hard. His vision went from all black to all red, and he could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in his ears.

Tal was fortunate to have been neighboring the console, the canister exploded, but it had only caused momentary flash blindness aside from startling him completely dumb for a moment. The significant blast had actually been from the console itself it appeared as he looked at the site of the explosion. As his senses returned he tried to find Anziano but Medical had already taken him. Sure enough he felt firm grips gently lift him onto a gurney and he realized he could not hear a word as they spoke to him. He was deaf; it had not recovered as his vision had.

| May 15th, 2155
| E-Deck, Sickbay, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0900

He cooperated with the medics; the journey was swift only a few decks, then the restraints kicked in. An automatic function to prevent him from falling off the narrow bed, he nonetheless bent the bars back to free his legs and began to fight, his deafness and injuries with on-setting shock creating a panic in unfamiliar surroundings.

Doctor Maya restrained him by pressing two fingers under his collarbone, causing the Andorian to grow limp and lie back down. It was obvious from his face that he was still conscious and when the little Vulcan removed her hand he could move again. The little Vulcan’s other hand held some sort of medical instrument.

"What happened?" Curtis asked as she strode into the room, the sickbay doors just barely opening quick enough for her to get through without having to sidestep through the opening.

“He has sustained injury to his ears,” the little Vulcan replied. “I was repairing his eardrums when he regained consciousness and started struggling. I need him to hold still if I am to complete the procedure."

"What about Anziano?" the captain asked, looking around at the other beds trying to identify her chief engineer through the other people moving about the room. She was pleased that their new colleague wasn't seriously injured, but she needed to know the status of the second member of her senior staff to get caught up in one of these small explosions before she could start to relax and deal with the situation.

"Lieutenant Anziano was very fortunate," the little Vulcan replied without looking up from her work. "He sustained a concussion but I was able to treat it with thy-pless'kom therapy," she continued, using a medical term in her native tongue that apparently didn't translate into Terran easily. "I was able to reverse the damage to his retinas as well. The damage wasn't as severe was we first supposed. His vision should return to normal in an hour or two."

"That's good," Christina said, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. At least there were no more serious injuries as a result of their resident saboteur, even if it did take her chief engineer out of commission for a couple of valuable hours. She looked back over to Tal Sek, who she assumed would be quite confused and worried about what was going on around him without anyone being able to talk to him. She walked over and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him down against the medical bed. She held her other hand up in the universal symbol for 'wait', instructing him to stay still for the doctor to complete her work. "Try doing what you need to do now, Doctor."

The greenblooded physician responded with a single nod before staring into the wounded Andorian's eyes. She placed the tips of the long spidery fingers of her left hand on the lieutenant's face and murmured. "Relax. You're quite safe here," in a volume almost too soft for Christina to hear.

It wasn't the deafness or the ringing in the ears that alarmed half as much as going under the knife of a strange Vulcan. However it was a necessity as he also wanted to have his hearing restored. He had to put his faith in the Humans, not this Vulcan. but if it had to be any Andorian Tal was the most friendly to Humans so he decided to let the faith he had been granted be returned and take him for a ride. Destiny awaited those who could weather the rising waters and still make their course. He nodded and closed his eyes, a stoic trance he began to calm himself and pass time without awareness.

"He should be still now," the little Vulcan announced as she turned his head and applied her medical device to the Andorian's ear. "After I finish both ears, he should be fit for duty in a few hours, but I don't recommend exposing him to loud noises for the next few days."

"Right." Christina looked around for something that she could use to relay this information to the deafened Andorian, before spying a padd lying on the worktop. "Crewman, hand me that," she instructed, reaching for the device. As it was handed to her, she tapped out a quick message and turned it around to show the tactical officer.



Tal felt her gentle nudge of the padd device on his arm and opened his eyes. The message was a pleasant confirmation as the local anesthetics took hold and other relief allowed him to relax. A gentle nod wasnt painful and he managed it in respect to her attempts to soothe him.

"As soon as you're done with his procedure, I need him to tell me what they found out before the device exploded," Curtis said to Maya. "We can use the padd to talk to him until his hearing returns."

Maya's large hazel eyes locked on the PADD. "Of course Captain," she murmured in her mezzosoprano voice, "I'll inform you when the procedure is completed."

Tal had no desire to befriend the Vulcan, and trusted her to her duties. He handed the padd with a typed message back to Curtis.



Christina took the padd back and quickly skimmed the message, before typing a response.



Handing the padd back again, he turned to the Doctor. "Let me know as soon as there is an improvement on either of them."

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With that, the captain nodded and left the doctor to her work.


(After Curtis leaves and Anziano is in recovery sleep)

Tal stared at the Vulcan, fighting his lethargy from the anesthetic. He wouldn't allow his guard to drop. Not to a Vulcan.

A myoclonic jerk from his ancestors instinctual fear of falling from the ice caves made hims full body convulse for a split second as he fought sleep.

"Hello Lieutenant, we have not been properly introduced," the little Vulcan said in a calm quiet mezzosoprano tone. "My name is Doctor Maya. I believe that we are the only extraterrestrials onboard. Have they informed you of the current situation?"

That he could listen to the soft tones of her voice was a miracle. His deafness was reversed only under the extremely adept Doctor touch of this Vulcan. He reserved the animosity for Vulcans he usually wore with pride for this, but his lip curled at her talking to him so level and calm. He had spent too long seeing those pointed ears behind blue plasma rifles. They were terrorists to him, each one capable of heinous actions in the name of their biased logic.

"Doctor. I am Tal Sek Thaan. Unless there have been new developments since my treatment I dont believe I need to be updated." Maintaining the conversation was for the benefit of himself and the ship, but he didnt have to exchange pleasantries.[/quote]

The little Vulcan blinked and tilted her head to the right at she peered at him with the blank expression of a cat. With her large hazel eyes wide open she appeared to be perpetually surprised, but with her people it was hard to tell. "This ship is on a mission to apprehend the new leader of Terra Prime, an extremist xenophobic terrorist organization dedicated to the expulsion of all non-Terrans from Earth and the Sol system," she reported in a soft, clipped mezzosoprano voice that had a slight lilting accent. "The organization is known to have infiltrated Earth's Starfleet. So far two explosive devices have been discovered after the ship has left Earth making it quite likely that Terra Prime has managed to place an agent onboard."

OOC: I suspect that this thread should be split into two scenes: One in main engineering and one in sickbay.

OOC: Agreed. Let's try and get Curtis involved so we can advance the plot and get us to the good stuff. I'll end it on a good note and we can do a whole new scene after they are healed and Anziano is recovered more.

OOCCurtis: Agree with splitting the post. Feel free to post up the engineering bit in the main thread and continue this post with that bit taken off.

"So far I have not been able to eliminate a single person as a suspect except one: you," the little Vulcan continued. "Not only were you not onboard but your species lowers the chance of your cooperation with Terra Prime to a near impossibility. As the only non-Terran assigned to this ship, I am likely in personal danger. Tal Sek Thaan, you are the only person aboard I can trust."

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