Lt. Katie Burner: It’s an illusion (TAG: Sterek/KeH’Gan/Cartwright; FAO: Scott)

[Leo H]

(( Corridor; Outpost Eden ))

: Lieutenant Burner and her team began investigating the corridors,
searching for the 20 odd bombs that the Romulan terrorists had hidden,
or so they claimed, around the base. Something flashed on Katie’s
tricorder and she called the others over.:

Burner: Here! I'm getting... : cough : a reading…

KeH'Gan: Yes Lt. I am getting the same reading on my tricorder.

: The new engineer, Ensign Cartwright, hurried over to confirm.:

Cartwright: Okay, we need to get inside here. :Pointing at the panel:
But let's go slowly.

KeH'Gan: Aye Ensign.

: They removed the panel to reveal a small room. There was a flashing
device, and then as Katie peered in and her eyes got used to the dark
she saw a man in Starfleet uniform *sitting* and apparently tied-up next
to the flashing box, which was emitting the strong and worrying signal.:

Burner: Ensign Scott?! I thought you were…

KeH'Gan: TAMATI?! Are you Ok?

: No response, but the lights on the device pulsed faster. They had to
act fast, Katie looked to the others.:

Burner: Don't worry, we can... : cough : sort this.

: Katie looked over her shoulder to the others.:

Burner: Right?

Cartwright: Absolutely.

Virax: Lt. I must inform you that this device type I have dealt with
before in recent Vhir Sulla attacks in the capitol. They are very
sensitive to any sudden movement.


: KeH'Gan and Katie were the first to enter the small room. Ensign Scott
was strangely quiet.:

KeH'Gan: Ensign may I untie Mr Scott?

Sterek: I advise caution, Ensign KeH'Gan. As SubLt Virax advises, any
sudden movement could cause the bomb to detonate. The presence of Ensign
Scott here is likely to be a trap, intended to trick us into approaching
the device in order to increase the number of casualties.

KeH'Gan: Aye Sir Understood Ensign.

: Katie was checking her readings carefully. There was no doubt the
flashing device was potentially dangerous, but the readings from Ensign
Scott were puzzling.:

KeH'Gan: Tamati, we will get you out of this as soon as we can defuse
this device.

Virax: Yes Ensign Scott Mr KeH'Gan is correct. The good news is that as
long as the lights are blinking the device will not explode.

: Katie did not see any reaction from Ensign Scott to their questions,
almost he was like in a trance.:

Burner: This is strange…

: Meanwhile, Ensign Sterek spoke up.:

Sterek: My qualifications as a negotiator do not extend to explosive
devices. All I can suggest is that we try to complete a more detailed
scan of the device before attempting to transport either it or Ensign
Scott out of range, but there may be a more optimal solution I am not
aware of. Ensign Cartwright, what do your scans of the device show?

Cartwright: ?

Sterek: Mr Virax, can you provide any additional information about these
devices?

Virax: Yes Ensign I can. There have been 4 devices exploded thru out the
capitol over the last 3 months. The last was the worst it destroyed the
Central library a week before my arrival here on Eden. 200 citizens
including 80 school age children were killed and the library reduced to
rubble. Before this the other 3 devices were low yield and there was
only structure damage with no casualties as all devices were detonated
at night. However 2 days before the library explosion the Central
Armory outside the city was robbed of military grade explosives. My
investigation of the ruins of the Library was successful in recovering
enough of the device to detect military grade explosives. Less than
26hrs after the disaster We at Police HQ received a communique on the
VidScreen that Vhir Sulla, "The True Romulan Way" were responsible for
the Bomb at the Central Library and More were going to occur until the
People saw the"light" and Join them in their crusade to make Romulus
Great Again. Those Words were Spoken By One Ventok. The following day I
went to my Chief and asked to Be assigned to Eden because we had an
informant tell us that Ventok and a Vhir Sullla Death squad was going to
Eden.

Sterek:?

: Ke'H'Gan facial ridges darkened, and Katie assumed he was angered by
what he had heard.:

KeH'Gan: Any Worthless Scum PaHTok that would Kill Children is Unworthy.
To brutally murder for political terror. We will bring Ventok and all of
them to justice. The cowards they are will be clear to all.

Burner: I understand, Ensign, but we must keep calm…

Virax: Yes indeed Ensign that is why I am here. The device we are
looking at may contain the same components that destroyed the library.
It is now up to the engineers to let us know what we are facing and then
I may be able to give more information. However as long as the lights
are blinking the bomb will not detonate.

: Katie came to a startling conclusion on

Burner: Hey, this is not what it seems. Ensign Scott is…… : pause: Oh
no!

: The lights suddenly went out on the flashing box.:

Burner: Everyone out!

Sterek / KeH’Gan / Cartwright / Virax: ???

Burner: It’s ok, Ensign Scott isn’t really there. That’s just a
hologram.

: The box started bleeping.:

Burner: Quickly! Move move… :cough: MOVE!

: The team exited as the bleeps turned into a whine, and then there was
a deafening boom!:

Sterek / KeH’Gan / Cartwright / Virax: ???

: The smoke and dust billowed around them, and Katie picked herself up.:

Burner: Everyone alright?

Sterek / KeH’Gan / Cartwright / Virax: ???

Burner: It was a ruse, designed to make us work slow. Ensign Scott
wasn’t there, but… he is somewhere, and tied up. We need to find him AND
keep looking for the remaining nineteen bombs. This one wasn’t massive,
but who know’s how big the next one is?

Sterek / KeH’Gan / Cartwright / Virax: ???

Burner: Suggestions?

Sterek / KeH’Gan / Cartwright / Virax: ???

To Be Continued…

Lt. Katie Burner
Security Officer; Outpost Eden

Simmed by:
Admiral-of-the-Fleet Leo Handley-Page
www.outpost-eden.com
---
"Professional Daydreamer & Rural Spaceman"