Lt. Commander Tahna Meru - Look, We Tried To Come In Peace
Tahna Meru
((Inside the Warehouse - Lower vIq'mItlh City))
A loud boom rattled the warehouse and Meru startled. She glanced behind her, toward the shielded room where the altercation must have been taking place. That room was definitely the source of the noise—and she thought she smelled smoke. Was that intentional or an accident? Were there injuries? She was already moving toward the commotion, calling out to the Klingon over her shoulder.
Tahna: Wait outside, we’ll handle this.
If he refused, well…they’d see quickly where his loyalties and interests lay.
Spelvan: I will follow you momentarily.
Auricsdóttir: Response
A moment later, Tahna and Astrid appeared... followed by Kra'Neth, who seemed distraught at seeing the unconscious Klingon woman Spelvan was standing nearby.
Kra’Neth: Kortag! What have you done to her?
Neathler: She was tired and needed some sleep?
Spelvan: My colleague is correct.
Tahna: She hasn’t been harmed.
Auricsdóttir: Response
Gone was the Klingon’s friendly demeanor, though Meru would be surprised if that hadn’t been an act all along. He was reaching for something, but as soon as he did, Commander Neathler had her phaser trained on him.
Neathler: We mean you no harm, you can still walk out and pretend you haven’t seen a thing.
Kra’Neth: And let you assault my people? I don’t think so!
Tahna: They’re uninjured. We’re with Starfleet.
Well, she wasn’t sure about the one that had initially attacked Neathler and Spelvan, but otherwise they were merely stunned. Even that woman wasn’t hurt seriously. They’d all wake up, perhaps extra groggy, and go on with their lives. But the newest arrival didn’t want to hear it—and, to be fair, why should he trust them?
Auricsdóttir: Response
Spelvan: I extend apologies.
The Klingon rushed them, and Neathler stunned him. He’d had something in his hand, but Meru didn’t get a good look at it before he fell to the floor, collapsed at the feet of the Klingon he’d called Kortag. The Security Chief knelt next to him and called the doctor over.
Neathler: Can you see to his injury?
While Neathler restrained him using makeshift ties from scraps of his own clothing, Spelvan saw to his injuries. Meru wondered how extensive they were, and what had caused them.
Neathler: Did you find an entrance to that backroom? I didn't see any other door earlier when I walked around the warehouse.
Tahna: I thought I spotted one when we were running earlier, in the back.
Auricsdóttir: Response
Spelvan: I have not.
She could see now that the Klingon had been holding a small device rather than a weapon. Strange, she’d have expected him to charge with a weapon. So what was this?
Spelvan: Is it possible that the device could open a hidden door? Or does it have another purpose?
Auricsdóttir / Neathler: Response
Tahna: How is our new friend?
Spelvan stood.
Spelvan: My recommendation is that Kra'Neth should be transported to Sickbay as soon as possible. His injuries are more severe than I originally calculated, and a secure location may be the best location to discover his involvement, if any, to our current investigation.
Meru frowned. They had limited time, and no idea whether he was actually involved. But, surely if they were wrong and he wasn’t involved in the drug trade, treating his injuries would go some ways to make up for any hurt feelings from sending him off to a Starfleet ship.
She also wanted to know if there were any traces of the drug in his system, and what had caused his injures, but he wasn’t their only concern, and they had limited time. There was also the mysterious fight and explosion. Who knew how many people had been injured in that.
Meru glanced at Astrid.
Tahna: Have him transported up, and let the Gorkon know his situation. We have no idea if he’s involved in the drugs, or to what extent.
They should be cautious, but welcoming and helpful. Until they had some solid proof otherwise, they needed to assume he was an innocent bystander.
Auricsdóttir / Neathler / Spelvan: Response
With that, Meru began again for the back of the warehouse. The door was where she’d remembered it, a small trail of smoke curling out from under it. When she tried to open it she found that it was locked, but there was an access node by the door. Meru frowned, holding out her hand for the device.
Tahna: A key, maybe?
Auricsdóttir / Neathler / Spelvan: Response
It slotted into the node on the wall, and the door clicked, then hissed open. Greater quantities of black smoke wafted out into the warehouse, but it was clear that the fire suppression systems had kicked in, as there was no active fire.
Meru coughed. The smoke smelled strange, too—like chemicals and charred fruit. As the haze cleared slightly, she couldn’t yet spot any individuals inside, but she recognized the equipment in the room. It wasn’t Starfleet, but it was familiar.
This was a lab.
Tahna: We’re Starfleet, we mean you no harm. We can help anyone who’s injured.
Auricsdóttir / Neathler / Spelvan: Response