Lt. Commander Tahna Meru - Then Poof! They're Gone
Tahna Meru
((Inside the Warehouse - Lower vIq'mItlh City))
The strange key 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.
Neathler: Response
Spelvan: We are here to assist.
Auricsdóttir: :: Half a dozen impolite words came to mind, all that came out was a flat. :: Great.
It was certainly not “great,” but Meru could recognize the sarcasm. She moved into the room slowly, cautiously, broken glass crunching underfoot. She kept her breathing shallow—they had no idea what might be mixed in with the smoke particulates, but with the door open, it should begin clearing. If this was a lab, surely there was a way to vent it in case of emergencies like this…then again, it was a clandestine lab in a warehouse, likely manufacturing drugs, so it may not have been designed with safety top of mind.
Neathler: Response
Spelvan: It will truly be great once this smoke clears.
Ensign Astrid made her way to a Klingon seated on a bench. He appeared conscious, but didn’t truly seem to be “there.” He didn’t respond to the Starfleet officers who approached him at all.
Auricsdóttir: Are you okay, do you need help?
He didn’t respond to Ensign Astrid at all.
Auricsdóttir: I have a Klingon here who is pretty out of it.
Neathler: Response
Tahna: Spelvan?
Spelvan: I will examine him.
Meru let the doctor and Ensign Astrid look after the Klingon, while she made her way deeper into the lab. Spelvan had said there were multiple lifesigns back here earlier, so where were the others? And what had caused the explosion? She pulled out her tricorder and began scans—passive ones of the atmosphere, and active for lifesigns in the vicinity.
Spelvan: He will be alright. We must get him to fresh air immediately. Could someone please assist me with this?
Auricsdóttir / Neathler: Response
Meru hadn’t managed to find anything functional that looked like it might trigger a vent to hasten the clearing of the room. But the smoke was slowly dissipating anyway, leaving a haze behind in the room where once it had been dark clouds of the stuff.
But there was no one else in the room. Not even bodies. So where were those multiple lifesigns? Her tricorder showed none now, but she had no doubt Doctor Spelvan had picked them up earlier. Meru adjusted her scanner settings.
Spelvan: We should remain on alert. ::he took out his tricorder:: I am not picking up any other lifesigns but there were additional Klingons in this area earlier.
Auricsdóttir / Neathler: Response
Tahna: At least the smoke is clearing.
It made her head hurt, though she wasn’t about to say that aloud in the face of a doctor who was down one arm from earlier injuries. She could deal with a little headache just fine.
Spelvan: I believe I have found something.
Auricsdóttir / Neathler: Response
Tahna: Oil? What do you think, Commander, could that be what caused the explosion?
Auricsdóttir / Neathler / Spelvan: Response
She glanced at Sami. If it was the cause, they still needed to know whether this was intentional or an accident. Meru’s tricorder chirped then, and she looked down, skimming through the results with a frown.
Tahna: No sign that anyone transported out, but…they were definitely producing the drugs in here. The chemical compound affecting the Klingons was aerosolized in the explosion.
Auricsdóttir / Neathler / Spelvan: Response
Worry gnawed at her gut—she didn’t know what concentration was needed to be effective. What did that mean for the Klingon they’d found in here? What did it mean for them? She sent the results to the Doctor’s tricorder. He’d be able to answer those questions better than she could.
Tahna: Doctor, your professional analysis would be appreciated.
Auricsdóttir / Neathler / Spelvan: Response
Meru glanced about the room again. Multiple lifesigns had disappeared, no one was found dead, no one transported out, and she hadn’t seen another obvious exit. That left few possibilities open.
Tahna: I wonder if they’re using cloaking technology to mask another exit?
Auricsdóttir / Neathler / Spelvan: Response