Post 495: Two Outs, Full Count, Bottom of the Ninth

Stardate:71013.1615
Title: Two Outs, Full Count, Bottom of the Ninth
Author: Zanh Liis
Scene: Chaplain's Office/Bridge, USS Independence
Time: Following "Masquerading as Light"
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[Captain to the bridge.]

Zanh heard N'Dura's voice and responded immediately, exchanging glances with Blane and Jariel. "On my way. Mr. Blane, could you get a head start? I'm right behind you."

"Certainly," TC replied, realizing she wanted a moment alone with Jariel. "I'll get the lift." With a respectful nod to Jariel he stepped outside. "See you later, Vedek. Good work."

[[Thank you.]]

As soon as the door closed, Jariel looked at Liis questioningly, then was nearly knocked off his feet in surprise when she threw her arms around him and squeezed him, tightly. He patted her on the back gently, not sure where this sudden, uncharacteristic display of emotion was going let alone where it had originated.

"Thank you," Liis spoke into his ear, "If you weren't here, we wouldn't have any idea what was really going on. You're proving to be an invaluable member of this crew, just as I knew you'd be. I'm so grateful that you're here. For so many reasons."

She released him just as quickly as she'd embraced him, hurrying out the door. "If you find anything more, let me know. Otherwise, check in with me in a little while? I may need your help to stall the Yensuli off."

[[I'll be ready.]]

Zanh jogged up the hallway to where Blane was holding the lift, and as soon as they appeared on the bridge, N'Dura approached.

****the following is an excerpt from "Honeymoon Has to Wait" by Lt. Reece****

"Captain, the Yensuli have launched a craft. Coming up from the planet now." N'Dura said.

"On screen." The view shifted to show the new ship. "Destination?"

"It appears to be on a course for one of the outer planets of the system, Yensul VIII."

"We've seen lots of ships moving about in the system, anything special about this one?" Captain Zanh asked.

"Heavily armed, by the Yensuli standards, Captain. Definitely military in nature." N'Dura stated. The ship moved quickly, becoming smaller and smaller as it moved away from Yensul IV.

"Hail them." N'Dura hailed the ship, which replied quickly.

[How may I help you, Independence?] The face of a man with a sweet smile and perfect haircut appeared on the screen. His smile was just a little too big for Zanh's liking, as if he were eager to please her.

"We haven't seen any ships of your construction since arriving here. Is there anything the matter, or that we can assist you with?"

[Nothing at all, Captain. We are just on our way to patrol the outer portion of the system. Standard Yensuli procedure. I can send you our flight plan if you like.]

"No, that's quite all right. Sorry to bother you." N'Dura closed the channel. "He tried way too hard to be nice to me, especially considering I'm female."

"Indeed, shall I track that ship?"

"Go." Zanh said with an affirmative nod.

N'Dura watched as the ship held its course straight, then seemed to vanish from her scope. "I've lost them. They entered the gravity well of a large comet."

"Keep scanning."

N'Dura adjusted the tactical sensors, trying to compensate for the unusual gravimetric forces in the system. "I had them! For a moment... I've lost them again."

"Can you extrapolate their course from the few moments you saw them?" Zanh Liis rose from her chair, to join N'Dura at the tactical station.

"I believe so Captain. One moment." N'Dura entered the data, a schematic of the system appeared showing the ship and its course as a solid line. The computer then generated a dotted line as the anticipated course based on their trajectory. Zanh's jaw set in fury as their true destination became apparent. "It's one of the moons." N'Dura said through gritted teeth, as Zanh slammed her hand down on the tactical rail.

"That's the same moon Samson said was exhibiting greater gravitational pull then it should. What the hell is going on down there? Why can't we track them?"

"Its not the gravity Captain, the ship simply disappeared."

"Cloaked?" Zanh asked.

"Not exactly, more like the ship itself was enveloped by a larger cloaking field."

"Are you telling me that whole moon may be hidden by a cloaking device? Then what the hell am I looking at?" Zanh gestured at the screen.

"I don't know, we'll need to bring the ship closer for the sensors to do a more detailed analysis."

"And that will tip our hand to the Yensuli that we are on to them."

"Shall I set a course for the moon Captain?" the Ensign at the helm asked.

****end excerpt***

Zanh remained mute, frozen for a split second, weighing her options.

"Captain?" Blane pressed, anxious to get his own ideas onto the table and perhaps, his plan underway.

"No," Zanh replied, "Don't move us any closer to the moon just yet. We don't want to give anything away."

She turned to her Klingon security chief once more. "Establish a dampening field around the bridge so Corbinsky can't use his implant to pull a Houdini on us, and then get him up here. I have questions to ask him." N'Dura nodded, and headed for the brig.

Zanh tapped her badge. "Bridge to Engineering. Dengar, get up here and bring the science officer on duty with you. Transfer all the data you have on the Alchemy's transwarp signature to the bridge engineering station."

[Acknowledged, Captain, we're on our way.]

"Thomas," Zanh lowered her voice, leaning closer to Blane as she caught the look in his eye and could see the gears turning in his head. "I know you're thinking something. So, tell me. Weighing what we know now against your considerable job experience. . ." she paused, and he knew exactly what she meant. She was referring to his past with special ops. "What is your suggestion?"

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Captain Zanh Liis
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791