####################
"Amongst The Shadows"
[Previous Post: "Loving Reminders"]
####################

<< The avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote.>>
- Kosh

Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
Stardate: 63076.2130

"We will be at the VALLA ROYAL in 5 minutes," Ensign Thomas announced from the Ops station, having reviewed his console and confirmed that all had been ready for their final approach to the orbital station.

"Drop us out of warp," the Native American ordered.  "Get us in close enough so that we can beam in without drawing any attention but not close enough to risk another ship running into us."

"That may no be so easy," the Kzinti Sec/Tac Officer offered as she brought up an image on the main view screen.  "Looks like things have picked up over there."

"What the heck is a Pythron battle Cruiser doing there?" Eve gasped, the sight of the massive warship having been more than enough to unsettle everyone.

"Tactical report!" the Captain quickly followed suit with, curious as to the current state of affairs around the VALLA ROYAL.

"Shields and weapons are inactive," Hex replied with a soft growl.  "For now."

"The presence of a battle cruiser here in neutral space could create problems on the station," Aki pointed out, not at all ungrateful of the fact that the HATHOR had been cloaked and therefore a simple observer to this.

"Maybe we can take advantage of this," Erik proposed as he stood from the central chair reserved for the ship's CO.  "That battle cruiser must have everyone on the VALLA ROYAL on edge, so they will be less likely to be closely monitoring the arrivals and departures of their guests.  Elan and I will beam into one of the lifts leading to the command deck.  Hex, Elliot, Akira and Eve, you four will beam onto the public quarters area and make your way to the main promenade deck.  Once there Hex will wait for us to give her the location of the XANTUL's debris while the second team starts their investigation."

"You make it sound so easy," the Ship's Counselor said in a half amused, half troubled voice.

"It is," Erik laughed without any hesitation.  "It only gets complicated when something unexpected happens, and as of right now I am expecting everything to go as bad as it possibly could."

"Should I be planning for our funerals then?" the furred Kzinti woman sighed, her tone all too serious for the Native American's liking.

"Okay, maybe not *that* bad," the CO corrected as he motioned for the Senior Officers to head to the transporter room.

"You will need this," the Oltharian said as he handed the modified tricorder to the Kzinti Sec/Tac Officer.  "May it serve you well."

Hex glanced up at the towering giant for a brief moment, confident that the small hand-held device would indeed serve her well, not doubting the CEO's skills in this domain.

--==(/\)==--
Setting: VALLA ROYAL, Turbolift pod
Stardate: 63076.2140

Dressed in less *official* garments, Erik Morningstar and his bodyguard prepared to step onto the commoner deck of the VALLA ROYAL, ready to present their claim to some of the cargo that had been onboard the doom transport vessel.  The goal had not been to have the station's administration actually grant them access to the wreckage but rather to simple inform them of its location so that the information could be relayed to Ensign Fanggot.

"I never liked wearing this kind of monkey suit," the Native American man huffed as he straightened out his jacket for the nth time.  "It just doesn't feel right."

"Maybe you would prefer if I wore the suit and you played the role of bodyguard," Elan all so seriously offered which caused Morningstar to pause and glare at the towering man, the simple idea of the Oltharian being *guarded* by anyone having been laughable to say the least.

"Your sense of humor has improved quite a bit Elan," Erik offered not entirely certain that the CEO had in fact been kidding.

--==(/\)==--
Setting: VALLA ROYAL, Empty Guest Quarters
Stardate: 63076.2145

"Well that was easy," Elliot grinned as he looked around the darkened room once the transport sequence had been completed.

"We haven't done anything yet," Aki playfully refuted as she added a light smack against the COO's shoulder.

Hex remained silent, her ears scanning the ambient sounds certain that there had been someone else present in the room with them.  "Keep your eyes open," the Sec/Tac stated as she made her way to the door.  "Something is not right."

Before anyone could say anything, the Kzinti had already left the group to head for the Promenade and wait for the Captain's instructions, leaving the second team to their own responsibilities.

"I think she needs a vacation," the COO sighed as he reached for the duffle bag he had brought with tem to help support the illusion of Aki and him being a couple on vacation.  "That's strange," Elliot added as he looked down at the bag, "I was sure that I had closed it before we left."

"Why am I suddenly having a very bad feeling about this mission," Eve jokingly said.  "You thinking that you had closed your bag when you had not must be one of those galactic signs of doom."

"That or that his mind was focused on something else," Aki joined in with, trying her best not to laugh out loud.

"Something?" The Counselor repeated.  "I think you mean someone!"

"Alright you two," Elliot interjected, "let's stop picking on me and start focusing on our mission."

With that the three undercover Starfleet Officers made their way out of the room unaware that they had brought along with them another member of the ANUBIS' crew, one that had remained hidden for the most part since their departure from the NEW ALEXANDRIA complex.

-==(/\)==--
Francois Charette

Lieutenant Elan Talak Fairborn
Chief Engineering Officer
USS ANUBIS

AND

Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA

Also

Captain Erik Morningstar
Commanding Officer
USS PARADOX