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"Fabulously Fearless Freedom Fighters"
Previous post "Frightful Feeling"
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"Physics tells us that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. They hate us, we hate them, they hate us back. And so, here we are, victims of mathematics!"
- Ambassador Londo Mollari

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Setting: MASQUERADE DREAMS, Room 24-112 (Erik)
Stardate: 30153.0600

The Native American glanced at the time displayed and inwardly sighed to himself.  With each passing minute more passengers were making their way from the relative safety of their rooms to wonder the numerous decks of the MASQUERADE DREAMS. Each individual unaware of the crisis at hand, their presence increasing the potential complications.

"ANI," the Counselor began, hoping that the report from the ship's Avatar would help ease the concerns that Eve had seen grow on the brow of her Commanding Officer.  "How are we with that energy pulse?"

=/\= The layout and materials used for the MASQUERADE DREAMS makes it impossible for the ANUBIS to fire a specifically targeted energy beam within the ship. Any such attempt would result in the energy discharge to be distributed throughout the ship causing everyone onboard to be knocked unconscious. =/\=

"If it was not for the internal anti-terrorist system on board the MASQUERADE DREAMS we would be able to use hand-held phasers," Eve pointed out, not al all missing the irony of the fact that a system designed to stop a terrorist attack had been the one thing standing in their way to easily stop such an event.

"We need a more direct delivery system," Erik noted out loud. "One that will not trigger the internal security system and cause a ship-wide lockdown and panic.  After all, that is what we are trying to avoid here."

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Setting: MASQUERADE DREAMS, Corridor Deck 20
Stardate: 30153.0603

With the subdermal comm system locked open and scrambled, everyone had heard the debate taking place between the CO, Cns and the Avatar of the ANUBIS.  The reasoning had been a simple one; to insure that everyone knew what was happening and to able anyone to offer an alternate perspective or option is available.

"The security system on the MASQUERADE DREAMS is design to stop any weapon from being brought aboard," the redhead Engineer said in a tone that clearly hinted that she had more to offer.

"So we need to come up with a delivery system that will not be recognized as a weapon while still giving us the ability to stun a fair sized area. The question is how do we do that?" the dark haired Chief of Security added before realizing that the eyes of her shipmate had been trained on her with mocked anger.

"Elementary my dear Watson," Sonja huffed. "Clearly patience is not one of your virtues deary. I was about to explain it before you asked," the redhead added with a wink.  "A hyper sonic blast will have the same effect as a low energy discharge. The weapon is easily concealed and can be effective in a room up to 100 square meter in area," the Engineer explained with unmatched confidence.

"How do we create such a device?" Ya'Han inquired causing her crimson haired friend to grin ear-to-ear.

"ANI," Sonja all but said laughing out loud, "could you enlighten our wee friend over here," the redhead added in a clearly Scottish accent.

=/\= There is no need to construct such devices as we have them available on the ANUBIS, =/\= ANI stated.  =/\= In fact, with specific enough coordinates I could beam several such devices to a location thus insuring that only those targeted would be affected. =/\=

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Setting: MASQUERADE DREAMS, Room 23-089 (Maya)
Stardate: 30153.0605

"Guess that leave the next problem for us to solve," the Chief Science Officer jumped in with.

"Actually," the Executive Officer continued, "with the information we have on Lillie, it should not be too long before we have a set of coordinates that we can use to focus our efforts on."

"Using the extensive scanning capabilities of ANUBIS in junction with the knowledge that we are looking for a Tarellian female should make our search a relatively simple one," Maya stated as she studied the results of the first set of scans which had been relayed to one of her many PADDs by ANI.

=/\= A target matching Teralian physiology has been located on deck 29, aft section near the primary propulsion system of the MASQUERADE DREAMS, =/\= the Avatar announced.

Quickly Shar'El snatched and took hold of the PADD that the Chief Science Officer had been holding onto so that the ExO could analyse the stated discovery herself.  "The readings are weak and fluctuating, if it is Lillie she's in a bad state."

"The presence of Terran lifesigns next to those of the Terallian would support the possibility that we have indeed found Ensign Lillie Doyanne," Maya continued as she retrieved the PADD from the hands of the First Officer. "There is a problem though. Sensors have also picked up an singular energy build-up in that area of the ship from a source that appears to be completely independant of the MASQUERADE DREAMS' systems."

=/\= That bastard sat them down on another bomb, =/\= Sonja spat in disgust. =/\= If I find this guy I will personally feed him to Uxtar in bite-sized morsels, and ANI remind me to have a talk with the so-called design engineers of the Risian Cruise Liner, their anti-terrorist system is worth just as much as a non-battle trained toothless Klingon. Did they actually design this system in crayons? =/\=

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Setting: MASQUERADE DREAMS, Lower Deck 29
Stardate: 30153.0608

The Hirogen had been quietly listening to everything that had been said. The report of the life signs having been found in the aft section of Deck 29 had sent Uxtar rushing in to see if he could help. At best he would be able to rescue the kidnapped officers, at worst he hoped to at the very least be able to confirm their location to allow for a more direct plan of action from the rest of the under cover team.

The statement made by the redheaded Engineer had actually made the Hirogen grin. Although he may not have known the fiery haired woman, her character had been something that he could appreciate. Being honest and to the point had always been Sonja's trade mark and had been something that Uxtar had learned to appreciate over the years.

=/\= Uxtar is 148 meters away from the lifesigns we picked up, no other life signs are present in the vicinity, =/\= ANI reported, but still the Hirogen proceeded with caution, his skills and experience as a Hunter having long ago taught him to not take such reports for granted.

The Hirogen came to a complete stop when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere in front of his current location.  If Lillie and Jayson had been tied down on top of a bomb, the footsteps could not have been theirs, and if the Avatar's report had been also correct, the footsteps belonged to a ghost.

Moving silently from behind one conduit to the next in an effort to remain unseen, the Hirogen pressed on until he was able to see the two missing officers.  "Confirming *three* targets in sight," Uxtar stated in a whispered voice wanting to make it clear to everyone that the third individual had been invisible to the sensors of the ANUBIS.

He watched with great intensity as the third individual hovered over the Chief of Operations. The black haired woman possessed several features that made Uxtar think of the Chief of Security, but the Hirogen knew that the two women could not have been one and the same.

=/\= ANI, using Uxtar's location, prepare to send one of the hyper sonic devices. Set it to detonate upon arrival.  Uxtar, find a way to protect yourself. You will be the closest to act.  I am sending Lieutenant Paquette and Ensign Ya'Han down to your location to assist,=/\= the Native American stated, keeping any hints of hopes for success to himself.

=/\= Already on our way, =/\= Sonja confirmed, the two women having set a course to the lower decks the moment ANI had confirmed the presence of a Terallian and Terran in the aft section of Deck 29.

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Setting: MASQUERADE DREAMS, Lower Deck 29, Aft Section
Stardate: 30153.0610

The woman known as Shae to most and as Ya'Jun to only a select few had kneeled in front of the dazed Terran male, her influence on him having rendered the man unable to think in the slightest way for himself.

"Who do you work for?" she asked, her hypnotic voice causing the man to actual jerk slightly as he tried to fight against the woman's magic.  "Don't be so stubborn, not if you want to help your friend here. She doesn't look so good and you answering my question will go a long way to helping her as well as yourself.  All I need you to tell me is who you are working for."

Jayson managed to turn his head enough to catch a glance of the golden haired woman tied with him.  As much as him mind had been lost in a pheromone induced fog, the Operations Officer had held on to enough clarity of mind to see that Shae's claim had not been exaggerated. Lillie appeared to be in a somewhat urgent need of medical care, the problem was that she was the CMO and that any help that would be coming, if any, would have relied on her skills and knowledge to offer whatever help would be needed.

"Stop looking at her," Shea dryly ordered as she took a solid hold of the man's chin, forcing his gaze back onto her, "and answer my question. Who are you working for?"

--==(/\)==--

Francois Charette

Captain Erik Morningstar
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC 18501

AND

Lt. Commander Elan Fairborn
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA