Star Trek Sim / RPG
USS Eagle, NCC 2185
Unstoffe Log: The Romulan Ruse
Stardate 2006.01.26
Location: Unknown
Setting: Sickbay
Dr. Arnold awoke and found himself lying on a bed in Sickbay. His head
hurt, but that was to be expected. Something else, however, was not quite
right. He stared at the ceiling a moment before it came to him. The
lighting was wrong. It was neither as bright nor quite so white a light as
he remembered. If anything, it had a slightly reddish hue. He slowly
turned his head to look around. This was not the Eagle's Sickbay.
It was too small, almost claustrophobic and very Spartan.
"Ah, Dr. Arnold, I see that you have
finally revived," said a voice from somewhere across the room. "I would
have given you a stim shot earlier, but was worried that it might cause an
adverse reaction with the sedative the humans had given you."
Arnold tried to sit up and see who was
speaking, but soon thought better of it. His head spun and he lay back down.
"You are still feeling the effects of
that sedative. As I said, it was quite strong, but it will soon wear off."
The voice drew nearer and Arnold could see the shape of a man slowly come
into focus. He was tall, an impression Arnold's current position only
amplified, but that is not what stood out. The man's complexion was
an odd olive color, his ears pointed and his uniform a silver mail-like material.
"Please remain lying down and let me
introduce myself. I am Sub-commander S'Tronn, the ship's chief surgeon.
Welcome aboard." The voice belonged to a Romulan.
"I don't understand. Where is Dr. Sullivan?"
Arnold asked, confused.
"Well, the answer to that question depends
on your theological perspective, I suppose," S'Tronn answered dryly. "Thanks
to you, our mission is a success. The traitor is onboard, any witnesses to
our little incursion have been eliminated and soon we will be home. I must
inform the Commander you are awake. He will be most eager to speak
with you."
Arnold couldn't believe what he was
hearing. He was on the Romulan ship? The Eagle was destroyed? Mission a success?
"Mission? What mission?" Arnold needed time to think and needed more information.
"There is no need to dissimulate. You
are among friends," rejoined S'Tronn. "But perhaps you would to prefer
to discuss matters with the Commander. He is very anxious to speak
with you."
Arnold stared hard at the Sub-commander,
looked around again and then smiled. He had made it. Against all odds,
and even with that bungler Mudd tripping over himself trying to get them
caught, he made it. For the first time in years he allowed himself
to relax for a moment. "Yes, that would be most appropriate. I must
speak with your Commander and thank him for his timely rescue," Arnold announced.
"Of course," the doctor acknowledged and stepped
across the room to contact the bridge.
A few moments later another figure entered
the room. His expression was more severe than the surgeon's who quietly
stepped into the shadows of the room. To Arnold he did not look like one
who had just scored a major political coup for the Imperium. He looked more
like someone about to preside over an execution. Arnold had met his type
before.
"You are alive." It was an observation of fact,
that was all. The commander seemed to have no opinion as to whether Arnold's
continued existence was a good or a bad thing. It was just another fact that
he would now have to take into account. "Your report," he demanded.
Arnold wasn't about to submit to this level of interrogation.
He certainly had an opinion about whether his own continued existence was
a good or bad thing. He had completed his mission successfully, according
to the Sub-commander, and did not deserve to be treated so dismissively by
this commander.
"My report will go to the Tal Shiar and no one else, Commander,"
Arnold spat back. "You are a mere courier on this mission. Do not forget
that! Why have you exceeded your orders? I was to be left in place and the
Eagle in tact so that I could continue my mission. I had everything set up
so the blame would fall on that fool, Mudd."
The Commander seemed unfazed by Arnold's invocation
of the Tal Shiar. Normally, mere mention of it caused even the highest ranking
Romulan to pause. In fact, it was almost as if the commander had never even
heard of them before. He certainly returned to the attack quickly enough.
"My actions were caused by your failures. The Eagle was
not supposed to be able to shoot back. Because of your failure I had to take
more aggressive actions and send a boarding party. I lost three men and the
traitor was nearly killed. Your identity had been compromised, or so it appeared
to my officer who found you drugged in their Sickbay. He should have left
you."
Arnold's mind raced. Failed? Certainly he had placed the
device. He recalled the Eagle going to Red Alert, but that was expected.
Yes, he had felt the ship shake while he was in Sickbay, but that was a warning
shot from the Bird-of-Prey, surely. There was no way the Eagle could have
fought back. Had they found the device? Even so, they obviously didn't escape,
so the engines must have remained damaged. Arnold decided on a more conciliatory
tact. After all, it could be a long ride to wherever they were going.
"I am sorry for the loss of your men, and thankful for
my rescue, Commander. Nevertheless, the Eagle was disabled enough to allow
the success of the mission. The Imperium will be grateful," Arnold said.
"Then I must have your report. We must be sure there are
no other loose ends," the Commander rejoined icily.
"Very well. To the best of my knowledge, the traitor
had remained in his cabin the entire time from when he left Liarra Mishtash
until you captured him. Any information he may have passed along will have
perished with the Eagle," Arnold reported.
Suddenly, the lights changed. The room became brighter
and from behind a bank of equipment a man in a Star Fleet uniform appeared
leveling a phasor at Dr. Arnold. Arnold recognized him instantly as the Eagle's
Chief of Security, LCDR Unstoffe.
"Thank you, Doctor, that was most informative," announced
Unstoffe with an ironic smile on his face. "I sure am glad we have Vulcans
serving on this ship. I don't think I could have pulled off such a convincing
Romulan myself," he thought as he signaled for two of his guards to enter
the Science Lab. "I overheard you complaining to Ensign Richards about having
to share quarters. I think I can solve that problem for you." He paused
for a moment and then ordered the guards, "Take him to the brig and lock
him up."
Arnold shook with rage. There was only one thing left to do.
At least he wouldn't die alone. Bracing himself he bit down hard on the molar.
Nothing happened.
Again, Unstoffe smiled. "Oh, Dr. Sullivan removed the tri-cobalt
charge in the fake tooth. Said something about it might lead to a really
big cavity. Couldn't have anyone say we didn't take proper care of our "guests,"
could we?" Unstoffe would have to thank Sullivan again on both counts. His
suspicions were right all around. Too bad he had decided on a career in medicine.
He would have made a great security officer.
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