Posted by Gamemaster Conspiracy Theorist (Weaver of Webs) in Starbase 157 - Amongst the Bustle

Posted by Ensign Karina Niles (Doctor) in Starbase 157 - Amongst the Bustle

Posted by Gamemaster Conspiracy Theorist (Weaver of Webs) in Starbase 157 - Amongst the Bustle
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snippage>

Ky’Laria, though her stance had not softened either at Karina’s wordless insistence nor this other woman’s words, inwardly relented just a touch. She benefitted from her outsider’s point of view (and a few ‘undocumented’ visits to the Federation in years past) by knowing that this interloper’s concerns were not without merit. It was foolhardy to trust blindly.

Karina frowned. She always assumed Section 31 was the myth that was perpetuated in the Academy. Section 31 below the school was the janitorial section. The joke was ‘Section 31 does all the dirty work’. She had just assumed, like most who were curious, that it was an old joke and not a real thing.

“I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know him well. But I know myself, and Ky’Larria well enough to ask you to trust US. That’s my ship that is out there. And I want her back! So if you know how that’s possible, you tell us,” she motioned to her and the Lady, “and I will do what I can to make it happen. And yes, I’ll probably trust the Stone. In the Federation, there are more good people than bad. And none of us know till we try.” She took a deep breath and shook her head with a shrug. “You are taking a chance on us, aren’t you? Same as we are with you. Let’s try and make this work so we can bring the Athena back. Please?”

Karina
Doctor

In the bustle, the mirror version of Stone had quietly slipt away. Keiko straightened her shoulders and sighed, ‘Well, what we had planned to bring the ship back isn’t working, I guess I have little choice… go ahead… take me to your leader.”

Junior Gamemaster Conspiracy Theorist

Karina set her hand on Ky’s arm as both a comfort to herself and a warning to the woman not to slay the ‘O’Brien’ before them. A shiver run up her own arm at the momentary flash of intimacy she may be projecting and swiftly removed it once more. “I say we take them. Nothing else to do.” She turned and headed for the lift she had come from. A tap to her comm badge to the Commander announcing their return. =^=Commander Stone, Niles here. We have the woman and are heading to your office. She wishes to speak to you.=^=

Karina led the way, somehow knowing Ky would follow. The nearness of the woman comforted the doctor. Something told her in a pinch, Ky was the best person to be on her side.

Karina
Doctor

Stone replied on the special channel they had set up for just this purpose. =/\= Excellent work, bring her to me please, and be careful, she’s given my people the slip twice =/\=

Junior Gamemaster Conspiracy Theorist

Karina sighed. “Well, let’s go. He’s willing to talk to you. But please, don’t run anymore. This will never get resolved for any of us if that happens. All right?” She made sure the O’Brien woman heard her then lead the way to the lift and to Stone’s office.

Karina
Doctor

Lane and his companion, with his own aggrieved sigh, followed the group towards the lift. Lane inhaled as they waited, inquiring mildly, “I suspect the news ticker has left out some details towards the Athena then?”

Doctor Grauagen

Keiko looked at him and sighed, “It was all worked out for the return but the interdimensional wormhole won’t open, it’s like something is resisting it opening but we don’t know what, without it Athena can’t reenter this universe. “

Lane inclined his head, thoughtful. “Which side is the resistant force on?”

Ky’Laria stood behind the rest of the group, where she was most comfortable - with everyone in her sight. Finally assuming a somewhat more relaxed deportment, she casually took hold of the coattails of Lane’s inquiry. “Indeed. Perhaps equally pressing: are we simply to continue pretending that no one observed our friend’s associate quietly making himself scarce?”

Pausing briefly in case anyone’s attention had been piqued, she gave a tiny smile. “Did no-one else catch that..? Am I to pursue someone else all over the station now?” she asked, shifting her gaze intently to ‘Keiko’ as the outside corners of her eyes tightened just perceptibly.

-Ky’Laria

Karina frowned slightly. “I noticed. But my guess is, this young lady will be happy to call him, as well as anyone else in their group, to the Commander’s Office once we are there and security is in place for their ‘safety’. Won’t you? I mean, it’s only fair if everyone tells their tale of why all the subterfuge. Right?”

Her pretty Asian features looked up at Lane, Ky’Laria, and Karina. “We work in pairs but trust only goes so far, he’ll stay at a distance until he knows you’re not going to imprison me. You can chase him if you want but he’ll never be far from us anyway.”

She stood sideways in the lift, watching Ky out of the corner of her eye then taking the lead once they got to the assigned floor. Turning the corner they entered the Commander’s outer office and Karina announced them to the Secretary.

Karina
Doctor

Stone came out before the introductions were even begun. He looked furiously at Keiko and she looked defiantly back at him expecting the worst.

Junior Gamemaster Conspiracy Theorist

Karina stepped up. “Sir… she’s trying to help. She said the worm hole is having trouble opening.” She glanced at those present. “I think we should hear her out.” It was her own opinion. And perhaps it was skewed because of those on the Athena she wanted to see again. But she knew, one way or another, things had to happen. And quickly.”

Karina
Doctor

Stone lived up to his name and stood stock still waiting. Keiko gritted her teeth and began. “Our ship has been monitoring where the wormhole is supposed to reappear and there are anomalous readings coming from it. Best we can make out it’s being blocked by an energy force we’ve never encountered before. Whatever it is it’s negating the neutrino stream we’ve been using as a guide to bring the wormhole back into this sector. We need to send out a stronger signal or stop whoever or whatever is blocking us, we need help”.

Junior Gamemaster Conspiracy Theorist

Lane stepped near Keiko and considered Stone for moment. He still had little idea of the entirety of the situation, these people, this plea, but what reason would the man have to appear if he had only the intent to glare. “What do you need from us?” Lane inquired towards the unmoving Stone.

Grauagen, Medical