Time is Never Long Enough

Posted on Mon Aug 31st, 2020 @ 12:04pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Lieutenant Michael Stonebridge & Lieutenant Grayson Jones

Mission: Tal Shiar
Location: Romulan Base

As the two teams split up inside the base, Celes could sense the apprehension of some in the away team. She wouldn't show it, but she was concerned for everyone as well. Professionalism though, she had to be stoic. She followed Stonebridge and Jones, functioning as a de facto rear guard as they began to make their way through the metal and rock facility. As they continued to move she was thankful that thus far they hadn't encountered any Romulans. She wondered about the other team and if they had been so lucky.

Suddenly voices came from the corridor just beyond them. They needed to either hide or prepare to eliminate them. Celes hit a door panel and opened up an empty room. She motioned for the others and Stonebridge nodded in approval as they all quickly entered the room to get out of sight.

Grayson, still not being used to being on away missions, moved silently towards the room being motioned to. He clutched his engineering kit close to his side to try and muffle the sound and he reached for the phaser at his side. Not drawing it out yet, but just placing his hand on it to be ready.

Celes drew her phaser and checked its setting. She moved it to a medium stun setting and watched as the rest of the team came into the room, Stonebridge being last. She was ready for whatever came next.

Stonebridge snapped out of his thoughts. “Sorry guys. I was deep in my thoughts as this situation calls for calm and precise action. We’ve found the outpost so now let’s get some readings and see where were going. I’m worried about the others and this communications silence we’re under.” As he started using his tricorder. “I’m reading Chronotron Particles in that direction. So let’s proceed with caution.” Said the Intel chief.

"Celes nodded in agreement. "I'm ready."

“Let’s go.” Said Stonebridge. And they slowly made their way down the corridor. Not 100 yards and something told him to stop.

“Everybody freeze.” Yelled Stonebridge in a whisper. As they stopped. Somebody up the corridor came out of a room on the right side of the hallway and turned right. The team was silent and watched from a distance as Stonebridge slipped past them and into the room before the door could close. “Come on!” As he waved them forward.

Celes entered the room and her eyes widened. They had found what she presumed was the temporal lab, and the equipment was both impressive and extensive. She pulled her tricorder and began scanning. "Grayson, I require your assistance. Take a look at this" she said as she continued to scan. "Stonebridge, we found what we were looking for" she whispered.

“I agree. Now we need to try and find out if they have been successful in their attempts to breach the time continuum and if they have, try and find out who is involved and where they were trying to travel to” Offered Stonebridge

"On it" replied Celes. "Grayson, start scanning that equipment. I'll focus on the chronoton generators."

"On it," Grayson called as he went to the equipment, pulling out his scanner and expecting the worst. Romulan equipment, at least in his experience, could be incredibly difficult to scan. Either from the material it was made from or some internal device, they had a bad habit of scattering Federation scanners.

“Do a deep dive into the computers. That where the good stuff should be stored. And we’re on the clock. That Romulan could be back soon. If he does return he’s mine. You carry on and get what we came for.” Replied Stonebridge as he took up a position near the entrance.

Celes accessed the computers and began searching for relevant data. She quickly decrypted material and accessed the primary files. "I'm into the primaries. Good news bad news situation it would seem" she said looking at Stonebridge.

“Good news first!” Said Stonebridge

"Good news is they are unable to send anyone or anything back in time as of yet. Bad news, they can view time, send signals to the past, and they apparently have the ability to receive temporal signals from the future, and have." Celes looked over at Jones, "Grayson, it appears to take enormous power for them to use this equipment. Can you get a detailed look at their power matrix?"

“If you can do that quickly, make it happen. I’m about to break radio silence and call for permission to blowup this popsicle stand.” Replied Stonebridge as he tapped his communications device. =^= Stonebridge here. We have found our objective and intel we need. Once it’s down loaded we request permission to destroy this location. =^= requested The intel chief.

Shran listened to what Stonebridge was requesting. Considering the request, he assumed the worst. =^=Very well. Limit blast to your zone and then link up with the other team. Contact when ready for extraction. =^=

Grayson looked at Celes, "I've got the specs. It is impressive."

Celes nodded. "It will be interesting to look them over." She looked to Stonebridge, "We are ready to get out of here."

Stonebridge signaled for them to exit as he quickly set the charges as ordered and then exited the area, leading the team away quickly.