Stardate: 53832.8
Just outside of the system: UIH-0351
USS Thunderchild, NCC-63549
Admiral Tate and Captain Campbell
Deck Two, VIP Quarters
David listed to his friend while he wiped the blood off his lip. The bruise was already starting to turn colors. "Jack, you tell me your no traitor then I believe you." David Tate said after waiting for his old friend to finish. "hmmmm" he mumbled softly. "Seona MacConnell?" he said almost seeming more puzzled than before. "I was under the assumption that her name was Seònaid Melville" he added truthfully. Captain Campbell knew his friend well enough to know that the man was speaking the truth.
Just in that moment the lift doors hissed open on deck two. Lieutenant Kinchlirah was standing just off of the doorway as the doors opened. Her eyes quickly scanned the captain then the admiral. Her mouth opened as if to say something but Admiral Tate cut her off as he motioned to leave the lift, "at ease lieutenant." On that note she closed her mouth and moved aside. Admiral Tate and Captain Campbell moved from the lift. Once they were clear of the lift she replaced them. Just as the doors were closing, she commented about Captain Campbell, "no wonder why he wanted to fight me. He is more Klingon than I am."
Ignoring the comment made by Lieutenant Kinchlirah, Admiral Tate continued to his quarters while he spoke. "Jack, you have no idea how this has gotten Starfleet Command up in knots. The fact that she impersonated Yeoman Traver all this time was just the tip of the ice brig. Thanks to your Science and Engineering teams, we now know what we are looking for. Her little viruses have popped up at New Berlin, Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards as well as Proxima Maintenance Yards." He explained as he turned to enter his quarters.
He moved through the quarters as the door closed behind the two men. "Hell Jack, wherever this Melville...." he said then paused and turned to face Captain Campbell, "Melville?" he said again almost questioning the last name. "Whatever her damn name is" he added in frustration not waiting for a comment from his old friend. He then turned and continued over to his closest. His staff had already moved his clothes over prior to coming aboard. He continued as he reached in and pulled out a new uniform. "Wherever she has gone, Starfleet Intelligence has been able to trace her steps through these little viruses."
Jackson knew that this issue was more than what it seemed as the admiral spoke. "Starfleet Command has put the pressure on me. They want her stopped. Jack it was made clear to me that the 4th Fleet has to stop her and bring her to justice. If we can't do this, than" he paused and shook his head, "Starfleet Command might loss faith in us." There was more that Admiral wasn't saying. Captain Campbell could hear it in what his friend wasn't saying.
Stardate: 53832.88
Just outside of the system: UIH-0351
USS Thunderchild, NCC-63549
Captain Vakath and Commander V'rol
Corridor of the Thunderchild
"Indeed Commander," Captain Vakath said calmly. "Admiral Tate will be briefing Captain Campbell about how Starfleet Intelligence has been able to locate her virus on a number of ships that were undergoing maintenance at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards and Proxima Maintenance Yards. According to reports from Starfleet Intelligence, only select ships were targeted with this virus. The latest report that we were given about an hour ago give little details on the over all virus."
His voice was calm and detached from the topic. He continued to explain the information that was issued. "While its functions are still uncertain at this time as it is only part of the larger program. What is known, is that this virus is not like the one that crippled our ships yesterday. These are two separate viruses with completely different codes within them." He raised an eyebrow as he added, "the confusing issue about this virus is that it was not designed to infect Starfleet systems. Our ships were only meant to act as carriers of the virus."
On that note he paused for a moment before continuing, "This virus had been designed to infect other near by ships through communication channels. According to Starfleet Intelligence, it seemed that she was targeting Cardassian ships specifically. Starfleet Intelligence fears that the virus may have already spread beyond containment thanks to the current situation. Estimations place well over half of Cardassian ships could already be infected thanks to the joint operations to stop the fugitive before she carries out her threat against Cardassian Prime."
He paused once more to allow the information to sink in before continuing. "Admiral Tate will be informing the Detapa Council once more information regarding the nature of the virus can be discovered. However he feels that giving too much information to the Cardassians too soon could lead them to overreact. Thus risking the safe capture of the fugitive. Already he fears for her safety as it is. Somehow word of the manhunt has reached bounty hunters. There are a number of reports that multiple groups have taken interest in this manhunt. I will not hide the fact that at times I am confused by the Admiral's actions verses the his words. Admiral Tate is a very emotional and passionate man. I generally believe that he means to have the fugitive captured alive despite his anger filled words."
On that note he paused and turned to face Commander V'rol "your teams are to be commended. Without your crews' discoveries, the second virus would have gone undetected." With a nod he added, "however, it still does not indicate her over all goals in all of this."
Stardate: 53832.68
Just outside of the system: UIH-0351
USS Thunderchild, NCC-63549
Ensign Townsend, Ensign Habachi, and Lt. Jr. Noonia
Location: Holosuite 3
Ensign Townsend nodded, "So the Commander is not a coward after all" he said softly walking through the frozen image of a burning bridge of the
Thunderchild. He came to a stop in front the holographic image of Commander Bonham. The blood covered face of Commander Bonham looked with distress at the main view screen. With the bridge smashed and the dead piled up, the scene was right out of a holohorror show. "You know that no matter how this played out. Habachi would have never changed his mind. In his eyes, the Commander will always be a coward." He paused to take a breath before adding, "nearly his entire family had been killed by Cardassians."
He paused and turned to face Noonia, "Habachi never really talks about it. I only know because we were friends when it happened. So I had the sad fortune of watching first hand what it did to him. We were in the Academy together when his family had been murdered. His mother and father were doctors before the formation of the Demilitarized Zone. His family used to live on
Juhraya. When the former Federation colonists were run off of world by the Cardassian Government most of them joined the Maquis resistance. His mother sent him and his younger sister to live with their aunt back on Earth. His two older siblings stayed with their parents and all joined the Maquis. No they were not foot soldiers. They provided medical services to the wounded. His older sister and brother acted as medical assistants. He told me that his parents resented violence, but couldn't turn a blind eye to the suffering going on around them."
He continued, "thanks to the help of the Dominion, Cardassians were able to hunt down the group of Maquis that his family belonged to. They located their medical station within the Bad Lands. The station had minimal protection and the few Maquis ships that protected it were quickly out matched. I read the reports, it was a slaughter carried out by the Cardassian 41st Militia. Some two hundred wounded and medical staff were all murdered by the Cardassians."
Ensign Townsend looked down, "I can't imagine losing my whole family like that. But I understand where his hate comes from. Sadly, it fills and consumes him. When word of the murders reached him, he changed his classification from the Medical Field to Security and Tactics. He used to keep me up late in to the night studying battles and tactics. He was actually disappointed when the end of the war came before he could join the fight. Though he never mentioned it. I think he is actually hoping that Seona will be successful in her attack on Cardassia. You know, I don't think he is the only one either."
Ensign Townsend looked at Noonia "however, what you showed me today has changed my opinion. There is no doubt for me anymore. The commander is not a coward. I have no idea what I would have done in his shoes. And I am glad I will never be in that situation to make that call. To hold the lives of others in your hand. That's just too much for me." He stopped talking as he scanned the ruins of the bridge within the holosuite. He took in the whole scene and sighed heavily.
Act Two, Scene Two
