And There Goes The Klaxon Again
Posted on Thu Nov 5th, 2026 @ 4:04am by Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale & Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Daltom Vesper & Captain Erik Norsgaard & Lieutenant Commander Areum Choi
1,233 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
The Invisible Hand
Location: Various | USS Thunderbird
Timeline: MD005 - 1200
[Observation Room]
The red alert klaxom sounded, echoing through a ship that had already been through so much, and Erik, who had been listening to his surprisingly hostile counselor, turned, hand immediately going to his commbadge. "Bridge," he barked. "What's going on?"
"Ensign Reeves here, Sir. We're getting readings of an armed explosive device."
[Investigation Room]
"Okay. Dispatch security. Stay at red alert but kill the sound, would you? Captain out." He turned toward Vesper and said, "excuse me, Counselor." And then, moving quickly, stepped into the Investigation Room for a moment. "Baas," he said, "you're needed."
Baas' head snapped as the red alert sounded and glanced to the door as the Captain came in. "Commander. He's all yours", following the Captain out.
Choi was concerned with what was occurring, but quick refocused herself. She had a task to concentrate on. Perhaps a challenge, but she like those. "All mine," she commented. "Perfect. That is how I prefer things."
Renn said nothing. Really, what was there to say?
Lieutenant Commander Choi walked over to the replicator. Due to its location, it was locked into providing food and beverage only. She tapped away and looked at a curated menu. She opted for a mug of hot cocoa and a small stack of cookies before returning to Renn and taking a seat.
"So, friends of yours?" she inquired about the commotion that was happening. "Jail break or just some sort of diversion tactic?" She looked at him warmly then picked up one of the oatmeal cookies.
"No," Renn answered. "I'm suspecting that's a problem of your making, not mine."
[Observation Off of the Interrogation Room]
Daltom turned to the Captain and asked, "Excuse you for what? Doing your job?"
Norsgaard ignored him and headed out of Observation and toward the nearest turbolift; Dragos earlier comment came back to him as he entered the lift and barked, "Bridge." Missing puzzle pieces. The Ambassadors. "Daegaan, I need you to find Oryx. I think she's in the VIP section. Whatever this is, I'll bet it has to do with her."
[Bridge | USS Thunderbird]
"Her or Ambassador Tasat," Baas said. "One thing is for sure whoever these people are, they definately don't give up."
"So let's make them," Norsgaard said as he stepped out onto the Bridge, "give up, I mean. Find that device and second someone to locate Ambassadors Oryx and Tasat. Get eyes on them and make sure they're both alright."
"Understood." As he took over the bridge station he spoke to the officer that was covering for him. "You heard the Captain. Get someone with both Ambassadors asap."
"Aye." Nodding to the Captain as he passed he move to the auxillary station even as he spoke with .
The Bridge was a hub of activity and, as Norsgaard sat in the command seat, reports came flooding in. A device had activated but as yet, no explosion. That was a mercy at least. "Norsgaard to Hale," he said. "How's it going with extraction of that ship?"
=^= "We've pulled it into the maintenance bay, Captain." =^= Hale replied.
"Good work," Norsgaard said. "We're going to want the vessel scanned, well enough to make a three-dimensional model. Have someone on your team coordinate with engineering but I'm going to need you up here. We've got to get Thunderbird ready to move."
=^= "Got it. On the way. Hale out." =^=
"Baas," Norsgaard said through the ship's communication system, "have you located the device?"
Baas' head snapped towards the Captain. "Empty guest quarters....VIP Section!"
[VIP Section]
Merat, head of Tasat's security detail, moved silently through the VIP section, toward the Selay Ambassador's location. His gaze flicked from his hand-held scanner to the corridor before him; the activated device would draw their attention long enough for him to complete his mission. Only a short way down the corridor now. Closer and closer. Outside her door, he scanned for signatures and found only hers. Good ... good. The transporter tag in his pocket was active; the Ocett would be monitoring and the Thunderbird had no shields. Better ...
The door, surprisingly, was unlocked and opened at his approach. Moving quickly now, he surprised the elderly Selay and got her into a headlock, the blade of his knife rising to press against her throat. "Ambassador," he hissed softly into her ear, "I'm here for that device of yours ... "
"I don't know what you're talking about." Oryx struggled against the Cardassian's grip. "W-what device?"
"Don't play stupid with me, Ambassador," Merat snarled. "We've watched you and we know how you work in these ... negotiations ... I want that device and I want it now."
"You would threaten a Federation Ambassador on a Starfleet vessel?" Oryx rasped. She ceased her struggle, though with the icy blade pressed to her neck, she fought to keep her breath steady. Her eyes narrowed. "Does Ambassador Tasat know what you're doing?"
"Now, Ambassador," Merat said, his voice deep and menacing, "don't make the mistake of thinking this is a negotiation. It's not. Turn it over or die." He paused a second. "See ... no one's coming. They're busy. I saw to that."
"You did?" She asked. Her eyes darted around the room. "What have you done?"
"You have trouble sticking to the point, I see," Merat said. "I'll give you this. It's a distraction. If your security people are any good, it'll be just that. If they're not, well, it'll be a reason to train harder, won't it? Now, the device."
"Fine," Oryx relented. "Fine. But if I were to give you this device, Merat, what assurance do I have that you won't harm anyone?"
"I'll be gone before you can take another breath," Merat said quietly. "And considering my Ambassador was attacked on your ship and you were secretly recording everything, not sure you have the high ground here. Now, hand it over. My patience is rapidly coming to an end."
"In the cupboard." Oryx told him with a nod toward her dresser. "Over there."
"Thank you," Merat said. "Now have a seat." He gestured toward the nearest chair and watched while she sat down and then switched to a phaser he'd appropriated along the way. He moved over to the dresser and found it in the third drawer. He grabbed the device, saluted and pulled out his communication device. "Got it." And just like that, he was gone.
The light from Merat's transporter beam washed over her, the ambassador squinting her eyes as he beamed away. When he had shimmered into nothingness, she breathed a sigh of relief. Standing and moving across the room, she closed the drawer Merat had ripped open. Then, with a smirk appearing on her lips, she moved toward her bedside table.
She retrieved a PADD and sat on her bed, reviewing the information she had captured with the device. Information streamed past on the screen. She had all the data she needed.
She tapped her combadge. "Oryx to Captain. I have something you may want to see."
Captain Erik Norsgaard
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Commander Areum Choi
Executive Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief Security and Tactical Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Daltom Vesper
Chief Counselor
USS Thunderbird
Merat
Head of Security
Ambassador Tasat's Team
(written by Captain Erik Norsgaard)
Oryx
Federation Ambassador
(written by Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale)
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