Chapter IIa: Absolute Disaster

"I'd prefer that we nail down the plan details before going to warp. You know, just for the new experience. Do we do the fake distress call? Our people seem to have gained access to the communication system on their ship, so maybe they have control of the bridge. Will a fake distress call even work in that scenario?"

Darcy speaks up: "Sickbay should focus on developing a way to save infected hosts. I'm just going to replicate myself some painkillers."

She begrudgingly confirms the order and adds: "We've already done the fake distress signal and they lost two ships because of it. They probably won't fall for it again."

Marbo stands up very quickly, all four hands coming down on the table.

" Marbo will not let the crew be put at risk of infection by those things!"

He points out whatever window is nearest, into empty space.

" You can not understand what marbo saw out there. The feeling of those things enroaching on you, burrowing into you preparing to take your body away. Preparing to seperate you from everything that makes you a person!"

The anger in Marbos voice almost immediately subsides into sadness. He chokes back tears for a moment before continuing.

Those creatures... those monsters... They can not be given the remotest opportunity to claim more lives. Marbo will not allow it.

He turns away from cassano, looking out the window into the void.

Marbo will not allow it..

"I think I have an idea. What if we put a crew on the pirate ship we have left and have it 'tow' the apparently captive Potential? We can't carry on a real-time conversation in their language yet, but we could send a one-way message, something like, 'communications array damaged in battle with meatbags. Have captured Spacefleet ship with many potential hosts.' If our folks are in control of their ship, we drop the charade. If not, we play out the ruse until we spring the trap."