2. Gnycish 2, Tyroth

The crew are at their stations throughout the USS Christa McAuliffe. Whether this will be a routine greeting or the first step in an act of war, no one knows.

Where abouts are you on the ship? The bridge, sick bay, engineering, other?

Drake arches an eyebrow as he sits at the tactical station on the bridge.

"Captain, I recommend raising shields and the ship go on yellow alert immediately."

The Doctor stands at a station in sickbay, a steaming mug in her hands. Her ears flatten as the call goes out. No rest in Starfleet, she thinks, and begins preparing for any potential problems, while also opening a channel to the bridge if she's needed further

Sitting in the XO seat on the bridge, Cole's brow furrowed, thoughtfully scratching at the stubble on his cheek and chin as he considered the approaching ship's request and Ensign Zarah's recommendations. With a confirming look towards the Captain he addressed the tactical officer, "Negative Ensign. Raising shields might be seen as an aggressive act. Be ready --- but let's see what they're about."

"Shields on standby - ready and waiting for your order."

No rest for the weary, Drake thinks as he remains poised for the command.

Aurin stooped over his PADD in his quarters, brow furrowed in concentration. He had taken his notes and readings from the incident at the asteroid belt, compiled them, and then set them aside, to percolate. There would be time to polish his findings, but he needed a moment's distance to put together any kind of coherent presentation.

At the moment, he was going over a few of the recommended readings for the upcoming summit. He absorbed the cutting edge of current nanotechnology research, allowing himself a moment of satifaction when his work on theoretically inert containment fields was cited, at least in passing.

The alert cut through his reading. Hopeful that it was a routine encounter, he tucked the PADD under his arm and made for the bridge. He trusted the science team to handle routine encounters, but, he supposed, he was technically a bridge officer.

He entered the bridge, striding behind the bridge arch, trying not to interrupt the proceedings as the captain considered his course of action.

As the ensign at the sciences station stood to be relieved, Aurin lifted his hand and gave a small wave of his hand, indicating they should remain. Aurin stood near the ensign, facing the main viewscreen as he folded his hands behind his back, not wanting to put pressure on them by peering directly over their shoulder. "Passive and routine scans only, Ensign, until directed, unless you spot something anomalous. Let's not spook them," he suggested quietly, below the channels of command.

Lunas is on the bridge, taking her shift as second pilot on the helm. She has had some rest since their adventure to another dimension and this is her first shift back on USS Christa McAuliffe. This was supposed to be a routine cruise to the summit but now it took a turn in a much more exciting direction.
She confirmes to the first pilot that the ship had come to a halt and relays the distance and bearing of the hostile ship to the commanding officers.

The captain says to the com officer, "Open a hailing channel, main view screen."


The screen flickers on and you see an alien face in a small cubicle. "Federation vessel, those is the Plynlik starship Gragolok. We're blockading the planet while we investigate the death of a diplomat. You may send a team of less than ten aboard our ship if you wish to make your case for access, but any unauthorized attempt to access the planet will be considered hostile."

The Captain responds, "This is Captain Syrran of the Federation starship Chista McAuliffe. Some of my officers were planning on attending a conference on Tyroth but we'll lend what assistance we can in investigating this crime. Expect our delegation in fifteen minutes. Christa McAuliffe out." The screen blackens.

He turns to Commander Walker. "Assemble an away team. I suggest Devar may be an asset for learning the truth behind their actions, but the choice of complement is up to you."

Ever ready for adventure, Drake is hopeful that he will be a part of the team.

"I'd like to volunteer, Commander."

"I'll like to volunteer as well, sir" Luna quickly jumps in. There no fun being a pilot on a halted ship. Visiting an alien space craft and possibly investigate and solve a murder case sounds much, much more fun.

M'Ress puts down her mug, sighs and taps her comm. I will join you, you may need my expertise, perhaps I can figure out what caused the death

A slight narrowing of the eyes, a small tightening of the lips, the only betrayal of emotion as Cole considered the alien's news and warning, his hopes of a less stressful mission after their harrowing encounter in another reality seemingly dashed. Mentally he begun to assemble an away team even as the Captain responded to the alien delegate and nodded as Syrran's cool, logical eyes met his and issued his orders. A small smirk as volunteers already began to speak up.

"I'll clear it with our Security Chief but I think it wise that they remain aboard in case things go South. I'll take Ensign Zarah for the Away Team," he stated with a nod towards Drake before shifting his attention to helm control.

"Sir. If I could procure a shuttle and Lieutenant Vilchis. I'd prefer shuttling over to the alien craft rather than beaming aboard in the event our hosts see fit to not let us leave we'll at least have a way to 'force' our way out --- should it come to that.

"Doctor M'Ress and Lieutenant Ah to examine the body and evidence

"And Lieutenant Devar to assist me in diplomacy."

---

"Excellent. Ready to assist where needed." Drake looks questioningly at Dr. M'Ress and wonders why she was less than enthusiastic. Nervous perhaps.

"I'll keep us safe Doc."

I'll have it ready at once Luna replies excited to be good. Good call yo take the shuttle.
Permission to be relieved of bridge duty as a matter of formality and gets up before any answer is given. She heads for the shuttle bay to prepare the craft. On the way, she checks that her phaser is charged.

She smiles and gently pats his arm as she enters the room Im fine, just disappointed I didn't get my tea. Or my nap

"Ah, well I hear that. Good I'm glad all is well with you and you can always make up for missed naps. Missed tea on the other hand, well that is pretty serious..." he says jokingly.

That it is She gives a firm nod, unable to hide her smile

"Aye, sir."

Aurin expected to pack little more than his tricorder and the tiny type 1 phaser he kept in his coat pocket, and the PADD he had clutched under his arm. He trusted that, acting in good faith, the interdictors would allow equipment to be beamed down to the planet to help investigate the mystery.

But a small frown pulled at his cheeks behind his beak. If someone wanted to make some kind of political statement at an event like this...

He turned towards the ensign at the console. "See if you can get atmospheric readings from inside the ship. Keep an eye out for metallic particulates, especially. But don't get... too aggressive. Inform the captain if you find anything unusual."

"I will join you in the bay shortly, gentlemen." He took a separate turbolift from the bridge to his lab on his way to the shuttle, picking up a small hazardous materials kit, no larger than a briefcase, with a sample container and hand tractor. He had been prepared for a summit on nanotechnology, after all...

"Alright. Atmospheric readings it is, in stealth mode where possible."

Drake runs a few standard routines from inside the ship that shouldn't lift eyebrows too much.

Drake's scans meet with no luck, at least on settings that they may not detect. More powerful probings would certainly be apparent and likely deemed a hostile act. With your sensors unable to penetrate their shielding, you have no choice but to load up in the Raven and make for the potentially hostile ship.

The captain says, "Good luck, officers. This is potentially a first contact scenario so learn what you can."

Luna leads the way from the bridge to the aft shuttlebay where the runabout awaits, and the crew from other parts of the ship meet you there.