Shakedown #85"
By: Sarik, Chief Science Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]
Charles Atwood, Chief Intelligence Officer, [PST]
Stardate: 58202.28 1300
Sarik and Lt. Atwood entered the bridge. They arrived to report their findings. "Captain, we have been studying the pod. We have found interesting information." said Sarik.
The Captain stood up from the command chair and followed Sarik and Atwood over to the bridge science station. "What did you find?" asked Hunter inquisitively
"You will find the data rather interesting, captain." He brought up his findings and showed it to the captain. "We have determined that the pod is created by a Cardassian replicator."
Hunter looked at the readout with a perplexed expression.
"Speculate Sarik, why would the Cardassians replicate a Maquis escape pod and put our tortured engineer in it?" asked Hunter.
"That hypothesis is rather unorthodox, captain." Sarik thought a while. "My estimation will be that are giving us a warning. It is a tactic often used to scare the enemy."
Hunter nodded, "anything else to report?"
"Captain, we have discovered nothing but one decoded message from the pod. I believe that Mr Atwood is already working on it."
Hunter looked over at Lt. Atwood who was seated at Science Station 2, busy with the task at hand.
"Report Lieutenant?" ask Hunter of Atwood.
"Sir, First of all It was a very low level encription code it only took 5 Minutes and a code one desipher program to decode it, It looks as if our Cardassians friends wanted us to hear it really bad", Stated Atwood Waiting for Confirmation.
Hunter was troubled by that speculation, if true, this was more than a strike and run tactic.
"Fascinating, Can i take a closer look captain?" Hunter nodded affirmatively as he stepped aside.
The Vulcan looked at the encryption codes and ran a couple of computer programs. "Interesting, the data has been encrypted via algorythmns, and then loosely transformed into standard Cardassian code. The algorythm looks very familiar, but i can not speculate at it." Sarik was working rather fast at the moment. He made several calculations and looked again at the data. "Captain, according to my analysis this message has been recorded on a cardassian ship, then copied into the pods computer. It has been deliberately placed there. " Sarik looked at Atwood who had been working on this for quite some time while they were underway. "I believe Atwood may have found a key to decode the message."
"Well Yes Lt. As you said they use a very simple code in the process and then they made sure we found it I suggest we play the message in an isolated computer out of the mainfraim just in case they had put a surprise in the data we where unable to find in the preliminar analysis", Said Charles with a smile.
"Excellent work Lieutenant, go ahead and play the message" said Hunter.
Charles transferred the data to his tricorder Isolated it and prepare to play the message with a "Ready when you are Sir"
A moment later a message appeared on the tricorder viewer.
A gray haired man dressed in a federation uniform smiled. "Hello again Ian. Sorry to ruin your big day." He sneered.
"Jenkins!" said Hunter under his breath.
"I am very displeased with you for joining up with that Maquis rifraf. I thought I had taught you better, but I see more lessons are required. I have most of your previous command crew" he sneered again, "Well those that are still alive. You see Cardassians are hard to stop when they set their mind to their task. Anyway, my point is I have them and you want them. Come and get them. Just to show what a nice guy I am I saved this one for you. I do hope he made it. He was not in very good shape when we put him in the pod. ...And do hurry Ian. My new Cardassian friends really enjoy their work. I can really make no guarantees as to their safety" he laughed "Come fine me. If you looked close enough at the pod it should not be too hard. Unless you have sub standard staff that is. Jenkins out."
Hunter frowned.
"Highly illogical." Sarik added. Hunter turned to Sarik, "did you see anything else on the pod to indicate where he is? ´ ´The most logical probability will be that he is located on a Cardassian ship." said Sarik with a shrug. Hunter was about to restate his question when suddenly an alert signal sounded at that tactical station.
Hunter turned and looked at Westfall.
´Gentlemen, we have a *present* from Mister Jenkins, rogue that he is, he's just activated a homing beacon on the escape pod. To coin a phrase, 'We can follow him straight down the yellow brick road, right to the Emerald Castle.'"
Hunter looked gravely concerned, "Is the pod emitting any signals?" "I am reading signals emanating from the pod, Captain," said Westfall, "but the containment field is preventing it from broadcasting beyond deck 11."
"A containment field?" said Hunter looking at Sarik and Atwood. "Good thinking gentlemen, you may have just given us a tactical advantage."
Hunter turned and looked at Wright, "Number One, will you arrange a staff meeting in 10 minutes, I want some options." With an approving nod, Hunter said, ´Good job gentlemen, I'll be in my ready room if anything else comes up."
=Readyroom=
Hunter held his hands against his face for several minutes as he collected his thoughts. Then he pushed a button on the console.
Captain's log supplimental: "Following the destruction of the Kittyhawk, we've discovered that Captain Jenkins is behind this massacre. He is relentless in finishing what he as started. I'm afraid he is determined to erase what he considers his mistake, he won't stop until one of us is dead."