=Explosives Cargo Bay 3 ... or what's left of it=
=Starbase UNITY=
After receiving word of the explosion that ripped through
the cargo bay, Trent arrived to discover a scene that had
become familiar, but never on a starbase. He had been
cleared by the backup security team and was searching for
the man who they said was in charge of the scene. After
making a few inquires with the main security detail, he was
directed to Sergeant Armstrong.
"Sergeant?" Trent said, walking up to the marine.
"Sir" the Sergeant snaped a salute when recognizing the TF
XO.
"What's your status?" Trent asked.
"Ax explosion occurred in the area just in front of the
explosives cargo bay three. We've found fragments of
non-Federation explosive device, they are just being
examined. Initial scans suggest that the explosive was or
organic origin. Nine causalities, seven fleet and marine
security personal, two unidentified yet. Li eutenant Mumacik
was the only survivor, he's just being beamed over to
sickbay. We have found 2LT. Nyx in this area, she was trying
to drag the Lieutenant out of the no-beam zone. She's been
send to sickbay as well … under guard till the
investigation is closed."
"Organic. That could explain how the weapon wasn't detected
by internal sensors," Trent thought outloud then focused his
attention again on the marine NCO. "How could they have
gotten such a weapon onto the starbase to begin with?"
"Can't say, sir" Armstrong replied, "Our science specialist,
Corporal Adams scanned the unknown explosive. He just said
it appear to be an explosive organic composite, but need
detailed scans"
"OK," Trent said as he looked at the devastation around him.
"What can you tell me about the events leading up to the
explosion?"
"Luckily, we have some basic idea what happened, cause LT.
Mumacik made a short note and one inq uiry through his PADD.
The note said that two maries from Support company Alpha
requested some explosives on behalf of an order from USS
Titan's CO. The inquiry was about a certain Corporal's
identity in Support Company Alpha. Results were negative, so
I suppose they were thieves, spies or terrorists. What
happened next is unclear, but the outcome is all around us"
he motioned around, at the damaged walls and the blood bath
from nine dead and ripped bodies.
"I don't know many thieves who would carry around organic
explosives and a terrorist would have found a more
high-profile target with their organic explosive," Trent
summarized to himself. "A spy may have done this, but any
trained operative would have known that security procedures
would have prevented them from gaining access to any
weapons, at least directly."
Trent looked around at the damage once more.
"Sergeant, keep me posted with anything else you come up
with. I'm sure intel will want to send their own team to
investigate, but I'd perfer to keep this a special forces
matter," Trent said, then saw Shane approach.
"Sir," Trent said.
Followed by a group of four security guards, Shane walked
in. Looking at the devastation around, he frowned. If this
was an accident, then someone has been VERY lax in safety
protocol. He was a bit surprised to see Trent here, but
Shane was glad that his XO was quick to react and on top of
things. "Captain" he nodded, "what the hell happened here?"
he asked.
Trent explained what Sergeant Armstrong had told him.
"Mumacik" Shane sighed. "I have at least 11 complaints about
him in my mailbox, but for this one time it looks like that
his stickiness to rules and procedures was of some good." He
frowned again and said: "No burglars would attempt to steal
explosives from a secure cargo bay … but I wonder where
the order came from Titan's CO here … and who could have
use of those explosives"< BR>
"My guess would be the Romulans," Trent said. "If anyone
c ould have gotten as far as they did, it would be them."
Nodding, Shane said: "Tal'shair would be indeed capable for
such an action, but somehow I don't think it's them.
Infecting the air circulation system with retro virus or
wiping out our main computer core, that's would be their
style … but stealing explosives?"
"They were trying to check out weapons from the cargo bay,
so this was likely not their main objective," Trent said.
"Lieutenant Mumacik can give us a better prospective of what
happened."
Shane frowned again: "Rangi was called to sickbay and as far
I can tell, Mumacik is critical. I am not sure that he can
be of any help for us at the moment. Looking at Trent, Shane
added: "Captain, have medical examining all the bodies.
Those unknown ones need to be identified. Then have
operations check internal sensors and all available logs. I
want to know who those guys were, when did they arrive at
UNITY and w here did they came from."
"Will do, sir. What about the weapon itself?"
"Have Science examine the biological components of the
explosive asap. If possible, have the whole station scanned
for such components. Who knows how many such organic
explosives is already on board. Have security double their
shifts for the next 48 hours. If needed, employ all
remaining MEF marines, but sensitive areas of this station
need to be protected"
"I've already ordered security on high alert. We'll search
this base from top to bottom and back up again."
Nodding, Shane thought how happy he was that Trent was not
like him when he was General Bretam's XO. If Bretam would
show up in a bombing site like just he did, Shane would have
personally lead him back to his quarters and lock him
inside. Of course … unless Bretam would say his favourite
sentence: "Captain's prerogative my dear Commander"
"We performed a internal scan o f the starbase a few days
ago," Trent continued. "It seems that Co mmander Utley and
perhaps others planted at least six survelliance devices
throughout the starbase. She was arrested and is currently
residing in the brig until JAG decides what to do with her."
"Hmmm" Shane said, "I havent had time to read your report
about UNITY's CEO arrestment yet, but do you think it could
be connected with this accident?"
"I don't know. At first I doubted it, but this seems like
too much of a coinidence."
"it is then possible that we have an enemy unit in disguise
here on UNITY. If that is true, then there are hard times in
front of us, Captain"
"Yes, sir. If it was the Romulans, then this could be the
start of renewed efforts against this facility and system.
It may even result in another attack. With many of our ships
assigned to Magna, we would not be in a good position if
that ends up being the case."
Nodding again, Shane replied: "Just too true, Captain. If we
should loo se UNITY for any reasons, our current offensive is
deemed to fail, cause lack of logistic support and spare
resources. The situation would be far more easy when we
could lock up the station and allow just military ships do
dock. Unfortunately, we have several thousand civilians on
board and it is the wish of Starfleet Command that UNITY
shall go on like before the war as long as possible." He
signed: "All right then, I'll head for the sickbay and you
please carry on"
Trent nodded as the CO and his security detail walked
away. Just then, he saw a stretcher being carried out of
the main area of wreakage with a covered body. He saw a
charred arm slide out and hanging over the side.
"Wait," Trent said as he walked over to the stretcher. He
lifted the arm and laid it back onto the stretcher, underneath
the cover. The XO then quietly nodded, allowing the two
crewmen moving the stretcher to continue on.
Rear Admiral Shane Guzman
SSF 1st Task Force Commanding officer
and
Captain Trent Rodgers (npc by Rick)
XO, 1st TF, SSF Command
XO, SB 234: UNITY
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