RP Log: We're Still Starfleet
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| 2026-01-29 22:43 | |
Tilar rubs her hands over her face and breathes deeply, looking frazzled. "I don't like ANY of this," she says, beginning to pace back and forth slowly. "There is something going on, we're locked out of necessary systems, our people are being assigned to menial tasks that they are overqualified for..."
Ryu nods and says "Well we have physical evidence Commander H'Riss is infected by a toxin that is affecting his judgement, so we can deal with that problem first, We need to speak to that cooperative guard and let him know the situation, the uncooperative guard will need to be distracted will we do the necessary relieving of command"
"Just a second," Hauser says. "If we're going to figure this out, we need to set one thing straight first. We are Starfleet, and we're going to behave like Starfleet officers. At least until the time comes to get hinky. That means we respect the chain of command between us, and when we can find Worthington, he might have to be the decision-maker here. Now you two were doing a bunch of whispering that I didn't catch. So kindly start at the beginning, ladies. Doc, you say the commander of this station's got some kind of injury, and it's some kind of toxin that's what, killing him?"
Tilar looks over at Hauser and nods to her. "Yes, that's why I'm trying to slow things down a little bit," she says, breathing deeply. "And yes, things are already hinky. That guard claims that they're using 'inverse polarity phasers' and power cells will appear empty when they are in fact full. When I charged the power cell, he became absolutely irate, raised forcefields to contain me, and pointed his phaser at me." Tilar takes another breath, exhaling slowly through her lips and explaining further. "The toxin has some hallucinogenic effects, but can be lethal to some species. The officer I scanned is clean no signs of the substance. I don't think making an attempt to relieve or confront Commander H'Riss is well-advised at this time. I CAN, however, do my best to keep my research and conclusions encrypted and unavailable to anyone but me. If nothing else, that should give us some leverage."
Ryu nods and says "Okay, I will go with that, you said you saw Commander Worthington earlier, send him what we have found out and we'll wait to see what he wants us to do" Ryu looks around and says "I will be in my quarters keeping my head down for now" she heads out.
Hauser walks over to the trill doctor and reaches to take both her hands. "Listen, Vi, can I call you that? Listen, I'm not a hard-ass. It doesn't suit me well. But we're in a messed up situation. I agree that trying to stage a coup is a bad idea right now. And if it's down to me to authorize, I'm not gonna let anyone try that. My hope is to find Commander Worthington and get some stuff in motion. Right now, what I'd love to do, get access to the computer system. I think that snaky bastard topside is lying through his fangs, or he's a victim, or he's both. Either way, Starfleet's not functioning around here and we've got to stay free long enough to get the word out." She sighs. "I just wish I could find an engineer to take aside for an honest talk."
Tilar blinks as Hauser takes her hands, looking at the other woman steadily. There is no protest as her hands are claimed, and she nods at the question of her name. "Lots of people call me that. I'm okay with it," she assures Hauser. "And I don't want to start a coup right now either. I was just being pushed into a scenario by Lieutenant Ryu, and it was probably safest to play along rather than show division right now. If we show signs of division between us, they will use that. We don't have enough information or strength to stage a coup right now." She, too, gives a heavy sigh. "I mean, you could try talking it through with me if you want? I might not have any insights, but I can be a sounding board."
"Getril's a good scientist, but she isn't command certified and doesn't need to be giving orders, between us," Hauser says. "I was getting that vibe, and unless Commander Worthington pokes in, I'll handle it quietly." She lets your hands go and sighs. "Can you tell me again about that power cell business?"
"I'm not either, but I'd like to be," Tilar says with a small smile. "Though this isn't exactly the training scenario I'd prefer." She drops her hands to her sides again and wrinkles her nose. "Oh that." She dips her hands into her pockets and withdraws a type-1 phaser and a power cell, both items separate for the moment. "I told Commander H'Riss that I was certified to carry sidearms while on the Phoenix, and suggested I should be armed here as well since it's apparently unsafe on the station. I didn't have any major suspicions at the time. When I got to the armory, my guard there handed me a phaser with a drained power cell. When I charged it, he became absolutely incensed. Furious. Shouting and yelling about how I had overcharged it and now it's dangerous, and to return it immediately. I refused on the grounds that this kind of behaviour is not rational, and backed away. He proceeded to raise force fields around the armory and refused to let me leave, and pointed his phaser at me. I contacted Commander H'Riss, who basically told me that I don't know what I'm talking about and to trust the guard's judgement."
Tilar pauses to breathe before continuing. "I was alarmed at the entire incident, but became extremely suspicious when Commander H'Riss had no concern about this behaviour. I returned the power cell, and was replicated a new one. I was then told that they use 'inverse polarity phasers' and that the batteries will show as empty when they are actually full. I didn't think it was safe to argue at the time, so I've simply kept both the phaser and the empty power cell in my possession."
Hauser grins at your line about becoming certified. "I hear you, Vi. This one isn't in the academy playbook. And as an engineer, I'm calling BS on their explanation. I don't see how they would do that to every phaser onboard or to all replicated phasers, or why they wouldn't alter the sensors to read accurately. So I'm thinking it's a pile of crap. Can I see that phaser you have?""
Tilar nods and passes over both the phaser and the power cell. "Luz took a look at the power cell, and she said it's just a normal, regular power cell. I might not be an engineer, but I AM a Starfleet officer and I AM certified. I'm not ignorant of the general workings of a phaser." She then blinks, eyebrows hitching up as she remembers something. "OH. And the replicator in the armory had a note on it: Someone had been replicating type-3s and no one knows where they are, so the replicator had its patterns purged."
Lieutenant (jg) Tilar hands you Type-1 Phaser (57281) (holstered).
Lieutenant (jg) Tilar hands you Power Cell (57283).
Hauser smiles. "I know you're not, doc. They just wanted to think you are." She listens to the explanation skeptically. "I can't prove anything yet, but something tells me these guys are as legit as silver-pressed latinum." She turns her attention to the phaser and cell.
"RIGHT?!" Tilar's eyes go a bit wide as she throws her hands up in the air. "THANK YOU for assuring me that I'm not crazy." She drops her hands back down to her sides, huffing. At least she looks a bit more confident now. "We need to get computer access before we do anything else, I think. Without that, they have the upper hand. I can drag my feet a little bit with the toxin, but I doubt they'll wait too long."
Hauser nods. "You do what you have to, Doc. I have faith in you. Now, I'm tempted to test this. If they were telling the truth and they really did fiddle with the phaser, it'll set off an alarm in ops. On the other hand, if it's a dead dog, nothing. Gotta vote?"
"If nothing else, I'm going to try and keep my work restricted and encrypted to just me. That should give us leverage. In theory." Tilar watches Hauser as she fiddles with the phaser, considering. "Well. One of two things will happen. One: Nothing happens. Two: SOMETHING happens, and they come and take it away, leaving us one sidearm shorter than we were. That said, Luz says she has one, so we're not totally without resources."
Hauser frowns. "No power density at all. I should see if it'll still perm my hair," she quips.
Tilar nods as Hauser draws the same conclusion, letting her hands rest easily in her pockets. "That's what I figured. And the fact that Commander H'Riss was okay with this leads me to suspect he's aware of this situation. So my perception, at this time, is that this entire station is compromised. I'm just... not sure how or why yet."
Hauser sighs, holstering the phaser. "This station, it has a history of corruption and criminal activity. Commander Worthington would know more, but Phoenix has been here before."
The Trill officer shrugs, a little bit helplessly. "I'm a fresh face here. Which is both good and bad, I suppose." Tilar looks around her room and then sighs heavily. "So I should probably go back to medical and resume my research. Unless we want to keep up with Jetrel's plan of being difficult unless they allow us to scan them." She cringes slightly, shaking her head. "I wish she hadn't done that. It puts me in an awkward position."
Hauser hands you your type 1. "Just to clarify, between us, you mean you wish she hadn't suggested being so difficult?"
You hand Type-1 Phaser (57281) (holstered) to Lieutenant (jg) Tilar.
Tilar nods, reaching over to reclaim the phaser to return it to her pocket. "Yes," she says. "And that our work is concluded unless the guards cooperated. That we would not be able to do further research until speaking to Commander H'Riss." She shakes her head a bit. "I don't know what to say to that. I can probably make something up that sounds wordy and flowery and pretty, but I would rather not."
Hauser touches your shoulder. "Ok doctor, I'm taking responsibility until Worthington's available. Here is my order, and if you see Ryu before I do, you let her know I said it." She smiles. "Don't be difficult or play hardball. You're a doctor. People expect you to be harmless, and you're new here. You're scared. I get it, play into that, right? you're a doctor, confused, but all about healing people, and you don't want to rock the boat by being a hardcase. See where I'm going?"
"I'm not scared so much as... unnerved," Tilar says. "If that makes sense. I'm trying to figure out the best way to manage this, and I don't have a lot to go off of. Still a Starfleet Officer." Hauser gets a small smile and a nod. "I'll be okay. I can manage stressful situations. But I understand what you're getting at that's what I had been doing up until Ryu came by and did the opposite. It threw off my plan, such as it was. I'll keep going, try to seem harmless, and get whatever information I can find."
Hauser nods. "I like your plan. Run with it. Now how about I get out of your room and go find my own."
"I think there are a few down the hall," Tilar says, nodding to the door. "I'll go with it and keep my conclusions encrypted as much as possible. Let me know if you need me, and I'll keep gathering what information I can."
"Keep your chin up, Vi." She heads out.