===== CO's ready room, USS Chimera ===== Half an hour ago Shane left the bridge leaving LT. Foster in command and retreated to his ready room. Now, equipped with three reports PADDs Shane was a it at loose. Those three PADDs were lying on the table in front of him like pieces of a puzzle ... a puzzle he had to crack and make it a whole picture once again. Putting his thinking cap on, Shane took the first PADD in his hand and started to read it again. For the third time. It was a report from Ensign Stephens from Engineering. Mr. Stephens was just doing a routine diagnostic of a certain memory unit when he noticed a somewhat strange behaviour. On the first look it appeared to be a standart-shedule data exchange between the Chimera's databse and the SSF databse unit on SB Bragg, but on the second ... Stephens noticed (by pure chance) that among the several hundred threads of exchanged data files was a thread that downloaded SELECTIVE data. Shane was no engineer and he didnt understood the techno babble Ens. Stephens supported his findings with very well, but he understood the basic idea. Someone (with SSF Level 6 authorisation) was accessing the Chimera's database and searched for certain data. Stephens was unable to find out what was the search targeted at ... but he made an analysis of data that was downloaded with this data thread. Of course, it was only a guess ... but all those files ad at least one thing common ... some way or another .... all files were related with the Marduk ... This wasnt some sort of a system hack ... the Chimera was well protected against such attacks as a SSF vessel, but more like a cover operation ... by someone. The security clearance used to download the data was directly from Bragg (or at least appeared so), that means that it was someone from the Special Forces who was downlading the data. Shane's old paranoia kicked in and he started to think which individual or faction within SSF could have any profit from those data. The last report he's send to SSF Comm was about three hours ago ... and untill Colonel Cole doesnt wanted to have Shane's report confirmed from other sources ... it wasnt SSF Command. {But who else?} Shane asked himself. Shane dismissed that thoughts and got the second PADD from his desk. It was a report from his Chief Science officer LT. Oriana. Her search of the captured Marduk shuttles revealed that the shuttles were used to ship chemicals and forbidden agents. {Bionimetic gel, nerve gas ...} he read from the PADD. Oriana listed the possible use of found chemicals and fair shares of them were genetical mutations and psycho-affecting treatment. This would suggest that the Marduk were treated far more complex then simple "re-education". Shane shuddered as he thought on what effects such chemicals could have on a lifre form ... even on the Marduk. Another side of that coin was the fact that such research and some of used chamicals were forbidden in the federation. Shane could hard imagine such experiments taking place without Intel knowing about it. {What else havent I been told?} he thought with a shadow of anger in his heart. Shane's thoughts were interrupted by the voice of LT. Foster. "Bridge to Commaander Guzman, your presence is required here sir" he stated. Shane tapped his combadge and replied: +TAPS+ On my way Lieutenant. + With that he's put the PADD aside and swiftly made it for the bridge. Stepping inside the bridge, Shane saw Foster standing up from the CO's seat and reporting: "Sir, we have detected a shuttle leaving the Einhoften facility. Its course is on collision with us. It should be here in a minute". Shane noded and looked at Ens. Dexter who relieved Cdt. C'el from her bridge duty. "Shields Ensign?" Shane asked. "On line, 98 percent on all emitters" Dexter reported. Shane noded towards the TAC officer sat himsef in the CO's seat and ordered: "On screen!" The main viewscreen flashed for a second and then showed a runabout heading directly at Chimera. He flashed at Dexter who replied: "Danube class, shields down, weapons off line". {The same class as those shuttles who attacked us} Shane thought. This wasnt the time for text-book officer approaching and Shane decided to show his harder face: "Ensign Dexter, lock all phasers on the shuttle, Lieutenant Foster, open a channel please". "Channel open" quietly said the AOPS. "This is Commander Guzman from the USS Chimera. To the unknown shuttle ... please identify yourself" Shane waited five heart-beats and looked at Foster who shook his head. This time Shane glanced at Dexter. Catching the CO's looks Dexter said quietly: "One Jem'hadar on board, few humans, one seems to be Bajoran, scan inhibitor active" "USS Chimera to the unknown shuttle, identify yourself ... this is the final warning ... you have 10 seconds to identify yourself or we open fire". ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman CO USS Chimera