Fragments: Interference, Part 2

Posted on Thu Jul 31st, 2025 @ 2:37pm by Captain T’Kal & Lieutenant Commander David Erickson & Lieutenant Commander Valerie Novis & Lieutenant Karane Inda & Chief Petty Officer Chloe Delacroix
Edited on on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 7:51pm

1,920 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X03: The Listening Post
Location: Station Delta IV Sensor Array

Previously on "Star Trek: Ark Royal":

Karane floated over. "Well it's not of Federation design." Karane observed. "The power signature doesn't match anything that we use."

"Okay, so we can assume we aren't booby trapping our own equipment, good to know," David said, then frowned. "Can I see the power signature?"

Karane turned her tricorder so that David could see the screen. "Does it look a little like... Klingon to you?"

"A little," David said, looking at it. "Some Klingon tech may have been kludged into it, but look at the frequencies for the interference screen. That's got Starfleet written all over it. Someone's trying to make it look like either our tech or Klingon tech or both, but someone's trying to pull a fast one on us."

"Hard to do, since our technology is incompatible..." Karane explained.

"Which means I'm about to do something grotesquely stupid," David said, resuming his walk towards the device. "Tell me if it does....something."

"Got it. Proceed." Karane responded simply.


And now the continuation:


"W-wait, what about coming in from the side?" Cid said.

"If it really was Klingon tech, I'd agree with you, Chief," David said through the comms as he started to put some distance between them. "They expect their enemies to come directly at them, as they would at us. But I'm betting that this is a feint. So, if we use reverse psychology, we go in as a Klingon would, since it was made like a Klingon wouldn't and that way nothing explodes."

"I think I get it...." Cid said.

"Good you can explain it to me later," David said as he began his final approach. "I'm just bullshitting so I don't panic."

Karane continued to scan the device. It seemed like it didn't have any proximity sensors, at least that she could tell.

David reached the attached device and touched it gingerly, then a bit more firmly. He looked around it carefully, tracing the seams and access points. "One main wire from the device into the array's wiring," he said. "One main seam I can see, no markings. Devoid of most standard Starfleet serial codes or Klingon tri-fractal designs." He gave the device a test wiggle and jumped back, then approached again. He tapped, knocked and again shook the device before shrugging and turning back to the other two. "I suppose it's safe to approach, at least," he said.

Karane came over, guided by her thrusters. She floated next to David. "It seems to be wired directly into the array. Whoever installed this had to know about the array's design." She explained to them. "They knew exactly where to put it and where to drill into the plating."

"So, tech savvy, knows both Starfleet and Klingons, and has a vested interest in what goes on between us," David said, glancing around as if the unknown party would suddenly appear. "Can you crack this egg?" he said, looking at Karane.

"I'll give it a shot." Karane responded.

"All right, it's your show," David said, stepping back and letting the experts get to work. He glanced at the shuttle hanging in the distance. "Any thoughts on our mystery tamperer, Commander?"

"I'm always inclined to blame the Romulans" Valerie responded over the comm, but then demurred, "But that's rather unlikely out this far. If we're talking Klingon tech or techniques, maybe look for variations that could be by an allied race of theirs? Orion or maybe Ferasan posing as a Caitian? We'll want to check the logs for any close approaches by any ships."

Meanwhile Karane began to work on the device. She removed the outer casing to reveal its insides. It was definitely some sort of inteference device. It also seemed to have a recording and storage data unit. "It's more than just a jammer. It's actively either recording or diverting everything sent by the array." She explained. "No signs of any explosives though..."

"I think you can remove it. Then we can study it back on the Ark Royal." Karane said. "How the hell did someone get this close and install it without being noticed?"

"They used it," Cid said, coming up next to her. "They rigged a portable power source and used it as a blind as they approached." She pointed at the front port. "They could wire in directly at this junction here, then when they hooked it to the array they disconnected the power source, still behind the blind, and ran." She looked at their position. "Kind of like we're doing....can anyone see us behind this thing? Or could someone be watching us now from the other side?"

"Steady, Chief," David said. "Focus on the job." He looked past Karane. "No explosives is good, but watch out for anything else. We don't want to short out the array."

"I know what I'm doing!" Karane snapped back. "Shut up and let me work!"

"Yes ma'am," David said, body tense, ready to pull them back if necessary.

Over their in-shuttle and in-helmet comms systems, all away team members suddenly heard the voice of their Captain. “T’Kal to Away Team. Status report?”

"Trying not to joggle their elbows, ma'am." Valerie replied in a very calm voice as she watched what was going on from one of the enhanced camera views, "Definitely someone was here with something shady in mind, the team is working to disassemble it and bring it back for study. Nothing's blown up so far, so that's one good thing."

A few moments later, after some very delicate fiddling, Karane pulled the device away from the array. She held it securely in her hands, turning it over. "I got it."

Cid breathed a sigh of relief and scanned the junction where it had been. "It was tapped directly into the main sensor net. They could copy every sensor reading, every ship movement...everything from here."

David took a couple of deep breaths and resisted the urge to take the offending object from Karane just for safety purposes. "Is it safe to bring back to the shuttle?" he said.

"It was using power from the array itself. So I believe so." She replied. "There's no power signature or battery. Perfect for hiding in plain sight."

David nodded. "All right, let's take your new toy home to play." He turned to face the shuttle in the distance. "Commander? Care to swing by and save us a walk?"

An mischievous smile spread across Karane's face. "Oh I'm going to have fun dissecting you my new little friend. I'm going to enjoy pulling all those little screws out and going over you with piece by piece..." she suddenly turned red. "Wait... I was still transmitting?! Forget you heard that!"

David looked at her and his smile shone clear through the faceplate of his helmet. "I'm just glad you're talking about the machine," he said.

Cid looked at the device longingly, jealous that someone else got to poke around with it. "Can I read through your results? It looks fascinating."

"Erm... Yeah... Sure..." she then spotted David's face. "What's that smile for?! Are you jealous that I'm giving this more attention than you?!" She then stopped, blushing even more redder. "Wait... You all forget I said that too! It's not like we are... you know... or screw this!" Her comm channel cut off as she turned off the comms inside her helmet. Anyone close enough could now see her mouth moving, likely some very 'colourful words' but the void of space prevented them from being heard.

Cid looked at him. "I get why she doesn't like me...but what's her deal with you?"

"She's secretly crazy about me," David said, giving an exaggerated wink before turning his back on Karane to avoid her seeing him grin.

Cid looked at her boss' expression and the hole it was burning into David's back. "She doesn't look it..."

David shrugged. "We don't want to flaunt anything."

"Oh," Cid said, then smiled at Karane, giving her a thumbs-up. "You're doing a really good job!"

Forgetting that she was on mute, all they could see was Karane literally flapping and kicking in space, her face bright red and she seemed to be shouting and still very flustered. It was like something off of an old Earth cartoon. Obviously, her hotheaded nature was coming out to bite, but the vacuum of space was the only thing stopping her words from reaching the others.

Cid stepped away quickly and as the shuttle got into position, David deactivated his boots and quickly floated over to secure the hatch for them, keeping himself out of range of attack.

It was at that moment that poor Karane's comm unmuted. "... and we've not even got around to having se...." she suddenly noticed the icon on her HUD that had previously been red, now showed green meaning she was now transmitting every word. "...e...e...e..." she stumbled slowly "...x..." There was a very awkward silence. Karane curled over in sheer embarrassment covering her face with her gloved hands, or at least trying to.

David immediately jumped back to the array, locking his boots on the surface before taking the device and handing it to Cid. He deactivated her boots and gave her a well-aimed shove towards the open shuttle hatch before turning around and reaching down to unlock Karane's boots, then his own. He scooped her up in his arms and pushed off, taking them back to the shuttle.

As they touched down, the hatch closed and the airlock pressurized. Cid quickly jumped out of her suit and into her coveralls, taking their new prize into the main cabin, leaving the other two alone.

David quickly divested himself of his helmet, cutting off comms and then helped Karane out of hers. Once he was assured they were no longer broadcasting, he squatted down to her eye level and gave her gloved hand a squeeze. "Don't feel bad, we've all had awkward comm moments," he said. "And if it makes you feel better, I've actually said something worse."

Karane looked away, still bright red in the face. "You... you enjoyed that... didn't you..." she huffed avoiding looking at him at all. "Like... really enjoyed teasing me. You... you dummy!"

"'Dummy'?" he sighed dramatically. "Corny," he said, echoing her earlier jibe.

"Eh?!" Karane protested but quickly shut up.

He smiled at her and stood up, walking to the side, divesting himself of his suit and stretching, enjoying the freedom of movement before getting back into his uniform. "And, all right, I'll admit to a small amount of of pleasure seeing you flustered," he said, sealing his jacket flap. "It's cute. I'm flattered, really. But honestly, Karane," he said, moving strategically towards the door, "patience, please. I don't want us rushing this 'magic bond' between us." He quickly slipped through the doorway and back to the cockpit, letting the door cut off the potential of rising volume behind him and giving her privacy to change.

Karane just sat there in silence. Her heart pounding in her chest, this strange feeling flowing through her was something she had never encountered before. For the first time ever, she actually had no idea what she was feeling.

End




Lt. Commander David Erickson
Flyboy/Map-Looker-Atter
USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant Commander Valerie Novis
Chief-Sitter-Arounder/Scared-Of-Vacuum
USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant Karane Inda
Chief Not-Yet-'Done-It' & Tsundere Fix It Girl.
USS Ark Royal

CPO Chloe Delacroix
Stay-out-of-the drama Fix It Girl
USS Ark Royal

 

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