Nourishing Vipers [✱17]

Posted on Wed Apr 29th, 2026 @ 2:22pm by Lieutenant Commander Alph & Lieutenant Valerie Gordon & Ensign Mana'i & Cadet Senior Grade Camilaar 'Cam' of Rhade & Cadet Senior Grade Iplik, Son of Raavon & Dal Ithmik & Dalin Noluks & Glinn Vatev
Edited on on Wed Apr 29th, 2026 @ 2:22pm

1,451 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: UnderMind [4]
Location: IKS Praxis' Claw - Main Engineering
Timeline: Morning - MD04 (Simultaneous to ✱13 & ✱15)

With Alph working on the computers with Mana'i's participation, Gordon and Camilaar had been reviewing the unaccountable machinery that went from floor to ceiling. With most of the parts removed, they were forced to use inductive reasoning to try and understand what it might have been.

"Well. We know its connected to main power and seems to be hooked into the warp nacelles, but beyond that I think your guess is as good as mine. Any ideas?" Gordon asked Cam.

Camilaar wanted to touch the pillar but knew that was not a good idea. He turned to Gordon. “Is it doing anything to the ship or just connected?” He asked.

"It's definitely integrated somehow. Looks to be going in the same direction as the engines. Whatever it is, I'm guessing it's a hog for power, that's the pathway that guarantees the most access to ready supply of warp plasma." Gordon said, thinking out loud. "See if you can get a diagnostic going, we should be able to learn something from what it tries to do, even if it fails." She told Cam as she set her tricorder to another spectrum.

"Aye," Camilaar glanced around the pillar and found a console. It had physical cabling between it and the pillar, clearly it had to be what controlled the pillar. "Warp plasma." He echoed as he began a diagnostic, partially assimilated Klingon computer interface did present a little difficulty.

He came across a few terms he didn't know but the rest had relation to Slipstream. Camilaar blinked several times as he watched the diagnostic scrolled coding and various call outs to other systems, the deflector for one but it failed several times. It must be damaged or offline as warnings appeared on the lists of checks next to the rapidly moving text. Camilaar saw that one of the checks was about Benamite crystals, he didn't know what those were or what for. Clearly they had to do with the pillar.

"Lieutenant, what are Benamite crystals?" Cam inquired as he glanced over his shoulder at Gordon.

"Something Klingons shouldn't have." Gordon said with a note of concern. She was about to explain, but she heard Iplik start to speak.

Alph also heard the discussion and gave Gordon a knowing look. At least as well as he could given his limited emotional range.

Cadet Iplik looked like he had heard something. A moment later he realised he had, and reached for the earpiece from the comms backpack. He put it in, and looked confused. "I read you, landing team. Could you repeat that? I thought you said 'Cardassians'." Iplik said as though it was a joke.

Before the officer waiting where they'd first beamed in could clarify, a trio of Cardassians appeared in a haze of yellow particles. They were two males and a female, the one who appeared to be their leader seemed to quickly appraise the situation, and looked startled by the sight of Borg technology.

He did not say anything, but quickly drew his phaser and pointed it at Mana'i.

Gordon dropped what she was doing, and anger flashed across her that her colleagues had never seen from her. "Put that thing away. How dare you come in here and start pointing weapons at us? This is a rescue mission by allies of the Klingon Empire. You are not welcome or wanted here."

"This ship is adrift, we are within our rights to claim salvage. We may not be allies, but we are still entitled to recompense for any assistance we provide." The Cardassian leader responded in a rich, clear voice, suggestive of education. He kept his weapon and focus trained on Mana'i.

Alph stepped between the Cardassian and Mana'i without apparent fear. "I am Lieutenant Commander Alph, we ask that you -" Before he could finish his sentence, the Cardassian leader had fired a yellow phaser beam into him, causing him to collapse. From the lack of burns on his uniform, it appeared to be a stun shot.

"You will all stand down. There is evidence of Borg contamination here, even your Federation Androids are susceptible. This creature is clearly Borg, even if has dressed itself as one of you. It will be taken into our custody." The Cardassian said, keeping his phaser trained on Mana'i.

Gordon froze as the weapon fired. Her irate confidence didn't extend to opposing those who shot people without provocation. She could see Alph was okay, but fear gripped her.

Clearly they wanted the ship and will kill us to get it no matter the salvage laws, Camilaar thought with growing annoyance, luckily he was behind Gordon. He had to think quickly, he let his vision slowly move to include fellow cadet Iplik to see what he was up to. With Mana'i present Camilaar knew the Cardassians would be focused on her as she is an unknown to them.

He wondered if she'd freeze them, he'd heard about her powers after he'd been on the starbase for a few days. Camilaar wanted to see the powers in action for sure. He grinned and hoped to, his empty left hand covering his phaser in his right. Since he is a Cadet he wasn't entirely confident that he could effectively get control of the situation back to the senior officers but then again, if he could get a clear shot through between Gordon's legs to hit the Cardassians using a wide beam. He'd definitely take it.

Maybe he could inch towards her and indicate with his tail of his idea, she'd could help. Camilaar kept his eyes out for the Cardassians next move as he slowly shifted towards Gordon.

From an unexpected direction, a phaser beam lanced out and struck the Cardassian who was pointing his weapon, robbing him immediately of consciousness. Cadet Iplik, looking surprised by his own actions, had fired it from his hip, without even drawing it from his holster. As though remembering proper protocol after the fact, he drew the weapon properly and held it at the other Cardassians. "Hey. Stop." Was the most profound thing he could stammer.

Alph, having reset himself after the blast, kicked the fallen Cardassian's phaser away and drew his own, getting to his feet. "Identify yourselves." Alph instructed in a firmer voice than his colleagues had heard him use before, phaser pointed at the space between the two Cardassians who remained conscious.

"Please, there's no need for violence." The woman said. "I'm sorry about my superior. He is Dal Ithmik. This is Dalin Noluks. I am Glinn Vatev. We are here from the Omekla. We were not aware that there were Borg here. If we were I suspect we would never have been beamed aboard." She sounded quite reasonable, and it was obvious from the way Noluks looked at her that he disapproved of just how reasonable she was.

"What are your areas of expertise?" Alph asked, lowering his arm a little, but keeping the weapon pointed in their general direction.

"The Dal is a tactical officer, as you've perhaps deduced. The Dalin is in security. I'm an Engineer. A junior one, at least." Vatev told them honestly.

"I see." Alph told them in his even emotionless cadence, and went silent for a moment longer than expected. "I have communicated our situation to the Hercules. Evidently the Omekla left the system shortly after learning about the Borg situation. Please advise if you are willing to cooperate with our mission. If not, we will return you to the Hercules until such time as you can be returned to the Cardassian Embassy on DS13."

"I'd be happy to." Vatev said. Dalin Noluks didn't look happy about it, but realised he had little choice. "Fine." He said.

"Lieutenant Gordon, could you make use of another Engineer?" Alph asked.

"Absolutely, many hands make light work." Gordon said, her cheer returning to her after the sudden tension of the standoff.

"Will we be taking this pillar with us?" Cam had to ask, with a grin.

"Looks like the Borg already got everything of value. It's mostly just housing and conduits now. Speaking of which, Commander, I think the Major needs to know what they were doing here. Can you reach her?" Gordon asked Alph.

"My internal communicator is not able to reach them. I will venture forward to their location. Dalin Noluks, you will accompany me." Alph told the conscious male Cardassian in a tone that was not a suggestion. The Cardassian began towards the exit. "Please remain here. See if you can restore any of the ship's systems, I believe internal sensors should be close to restored. I suggest you restrain Dal Ithmik." Alph said, following the Cardassian out of the room.

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