ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Seeing Knight leaving Rith's office, Rojc called out, "Sir!"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight turned to face Rojc; he took a quick look to see if anyone else was listening. "I've just spoken to some of the teams working on repairing this place--something's not right down there. A lot of our more experienced engineers are expressing concerns about the kind of problems they're coming across."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Why, what's wrong?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "They're calling them 'textbook problems'. A lot of the malfunctions here are identical to the same problems they use to teach engineering studies at the Academy."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "They can't be exactly the same. At the Academy, problems are manufactured, to give the cadet something to..."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Rojc smirked knowingly.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "This is sabotage?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Rojc shrugged. "That's what it looks like. It could be one huge training exercise, but with so much at stake and so few experienced personnel..."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "...It doesn't sound right."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Rojc shook his head. "No sir."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ This is insane, Nicot chided himself as he entered cargo bay two.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ He walked across the room, taking readings with a Menayen hand-scanner that he'd found in the replicator database. The technology was twenty years old but it was the quickest way to do a short range scan for Dihassium radiation.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot frowned as the scanner beeped. Captain Rith was indeed right; the device was releasing radiation, and much more than Nicot had expected.Ý It was leaking.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ If the Phantom's sensors had been able to recognize the radiation, it likely would have been found already. If what he heard from his contact was correct, soon the sensors would be able to do just that. He'd have to worry about that later.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ When he'd transported the prototype here he'd been worried that the transporter's low power setting might corrupt the integrity of the device, but he didn't want the internal sensors to detect the transport. There was still the transporter log, but Nicot would fix that in a minute. He leaned over and closely examined the device, visually trying to locate any obvious damage. But to no result--neither he nor the scanner could pinpoint the problem. Nicot didn't have time to fix it now.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ He replicated a magnasite mesh bag and, lifting one end of the device, placed the bag over the top of it. Then he tilted it back the other way and sealed up the bag. Circling the transporter pad, Nicot took thorough scans.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Excellent.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Even with the hand-unit right up against the bag, it still scanned as nothing more than normal background radiation. Nicot picked up the bag and deposited into a nearby crate, leaving the hand-scanner on top of the bag. He fastened the top of the crate in place, and directed it towards a far corner of the bay with an antigrav lift unit.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ It wasn't exactly an ideal hiding place. But it would do for the moment at least. He had some work to do on the transporter logs.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Captain Knight waited in the turbolift as it sped to Engineering. There was something...almost familiar about all of this. Not quite--but almost. Was there some pattern he should be recognizing?

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Before he could consider it further, the turbolift came to a halt and the doors slid open to Engineering. He quickly surveyed the area before walking over to Guitarrez. "How's it going so far?" he asked impatiently.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Guitarrez knew the Captain too well by now to let his impatience bother her. "Good, I think. I may have found evidence in the transporter logs that proves no one from the Phantom was involved. Melina is trying to see if the logs could have been tampered with."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "So far, so good," Melina replied without taking her eyes off the screen. Knight acknowledged her with his eyes, but she didn't do the same. Knight sighed to himself. At least she was getting on with the job--even if she wouldn't look at him.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight turned his attention back to Guitarrez. "What've you gone through so far?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Guitarrez pointed to a specific readout on the console to her right. "Okay, here we have the transporter logs from sixty seconds before we came out of warp to a minute afterwards."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Melina stopped for a moment and turned her head. "That's from before we were within transporter range to after the theft.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "If the person who stole the device was on our ship when we arrived, he or she would have had to use the transporters during that time in order to commit the crime."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Guitarrez nodded. "Exactamente. And according to these logs, our transporters weren't used at all during that period."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The screen displayed one empty log after another.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight looked for later transports, but they weren't displayed. "Can you show me the logs until now."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Guitarrez gave Knight a quizzical look, but almost immediately started to pull up the logs. "Okay, there were a total of nineteen separate transports. Two from transporter room one. Four from transporter room two. Five from transporter room three. Transporter room four was undergoing repairs at the time and was disconnected from the power grid. The bulk transporter in cargo bay one was used four times to transfer medical supplies to the starbase infirmary. The transporter in cargo bay three..."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight suddenly interrupted. "Three? What about the transporter in cargo bay two."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Un momento." Guitarrez pulled up the complete log of the second bulk transporter.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "It wasn't used."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "It hasn't been used at all since we got here?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Nada." Guitarrez shook her head. "Nothing since before our arrival."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Not at all?" he asked again a little doubtfully.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Guitarrez shrugged. "I can't say for certain, but for now it doesn't look like it."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Keep at it," Knight ordered before stalking off.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "What was that about?" Guitarrez wondered aloud.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "I have no idea," Melina replied, her attention back on her console.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ As Knight reached the doors to cargo bay two, they parted to reveal a pitch black darkness inside. Knight's pulse quickened as he suspiciously wondered why the lights hadn't been activated by the opening of the door. He was more sure now than ever that something was very wrong on his ship. Cautiously, he took two strides forward into the darkness and stopped.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ He didn't want to go too far in, too quickly--the shadows would be an advantage to any attacker. Knight stood still as he let his eyes grow accustom to the reduced light. Slowly shapes beyond the door's pool of illumination began to emerge. Larger things at first, crates stacked one on top of the other; four foot barrels, lined up into rows. Then smaller things, a PADD here and there, no doubt containing manifests; a tricorder left carelessly behind. Nothing particularly suspicious yet.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nevertheless, Knight had that old, nagging feeling of danger that he could not ignore; as he took another few steps forward, he drew his phaser. He focused his hearing to detect any sound--a step, or a shuffle, or a breath. Anything that might give away the intruder's position.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ A noise from behind him caused Knight to spin around abruptly, lancing out his arm and his phaser at the person who had surprised him. "Freeze!" he shouted.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ After trying to accustom his eyes to the dark, the bright lights from the corridor made it difficult to see who he was aiming at. Whoever it was, they were standing just outside with one hand on the door's frame. As his eyes readjusted he saw that the person was facing inwards, they were not moving--as ordered--and wearing a Starfleet uniform.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Suddenly the scene played out in Knights head: a crew member walks by an open door to a dark room and stops to investigate.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Sir is everything okay?" came the confused voice of one Lieutenant Commander Nicot.

Knight let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and allowed his arm to drop to his side. ÝÝÝ "I'm not sure."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Well, is it okay for me to move now?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight smiled grimly. "Sorry. Can you see about switching on some lights?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot walked in and ignoring the darkness, walked straight to a control panel. He opened it and after he tapped a few quick commands, the lights activated.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ A quick look around the cargo bay showed that it was, apart from the cargo, empty. Knight walked over to one of the PADDs he had noticed earlier and picked it up. He scrolled though a few pages and walked around the bay as Nicot watched him. "Nicot, is this transporter operational?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Though Nicot knew otherwise, he walked over and checked the transporter anyway. "Everything appears to be in working order. What am I looking for?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Check the logs--has it been used at all since we arrived?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot pulled up the log he had emptied only a few minutes earlier. "No sir. According to this the transporter hasn't been used in days."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight walked up to the transporter controls. "Computer, display this cargo bay's inventory from twelve hours ago."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ A list appeared on one part of the screen.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Now additionally display the current inventory of this cargo bay."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Another list appeared next to the first one.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot winced as he saw it was clearly shorter. He pointed out the obvious conclusion. "Cargo has been transported from this bay."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "And if this transporter was used to do it..."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ From the firm stare Knight was giving him, Nicot imagined that his captain somehow knew he was involved in all this. Nicot pretended the possibility didn't exist. "...I suppose there could have been some sort of malfunction to account for the discrepancy."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Is there any way for you to recover the original logs?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "That all depends--we'd have to get a repair crew up here to strip the transporter to its core circuitry."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight thought about this for a moment. Part of him still couldn't accept that one (or more!) of his own people could be a part of this. "If you knew what you were doing, you could remove all trace of the original files."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot practically choked out a hoarse, "Pardon Captain?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight glanced at Nicot uncomprehendingly for a moment, before he shook his head dismissively. "Sorry.Ý Just letting the wheels turn aloud.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Mr. Nicot, I believe we may have a saboteur aboard."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Sabotage?" Nicot sputtered out, before he finally recovered his composure. "I mean, I suppose that's a possibility, but it would all depend on how well whoever did it knows their way around Starfleet computer systems."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "There's still the possibility another transporter was used to transport the cargo from this bay..." Knight trailed off, still deep in thought.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot opened his mouth to reply, but Knight stopped him. "Yes, I know it's against procedure--but it's still a possibility that will have to be checked out."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight frowned as he tapped his commbadge. "Knight to Guitarrez."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Guitarrez here, Captain."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "I'm sorry to add to your workload," Knight said, sounding anything but sorry, "But I need a repair crew in cargo bay two on the double."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ There was a long pause before the Chief Engineer replied. "I don't understand, Captain. Is there a problem with the transporter?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "That's what I'm trying to determine." Knight's frown deepened to a scowl as he continued, "Let's just say I've got a hunch. I want every container, every inch of floor, wall, and ceiling in this bay examined. Rip up the deck plates if you have to, but I want this transporter checked thoroughly for any indication of tampering.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "If there was something here that shouldn't have been, I want to know about it, and I want to know before that committee gets here."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Understood. I'll get a team up there right away. Guitarrez out.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight nodded tersely, a grim look of determination on his face as he turned back to Nicot. "Commander, I'd appreciate if you oversaw the investigation personally."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot couldn't believe his luck. Or was it just good planning?

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Yes sir, I'll see to it," he answered.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Maybe it's nothing; just a malfunction like you say.Ý But we need to be certain," Knight added with firm conviction. "Who knows?

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "With any luck any saboteur might have left some trace of what they did behind."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ T'Senishra pulled herself out of a jeffries tube in sensor maintenance and tapped her commbadge. "T'Senishra to Knight."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight was stepping into a turbolift. "Bridge." He tapped his commbadge. "Knight here." he responded as the turbolift doors closed in front of him.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Captain..." T'Senishra's voice came over the comm-system, "I have finished installation of the resonators and I am about to calibrate the sensors. We will have the ability to scan for the prototype in a few moments."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Already? Good work!" The turbolift doors opened and Knight stepped out, quickening his pace down the corridor towards the bridge.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The door to the bridge slid open, allowing Knight access. Just two ensigns were on duty at the moment, one of which was sitting in his chair. When she saw him, she scrambled out of it to the nearby OPS console. Knight sat down and glanced at his armrest display. "Are the sensors ready?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The ensign at OPS replied, "Reinitializing sensor array now sir."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight watched her work.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Her console beeped. "Sensor sweep complete."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Coordinates?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The ensign hesitated before replying, "None sir."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight blinked. "None?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ He stood and walked over to OPS to see the readings for himself. Damn it. Knight reached across the console and initiated another scan. The results turned up the same.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ It was true--there was no Dihassium signature within scanning range. He ran a quick diagnostic to see if the sensors were working and properly calibrated. Still nothing. Knight sighed deeply.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ As he walked back to his chair, he issued a command, "Raise the station and put it on the viewscreen."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The ensign immediately complied, and after a brief pause, the viewscreen flickered to that of Captain Rith in the starbase command center. She smiled warmly when she saw who it was. "Captain."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight tried to return the smile as he replied, "I've got some bad news..."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nolon Pheck had been gracious enough to come to the status meeting aboard the Phantom. His graces apparently ended there. He was doing nothing but fidgeting and complaining about lost time.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ T'Senishra was trying her best to ignore him as she called up a diagram of the prototype on the viewscreen in the conference room. "The weapon is apparently too well-shielded for any of its radiation to register on our sensors. Thus we need to either reduce the amount of shielding or increase the amount of radiation."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Pheck sighed obnoxiously. "If the Forth Minister hadn't personally asked me to come to this meeting I wouldn't have bothered, for reasons that should now be apparent."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ T'Senishra's control broke and she frowned.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "To do what you're talking about, you'd have to find the device first. You're going in circles and wasting my time."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "I will admit," started T'Senishra, siting down next to Knight, "that we are unable to reduce the amount of shielding at this time and it would be pointless to attempt to do so."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ T'Senishra stared intently at Pheck and folded her hands in her lap as she let the alien contemplate what she said.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ For his part, Pheck just glared vehemently back at her until...

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Oh no. No, no, NO! You can't be serious!"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "On the contrary, I can be...and am quite serious."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight, Rojc and Nicot exchanged curious glances.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "I propose a metaphasic radiation pulse."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Pheck jumped up from his seat, and looked like his next move would be to leap across the table at T'Senishra. "You propose the destruction of the only working prototype!"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight looked at T'Senishra curiously. "What would a metaphasic radiation pulse do?"

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "Dihassium's behavior is similar to many radioactive elements," T'Senishra answered carefully, if somewhat tensely. "Exposure to radiation from an outside source has a trigger effect causing the element in question to increase its reaction rate, thereby releasing a greater magnitude of radiation.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "The Dihassium will release more radiation than its shielding can hide and will be easy to detect on our sensors as a second radiation signature when we create the pulse."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Pheck held up his hands. "Just a moment, please."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Pheck paused, shaking his head. "The radiation pulse might, might, trigger a similar pulse in the prototype...or it will trigger an uncontrolled chain reaction, detonating the weapon and destroying whatever starship or space-station the device is hidden on! Creating the pulse will not only endanger the prototype, but it will also seriously endanger lives.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "It isn't a risk worth taking."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Pheck shifted his glare to Knight as he reseated himself. "Captain, I am not convinced your personnel can accurately gauge the risk--but for a moment--let's assume they can create a pulse of just the right strength. To insure that the pulse passes through each ship, all shields will have to be down. Everyone close to the station will receive a lethal dose of ionizing radiation.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "The computers may well find the weapon, but that will be of little use to the corpses using them."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ T'Senishra placed her PADD down on the table. "Professor Pheck, not all penetrating forms of metaphasic radiation are harmful to biological life. Not only are we capable of controlling the intensity of the burst, but also the frequency and shift potential."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Doctor Pheck appeared to scrutinize a biscuit before deciding not to eat it, tossing it casually towards the center of the table. He turned his attention back to T'Senishra. "I'm sure you're equally capable in all you do."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Nicot interrupted Pheck before he could continue his tirade. "Sir, I can modify a class-4 probe to emit the pulse from a distance. It would ensure that the area around the station gets an even distribution of radiation; the risk of the device being too close to the source of the pulse would be negligible. I could have it ready in about fifteen minutes."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Pheck turned on Knight. "Captain, you can't be planing to allow this absurd proposal."

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Knight glanced over to T'Senishra, who simply raised an eyebrow. Knight smiled wanly and replied firmly, "I can be...and am."