Post Number 27 Why Not

Posted on Tue Nov 30th, 2021 @ 8:09pm by Lieutenant Tara Herculoid PhD & Lieutenant James McTavish

Mission: The Forgotten Children
Location: Demora
Timeline: Current

::ON::

James saw Tara a little ways off sitting by her lab and walked over to her....

[Snip]
" Hi Tara....looks like you've been busy" he stated being quite impressed how much Tara had accomplished in such a short amount of time.

Tara got to her feet “I’ve also set up some catch basins to catch water and I’m going to do some scans to see if there is water underground. But if your game I’d like to head into that settlement and see what we can learn. Leave this set up and bring back samples of things and see what we can do to help. I don’t know much about the Jem Hadar, but if they’re as bad as I’ve heard and read we need to go there. I’d also like to find a way to get a sample of their blood, bring it back here and check it and see if they are using white. If they are it’s got to be close to running out. It may have already. Withdraws from drugs are nasty. So boss you game to play prisoner with me?”
[End Snip]

James thought for a moment "Sure, why not....what exactly did you have in mind" he asked.

"We head into that settlement, we go in as escapees from another settlement and see how the Cardassian's are being treated. We know the Jem Hadar cannot survive without white yet they seem to be. The only way I see it, is we need to talk to the villagers and if we go in as escapees the Jem Hadar will come down hard on us. I'm wiling to be the one, my planet was once invaded and we really had to fight to gain our freedom. I've been a hostage and I know what it's like. You can gain the trust of some of the villagers and go from there," Tara suggested.

"Actually that sounds like a pretty good plan; that way we'll have first hand information on the Jem Hadar and the Cardassians" James replied putting a lot of trust that Tara knew what she was doing. After all she had been through much worse than this and survived.

After gathering up a few things Tara and James made their way into the village hoping for the best.

Tara seeing the conditions people were living in shook her head and swore under her breath in her native language before looking at James "This is uncalled for. These people need help."

About that time a Jem Hadar guard walked up on them and pointed a phase rifle at them "Who are you? I've never seen you here before."

"I'm Lala," Tara said "Our village is dead, we didn't know there was anyone here. We'll be on our way."

"Not so fast," the guard said "Your not going anywhere."

James thought for a few moments figuring it was too early to get caught if they were to be successful in their endeavors. There was something that he had learned years ago from a Clavarian Monk and now was as good a time as any to use it since the Jem Hadar were not as sharp minded as 'white' had probably not been available. Clearing his mind James concentrated only on what he was about to say to the Guard.

Taking a deep breath James spoke in a low even tone "You're not the people I'm looking for; your free to go."

The Guard looked at James "What did you just say to me?"

Then James repeated what he had just said moments ago; now he would wait and see what happens next.

The Guard looked at the both of them then stated "You're not the people I'm looking for; your free to go" then the Guard stepped aside allowing them to pass.

James uncorked a small vial he had in his pocket and pulled the top off which had a small needle under the cap that he held between his fingers to hide it from sight. James nodded "Thank you Sir" as James touched the Guards arm which was pierced with the needle. The Guard didn't seem to notice what had been done to him.

Tara turned and looked at James being rather surprised, then he said "I'll explain later....but we better get a move on before this fellow realizes he's been duped." Then he showed Tara the vial "Oh ya....here's the blood sample you wanted" James said with a smile.

Taking the vial Tara looked at James and grinned "Your good," looking at the vial of blood she shook it some and frowned "The only species I know of that have green blood are Romulans and Vulcans. This blood is green, but then I confess I've never seen Jem Hadar blood before. I need to get this tested and see what is in it. The white should have run out long ago. Let's hurry to our makeshift lab and see what is there and pray he doesn't figure anything out before I can run this sample. He catches up with us I'll speak Romulan and see if he responds or reacts."

"Right behind you" James replied as they made their way out of the village; although he did glance over his shoulder a few times just to make sure they weren't being followed.

"That was too easy," Tara commented as they made their way back to the makeshift lab. Opening a case Tara set up her micro-scope and put a small sample of the Jem Hadar blood on a slide, placed it under the micro-scope and studied it for several minutes "He's not Romulan, but his blood is green. I'm not showing any signs of white in it. They've found a way to get past white. Here take a look."

"Too easy?" James stated "We just got lucky that the Jem Hadar's mental capacity was not up to snuff or we could be sitting in a jail cell right now." He went over and peered through the microscope "Interesting....and I don't see any signs of white either" he replied "Maybe there's a reason their blood is green....could they have found a way to alter it so that they wouldn't be dependent on white any longer?"

"We need to find out what they're using," Tara commented "Those people there need help, I saw several children with injuries and adults that look as if they're being abused to the point of lash marks. My guess is they're being used as slaves to mine or harvest what ever it is the Jem Hadar are using in place of white."

After thinking for a few minutes "That sounds reasonable....but how do you propose we go about finding out" James inquired.

"One or both of us needs to be captured and infiltrate things and see what is going on and what they're using in place of the white. Since I've been a prisoner at the hands of the Romulans I volunteer to be captured," Tara said

"Against my better judgement....you're right....that's the best way to find out what's going on" James replied then continued " If you want to get captured then I'll try to blend in with the villagers and find out what I can. The Amadora has a lock on you're Comm Badge, so if things go sideways you get out of there and that's an order" James concluded with a smile.

"Understood," Tara replied "Let's get captured."

The Officers departed for the village and when they were fairly close James offered a suggestion "Why don't you go North and I'll head South; that way we won't be so noticeable." The two Officers did just that and soon each one of them were on their own....at least for now.

OFF: