Episode 06 Before Hell pt. 2

## **Plot Synopsis**

### **Brief Overview**

Lakat and Prahl enter the home of Ch'reQ, but it's empty. Lakat does a scan and finds a Klingon life-sign fleeing from the direction of the house. At EXEO's command, they start running. Lakat and Prahl approach the signal and see Ch'reQ and a Lethean in heated conversation. Lakat and Prahl fire their phasers and stun them both.

Theq continues his work on the Borg alcoves with help from Singh and Nine. They discover that the alcoves were deliberately sabatoged, but repair them. In sickbay, M'Qrell successfully revives Two. In a frenzy, Two immediately attacks her. She takes one hell of a hit but manages to restrain Two until they compose themselves. She then begins preparing inoculations for theta radiation.

Meanwhile, on the bridge, USS *Ross* discovers a cargo freighter hiding on the opposite side of the planet. It tries to run, but USS Ross catches it with the tractor beam. Prahl reports to Sull that the Lethean was carrying illegal Dominion polaron weaponry. Lakat, EXEO, and Prahl search the shuttle and find an illegal cache that includes a box with the logo of the Orion Crime Syndicate. Sull orders the freighter searched and they find Borg technology. Sull arrests the crew of the freighter and Ch'reQ. After some successful interrogations, they turn them over to the Klingon authorities. In the aftermath, the crew discovers that Ch'reQ had been killing the ngej and selling their parts to the syndicate. In addition, someone had deleted the colony from all Klingon records, before it was being used to house ex-Borg.

A few weeks later, USS Ross is only a few days from Narendra Station. Sull gets a visit from Q, a member of the Q Continuum. Q informs them that a strange destiny has befallen USS Ross. In another reality, another starfleet vessel is travelling to Narendra Station, though with a very different crew and a very different fate. Q informs them that they have been watching them all their life, but the Q continuum can no longer see what happens next.

A few days later, EXEO surprises the ship with her Lalubell celebration. The children of USS Ross simultaneously celebrate "Captain Sull Day". Theq is delighted, and goes with Lakat. EXEO attends with Olyn. M'Qrell bonds with Wellix. Sull looks into the crowd and sees Q, who raises a glass to them.

### **Pre-Break**

The episode begins with LTJG Lakat and LTCDR Prahl outside of Ch'reQ's home. Lakat discovers that there is no one inside on her scans. Prahl shoots the control panel for the door, and then forces it open. Once inside, they discover that there is still power to the home, but no one is there. Prahl operates a console and discovers an encrypted message that had come from somewhere off-planet; the specific source is unknown. Lakat calls MCPO Theq for help, but he is busy working on repairing the alcoves. Lakat decides to scan the general area for life-signs. She finds one Klingon life-form about 1 km away, moving away from the colony very quickly. Lakat and Prahl decide to call LTCDR EXEO.

Meanwhile, Theq is working on the alcoves. He calls CPO Singh for help, jokingly directing him to wear a full exosuit. Singh beams down to the planet. Theq and Singh scan one of the alcoves and discover that is has been deliberately sabotaged. Theq requests help from Nine. With their help, they identify that theta radiation is being introduced into the Borg regeneration outputs; this is poisoning the ex-Borg using the alcoves. Theq calls LTCDR M'Qrell to request she prepare inoculations for theta radiation. Coincidentally, Singh is protected from the radiation by the exosuit; he gives the suit to Theq.

Meanwhile, on the bridge, CAPT Sull is with AMB Olyn and LT Vrenn. Orwell is busy comforting Sull. Olyn orders Patience to assist as well. Vrenn and ENS Lucien Messier discover a warp signature near the planet. Sull orders Messier to create sensor interference so USS Ross can approach undetected. The ship moves closer and discovers a freighter with a cargo bay that is shielded from all scanners. The freighter tries to run, and USS Ross pursues. Sull orders red alert and directs Vrenn to activate the tractor beam. USS Ross successfully captures the freighter.

Meanwhile, in sickbay, M'Qrell, assisted by Nurse Shamira, successfully heals the ex-Borg, named Two. Two immediately attacks M'Qrell.

Meanwhile, on Pa'thor, EXEO arrives at the home of Ch'reQ, and orders Prahl and Lakat to chase down the Klingon life-sign. EXEO requests help from a civilian ex-borg xeno-techno-archaeologist named Antois Meladin. She requests help in decrypting the message, but they fail. Instead, he walks her through removing the data archive itself, so it can be transported to USS Ross. EXEO calls the transporter room, and gets CMN3 Chaia Lyn. Lyn replies that she cannot transport the data archive since shields are up (the ship is at red alert). EXEO patiently waits for the shields to drop, and engages in some small talk with Lyn.

On the bridge, Vrenn reports that they have the freighter secured. They hail the ship, which is captained by a fully masked figure with a voice modulator to hide their identity. The figure demands to be released, but Sull refuses. The cargo hold of the freighter cannot be scanned, so Vrenn suggests an away team to secure the cargo, but YEO3 Azzmi warns about the legality of such an action. Vrenn points out that having the dampening field around the cargo hold is illegal, and Shanto begins researching interstellar law. Sull calls EXEO to fill her in, and orders her to inform Lakat and Prahl about the freighter in orbit. Sull orders a shuttle launched to run interference.

EXEO contacts Lakat and Prahl, and informs them about the ship in orbit. She then begins to run after them. The two approach the life-sign and see a small shuttle. Lakat and Prahl sneak up, and see Ch'reQ in a heated conversation with a Lethean. Their conversation is interrupted when the Lethean receives a call from the ship in orbit, informing them that a shuttle from USS Ross is heading for them. Lakat and Prahl fire on the two with phasers and successfully stun them both.

### **Post-Break**

Prahl reports in to Sull and relays the situation on the ground. Olyn warns Prahl that Letheans are extremely dangerous telepaths when they are in close range. Prahl reports that the Lethean is carrying a poleron weapon used by The Dominion. He requests to transport the prisoners to the brig. LT Alejandra Vazquez drops shields to begin transport.

On the planet, EXEO catches up with Lakat and Prahl and they all search the shuttle. Lakat and Prahl find an illegal weapons cache, and a locked box with the symbol of the Orion Crime Syndicate. On the ship, Sull orders the freighter to be searched, and the crew discover pieces of Borg technology.

Meanwhile, in sickbay, M'Qrell takes a hit from Two, but then successfully restrains them while Nurse Shimera administers a sedative.

Meanwhile, in the ex-Borg compound, Theq continues to make progress repairing the alcoves.

Back on the ship, Prahl, Lakat, EXEO, Sull, and Olyn go to the brig to interrogate the prisoners. Sull tricks the Letheans into believing they are a member of the Orion Crime Syndicate infiltrating starfleet. As a result, the Lethean starts to confess everything. Not to be outdone, Ch'reQ also begins confessing. Theq successfully repairs the alcoves. M'Qrell inoculates the crew against the theta radiation. Sull turns the prisoners over to the Klingon authorities. In the aftermath, the crew discovers that someone had deleted the colony from all Klingon records, before it was being used to house ex-Borg. They also discover that all files on Dr. L'Zhang are redacted.

The scene cuts to a few weeks later. USS Ross is only a couple days from Narendra station. A member of the Q continuum visits Sull in their quarters. Q informs them that a strange destiny has befallen USS Ross. In another reality, another starfleet vessel is travelling to Narendra Station, though with a very different crew and a very different fate. Q informs them that they have been watching them all their life, helping them along their destiny. However, Sull has taken control of their life, and the Q continuum can no longer see what happens next.

A few days later, EXEO arrives at Olyn's door. She invites them to join her as her date for the Lalubell celebration. They head to the (fully decorated) promenade to perform final preparations. Vrenn calls EXEO to inform her that there is an additional, small, event also taking place on the promenade. The children of USS Ross have decided to have Captain Sull Day, in honor of their captain, before they disembark at Narendra Station. EXEO quickly builds a new area on the promenade for Captain Sull Day. In addition, there is a station for love letters to family and friends, a Wall of Memories for the dead or missing, a series of food stalls, a collection of light-up dance floors (which also play music when stepped upon), and a Bolian blues band playing Theq's favorite songs.

Theq calls EXEO, in a panic over a sudden massive drain on the ship's power. EXEO shortly after sends a mass message to the crew announcing the Lalubell celebration in honor of Theq. Theq calls Lakat to join him in attendance for the celebration. M'Qrell visits the Wall of Memories and adds a picture of a young Caitian boy, where she runs into Dr. Wellix. He adds two silhouettes to the wall, a woman and a child. Lakat and Theq arrive on the promenade. Theq apologizes to Lakat for treating her like a Bolian, instead of herself.

Meanwhile, Sull revels in the joy of Captain Sull Day. For a split second, they look into the crowd and see Q, dressed in a starfleet uniform. He raises a glass to them before disappearing into the crowd.

## **Cast**

* Eric Campbell - Game Master
* Revati Dhomse - Jane Lakat
* Gina De Vivo - EXEO
* Sam de Leve - Azeri Sull
* Aki - Olyn Madzhin-Nil
* Xander Jeanneret - Theq Lynadas
* Bonnie Gordon - M'Qrell

## **Non-Player Characters**

* L'Zhang
* Eight
* Two
* Nine
* Ch'reQ
* Yeri Prahl
* Amandeep Singh
* Zhyliss Vrenn
* Shamira
* Chaia Lyn
* Antois Meladin
* Lucien Messier
* Alejandra Vazquez
* Q
* Wellix
* Azzmi Shanto