Science Facility, Crew Quarters

Roger was waiting in the corridor for Hok, having finished searching his share of the crew rooms.  Not seeing the Ferengi security officer, Roger wondered if something was wrong.  He was about to tap his comm badge, when the door across from him opened.

“Mister Hok?”

“No one is here, sir.  All the rooms are deserted.”

Roger had the same result, which he expected, but something seemed off with Hok’s demeanor.

“Is something wrong, Commander?”

Hok appeared to notice how Roger was looking at him.  “No, we’re good.  Let’s find the others.”  As they started walking, Roger filed this away for later.

Science Lab

Roger was in awe at the size and complexity of the science section.  He knew a lot of people were studying the blood dilithium, but he didn’t realize the scope of the equipment needed.  Of course, there was the fact an orbital scan from the Eagle hadn’t detected any, so an obvious conclusion was this facility was for something else.  Ohtani was busy studying the room and Weaver was assisting, so he asked Saunders for his report.

“The engineering section was fully functioning when we got there, but there weren’t any people,” said Saunders.  “In a facility like this, the power source is generally automated anyway.  It just needs an occasional check to make sure things are running smoothly.  We didn’t find anything out of the ordinary.”

“How about medical?” said Roger.

“The same.  No one was there.  It has a stasis chamber, which we checked, but nothing.  It’s like the scientists were here, then they weren’t,” said Saunders.

“Just like the ship we detected in orbit when we first arrived,” said Roger.

“Yes, sir,” said Saunders.

“Thank you.”  Roger tracked down Weaver next.  “Doctor, when you were in the medical section, did you access the scientists’ records?”

“I tried, but they were encrypted.  Both Haia and Nick tried to crack it, but it was pretty complex.”

That was another layer to the mystery.  “Do you have any theories about what could be happening?”

Weaver glanced at Ohtani and shrugged.  “To me, unless there’s some new technology or invention, chronitons means somebody is messing with time travel.”

Roger frowned.  “Unfortunately, I’m forced to agree with you.”

Moving to Ohtani, Roger almost chuckled when he saw the expression on the science chief’s face.  She was like a little girl in a candy store allowed to buy anything she wanted.

“Sir, this is incredible!  I could spend days just studying what’s here and how it works.”  Ohtani was almost glowing.

“Do you have any idea what the scientists are doing or why they’re gone?”

“Not a clue, sir.”

“Lieutenant?”

“Everything is encrypted.  I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Can you figure out how to break it?” said Roger.

“Given enough time, I’m confident I can figure it out.”

“Do it.”  Roger stepped a few meters away and tapped his comm badge.  “Allen to Eagle.”

Science Facility, Crew Quarters

Roger was waiting in the corridor for Hok, having finished searching his share of the crew rooms.  Not seeing the Ferengi security officer, Roger wondered if something was wrong.  He was about to tap his comm badge, when the door across from him opened.

“Mister Hok?”  Roger’s mouth dropped open and he felt ice cold.

“What the hell just happened?”