The orbital space above SPROC and Pandopost was getting relatively crowded. A huge cargo vessel, the Kallindor I, had taken a position near the Tycho above Pandopost. Its sister ship, the Kallindor II, had positioned itself above SPROC near the two hovering Andorian patrol cruisers; all within a hundred kilometers of each other.
Civilian Advisor Guy stood by as Ambassador Kallindra's molecules swirled and rematerialized in the Tycho transporter room. She was resplendant in a formal ice blue reception robe as she stepped off the dais. Guy was mildly surprised at her regal appearance.
"Why, Madame Ambassador... are we attending a formal conference I'm unaware of?"
"In a manner of speaking, Guy, we are." She flashed a quick smile. "Only the conference will take place on the Tycho bridge in front of your viewscreen. We must hurry there now as I want to confer with Colonel Cassius Snavely while he is still down on SPROC."
Guy had not been apprised of recent communications. "I thought Andorian cruisers were going to handle Colonel Snavely?!"
"They are ready to take over if need be, Guy, but a potential hostage crisis has developed in the SPROC docking area." Kallindra explained the situation as they hurried to the bridge.
"The Kallindor I is transporting personnel up from Pandopost as we speak. The Kallindor II has begun doing the same with SPROC personnel, but if Snavely fulfills his threat to blast his way out of the docking area, the resultant breach to SPROC's climate dome could cause widespread destruction...and death!"
She paused at the entrance to the bridge. "Kal'trax is hoping that we can negotiate some kind of truce with Snavely to prevent that."
Guy rolled his eyes. "Given our recent history with Snavely, I seriously doubt that our 'diplomacy' will cut any ice with him!"
Kallindra calmly replied: "I agree. But I think our main purpose is to buy as much time as we can for the transport process."
They entered the bridge to find Captain Klosowski and the rest of the bridge crew staring intently at the viewscreen as an increasingly agitated Snavely promised phaser fire against the docking bay ceiling. His right hand hovered over a phaser button while his left eyelid danced a staccato jig. "I'm not going to wait much longer, Captain! You either authorize SPROC to open up this bay or the people inside can start breathing Pandorian dust!!"
Kallindra steeled herself as she strode forward. "Ahh, Captain Klosowski, I see you've already opened a channel to the Styx."
Ted glanced over at the two approaching diplomats. "We've only listened in up to this point, Madame Ambassador. Colonel Snavely is unaware of our presence thus far."
"Well please make him aware, Captain." Kallindra assumed a position front and center before the viewscreen. "Judging by his demeanor, an immediate distraction is critical!"
Ted addressed Dianne and Sherriea at the comm station. "Ensign Williams, discontinue the subspace comm monitor and, Commander Blakenship, open up a regular link to the Styx."
Kallindra looked over her shoulder at Ted with an arched eyebrow. "SUBSPACE comm monitor?!"
Ted smiled broadly. "The Tycho is cutting edge, Madame Ambassador. Even Section 31 doesn't have this yet!"
Dianne announced: "Channel open to the Styx, Captain."
Ted became all business. "Colonel Snavely, this is Captain Klosowski of the Federation Science Ship Tycho in orbit over Pandopost and SPROC. AS you can see, I also have Ambassador Kallindra here with me. She wishes to speak to you."
Snavely seemed a little surprised and blinked both eyes several times before a wolfish grin spread across his face. "Ohh... so the Andorians want to NEGOTIATE now, do they?" He sneered as he looked more closely into his own viewscreen. "And I see you've got that phony Andorian LIASON lurking around in the background as well!" Guy winced a little.
"Please, Colonel." Kallindra spoke in her most calm, soothing voice. "We genuinely want to arrive at a non-violent resolution that is agreeable to everyone."
"Well that is easily achieved, Madame Ambassador! Simply tell SPROC to open their docking bay so I can take off normally and no one is the worse for wear!"
"And is that what Major Snodgrass wants as well?"
Snavely glanced quickly at Snodgrass in the co-pilot seat staring silently ahead. "The major is under my command, Ambassador, and supports my mission."
"Ah yes... your MISSION. Could you please clarify that for us, Colonel?"
Ted chimed in: "Yeah, Colonel, I'm curious about that myself!" Kallindra suppressed a shudder, but Ted noticed a slight tightening of her shoulders and said nothing more.
Snavely twitched with annoyance. "Look! Just let me get up there in orbit with you and I'll clarify everything for everyone!"
"Colonel, that is certainly a possible option. But Andorian Security is concerned about the fact that your shuttlecraft completely disappeared from our grid from the time it left Andoria until you reappeared here at Pandoria." Kallindra paused for dramatic effect. "As you know, stealth cloaking is illegal in Federation space. Can you assure us that you will not employ such technology if we allow you to take off?"
Snavely stiffened in his seat and affected an air of indignation... but couldn't keep his left eye from blinking. "Madame Ambassador, the Styx is just a common, small transport ship. I swear upon my word of honor as a Starfleet officer, it has NO such technology!"
Lt. Cunning standing to one side at his security station looked pointedly at Ted and silently mouthed: 'He's LYING!'
During this exchange XO Marchelle Lee along with Chief Engineer James Kirby quietly entered the bridge and stood to one side. Ted looked over and noticed they both appeared quite anxious. Engineer Kirby was holding a rolled up chart.
Kallindra had not yet responded to Snavely's "word of honor" declaration and he again became belligerent. "Well, Madame Ambassador, will you open the docking bay or do I do this the HARD way?!"
Kallindra looked uncertainly back at Ted, who was looking at Marchelle and Kirby. Marchelle moved her hands and arms in a broad opening gesture while Kirby vigorously nodded his head up and down in agreement. Kallindra turned back to the viewscreen.
"Very well, Colonel Snavely. We will authorize SPROC to allow you an uneventful takeoff. But be aware that our cruisers will closely monitor your every move. I'll expect you to re-contact us as soon as you reach orbit." Another dramatic pause. "Any deceitful action on your part could have most... unfortunate consequences!"
Snavely sat back while a twisted smile crossed his lips. "But of course... MADAME!" The last word bitten off. The viewscreen abruptly went blank.
Marchelle and James walked toward Ted who said to Kallindra with a sigh: "Well, I guess the Tycho had better get ready to track this clown with our cloaking detector."
"I don't think that'll be necessary, Captain!" James shook his head and smiled ironically.
Ted was a little surprised. "And why is that Engineer Kirby?"
"Because our radiation sensors show an exponentially increasing gravitonic beam shooting out from Pandoria with SPROC right at its center. And spectrum analysis of the beam shows that it is acutely attuned to the vibration frequency of dilithium crystals!" James waited a moment for that to sink in. "ANYTHING with dilithium getting close to that beam will get sucked in like iron filings to a supermagnet!"
Marchelle couldn't contain herself any longer. "That's right, Ted! We came to warn you and any other ship in orbit up here to stay as far away from that beam as possible because even the relatively small amount of dilithium in our warp drives could be strongly attracted to it!!" She ran out of breath. "Wheew!"
With a look of amazement Ted pondered aloud: "So the Styx with a ton of pure dilithium in its hold.... "
James finished his thought: "..will shoot up the middle of that beam like a bullet in a rifle barrel!"
Ted shook himself and sat up straight. "Dianne, send a top priority alert to every vessel in the system to be on the lookout.. and to avoid.. this Pandorian gravitonic beam!"
As Dianne composed the alert, Kallindra expressed a concern. "But what about the Kallindor II? It's still transporting people up from SPROC. Won't it be too close to the beam?"
James answered. "As long as it can stay a couple hundred kilometers away from the edge of SPROC, it should be a safe enough distance for now." His brow wrinkled. "But I hope the transport process can be completed soon for another reason."
Ted regarded James warily. "And that would be...?"
"Our deep probe planetary scanners confirm that the crystal belt expansion and seismic disruption are also increasing exponentially." James shrugged his shoulders fatalistically. "I estimate that Pandoria has only a few short hours of existence left as a planet!"