USS Spectre Compile - February 1st-29th 2008 by Alan Reading
=========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 123
Stardate: 2408.01.07

(USS Spectre – Marine Shooting Range – Ensign Paul Morphy - 09:22)
(USS Spectre – Marine Shooting Range – Corporal Houseman - 09:24)

=========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 128
Stardate: 2408.01.12

(USS Spectre - Counselor Sella's office  - Ensign Goldsteen - 10:13)

=========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 130
Stardate: 2408.01.14
 
(USS Spectre – Taya's Quarters – ACSO Ensign JG Taya – 10:45)
(USS Spectre – Taya's Quarters – Ensign Bys’At – 10:46)

=========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 131
Stardate: 2408.01.15

(USS Spectre - Science Department - ACSO Ensign JG Taya - 09:59)
(USS Spectre - Science Department – Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 10:00)
(USS Spectre - Science Department – ACSO Ensign JG Taya - 10:03)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 1
Stardate: 2408.01.15
 
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 12:01)
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – Ensign Paul Morphy - 12:03)
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 12:04)
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – Ensign Paul Morphy - 12:19)
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 12:20)
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – Ensign Paul Morphy - 12:22)


=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 8
Stardate: 2408.01.23
 
(USS Spectre – T’Pia’s quarters – Nurse T’Pia Pelletier - 2:00)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call 
Day: 10
Stardate: 2408.01.25

(USS Spectre – Sella’s office – Ensign Paul Morphy – 09:30)
(USS Spectre  - Turbolift One - Captain T'Vhor & Morale Officer Ensign Jynea Kreung - 21:35)
(USS Spectre  - Ten Forward - Captain T'Vhor & Ensign Jynea Kreung - 21:45)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call 
Day: 11
Stardate: 2408.01.26

(USS Spectre - Bridge - Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 00:30)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – CMO Williams - 02:34)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 02:35)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – CMO Williams - 02:39)
(Unknown Vessel - Ready Room – Commander Sajh – 22:30)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 12
Stardate: 2408.01.27

(USS Spectre – Marine Holodeck – Corporal Houseman - 11:30)
(USS Spectre – Marine Holodeck  – Corporal Houseman – 11:50)
(USS Spectre – Marine Holodeck  – Corporal Houseman - 12:20)
(FS Good Profit – Bridge – Pilot Mowuk - 13:25) 
(USS Spectre – Security Station Echo – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 13:30)
(Ferengi Ship Good Profit - Bridge - Daimon Blek - 13:32)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - First Officer, Commander Michael O'Conner - 13:34)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor & TAC/SC Lt Yelena Vasilyovna - 13:37)
(USS Spectre - Station Echo – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:41)
(USS Spectre - Main Engineering – ACEO Jacqueline Bristed - 13:41)
(USS Spectre - Security - SO Ensign Nathanial Yates - 13:42)
(USS Spectre - Transporter room 1 - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:45)
(USS Spectre - Transporter room 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 13:45)
(USS Spectre - Transporter Room One - SO Ensign Nathanial Yates - 13:46)
(USS Spectre - Transporter Room 1 – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:46)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:50)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:50)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - Daimon Blek - 13:51)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:53)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - Daimon Blek - 13:54)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:56)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:56)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 14:00)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - SO, Ensign Nathanial Yates - 14:05)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - Daimon Blek - 14:07)
(FS Good Profit - Transporter room – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 14:10)
(FS Good Profit – Daimon Blek – 14:11)
(USS Spectre - Captain's Ready Room - Captain T'Vhor - 14:12)
(USS Spectre – Marine dropship bay – Corporal Houseman - 14:15)
(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - SO, Ensign Nathanial Yates - 14:17)
(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 14:19)
(USS Spectre – Sickbay – CMO Williams - 14:23)
(USS Spectre – Sickbay – Nurse T’Pia Pelletier – 14:23)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 14:25)
(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - SO, Ensign Nathanial Yates - 14:27)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 14:27)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - ACSO Ensign JG Taya - 14:28)
(FS Good Profit - Bridge - Damion Blek - 14:28)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 14:30)
(USS Spectre - Science Department - Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 14:30)
(FS Good Profit - Lounge - Engineers Dogg, Lapp, Sing - 14:31)
(FS Good Profit - Lounge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 14:31)
(FS Good Profit - Lounge – Ferengi Engineers Dogg, Lapp and Sing  - 14:32)
(FS Good Profit - Lounge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson  - 14:32)
(USS Spectre - Theatres – CMO Williams - 14:32)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 14:33)
(USS Spectre  - Surgical Theater – Nurse T’Pia Pelletier – 14:33)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – CONN – Pilot Officer Smith - 14:35)
(FS Good Profit - Deck Four - Engineers Dogg, Lapp, Sing - 14:37)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - ACSO Ensign JG Taya - 14:38)
(FS Good Profit - Deck Four - TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 14:40)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 14:40)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – Ensign (sg) Jynea Kreung - 14:45)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 14:46)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Ensign Jynea Kreung - 14:47)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 14:49)
(FS Good Profit - Bridge - Damion Blek - 15:00)
(FS Good Profit – Cargo Bay - Damion Blek - 15:03)
(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - SO Ensign Nathanial Yates - 15:04)
(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - Daimon Blek - 15:05)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 15:32)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 15:34)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – CONN – Pilot officer Smith - 15:35)
(USS Spectre - Chief OPS Office - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 15:50)
(USS Spectre - Chief OPS Office - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 15:58)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 14
Stardate: 2408.01.29

(USS Spectre - Marine Hanger Deck - Corporal Lewis O'Hara - 09:21)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 15
Stardate: 2408.01.30

(Shuttle Gates - Lance Corporal Jose Rameriz - 07:00)
(Shuttle Gates - Lance Corporal Jose Rameriz - 07:30)
(USS Spectre – CSciO's office- Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 07:30)
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay One - Flight Ops, Lt Funai Takamari - 07:32)
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay One - Lance Corporal Jose Rameriz - 07:33)
(USS Spectre – Shuttlebay 1 - Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 07:35)
(USS Spectre - MCO's Office - Lance Corporal Jose Rameriz - 07:38)
(USS Spectre – Holodeck 3 – SFI Lieutenant (jg) George La Flaga - 8:00)
(Shuttle Gates – Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 08:10)
(USS Spectre – Ten forward – Ensign Bys’At – 11:05)
(USS Spectre - Ten forward - Lance Corporal Jose Rameriz - 11:07)
(USS Spectre - Ten forward – Ensign Bys’At - 11:08)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 16
Stardate: 2408.01.31
 
(USS Spectre - Capps' Quarters - Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 18:00)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 17
Stardate: 2408.02.01

(USS Spectre - Recreation Room 2 - Ensign Jynea Kreung - 06:15)
(USS Spectre - Recreation Room 2 – Nurse T’Pia Pelletier - 6:30)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 13:00)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 13:08)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 13:08)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Ensign Jynea Kreung - 13:10)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief of Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 13:11)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - CONN - Pilot Officer Smith - 13:11)
(Shuttlecraft "Amur" - SFI Agent - Lt. Commander Brian Rogers - 13:12)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 13:14)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief of Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 13:15)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:15)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:20)
(USS Spectre - Captain's Ready Room - Captain T'Vhor - 13:21)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief of Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 13:24)
(Shuttlecraft "Amur" - SFI Agent - Lt. Commander Brian Rogers - 13:25)

=========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 123
Stardate: 2408.01.07

(USS Spectre – Marine Shooting Range – Ensign Paul Morphy - 09:22)

“You did not say what rounds we could use? So don’t be a sore loser and cough up.”
Paul’s mouth dropped open. He almost dropped the Desert Eagle.

~What the hell!~

“Wha …” his mouth quivered but the words wouldn’t form.

~Cheater, fink, scoundrel, swindler, charlatan!~ Paul’s mind searched for the right term. Finally, settling on the obvious … ~MARINE!~

“You’ll have your disk, marine. But don’t think this is over! Not by a long shot!”

(reply Houseman, IYW)

“I’m reserving my right to a rematch!” Paul declared.

(reply Houseman, IYW)

Paul stormed out of the holodeck shooting range waving the Desert Eagle around wildly as he walked.

As soon as he was out of view of the marine he let a smile touch his lips. He was already over the disappointment of ‘losing’ the encounter. Giving up the holodeck program disk was essentially being ‘thrown into the briar patch’.

~One of those goofball marines is going to redistribute “Chuck’s Angels”. It’s going to be a whole lot of fun.~

(reply Houseman IYW, any)
(posted by Anton) 


(USS Spectre – Marine Shooting Range – Corporal Houseman - 09:24)

“You’ll have your disk, marine. But don’t think this
is over! Not by a long shot!”

“if you say so.”

“I’m reserving my right to a rematch!” 

“Any time any place.”

Houseman watched as Morphy left the shooting range. He
gave a mental frown. There was something wrong with
what had just happened but he could not put his figure
on it. He slipped the disk into his pocket and decided
to have a look at it later. He turned back to his
squad who had been watching the whole affair.

“Okay everyone play time is over. Small arms drills.
Lets GO.”

(reply any)
(posted by Robbie)


========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 128
Stardate: 2408.01.12

(USS Spectre - Counselor Sella's office  - Ensign Goldsteen - 10:13)

"Ah, but did you hear the way you just spoke to me, there is anger in
your voice, there was anger emanating from you before you walked in
here.  You might be refraining from showing the emotion, and maybe you
really are unaware of the fact that you are experiencing them, but
that's the key.  You said of your down time that they gave you the
"Pleasure" of a good puzzle, and the Thrill of solving it, both of
those are emotions. So either you're simply telling me what I want to
hear at one moment and then pretending you didn't say that another,
or you are selectively amnesiac to the emotions you are experiencing.

For a moment Alex was silent before answering. "When interrogating," 
he said "I have to pretend to be emotional at times. I suppose I got 
into the habit and sometimes fool myself into thinking that I feel 
something. But I do not."

"However, as this is going to be an on going relationship, there's no
need to rush through things," Sella said, determining that forcing
Alex would be the worst thing she could do.  "We'll set up some more
appointments, and see if we can't make some progress.  And remember,
nothing you tell me will leave this room, unless I determine your a
danger to yourself or others.  The only thing the Captain will hear
from me is whether you're fit for duty or not,"  Sella said, typing
something into her PADD.

"Alright" Alex responded unsure as to what he should say, "goodbye"

"I'll talk to you soon, try and have a good day, until then," Sella
said, sincerely, and smiled.

At a loss Alex simply shrugged and left.

(reply Sella iyw)
(Posted by Dan Black)

===========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 130
Stardate: 2408.01.14
 
(USS Spectre – Taya's Quarters – ACSO Ensign JG Taya – 10:45)
 
 
Taya watched him touch the medicine wheel and sighed softly in slight annoyance that he still didn't understand.
 
~However did someone like him make it through the academy. I need my coffee.~
 
Taya started to walk towards the doorway to get a coffee from the replicator when Bys'At's voice stopped her.
 
“You have already met Ensign Morphy haven’t you!?” blurted Bys’At.
 
Taya turned and fixed a smile on her face, "That didn't sound like a question, more a statement. I think you know the answer."
 
“Oh, you are clever, but I am better endowed in the deductive arts. You and Mr. Morphy are, how you humans express it, ‘in cahoots’. There is no possible way that such things as this dream catcher and motionless wheel are truthful artifacts.” He moaned.
 
Taya shook her head in exasperation. "It depends on what you believe. I believe in them and i believe that if you believe in something it is true to you even if other people disagree."
 
She winced after she spoke realising she wasn't being quite as polite as she should be to a fellow crewmember.
 
(Reply Bys'At IYW)
 
"I'm sorry...umm...I hate to say so but if you wouldn't mind i have a lot of work to do ready for starting my first shift tomorrow..."
 
(Reply Bys'At)
 
Taya smiled and watched him leave. ~It is true~ she told herself. ~I do have work to do~
 
"Computer, one cup of coffee, hot, black, one sugar"
 
The coffee materialised, she picked it up and a PADD lying next to the replicator and made her way to the sofa. She kicked off her boots and half sitting half lying she sipped her coffee and started to read about the Spectre's science labs and the crew who worked in them.
 
(Reply Bys'At)
(Posted by Chris)


(USS Spectre – Taya's Quarters – Ensign Bys’At – 10:46)
 
"It depends on what you believe. I believe in them and i believe that if you believe in something it is true to you even if other people disagree." Taya winced.
 
Bys’At was stunned.
 
~What did that have to do with the subject matter?~ The woman was obviously not in ‘cahoots’ with Mr. Morphy, his cohorts all seemed clever. This woman … well … Bys’At didn’t speak ill of the woman … even in his thoughts.
 
“I think I was mistaken. You have not yet met Mr. Morphy. Please stay away from a slick talking American Engineer.” Bys’At advised.
 
"I'm sorry...umm...I hate to say so but if you wouldn't mind i have a lot of work to do ready for starting my first shift tomorrow..."
 
“Oh, yes, I see” Bys’At said sitting on the edge of Taya’s bed.
 
“Oh, right!” Bys’At lept up and made a quick exit through the woman’s quarters.
 
Once outside after the doors had shut behind him he sighed.
 
~Not precisely the result I was hoping. I think perhaps Taya is not suited to my … expressions.~
 
(reply none, any)
(posted by Anton)

==========================================================================

Mission: Docked
Day: 131
Stardate: 2408.01.15

(USS Spectre - Science Department - ACSO Ensign JG Taya - 09:59)
 
"Well, work I have plenty of," Ardena said cheerfully, "Grab a box and follow me. I'll give you the two credit tour."
 
Taya smiled and picked up a box labelled 'science staff reports'. She followed Ardena outside and stood beside her when she stopped to point out a few things.
 
"To your right we have what we laughably call the lounge. As we come down the corridor, you'll find biological labs to your left and botanical to your right. Astrometrics is up and over. Computer sciences is at the end on the other side of the department."
 
Taya nodded as she repeated it under her breath to learn where everything was; ~I'll have to explore a bit later on~
 
"Here we have the administrative offices. Feel free to steal one, but you'll have to empty one out. Or you can take an office up in astrometrics. Whatever you prefer."
 
"I'll think i'll the one on the right of this one, be easier for everyone to have me next to you," Taya smiled. "Ooh one more question before i clean out my office. What sort of things do you research most, as in ship matters, federation matters or matters of personal interest?"
 
"In all honesty, we in science on the Spectre spend more time researching matters for the Federation at large than on mission related tasks. I'm not sure why Captain T'Vhor ended up with such a large scientific staff, but we have a full upload link to memory prime and unlimited access, so I suppose this ship is as convenient as any. We're rigged for full holocommunication outside of the warp rivers."

Taya nodded and watched the dust fly up when Ardena put her box down; ~hope my office isn't as bad as this. If it is it's going to take a good few days to get fully sorted for me to work properly~
 
"If you want a starting point beyond 'getting settled and staking your ground' .. we've got a ton of information on Ushari Prime to sort through."

"Okidoke," Taya said. "Oooh do you want this box in here or i can take it and organise it?"
 
(Reply Ardena)
 
Taya nodded and walked to the door, "Permission to be dismissed to sort next door out and start on work".
 
(Reply Ardena)
 
Taya walked to her office and closed her eyes as the doors opened. She opened her eyes and smiled in relief. It was dusty but at least there were no boxes about. She walked in and the doors closed behind her. The office had a desk with computer terminal on, storage for padds and the like, a replicator next to a few chairs where small meetings could be held and a viewport. Taya smiled widely at that, it was what she most loved about being on a starship; being able to watch the stars.
 
Taya avoided taking the deep breath of satisfaction knowing it would end with a coughing fit and proceeded to sort the room out.
 
(Reply Ardena)
(Posted by Chris)


(USS Spectre - Science Department – Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 10:00)
 
"Okidoke," Taya said. "Oooh do you want this box in here or I can take it and organise it?"

Ardena was tempted for about half a heartbeat to make her new assistant do the grunt work for something not in her job description, but morality asserted itself, “That’s just Xenobiological samples from various worlds. It can be left on the table.. I’ll figure out what to do with it..” she looked around the mucky and cluttered office. “..Er, eventually.”

(Reply Taya)

Taya nodded and walked to the door, "Permission to be dismissed to sort next door out and start on work".

Ardena was startled by the request, “Uhm, of course..” She watched the Ensign turn, “Ensign Taya?” she said.

(Reply Taya)

“Please, don’t ever feel like you need to ask permission to leave, or go to bathroom, or whatever. While we are scientists on a military vessel, in the science department, I feel science is the senior partner in the relationship.. and I think we all know most scientists deal better with a minimum of pomp and circumstance.” Really, if she got saluted every time she entered a room, she’d start smacking people.

(Reply Taya)

She watched the Ensign leave, glad to have an assistant who was *obviously* knew the ins and outs of Starfleet and knew procedure. ~Wonder if she’ll tutor?~ Ardena wondered with some humour. She was familiar with Starfleet protocols, but it was different than *knowing* them as the Ensign obviously did.

She did know one thing, Ensign Taya was obviously much better suited to bridge duty with her general knowledge, training and classifications, she’d just earned herself Alpha shift bridge watch if she wanted it!

(Reply any/all)
(posted by Lorna)


(USS Spectre - Science Department – ACSO Ensign JG Taya - 10:03)
 
“That’s just Xenobiological samples from various worlds. It can be left on the table.. I’ll figure out what to do with it..” Ardena looked around the mucky and cluttered office. “..Er, eventually.”

Taya nodded and walked to the door, "Permission to be dismissed to sort next door out and start on work".

Ardena was startled by the request, “Uhm, of course..” She watched the Ensign turn, “Ensign Taya?” she said.

"Yes?" Taya asked as she turned around.

“Please, don’t ever feel like you need to ask permission to leave, or go to bathroom, or whatever. While we are scientists on a military vessel, in the science department, I feel science is the senior partner in the relationship.. and I think we all know most scientists deal better with a minimum of pomp and circumstance.”

Taya smiled, "tell me about it. The amount of bureaucratic red tape to go through and that's on the simple things as well. I won't forget my 'meetings' when i came back to Starfleet; i don't think i could handle anymore of the useless things Starfleet think are important in the line of duty."

Taya walked out and into the room next door.
(Reply any/none)
(Posted by Chris Barton)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 1
Stardate: 2408.01.15
 
(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 12:01)
 
Sammael's Anvil, the shuttle she had been told to "find something wrong with", was just about to get quite a lot wrong with it. Starting with her pulling the entire computer system out and stomping it into oblivion with her frustration. The antiquated systems of using the central OS as a translator was infuriating in and of itself, but with that foreign weapons system "upgrade" it was slower than it had any right to be. Besides which, it seemed that the system was bound and determined not to do what she wanted. She'd been here, alternately on her back and contorted into uncomfortable positions trying to get at the problematic systems, and all the while it was throwing up error messages like they were going out of style.
 
NRPG: At least, that description is what I remember from the previous posts. If it's wrong I'll go back and make it work.
 
RPG:
 
"That does it," Jacqueline said through clenched teeth. "One more shot and then...coffee." She needed the break, she needed the illusion of caffeine, or (if she could trick the replicator) the reality of caffiene. Besides, if all else failed, she could always pour the hot liquid onto the terminal and blame it on the brilliance of whoever had set up that weapons system in the first place. 
 
Just as she had extricated herself from the awkward position she had been in and risen to her feet, the horrendous sound of grinding floor panels rang out through the shuttlebay. Coffee temporarily forgotten, her eyes locked onto the form of Ensign Paul Morphy.
 
~What the hell?~
"And you would be standing there because..?"
  
“Help you … I came down here to,” he stammered. A glimmer of one of her father's obscure references flickered in the back of her mind, but that wasn't important right now. What was important was that she needed to find a problem with the weapons system, and while she was gifted with fixing things and knew more than most about cloaking technology and had some knowledge of Borg technology, she didn't really do weapons. Lucky for her, Morphy did do weapons.
 
"Oh, I betcha did," Jacqueline said. "You're not skiving off something else while you're down here, are you?" She didn't really have that high an opinion of the man after he had started up that marriage rumor about her and Therul. Actually, she had yet to return the favor. Still, that didn't detract from the fact that he could be useful at the moment.
 
(reply Morphy)
 
"Great. You're officially being assigned to help me find something wrong with this stupid thing," she said, gesturing at the shuttlecraft. "Now, before anything else happens, I'm getting my coffee."
 
(reply Morphy, any)
(posted by Siobhan)


(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – Ensign Paul Morphy - 12:03)
 
"You're not skiving off something else while you're down here, are you?" Bristed eyed Paul. Sensing that the ACEO was a little miffed Paul answered quickly.
 
“No, Sir, I just wandered down here to … uh … give you a hand … if you needed one.” Paul, with some effort, managed to keep his face (and story) straight while speaking but his eyes bulged slightly.
 
"Great. You're officially being assigned to help me find something wrong with this stupid thing," she said, gesturing at the shuttlecraft. "Now, before anything else happens, I'm getting my coffee."
 
~That’s what’s wrong with her, no caffeine.~ thought Paul. ~She’s always nicer when she’s had a few gallons of coffee, unfortunately for me she apparently hasn’t had any today.~
 
Paul considered what she had said as she wandered off to get her coffee.
 
“Hey, ‘find something wrong’, Sir!? I don’t know what you mean!” Paul called after her as she was heading out of the shuttlebay to get her coffee.
 
(reply Bristed)
 
~Whatever.~ Paul shrugged.
 
(reply Bristed, any)
(posted by Anton)


(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 12:04)
 
“Hey, ‘find something wrong’, Sir!? I don’t know what you mean!” Paul called after her.
 
Jacqueline paused. It was a rather vague order, but then again, it was pretty much the same thing H'Chir had said to her. Find something wrong, link it to the weapons system, and report after it was repaired.
 
"Just...run every diagnostic you can think of while I'm gone. Pick your favorite problem and we'll deal with that one." As far as she could tell, pretty much everything was wrong with the shuttlecraft, but telling that to the CEO was out of the question. Having answered the question at least to her satisfaction, she continued out on her quest for caffeine. Buried in chocolate and whipped cream and flavor shots.
 
~And maybe when I come back, mister weapons specialist will have some idea of where to go with this assignment.~ 
 
(reply Morphy, any)
(posted by Sio)


(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – Ensign Paul Morphy - 12:19)
 
Back, coffee in hand, ACEO Bristed entered the shuttlecraft via the rear hatch that lay open.
 
“You haven’t missed much.” Paul commented scratching his head and looking about at the tangle of wires and various error messages.
 
(reply Bristed)
 
“It seems obvious that somebody’s tampered with the system.” Paul explained his ‘findings’, “Someone tried to upgrade the weapons systems but their idea had three major flaws. One, the system is so old that it can’t even understand the upgrade. Two, even if it could understand the upgrade the onboard phaser array couldn’t put out that much output if it tried. And three, I’m pretty sure he didn’t ask the Topaz Chief before making the change.” Paul giggled at the joke.
 
(reply Bristed, IYW)
 
“Anyway, what else is supposed to be wrong? ‘Find something wrong with it’ is a pretty vague order. It sounds like he wants us to make something up.” Commented Paul.
 
(reply Bristed)
 
“We might need a patsy for the official report. Any ideas?”
 
(reply Bristed, NRPG: assuming she suggests Paul, lol)
 
“HA HA, very funny, SIR. I was thinking of someone more … porcine.” Paul smiled.
 
(reply Bristed)
 
(reply Bristed, any)
(posted by Anton)


(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 12:20)
 
Today’s coffee involved coconut, vanilla, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and peanuts, not to mention iced coffee. She normally didn’t go for the cold stuff, but today, with such a stupid assignment, she had decided to go for the exotic. She’d already downed one before coming back, a second caffienated concoction in hand. She was feeling much better about things right now.
 
"You haven’t missed much," Morphy said as she returned.
 
She sighed heavily. There were a few more error messages, but otherwise nothing had changed as far as she could see. "Run what you’ve got by me."
 
"It seems obvious that somebody’s tampered with the system." Paul explained his ‘findings’, "Someone tried to upgrade the weapons systems but their idea had three major flaws. One, the system is so old that it can’t even understand the upgrade. Two, even if it could understand the upgrade the onboard phaser array couldn’t put out that much output if it tried. And three, I’m pretty sure he didn’t ask the Topaz Chief before making the change." Paul giggled at the joke.
 
"Topaz is orange, you know that right?" she said. Morphy seemed to ignore her.
 
~Probably meant azure. It has a "zed" in it too.~
 
"Anyway, what else is supposed to be wrong? ‘Find something wrong with it’ is a pretty vague order. It sounds like he wants us to make something up." Commented Paul.
 
"Don’t think we need to. We can just write that everything is wrong and downgrade the thing back to the way it was. That’s the only feasible plan of action I can think of for this thing," she said.
 
"We might need a patsy for the official report. Any ideas?"
"I thought you were volunteering," she said dryly.
 
"HA HA, very funny, SIR. I was thinking of someone more … porcine." Paul smiled.
Jacqueline thought about it for a second. The idea of pinning this on someone as dislikable as Therul had some appeal, but as an officer she was supposed to have the restraint not to do such petty things. Besides, the guy was hardly interested in shuttle modifications. His only thought, either on duty or off, was to annoy any and every female in the name of being friendly. Lately, in her case, in the name of being more than friendly. If only throwing personnel out the airlock wasn’t against so many of the rules…
 
But that didn’t mean she could blame this mess on Gorlan Therul. However vague the orders had been, it seemed fairly obvious that H’Chir had something in mind, something probably whoever had screwed this shuttlecraft up getting what was coming to him.
 
"I’d rather not try to pin this on anyone. As far as I know, none of the engineers are this stupid," she said. "At least not in that manner. If H’Chir wants a name, he’ll snarl at me about it later. Right now let’s just get this rust-bucket back to working condition and make that report."
 
(reply Morphy, any)
(posted by Sio)


(USS Spectre - Shuttlebay 1 – Ensign Paul Morphy - 12:22)
 
“If H’Chir wants a name, he’ll snarl at me about it later. Right now let’s just get this rust-bucket back to working condition and make that report." Ordered Bristed. Paul shrugged.
 
“Well, that’s why you’re the boss.” Said Morphy returning to working on the weapons system.
 
Whoever had tried to upgrade it was too curious for their own good … what a mess.
NRPG: that should bring us up to the current time.
 
RPG:
 
(reply Bristed IYW, any)
(posted by Anton)

=========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 8
Stardate: 2408.01.23
 
(USS Spectre – T’Pia’s quarters – Nurse T’Pia Pelletier - 2:00)
 
T’Pia sat at her desk typing. Having suppressed her human half had gotten her further in the development of ELI. The Enhanced Logarithm Intellect was coming together nicely. A bit of quaternary code here, a deferred procedure call there, things were looking hopeful.
 
“Where to put this new piece?” She pondered out loud. Despite the Vulcan logic there were still uncertainties in the undertaking.
 
~1.need, 2.inventory, 3.imbalance, 4.solution~ She thought.
 
~That the basis of the system, Find what is needed, take inventory of possession, see imbalance in needs and inventory, work towards solving any imbalance between need and inventory, this is the basis of all life.~
 
“There’s still something missing – I can’t put my finger on it.” T’Pia frowned. She couldn’t figure out just what could be missing from her ‘child’. Her baby was still incomplete. She would need to solve the issue … but how?
 
(reply none, any)
(posted by Anton)

========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call 
Day: 10
Stardate: 2408.01.25

(USS Spectre – Sella’s office – Ensign Paul Morphy – 09:30)
 
Paul was trying hard not to look directly at the blind counselor.
 
“I’m not very comfortable with counselors.”
 
(reply Sella)
 
“I guess it stems from my days as a marine. I don’t like other people messing around in my skull.” Paul ‘explained’.
 
(reply Sella)
 
“I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I’m a red blooded American son. My sister Sarah and I are the only children our parents had. She’s an instructor at the academy now … I don’t hear from her too much.” Said Paul.
 
(reply Sella)
(posted by Anton)

(USS Spectre  - Turbolift One - Captain T'Vhor & Morale Officer Ensign Jynea Kreung - 21:35)

It seemed she was forever meeting Captain T'Vhor in
turbolifts. Maybe the man just lived in turbolifts
whenever he wasn't on the bridge or in his ready room.
She supposed it was one way to socialize with the
crew. Maybe she should get him a bellboy's hat to go
with his red uniform so he could announce the decks.

"Good evening Captain," Jynea said cheerfully enough,
stepping in. "Deck ten, please." She said to the
computer. "How are you today?"

"I am very well Ensign Kreung", said the Captain, "in
fact, I am feeling positively invigorated", he added
as he returned his attention towards the doors as they
slid closed to signal the continuation of the
turbolifts journey.

"And yourself, how have you been keeping of late?",
asked the Captain, "it seems that we are always
passing one another in corridors lately or
corresponding via official reports", he added.

Jynea wasn't paying a lot of attention, her mind was
wandering as it was almost time her to get some sleep.
"Why do Vulcans have beds?" She mused to herself,
"It's not like they sleep in them or seem to use them
for sex or anything." 

She could feel the presence behind her raise an
eyebrow. ~Erk. I said that out loud.~

At first the Captain remained silent, had he just
heard that or had it been simply a surface emotion
that he had been picking up via his inate telepathic
abilities, which, to say the least had been piqueing
to levels he had never experienced lately? It seemed
however that the words had indeed been vocalised & as
such, the remark deserved an answer. If only for the
purpose of shifting the now silent Ensign Kreung from
her obvious embarrassment. 

"I can assure you Ensign that despite popular belief,
I, as many other Vulcans, either full blood or
otherwise, do indeed sleep", said T'Vhor, the Morale
officers obvious embarrassment increasing now at
saying aloud, what was clearly meant to be kept in
mind.

"I might add, that there have also been times when I
have been known to have.... sex as you say", said the
Captain, "Vulcan's are not the cold hearted,
unequivically celebate beings you may suspect us to be
Ensign Kreung", he added.

Jynea raised her own eyebrow at that, "I don't recall
ever thinking you cold hearted Captain, have you felt
that some thing of you such?" She said in her best
stereotypical counsellor voice. She didn't think such
a tactic would distract the captain for long.

The Captain stood up straight & then pulled at his
tunic, then he re-addressed the Morale Officer.

"It would seem a generalised concensus amongst non
Vulcans that we are indeed a cold species", said the
Captain, "your...'outburst' not a moment or two
beforehand simply leads me to believe that you, as
well as some others on board are of the same opinion",
he added forming his response as always, on the logic
surrounding it.

Jynea sighed, "Perhaps the crew and everyone around
you is concerned for your physical well being to go
with your mental well being." Oh well, in for a meter,
in for a kilometre. "Besides, maybe we of the feminine
gender feel that such a good looking man of obvious
intelligence and skill shouldn't be spending his
nights
alone." She was NOT going to mention the pool on the
wall of the female enlisted showers.

That one had stumped the CO for sure, he hadn't
expected anyone, let alone the Morale Officer who
ordinarilly would have made another nbegative comment
in regards him, to refer to him as...'Good Looking'.

He again drew himself up & quirked his head slightly
in response.

"A compliment?", he enquired with a quizzical raise of
an eyebrow, "I am not sure I understand, first a
negative remark, then a positive", he added turning
his attention again straight ahead towards the doors.

"Most illogical"....

Jynea was actually concerned by that, enough that she
hit the stop button on the turbolift and had it move
out of the track so others could get by. "A negative
remark Captain? A confused remark certainly, but I do
not recall ever making negative remarks to or about
you personally. If I'm wrong, please enlighten me." If
he really thought she didn't approve of him, or
thought negatively of him, no wonder he would never
give any of her advice more than lip service and
they'd gotten stuck in the spiral of her getting more
and more desperate to do her job and he more and more
desperate to avoid her suggestions like the plague.

The fact that the turbolift had just suddenly stopped
however had of course, registered with the Captain &
if he had been slightly confused by that, the
counter-argument that had followed by the Morale
Officer had only served to confuse him further. He
then re-iterated her previous sentiment.

"Why do Vulcans have beds?..... It's not like they
sleep in them or seem to use them for sex.....or
anything", said the Captain turning to face Ensign
Kreung now. "Did I not hear your statement correctly
Ensign Kreung? Could this not be construed as....
negative?", he added, returning his gaze thence
towards the unmoving transit bar where it sat within
the window of the turbolift. 

"Granted, it might show a certain confusion on your
part as to the reasons a Vulcan has a need for a bed,
assuming of course that the bed is required for the
sexual act but on the whole, the remark was
indeed..... negative", said the Captain. "Or at the
very least, perhaps prying into matters that you
yourself might consider unacceptable should the
sentiment have been reversed"

"Would you have not considered the remark negative if
I had made reference to Orion sexual needs or habits
on a complete whim?", said the Captain.

"Why do Vulcans have beds? The same reasons Horta have
chairs." Jynea said, "Shortening Teryanis Ferlin,
Understanding Xenopsychology. It's a text about making
assumptions based on your own psyche and experiences
when dealing with other races. For example, if you HAD
made a comment about Orion sexual needs and habits,
I'd probably agree with you. I don't consider my
sexual nature negative in any shape or form and I
think you'd be very hard pressed to make me view it
so."

"In the case of my earlier comment, I was thinking how
you seem to swing from one end of your duality and
back and never seem to find a happy medium. I was
trying to remind myself, you might be perfectly happy
with that even though it drives *me* bonky. My
embarrassment was a mixture of 'I can't believe of all
the things
to say out loud, that was it' and 'Who the hell am I
to speculate on such anyway?' Since you've made it
quite clear you have no interest in my services as
counsellor or morale officer and you're Lieutenant
Sella's responsibility now anyway."

The Captain was confused once again, how could she
assume that he did not require her services as a
Councellor, was'nt it she herself that had insisted
that the term Councellor did not really apply to her
many months beforehand? And then the question
regarding the Horta's need for chairs, she was
implying in that argument that since the Horta did not
require chairs, then neither did Vulcan's require
beds. Added to this was the fact that not once had the
Captain suggested that Jynea's sexual needs were in
any way negative, he had simply implied that the very
act of enquiring about them might be construed as
such.

The notion that Orion's were apparently pre-occupied
with pleasure seemed to be lost in this instance, for
this particular Orion seemed to thrive on it's exact
opposite. Conflict....

Perhaps this was simply a response to her own view of
what other races apparently perceived as the norm in
regards Orion females, either way the discussion
seemed to be going nowhere fast & the Captain felt
that it was time now to put an end to it.

"Let us begin again, my name is T'Vhor", said the
Captain, "I am half Vulcan, half Betazoid. And you
are?", he asked intonating with his hand now for an
answer.

"I'm Jynea Kreung, Orion and apparent failure at basic
communication." She said wryly, letting frustration
bleed away.

"I am Very pleased to meet you Jynea, I was on my way
to Ten Forward in order to partake in a light snack &
perhaps a drink also. Would you like to accompany
me?", he enquired with a rarely given smile, courtesy
of his Betazoid half of course!

Boy, and people called her unpredictable in her mood
shifts. "It would be my honour, I just have one small,
teensy weensy problem first.." She said, chewing on
her lip.

"I have absolutely no idea how to restart the
turbolift."

The Captain just pursed his lips & then nodded. The
Ensign in her haste to halt their progress throughout
the ships internals, had of course hit the manual over
ride without necessarily knowing how to re-instate it,
a simple verbal command would have sufficed but....

"Computer, re-instate emergency over ride on Turbolift
One, command authorisation T'Vhor Alpha Two Zero,
execute on voice print analysis", said the Captain &
the computer thankfully responded. After all, with the
previous debacle with the Turbolifts at Starbase
departure, anything could have happened. 

They could even have ended up both stuck there!!!

[Emergency over ride is now cancelled, please restate
the required destination]

"Deck Ten please", said the Captain & the lift was
once again on it's way, both occupants now falling
silent for a brief moment or two.

"Perhaps, if we have the time later, I will show you
that I do indeed possess a bed", said the Captain
almost as an afterthought of their previous
discussion, but then on realising what he had just
said & how that might be misconstrued in itself, he
suddenly wished that he had not done so...

Jynea looked up innocently, "Am I supposed to be
instructing you in what to do with said bed?"

"I am well aware of how to use my own bed Jynea", said
the Captain, sticking with the use of her first name
now for convenience sake, "I meant this purely as a
means to prove to you that we do, in fact, have a need
for them", he added & then he waited patiently for the
doors to open, somewhat relieved when they finally did
so....

(Reply None)
(Posted by Lorna & Alan)


(USS Spectre  - Ten Forward - Captain T'Vhor & Ensign Jynea Kreung - 21:45)

Jynea had been startled to see an Orion woman behind the bar in Ten Forward. She could only wonder when she'd been added to the ship. "We do seem to have a lot of Orions on a high security vessel." Jynea said to the Captain as they found a table by the view windows.

"I would suspect no more than any other ship of the fleet", said the Captain as he took his seat opposite the already seated Morale Officer. "Why does this surprise you?", he asked.

"Just.. Well, since the Orion Union is still considered at war with the Federation.. we seem to have a lot of Orions about. I'm not saying it's good or bad, just surprises me." She frowned a little, "Which, I suppose, proves what a hypocrite I can be."

"The Orion Union may still be technically at war with the Federation Jynea, but you yourself are here & there are a good number of other serving Orion Starfleet officers within the Federations ranks as we speak", said the Captain as he took a sip of his drink & then awaited the arrival of his small food order.

"I know.." She trailed off, then brightened, "If I were perfect, what a lousy person I would be to try and help people fix problems."

The Captain nodded & then changed tact somewhat.

"I am eager to put aside our own past differences Jynea, it does seem that we got off to a bad start beforehand", said the Captain, "but then circumstances around that particular time were not the best available", he added, just as the waitress duly arrived & handed him a small plate, upon which sat a bowl of Bertakk with a side order of Kreila.

Jynea smiled, eyes dancing, "I excel at being difficult, I suspect you did too.. and when I started trying to fill David's shoes, you resented this new comer trying to boss you around on your own ship." Her own food showed up in the form on a plate of various cookies and a glass of apple juice. It was probably a good thing a good chunk of Jynea's time was spent climbing around Jeffrey tubes the amount of sweets she ate.

"I will be the first to admit that I am not the easiest of people to convince of certain matters regarding rest & recreation", said the Captain as he paused to take a few mouthfuls of his soup, "I will however, in the interests of harmony & good intention, endeavor to meet any reasonable requirements you may outline", he added.

Jynea snapped her fingers in mock disappointment before taking a cookie. "Shucks, I thought I had you until you mentioned the 'reasonable' part. There go my plans for the Captain dunk tank for the country fair."

The Captain quirked his head & raised an eyebrow quizically.

"Dunk tank?... Country fair?", he enquired.

"Country fair.. a traditional gathering of farmers, entertainers and merchants in which there are amusement rides, contests, games of skill and chance, lots of really bad food, bad music and lots and lots of fun." Jynea explained. "The town I grew up in had one for two weeks every summer's end. Wonderful thing, but somehow, I don't think it'd be your cup of tea."

The Captain pursed his lips & returned his attention to his soup bowl. For an Orion, Jynea certainly knew a lot of Human euphemisms, 'Cup of tea' had been one he had learned from a colleague a long time beforehand & so, it did not require explanation.

The Morale Officer had not yet explained 'Dunk tank' though, perhaps that one would wait until later.

"What IS your preference for rest and relaxation?" Jynea asked with open curiosity. Maybe she should have asked that question a long time ago instead of trying to force the Captain into things he obviously didn't want to do. The Captain took a bite of the Kreila, covered as it now was at one end, via the Bertakk soup it had just been 'dunked' into. Then he re-addressed Jynea as she took another bite of her cookie.

"Normally, I would have to say that I indulge in the Khol-tor, Tvi-sochya is a wonderful state to be in & remarkably restful", said the Captain. "I also occasionally like to endulge myself in the Vulcan art of Lapan-skraman", he added before then going on to explain what it actually was to a somewhat confused looking Orion.

"The art of carving wood into aesthetically pleasing shapes & figures", said the Captain. "I find it very..... helpful", he added.

Jynea's eyes danced, "As long as you're not crafting 3D chess pieces to torment your morale officer with. Your ship's chess club on partner's night gives the winners of the previous tournament a certain counsellor to balance the teams for next time. I'm afraid, I don't have the patience or mindset for chess."

"It is, an acquired taste", said the Captain.

"So, what do you sculpt? Abstracts? Or animals.. or?" She was genuinely curious. She liked to paint, but it was abstract colours on canvas that struck her fancy, there was little skill involved and probably on par with a child's finger paintings, really. She'd never shown any of her work, but she'd never felt it necessary to either.

The Captain placed his spoon back into the now half emptied bowl before him, then he brought his hands together on the table.

"I have carved animal figures in the past, but to be honest with you, my passion is to let my mind do the carving for me & see what it comes up with", said the Captain, "it can be interesting to view the results, but, I suppose that in answer to your question, my main task would therefore be abstracts", he added.

"And yourself? How do you relax, given that your own job is helping others to relax I mean", asked the Captain. "Do you have a specific activity separate from those you use in regards your work?", he added.

"Oh. Well, my work is one big party." She said with a smile and drank from her tea cup. "But I have been known to put on the fuzzy slippers, pyjamas and watch incredibly bad 3D vid shows in my quarters. Its, all, of course, part of learning about the perceptions of the various societies on each other. Like the Betazoid psycho-thriller 'It takes sixteen' which is about a non-telepathic Betazoid who moves to Terra to be away from mentalists, but ends up falling in love with a telepathic human and goes.. well, as my mother would say, a slight step left of reality."

"Intriguing", said the Captain, "perhaps I will have to avail myself of this, '3D Vid' sometime", he added as he once again resumed his meal.

“I think you’d enjoy the country fair more.” Jynea said, eyes dancing with amusement, her smile mischievous and a mile wide.

"I am curious Jynea", said the Captain enquiringly, "apart from Nurse Douwsy, I don't often see you mix with your own species, you also seem to distance yourself from those that serve on the ship... Is this something you have difficulty with?", he asked.

“My own species?” Jynea echoed with furrowed brow, “other than Nurse Douwsy and our bartender who I had yet to meet, I didn’t realize there were any other Orions on board.” She shrugged, “I grew up, mostly, on Earth. I grew up in a melting pot of skin colours, ear types and some had hair, some had feathers and some had fur.”

The Captain smiled, that rarely seen smile once again.

"I too have lived amongst many different types of ear, fur & skin as you say", said the Captain, "but then, how bland the universe would be if everyone looked the same as one another", he added.

"Exactly. And one could counter that I’ve yet to see a certain male at this table at the morning Suss Mahn sessions." Her smile managed to grow a bit wickeder, "Or at meyaski flower arranging classes held by Petty Officer Clrai. We are more than the races of the parents who birthed us."

"Indeed", said the Captain, "but we do not always inherit the best parts of each", he added thinking back now to his stoic, set in his ways, father & realising that he himself, shared some of those traits. He then finished off the last of his meal.

"If you would excuse me, I suppose that I had better think about returning to my quarters, we have another busy day tomorrow & no doubt you would insist that I get my rest", the Captain quipped.

"Oh absolutely, have to put that bed to use somehow." She teased, remembering the start of this very enlightening conversation.

"Then I bid you a good night Jynea, I trust that you will sleep well & awake refreshed, as will I, hopefully", said the Captain standing now from the table & then moving off, only to stop mid stride & turn to face the morale officer once more.

"Perhaps, a certain male might attend Suss Mahn either tomorrow or in the near future", said the Captain, "although he might draw the line at the Meyaski flower arranging", he added with another, rarely seen smile.

Jynea laughed, delighted. "I'm sure either event would be happy to include you."

(Reply any/all)
(Posted by Lorna, Alan)

===========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call 
Day: 11
Stardate: 2408.01.26

(USS Spectre - Bridge - Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 00:30)

Ardena sat down in the hot seat with a smile. The chair was
remarkably more comfortable than T'Vhor's memories had lead her to
believe. While he hadn't bled a lot onto her in their various
melds, the few she had received all seemed to revolve around the
bridge of the Spectre. On the other hand, he probably sat in it
like his backbone was a tri-steel rod at all times. She couldn't
say she'd ever really studied him when he was in command, she was
generally busy with her own things.

It wasn't a lot of a bridge watching. An ensign at helm, an ensign
at security/tactical, and herself watching science. And really,
she was doing THAT mostly out of nothing better to be doing while
keeping an ear open for alerts or things needing a command
personnel's okee-dokee.

Getting qualified for bridge watch was a lot easier, and harder,
than she'd thought it would be. Now, getting qualified for bridge
command or away team command, that was a long and arduous task.
But, bridge watch, one just had to hold it together until you got
a hold of an expert or someone with the appropriate rank and
experience. Of course, the fewer emergencies she had to deal with,
the happier she would be..

"Ma'am?" McGintry called, getting her attention.

She turned to look up at the security officer, "Yes?" she asked,
curious.

"I'm going to take my break, if that's alright? Will slave the
terminal to you."

S.O.P., Ardena was sure, but she knew very little about running
security boards. However, when nature called, as she suspected it
was.. "Sounds good to me, Ensign." She replied trying to look more
assured than she felt.

McGintry headed off in the direction of the bridge's head and
replicator. Ardena was specifically not drinking anything because
she wasn't sure if she was allowed to leave either in command.
Though, she supposed, if she was allowed to be in the Captain's
Ready Room (a luxury she would NEVER use!) as officer on watch,
she was allowed to visit the little scientist's room.

But this was her first watch. She was going to sit in the comfy
chair and watch the stars. She supposed she could be using the
time to study, or catch up on research, but really, she just
wanted to enjoy the hear and now.

(Reply any/all)
(Posted by Lorna)


(USS Spectre - Bridge – CMO Williams - 02:34)

After Douwsy had basically kicked him out of sickbay
he had decided to go for a walk. He had wandered the
quiet ship and had finally ended up on the bridge. 

As he walked onto the bridge he saw that Carrow was
the officer of the watch. 

He walked over to her sitting in the command chair.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

He motioned to the first officer’s chair.

(Reply Carrow)

He sat down and looked around the quiet bridge.

“You are braver than I am being the watch officer I
really hate it.”

(reply Carrow)

(reply Carrow, any)
(posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 02:35)

Ardena was startled when the turbolift opened and it was the Chief
Medical Officer who appeared and came down to the command seats.

"Do you mind if I join you?" He asked, motioning to the first officer's
chair.

"Be welcome," She replied with some amusement, some confusion, "Though,
shouldn't you, as the second officer, be claiming my seat?"

(Reply William's)

"You are braver then I am being the watch officer I really hate it."

"I don't know so much about being brave," Ardena replied, "It's a great
time for reflection and thought.. and if anything happens I scream like a
little girl until Captain T'Vhor or Commander O'Conner rescue me," she winked
at the sleep deprived doctor.

(Reply William's)

"I like sitting up here and watching the universe go by. I think,
sometimes, we forget how big it all is when we can go from one place to another in
the blink of an eye. We hear of this planet being a pleasure planet, or
that planet being aquatic, or a third planet being a scientific reserve, but
we forget the size of a planet, how many lives they cradle, how many
stories, how many individual things are going on at any given time. Sure, Risa
may host R&R to many a fleet and travellor, but there's more going on there
than just hospitality. There's life. And sitting here reminds me not to
generalize, not to look at the whole and forget the atoms than make up
the pattern." She glanced over at Andrew, "Er, sorry, I also tend to get a
little rambly at 0230."

(Reply William's, any)
(Posted by Lorna)


(USS Spectre - Bridge – CMO Williams - 02:39)

"Though, shouldn't you, as the second officer, be
claiming my seat?"

Andrew gave a slight smile. 

“You are the officer of the watch. I’m just here
taking in the view.”

He sat down in the second officer’s seat.

"You are braver then I am being the watch officer I
really hate it."

"I don't know so much about being brave," Ardena
replied,

"It's a great time for reflection and thought.. and if
anything happens I scream like a little girl until
Captain T'Vhor or Commander O'Conner rescue me," 

Andrew grinned.

“Bet they would not do the same if I screamed like a
girl?”

He shook his head and stared out of the view screen.

"I like sitting up here and watching the universe go
by. I think, sometimes, we forget how big it all is when 
we can go from one place to another in the blink of an eye. 
We hear of this planet being a pleasure planet, or that
planet being aquatic, or a third planet being a
scientific reserve, but we forget the size of a
planet, how many lives they cradle, how many stories,
how many individual things are going on at any given
time. Sure, Risa may host R&R to many a fleet and
travellor, but there's more going on there than
just hospitality. There's life. And sitting here
reminds me not to generalize, not to look at the whole 
and forget the atoms that make up the pattern." 

"Er, sorry, I also tend to get a little rambly at
02:30."

Andrew smiled slightly.

“Ow you should see me when I get started, I go on for
hours.”

(reply Carrow IYW)

(Reply Carrow, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(Unknown Vessel - Ready Room – Commander Sajh – 22:30)
 
“That idiot Blek has been drunk for a solid week now.” Muttered an Orion man from a display console on Commander Sajh’s desk.
 
“So … he doesn’t know what’s really going on anyway.” Commented Sajh reclining in her command chair behind her desk.
 
“What do you want us to do about him?” asked the Orion.
 
Commander Sajh twirled one of her blue Andorian Antennae with her left hand.
 
“Nothing … the ghost ship will be engaging his vessel soon on their way to Ushari Prime. Our spy onboard the Spectre still has cover intact, if Blek lets slip anything of what little he does know he’ll be taken care of.” Sajh eyed the Orion on her screen.
 
“The syndicate trusts your judgment in the matter.” Said the Orion on the screen.
 
“Thank you, Ambassador.” Sajh didn’t allow herself to smile.
 
“We remember your loyalty. After all, it was you who learned of Admiral Doenitz betrayal and took immediate action to see that Starbase Valhalla fell to the 52nd fleet.” Said the Orion.
 
(reply none)
(posted by Anton)

========================================================================

Mission: When Poachers Come to Call
Day: 12
Stardate: 2408.01.27

(USS Spectre – Marine Holodeck – Corporal Houseman - 11:30)

=^=30 seconds=^=

Houseman stood at the hatch of the Amazon class
runabout. He watched the planet slowly rotating below
him. He could feel the presence of the rest of the
squad behind him.

He kept looking at the red light on the bulkhead above
the hatch. As he watched it turned green.

=^= GO GO GO =^=

He placed his hands on either side of the hatch as
she quickly scanned his suits seals on the HUDs
display to see that they were green. He then took a
deep breath and hurled his self out of the runabout.
He immediately pulled his arms back and dived head
first towards the planet surface as the gravity sucked
him down. 

He watched the altimeter in the top corner of his HUDs
display spool down. It beeped at him when he had
reached the right altitude. He leaned back and spread
out his arms and legs to slow his decent.

He watched as features in the land shape below began
to take shape.  He could see mountain rages and huge
forest stretching across the land masses. He saw
movement out of the corner of his eye and slowly
turned his head. He saw the other members of the team
were free falling around him and he gave a okay signal
as he plummeted through cloud layers.

The altimeter began a rapid beeping. Houseman
manoeuvred his self away from his team and pulled the
rip cord on the parachute on his back. He felt the
kick as the parachute opened and his speed suddenly
dropped. He unclipped his bundle which was attached to
him by a short length of cord and now dangled below
his legs.

He steered his parachute as he followed the directions
on his HUDs display. He saw his landing zone appear
ahead of him. He pushed his feet forward to cushion
the landing as he saw the earth move up to meet him.

(reply any)
(posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre – Marine Holodeck  – Corporal Houseman – 11:50)

Houseman froze as his taccorder beeped. He looked down
and took in the information.

“Sarge two large contacts incoming three minutes out.
On bearing 250.”

“Wonderful. They are early. Must be the reinforcements
we were warned about.  Every one spread out. Houseman
you have over watch.”

“Yes Sarge.”

Houseman turned and headed off the road and headed up
to high ground. He found his spot and un-slung his
TR-116. He lay down on the ground and activated his
scope and looked down the way the contacts were
coming.

He saw two open top hover vehicles speeding down the
valley towards them. Each one was packed with troops.
Houseman activated the comm net.

“Sarge two hover vehicles with troops. Heading towards
us.”

=^= slow them down Houseman.=^=

“Sarge.”

Houseman focused his rifle on the engine compartment
of the first hover vehicle and fired. He saw the
vehicle drop and slam hard into the ground. Its
occupants tumbling out as it grinded to a halt.

The second vehicle swerved wildly as it narrowly
missed its stricken companion. Houseman fired again.
This time the second vehicle’s nose bit the earth
causing it to spin end over end fling its occupants
and equipment all over the valley floor. 

“Two down.”

=^= Houseman get back on to position were nearly at
the target=^=

“Acknowledged.”

Houseman scanned the two destroyed vehicles through
his scope before heading back to his squad.

(reply any)
(posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre – Marine Holodeck – Corporal Houseman - 12:20)

The explosive charge shattered the door. Smoke and
debree covered Houseman and his companion. Before the
smoke cleared Houseman had stepped into the room and
moved right covering his areas with his rifle. His
companion moved left and covered his area.

~Clear~

Houseman moved forward clear the two rooms on the
ground floor. He dashed up the stairs closely followed
by his companion. At the top of the stairs was a door.
He stepped up to it and placed four small breaching
charges against the door.

He stepped back under cover and ignited the
explosives. Two flash bangs were hurled into the room.
They exploded sending out a cloud of dense smoke and a
blinding flash. Houseman stepped into the small room
While his companion covered him he stepped over to the
tied and hooded figure.  

He grabbed the figure and hauled the figure put of the
room. They came down the stairs and Houseman through
the figure onto the floor. Suddenly the world froze
and then returned to the failure cross slats of the
holodeck appeared. 

[Mission Accomplished]

Houseman looked down at the figure that was lying on
the floor. He bent down and pulled off the hood. 

“How was that for you?”

He spoke slowly and clearly knowing that the flash
bangs had probably made the person temporary def.

(reply any IYW)

(reply any)
(posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre – Sickbay – CMO Williams – 13:00)

Andrew looked at the Lieutenant in front of him.  

“So you understand what’s going on and what you have
to do.”

The Lieutenant nodded and Andrew gave a slight smile.

“Explain it to me then.”

The Lieutenant paused for a moment and then started. 

“Because of my condition if I feel nauseated, vomiting
or dizzy that I should come back.”

Andrew nodded. 

“And if you feel any stabbing pain in your head get
back as soon as you can.”

The Lieutenant rolled her eyes.

“Yes Doctor. Can I go to work know.”

Andrew nodded as he watched as the Lieutenant left
sickbay.

“Gezz It’s not like I’m doing this for kicks.”
He shook his head as he picked up his PADD and quickly
wrote his medical notes.

(reply any)
(posted by Robbie)


(FS Good Profit – Bridge – Pilot Mowuk - 13:25)
 
That was some great alcohol. It made everything look more beautiful. The little blinky lights on the pilot console were especially interesting. It couldn’t just be alcohol. Maybe someone put something in his drink.
 
~It doesn’t matter, it just feels so good.~ Mowuk thought.
 
Every time he pushed the little red buttons they would turn blue. Then he could hit the blue button and it would turn red again. He pushed the buttons to make a blue face with red eyes and a smile.
 
Mowuk looked up from the console and saw a pointy-eared guy on the viewscreen.
 
He started to proclaim the unusual length of the man’s ears but he heard Daimon Brek beat him to it. The man on the viewscreen made some noise and the Daimon made more noise. Mowuk started to protest but as soon as his mouth opened a surge of belly air came to the surface.
 
BELCH!
 
~whoa~ he thought. Muwok felt a bit off-kilter and started falling off his chair, ~more whoa~.
 
Falling to the floor he lost consciousness.
 
(reply none, any)
(posted by Anton)

 
(USS Spectre – Security Station Echo – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 13:30)
 
Chuck had been monitoring the streaming information feed from the Spectre’s sensors as well as information input directly from Vasilyovna on the bridge. A Ferengi vessel had been encountered and it was registered as the “Good Profit”.
 
~Oh, snap, it can’t be!~ thought Chuck.
 
He matched the ship registration number to the Federation’s profile of Ferengi vessels. The roster included the name of a man he remembered … Daimon Brek.
 
~It’s him … Daimon Brek … it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him. We’re both far away from DS14.~ thought Chuck.
 
~Not that I’m happy he’s here, double dealer.~ Chuck knew Brek as a dabo gambler … what Ferengi isn’t? He knew him as a cheater … what player isn’t? He knew him.
 
Instead of troubling the Bridge crew Chuck decided to communicate with Vasilyovna using the text-only relay. He quickly typed a message to the Chief.
 
“Lieutenant Vasilyovna, I don’t want to announce it to the bridge but I know the Captain of the Ferengi Vessel personally. If I can be of assistance let me know. Lieutenant (jg) Chuck Donaldson”
 
The other Security Officer stationed at the security station controls next to him seemed to be curious about his behavior. He didn’t know what he should tell her so he remained silent. He had seen her in briefings before but never quite got around to getting to know her.
 
~What’s her name, Jo something? John … right … Smith, her name is Jo Smith.~
 
(reply Vasilyovna, any)
(posted by Anton)


(Ferengi Ship Good Profit - Bridge - Daimon Blek - 13:32)

=/\=Lieutenant, prepare to scan the Ferengi vessel, ascertain what
they are carrying & identify any dangerous materials onboard=/\=,
said the Captain, he then returned his attention to the Ferengi,
who looked both confused & surprised at the Vulcan's apparent lack
of interest in partying!

"You may scan," Blek said with a generous wave of his hand as if
conferring the power of Romulan Ale onto a minor. "There is
nothing for you to find!" He said with a strangely cunning cast to
his otherwise drunken features.

=/\=Bring your vessel to a full stop Daimon, you will comply with
Starfleet order twenty nine, subsection four paragraph nine, which
authorises me to stop & search any vessel illegally trading in
Federation space=/\=, said the Captain.

"I am not trading." Blek said, "I am on vacation." He managed to
make this preposterous claim with a straight face. "Drinking,
women, wine, song, this are thing Hoomans are said to appreciate.
Maybe you should spend more time with them Mister Vulcan Captain!"

(Reply T'Vhor)

With a sigh Daimon Blek yanked his pilot out of the chair and
pressed a few buttons on the console. "There, we are stopped. If
you are finished interfering with a party you seem to not want to
attend, I am going back to it!"

(Reply T'Vhor)

"Fine, beam aboard your investigation - but no weapons!" Blek
demanded. "I am not having my ship stolen from me by Federation
space pirates who are making up rules and laws by the size of
their phasor banks! If your crew wishes to come drink, search and
have fun, they are welcome. But they can leave their weapons
behind!"

Daimon Blek disconnected communications again.

Looking down at his drink he sighed and finished it off. Looked
like it was a good batch of syntehol wasted. With mental twist he
got rid of the drunken effects and left the bridge before the
irritating man could try and contact him again. He had security
matters to check in on!

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Lorna)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - First Officer, Commander Michael O'Conner - 13:34)

Michael was sitting down in his chair, waiting for the Ferengi to start making sense when the captain spoke up.

"You seem a little unsure Commander, would you not have exercised the same concern in regards a Ferengi vessel that was clearly off course & headed towards the very planet that we are concerned with?", he asked.

"If it was a Ferengi battle ship, maybe, but a trading vessel is just that.  The Ushari government and people have every right to trade with whom they wish so long as they don't violate any laws."  Michael said.

"Have you ever encountered the Ferengi being involved in anything that has not been illegal in some manner or other?", said the Captain.

"Personally, no, every Ferengi I have encountered has been up to something at some point.  However, this doesn't give us the right to simply assume all Ferengi, by nature of their birth, are criminals. They are innocent until proven guilty, and without reasonable evidence of something illegal happening, we can't simply demand a search," Michael said.  They'd just gotten through a war over Star Fleet over
stepping it's bounds, Michael was not eager to flex Star Fleet's peace keeping muscles at the moment.

He got up and walked to the Tactical console and watched as the reports came in.  When they were done the Captain turned around to look at Michael.

"Your recommendations Commander?", he enquired.

Michael still wasn't happy about using a technicality in Federation Foreign Trade Law to search the vessel, but it was probably best to do it, just in case.  "We should probably go over there, if only to make sure the ship isn't carrying anything dangerous."  Michael said, not entirely enthused.

The Captain nodded. "See to it imediately, take Lieutenant Donaldson, Ensign Yates & one of our Engineers", he said as he turned to look at the freighter now floating motionless in their viewscreen.

"See if you can find anything that might tie in with our Ushari problem, also any clues that might point to which source may have supplied the cargo they are
carrying", he added.

"Aye, Sir," Michael said, checking to make sure his tricorder was secure.  Michael moved towards the turbo lift, tapping his comm badge. "Lieutenant Donaldson, Ensign Yates, Ensign Bristed, report to Transporter room One for an away mission.  Hand phasers for security officers, engineering kit for Ensign Bristed," Michael said as he entered the lift and ordered it down to deck three.

(Reply None)
(Posted by Patrick D.)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor & TAC/SC Lt Yelena Vasilyovna - 13:37)

The Ferengi Daimon was not being entirely honest, that
much was obvious to anyone. But then again, was there
even such a thing as an honest Ferengi anywhere?

The very thought seemed preposterous & whilst the CO
began running routine commands upon his armrest
console, the Tactical officer chirped in with some
relevant information that had apparently come up from
the lower decks! 

It seemed that this particular Ferengi's reputations
preceeded him...

"Sir, I have just received word from Lieutenant
Donaldson on Station Echo", said Vasilyovna, "he's
tied in to our sensor data & has been monitoring our
situation".

Imediately, the Captain was, pardon the pun, all ears
& listening intently to what the TAC officer had.

"It seems that Lieutenant Donaldson knows our large
lobed friend & possibly has pertinent information in
regards him via previous encounters", she added.

The Captain smiled inside, without actualising it upon
his outward appearance of course. Perhaps this was
just the edge that they needed.

"Understood Lieutenant, have him come up to the
bridge... he may be needed", said the Captain as he
again returned his gaze to the viewscreen & the
Ferengi ship floating within it.

(Reply Any, None)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre - Station Echo – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:41)
 
Chuck was, to say the least, confused. First, in response to his message to Lieutenant Vasilyovna the Chief had sent a response requesting his presence on the bridge. Then, inexplicably there was an overriding order from the FO to his commbadge requesting that ACEO Bristed, Yates, and Chuck report to Transporter Room 1.
 
Chuck had stubbed his toe on one of the Station Echo consoles in the course of leaving his station in the hands of Ensign Goldsteen. He wondered if Goldsteen and Jo Smith would get along? There was no time to question the decision to put the two together. Besides, his foot was killing him!
 
After a short interlude he stepped into the transporter room, half limping.

(Reply None)
(Posted by Anton)


(USS Spectre - Main Engineering – ACEO Jacqueline Bristed - 13:41)
 
Having finished with the screwy weapons system "upgrade" fiasco, Jacqueline had just returned to the work-orders she had been trying to deal with earlier. These were equally frustrating, but because they were on a smaller scale they seemed much more tolerable. At least with glitchy lighting or malfunctioning replicators the desired result was more obvioius. Just as she was about to head out and start working on them, her comm badge bleated.
 
=^="Lieutenant Donaldson, Ensign Yates, Ensign Bristed, report to
Transporter room One for an away mission. Hand phasers for security
officers, engineering kit for Ensign Bristed. =^=
 
~Field trip!~
 
She didn’t have to worry about tedious work-orders after all.

(Reply None)
(Posted by Sio)


(USS Spectre - Security - SO Ensign Nathanial Yates - 13:42)

...so anyway, there I was with this huge plant in my
hands, walking down the corridor towards turbolift
three & out pops this Arborial, which then proceeds to
chat up said plant & make unsolicited advances towards
it. I of course attempted to....."

=/\="Lieutenant Donaldson, Ensign Yates, Ensign
Bristed, report to Transporter room One for an away
mission.  Hand phasers for security officers,
engineering kit for Ensign Bristed=/\=

Yates stopped dead in his tracks, his verbal diatribe
imediately cut off by the comms from the FO. The SO
rolled his eyes & tutted. "Shoot, I was just getting
to the good bit as well", he muttered as he spun about
& then moved towards the weapons locker to check out a
hand phasor.

"On my way sir", said Yates as he clipped the phasor
belt to his waist & set off through the doors with a
backwards glance at those he had been relaying his
strange story to.

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre - Transporter room 1 - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:45)

Michael looked up as the three away team members arrived and nodded to
each of them as he finished reviewing the legal sections that allowed
their beam over.  He also had a couple of isolinear chips in his
pocket that contained a couple of code cracking programs, just in
case.

Once the trio were gathered, and had their items in hand, Michael
began.  "We're going to beam over the the Ferengi vessel and check
it's cargo for any illicit or illegal items.  We are only checking the
cargo holds, we're not doing a room by room search.  There is a
presumption of innocence here, but the Vessel is operating outside of
established trading and shipping lanes, reserved for vessels flying
under a foreign flag so we are going to make sure everything else is
on the up and up.  Once we're there, Ensign Bristed and I will check
the cargo, Donaldson and Yates will make sure we don't get jumped by
any drunk Ferengi.  If the Captain or any of the crew start to make a
fuss, I'll handle it," Michael said with a smile.  "I can be sneaking
when I need to be," he said with a shrug.  "Any Questions?"

(Reply Bristed, Yates, Donaldson, room for more if needed)

"Good, lets get this over with," Michael said and moved to the
transporter pad.  "We ready Chief?" Michael asked the transporter
operator.

"Aye Sir, we've got the coordinates for the Ferengi transporter room.

"Good, Engergize when ready."  Michael said, then watched the world
around him dissolve in a blue light.

(Reply Bristed, Yates, Donaldson, Any)
(Posted by Patrick D.)


(USS Spectre - Transporter room 1 – ACEO Ensign Jacqueline Bristed - 13:45)

Jacqueline came into the transporter room with just a hint of excited giddiness tickling her insides. The last time she had worked with Yates all hell had broken loose with that bomb scare, and then with Donaldson there had been the…actually, that had been a bomb too. She hadn’t worked with O’Connor this closely before, but with a two out of three record she was feeling just a tiny bit apprehensive about this whole thing.

"We're going to beam over the Ferengi vessel and check it's cargo for any illicit or illegal items," began the FO. He explained the plan, which basically involved checking the cargo for contraband while the two security boys kept any would-be attackers at bay. It made sense to her, even if she did still have a completely illogical feeling that something was bound to explode on them during this trip.
 
~Third time’s a charm.~
 
She decided she didn’t need to comment when O’Connor asked if they had any questions. Instead, she shook her head and offered up a small smile.

"Good, lets get this over with." O’Connor headed to the transporter pads, closely followed by the other three. The transporter operator confirmed the coordinates, and the world became a tingling sensation and a wash of sparkling blue.

(Reply O’Connor, Yates, Donaldson, Ferengi)
(Posted by Sio)


(USS Spectre - Transporter Room One - SO Ensign Nathanial Yates - 13:46)

Yates entered the transporter room & nodded to the
awaiting officers already assembled there, then he
took up his position on the transport pad next to the
FO as he in turn, went off on the why's & wherefores
of their away mission to the Ferengi vessel.

Already Yates was having misgivings of course. If
there was one thing he held a particular distaste for
it was the Ferengi, damned untrustworthy, devious
trolls every one of them. He thought back to the Brak
debacle & the time he had fallen down a trap in that
particular  trolls lair & got stuck with some disease
from a plant or something. The Ferengi, as Ferengi's
invariably do, found it highly amusing & subsequently
pushed the security officer repeatedly until he almost
pulled Brak's head off with his bare hands when back
on the ship.

In fact if it hadn't been for the Captain's timely
intervention & the fact that Brak was a necessary,
although annoying evil, Doctor Williams may well have
found himself having to try to re-attach said head to
inert body in order to complete their presidential
mission in a satisfactory manner.

Now they were going to interact with the large lobed
troglodytes yet again.....

O'Conner had of course outlined their course of action
to the letter, he & bristed would search the cargo
holds & Donaldson & himself would be there to bash
heads if anyone got too smart for their own ears. 

Sounded simple enough, but then so had the Brak
situation. Yates shook his head as it all came back to
him in a horrible blur whilst the FO then proceeded
to ask for questions. Yates had many of course, mostly
about why they shouldn't just tow the damned ship to a
starbase & let them deal with it. Or perhaps just blow
it out of the sky.

But then that unfortunately was not allowed.... 

O'Conner gave the order to beam & within seconds, they
were materializing on the Ferengi vessel, Yates
already dreading what they would now encounter.

(Reply Donaldson, Bristed, Any, IYW)
(Posted by Alan) 


(USS Spectre - Transporter Room 1 – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:46)
 
"We're going to beam over the the Ferengi vessel and check it's cargo for any illicit or illegal items.  We are only checking the cargo holds, we're not doing a room by room search.  There is a presumption of innocence here, but the Vessel is operating outside of established trading and shipping lanes, reserved for vessels flying under a foreign flag so we are going to make sure everything else is on the up and up.  Once we're there, Ensign Bristed and I will check the cargo, Donaldson and Yates will make sure we don't get jumped by any drunk Ferengi.  If the Captain or any of the crew start to make a fuss, I'll handle it," Michael said with a smile.  "I can be sneaking when I need to be," he said with a shrug.  "Any Questions?"
 
(reply Bristed, Yates, any)
 
~Nope, I get to stand around and wait … perfect mission for Yates though.~ thought Chuck.
 
Without saying a word Chuck got up onto the transporter pad.
 
(reply Bristed, Yates, O’Connor, any)
(posted by Anton)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:50)

Michael stepped down off the pad and looked that the Ferengi in the
room.  "I am Commander Michael O'Connor of Star Fleet.  In accordance
with Federation Trading and Shipping Laws, you have violated Section
three paragraph 22 that define and establish trade lanes for use by
foreign vessels, and I am hereby exercising my authority to search the
vessel's cargo for any illicit, illegal, or hazardous material,"
Michael said, getting the legal mumbo-jumbo out of the way, wondering
if the Ferengi was even sober enough to comprehend what was just said.

(Reply Bristed, Yates, Donaldson, Ferengi)
(Posted by Patrick D.)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:50)
 
Chuck let the FO step off the pad first but kept abreast of Bristed while Yates lagged behind. A staggered diamond defensive posture was standard operating procedure for the current situation.
 
~Alright, Blek, you’re doing a good job of pretending you don’t know me … keep that up until it works to starfleet advantage.~

(Reply None)
(Posted by Anton)
 

(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - Daimon Blek - 13:51)

Michael stepped down off the pad and looked that the Ferengi in
the room.  "I am Commander Michael O'Connor of Star Fleet.  In
accordance with Federation Trading and Shipping Laws, you have violated
Section three paragraph 22 that define and establish trade lanes for use
by foreign vessels, and I am hereby exercising my authority to search
the vessel's cargo for any illicit, illegal, or hazardous material,"
Michael said, getting the legal mumbo-jumbo out of the way,
wondering if the Ferengi was even sober enough to comprehend what was just
said.

The Ferengi nodded along like he was actually listening to the
arrogant hooman. "You are on my ship, you are operating by my laws
since you have no grounds to make your search." He said with
narrowed eyes. "You have no evidence and only suspicions based on
dabo dreams. So. When you put down your weapons, I will lower the
force field and you are welcome to investigate my ship to your
little heart's content since I suppose your Captain will destroy
my vessel like Starfleet likes to do if I do not comply."

(Reply Bristed, O'Conner, Yates, Donaldson)

"Do not mistake me, Starfleet Commander, I know my rights in your
space. I have not broken any laws. And you have wasted several
hours of good drinking time with no hope of compensation but
getting to lead a group of hoomans around my ship while they look
for things that are not there." Of course, even if he were
carrying contraband that the Fleeters could find, he'd still deny
it to his dying breath. Why give them any indication that their
search was anything but futile? But they were not stepping foot
outside the transporter area without giving up their phasors and
other weapons hidden around their bodies. They may look all
smiles, but as the forty-eighth rule of acquisition said, "The
bigger the smile, the sharper the knife." 

Besides, he wanted every advantage he could get. These 'fleeters
looked like they were in desperate need of fleecing.

(Reply Bristed, O'Conner, Yates, Donaldson)
(Posted by Lorna)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:53)

The Ferengi nodded along like he was actually listening "You are on my
ship, you are operating by my laws since you have no grounds to make your search." He said with narrowed eyes. "You have no evidence and only suspicions based on
dabo dreams. So. When you put down your weapons, I will lower the force field and you are welcome to investigate my ship to your little heart's content since I suppose your Captain will destroy my vessel like Starfleet likes to do if I do not comply."

Michael looked at the rest of his team and signaled them not to listen
to the Daimon.

"Do not mistake me, Starfleet Commander, I know my rights in your
space. I have not broken any laws. And you have wasted several
hours of good drinking time with no hope of compensation but
getting to lead a group of hoomans around my ship while they look
for things that are not there."

Michael heaved a sigh, and looked at the Daimon with a sad pitying
look.  "Daimon, it doesn't matter to me one whit whether you believe
me that I have the right or not, because I do have that authority
under the section of Trade law I quoted you.  This is not a registered shipping lane, and that therefore gives me the right to investigate your cargo.  It also gives me the right to have an armed Star Fleet escort while I investigate said cargo."  Michael explained.

(Reply Blek)

Michael cut the Ferengi off before he could start.  "And here's how
it's going to work.  If you want to insist that we not come aboard
with two, count them," and Michael pointed to Yates and Donaldson,
"Two armed security escorts. Then my team and I will leave.  We will
then impound your ship and send a full security team to take control
of this ship, and we'll tow it to the nearest Star Base a week away,
where we can look at every single millimeter of your ship in fine
detail to make sure you aren't hiding anything.  This whole process
will take a minimum of two weeks, and that's if we get a berth
immediately upon reaching the Star Base, and that there isn't a single
item on this ship that is on the Federation contraband list."  Michael
said looking at the Ferengi Daimon.  "I have no doubt that this will
put you drastically behind schedule, and will probably put you in
violation of at least one if not more of your delivery contracts,
which will no doubt cost you an enormous amount of latinum in
penalties.  Now of course you could try to appeal my claim to having
authority to search your ship under my terms, but I promise you, while
your appeal waits, your ship will still be impounded, still be
searched, and by the time your case is even before a tribunal, it will
be sometime next year.  And Then, even after all that, the Tribunal
will still side with me, because as I have said, I do have the
authority, so you will be out legal fees on top of all the penalties
you will ensure for late deliveries."  Michael said, his voice set in
a tone of polite conversation, similar to one friend explaining
something to another friend.

"Now, Daimon Blek, I've never had a bad dealing with any Ferengi
businessman, I bear neither you nor your crew any ill will.  However I
do have a job to do and I will do it, with or without your
cooperation.  Now, if you're telling the truth, and you have nothing
illegal in your cargo bay, then you have nothing to worry about, and
we'll check the cargo and move on to our destination, and you won't
have a single problem with owing someone money you don't have to owe,"
Michael said crossing his arms over his chest.  "So, tell me, which
way would you like to do this, the easy way and free way, or the long
way and the expensive way.  If you'd like the long way, my team and I
will beam back to our ship and I'll forward you the forms you'll need
to fill out to file an appeal, and even the name of a good
representative to use before the Federation Civil Courts.  However I
will warn you, they are mighty backed up due to our little scuffle
that just ended, so it will be a while before you're heard.  So, let
me know what you want to do, feel free to think about it, my team and
I will wait right here while you check your accounts to see if you can
cover the towing and impound fees," Michael said turning his back on
the Ferengi with a smile, as he gave a slightly larger one to his team
members.

(Reply Blek, Donaldson, Yates, Bristed)
(Posted by Patrick D.)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - Daimon Blek - 13:54)

Blek nodded along once more, smile slowly getting bigger and
bigger and bigger. He rocked back on his heels with the First
Officer wrapped up his threats. "Okay." He agreed. He didn't move,
he took no action. They stared at each other.

(Reply O'Conner, Donaldson, Yates, Bristed)

"I didn't think the Federation could afford a war with one of
their allied races over the matter of impounding a ship with no
cause," he shrugged, "Maybe Ferenginar could sell you weapons to
defend yourselves with, I'm sure you've run out by now. I know
hoomans would consider that a conflict of interests, but we
Ferengi like to give everyone a sporting chance. Why, my cousin
Dersk, he has a wonder quantum torpedo delivery service for when
you just can't get your replicators to replicate fast enough." he
generously offered.

(Reply O'Conner, Donaldson, Yates, Bristed)

Blek sighed, "Let it never be said I am not a generous man willing
to compromise. Keep the melee weaponry such as knives and
swords.." He peered up at Donaldson, "Though, only he walks like
he has a sword hidden.. and beam back the phasors. I just don't
want any accidents. My crew's whips and pistols are locked up in
the armoury. Can we reach a meeting of .." he screwed up his face
as he tried to remember the word, "gallantry?"

(Reply O'Conner, Donaldson, Yates, Bristed)
(Posted by Lorna)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 13:56)

Blek nodded along once more, smile slowly getting bigger and
bigger and bigger. He rocked back on his heels with the First
Officer wrapped up his threats. "Okay." He agreed. He didn't move,
he took no action. They stared at each other.

"I didn't think the Federation could afford a war with one of
their allied races over the matter of impounding a ship with no
cause," he shrugged, "Maybe Ferenginar could sell you weapons to
defend yourselves with, I'm sure you've run out by now. I know
hoomans would consider that a conflict of interests, but we
Ferengi like to give everyone a sporting chance. Why, my cousin
Dersk, he has a wonder quantum torpedo delivery service for when
you just can't get your replicators to replicate fast enough." he
generously offered.

"You honestly think the Grand Nagus and the Ferengi government would
go to war over the deeds and honor of one Ferengi Daimon?  You think
He's willing to risk the trading contracts of every Ferengi, just
because you seem not to understand that what I'm doing is legal
because you are Outside Established Trade Lanes?  I quoted you the law
that says I have the right to look over your cargo, which means you
will lose in court," Michael said getting frustrated.

Blek sighed, "Let it never be said I am not a generous man willing
to compromise. Keep the melee weaponry such as knives and
swords.." He peered up at Donaldson, "Though, only he walks like
he has a sword hidden.. and beam back the phasors. I just don't
want any accidents. My crew's whips and pistols are locked up in
the armoury. Can we reach a meeting of .." he screwed up his face
as he tried to remember the word, "gallantry?"

"Blek, this isn't a negotiation, you don't have a leg to stand on, and
if you don't understand that you are in the wrong, then I'll have to
take other actions," Michael said, then tapped his comm badge.
"Commander O'Connor to Spectre.  Lock phasers onto the Ferengi
vessel's engines and weapon systems.  Fire to disable them in two
minutes if you don't hear back from me, or if they try to run.  The
Daimon needs some persuasion to let our team do our lawful duty."
Michael said, leaving the comm line open.  "So Daimon Blek, it's now
your choice, either you let us do our jobs, our way, or we disable
your ship and do it any while we tow you to a Star Base.  You have...
a minute and thirty seconds before your engines become slag."  Michael
said crossing his arms and looking at the Ferengi Daimon with a rather
bored expression on his face.

(Reply Blek, Spectre)
(Posted by Patrick D.)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson – 13:56)
 
O’Connor and Daimon Blek kept their banter up for several minutes and Chuck’s impatience was growing. Yates seemed to be looking up at the ceiling.
 
“You have ... a minute and thirty seconds before your engines become slag." Stated O’Connor in ultimatum fashion.
 
“Alright, Blek, we’ve had enough of the games. Just let us onboard already.” Chuck protested waving his hand across the forcefield. It made a static sizzle as he moved his hand across it.
 
(reply Blek)
 
“Yeah, it’s me … you must be drunker than I thought. Still sore about getting caught cheating at dabo?”
 
(reply Bristed, O’Connor, Yates, Blek, any)
(posted by Anton)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 14:00)
 
Calvin sat with amazement about the Ferengi. In all of Calvin's Starfleet career he had never dealt with Ferengi in such a close way on a mission before. He of course had heard of Ferengi through all the stories or nightmares one would tell about them. They had come up in subject during classes in the Academy. He knew of them, but he had never dealt with them before.
 
So far, they didn't seem that bad. The Ferengi vessell was full of drunken people, but that story doesn't surprise you if you were around a few klingon ships. Which the Spectre had had plenty of experience with during the war. But in all it was strange for an entire crew to be acting as the Ferengi were. Their thought processes were obvious being prohibited by the amount of alcohol they were drinking.
 
Calvin did know that the Spectre had dealt with the Ferengi, or at least a certain Ferengi before. It was actually the mission before the Chief of Ops boarded the ship that the crew had to deal with one. After reading the reports on how a Ferengi had turned himself into a bomb, and how a certain doctor that was still with them today had disabled the bomb was utterly shocking for Calvin.
 
When the Spectre first spotted the ship, Calvin thought that the awareness of the crew would peak even higher because of the race they were currently dealing with, but so far everyone seemed to have taken this mission just like any other. That was what Calvin thought until he heard the First Officers voice over the comm.
 
=/\=Commander O'Connor to Spectre.  Lock phasers onto the Ferengi vessel's engines and weapon systems.  Fire to disable them in two minutes if you don't hear back from me, or if they try to run.  The Daimon needs some persuasion to let our team do our lawful duty.=/\=
 
Calvin was in awe of the order, and he didn't know if he should believe, but as it was an order Calvin placed all his instruments into place as he should. But as he was doing so, he thought that surely the situation could not have gone that bad once the away team had been transported over. The more he thought the more he remembered when he served on the Paladin with Cmdr O'Connor. He was a bit of a bluffing man.
 
So to prove O'Connor's bluff Calvin saw that the phasers were actually locked onto the Ferengi vessel. Calvin thought it was a good bluff, but how would the drunk Ferengi crew react to a bluff. They were after all good dabo players.
 
(reply any none)
(posted by Calvin Capps)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - SO, Ensign Nathanial Yates - 14:05)

"About time to", said Yates as the area immediately
around him shimmered once & then disappeared allowing
the away team to finally step off the transport pads.

Blek, being a typical Ferengi had argued his case to
the very end of course, stating that regardless of the
fact that he & his crew were drunk & clearly a hazard
to other shipping, the Federation vessel had no
business boarding his vessel & conducting a search
under the conditions they were now posing. He had
requested that they leave their weapons behind which
was absurd in the extreme.

Who in their right mind would wander around a ship
full of drunk Ferengi unharmed & expect not to get
either mugged or something pinched. It was
preposterous. The Ferengi however, even in his final
capitulation had smiled a somewhat knowing smile. The
large lobed idiot clearly had something up his sleeve,
that much was for sure & there also seemed to be
something going on between him & Bristed, if the way
he kept ogling her was anything to go by.

"No you can't buy our Engineer!", snapped Yates,
verbalising now what he had been formulating in his
mind immediately beforehand. 

(Reply Blek, Any, IYW)

The Ferengi then allowed them to leave the room,
albeit with another two members of his 'Troll Squad'
immediately in tow so as to keep an eye on them all as
they carried out their 'Illegal' search.

Yates frowned & shook his head as the squat Ferengi
bounded along behind him up the corridor like a Magpie
looking for something bright & shiny to steal from
him. Donaldson was not amused at all by any of it.

"So you know that guy uh?", enquired Yates.

(Reply Donaldson)

Yates nodded, what he had said was typical, the
Ferengi had no morals whatsoever & he doubted very
much that this ship would reveal anything other than
that.

"Odds on we find something that'll link this drunken
shower to the Ushari situation", said Yates, "I mean
why else would they be headed there", he added. "If
that's where their navigator meant to point them that
is"

(Reply Donaldson, Blek, Bristed, Any, IYW)
(Posted by Alan) 


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room - Daimon Blek - 14:07)

"No you can't buy our Engineer!", snapped Yates, verbalising now what
he had been formulating in his mind immediately beforehand. 

"What would I do with a hooman female who wears clothes?" Blek asked,
wondering what was going on in the insane hooman's mind. "Next you'd be
offering me a keg of root bear. No margin!" Well, that wasn't quite
true, there was a market for those willing to settle for a profit margin less
than what Blek did. 

And these Starfleet people wondered why he didn't want them going about
his ship armed? When they were obviously unbalanced and not in contact with
reality? Stupid Starfleet. It was almost not worth dealing with them.
He almost missed the Klingon trade routes where you could just shoot the
people who were irritating you and say 'He started it.' And just substitute
the word 'honour' in instead of the proper word 'profit'. Klingons were
simple and predictable.

Of course, they also tended to have bigger guns and better trained weapons crews, which while made for exciting trade when you're a young Ferengi, makes you want to find something a little less exciting in middle age. And lucky him, this was it. Dealing with this lot. Obviously they'd been sniffing their synthahol instead of drinking it like sensible, intelligent beings.

(reply any)
(posted Lorna)


(FS Good Profit - Transporter room – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 14:10)
 
"So you know that guy uh?", enquired Yates.
 
“Yeah, he’s a ferengi … I used to play the occasional game of dabo with this guy. He cheated, I cheated … that’s pretty much an accurate summation.” Chuck shrugged.
 
"Odds on we find something that'll link this drunken shower to the Ushari situation", said Yates, "I mean why else would they be headed there", he added. "If that's where their navigator meant to point them that is"
 
~Sherlock Yates.~ Chuck thought.
 
(reply Yates, Blek, Bristed, Any, IYW)
(posted by Anton)


(FS Good Profit – Daimon Blek – 14:11)

Blek watched the Federation team leave the transporter room with narrowed eyes and shrugged. He wasn’t particularly worried about them, he just hoped his security crew didn’t see phasors, assume boarders and try to dispose of them. He’d tried to warn the Hoomans, but as usual, they wouldn’t listen to reason.

He checked interior sensors before leaving the transporter room to go back up the short corridor  to the bridge. He went to the communications panel and placed a call back to Ferenginar.

“Good Profit, Good Trade and Good Deals!” a male greeted cheerfully, all lobes and teeth.

“This is Daimon Blek of the Good Profit,” It WAS one of the Nagas’ fleet after all, he should get everything he wanted and needed. “I want all information we have on the USS Spectre.” The database aboard hadn’t been terribly informative.

Eyes narrowed speculative, “Are you thinking of claiming it?”

“Latinum no!” Blek swore before he even gave it thought. The merris scrambled its wheel in his brain before he shook his head, “Not enough personnel.” He added, having quickly considered different angles.

“Do you wish to make an .. incident.. report?”

“Not yet.” Daimon Blek said smugly. Let them think he hadn’t recognized Donaldson.

“We will send you the files.” The secretary reported and signed out.

Blek smiled and retreated back to the Captain’s chair. He summoned another glass of Sauron brandy from the replicator. Sooner or later the hoomans would show up on the bridge to demand access to his files. Too bad they’d never find the files they needed to do anything but chase the merris around the pantry sixteen or seventeen times.

(Reply any/all)
(Posted by Lorna)


(USS Spectre - Captain's Ready Room - Captain T'Vhor - 14:12)

The Captain nodded to the Ensign & then handed back
the PADD that he'd been given that had been
needing his authorisation. "Thank you sir", said the
Ensign who promptly turned about & was on his way once
again. The Captain then continued with the task he had
been engaged in before the Ensign's arrival.

The first opening lines to the log had been made
already of course, he had got to the part where he had
stated the title & the Stardate only & regardless of
the fact that a re-iteration of those facts was
completely unecessary, the Captain, being a creature
of habit did so anyway.

"Captain's log, Stardate 2408.01.27", he began. Again.

"At twelve days into our current mission, we have
encountered a Ferengi trading vessel acting under
somewhat suspicious circumstances. The 'Good Profit'
is of course a registered freighter but it's crew are
most definately, not what we would expect.", said the
Captain, pausing now to take a sip of his customary
glass of fruit juice before continuing.

"The 'Good Profit' is currently fourteen parsecs off
it's alloted position & apparently en route to Ushar
Prime itself. Daimon Blek, a Ferengi that is known to
be troublesome from past dealings, is in command. His
crew are shambolic in the extreme.... that is to say,
they are somewhat intoxicated & in a condition where
they are posing a hazard to both themselves & other
shipping. It is in my opin....."

=/\=Bridge to Captain, sir, I have a report from deck
sixteen, Marine hanger bay, apparently there is a cat
on the loose & the Marines are trying to.... um, catch
it for supper=/\=

"A cat!", exclaimed the Captain, his mind wondering
now to a logical conclusion as to just who's cat it
would be. He did not have to think for very long.

"Have Ensign S'rrep report to deck sixteen immediately,
have him retrieve his, 'pet' & ensure that it is
safely back within his quarters", said the Captain.

=/\=Aye sir=/\=, said the officer of the watch. The 
Captain then returned to his log entry once again, 
wondering as he did so whether he would ever reach the 
end of it! 

"It is of my opinion that due to the facts surrounding
this encounter, the nature of our mission in regards
Ushar Prime & the safety of the Ferengi crew, an
immediate boarding & search of the ships cargo is both
logical & warranted. I have therefore halted the Good
Profit's progress & ordered this to be so"

"End of log"

The Captain then settled back into his chair just
briefly, before rising & then leaving for the bridge &
to whatever awaited him in regards the away teams
progress.

(Reply S'rrep, Any)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre – Marine dropship bay – Corporal Houseman - 14:15)

“Why cant we just shoot it Corp?”

Houseman turned to the young marines beside him and
shook his head.

“Because Private, where would the fun be in that.”

=^=Target spotted on top of the last drop ship. All
units approach with caution=^=

Houseman gave a slight grin, for something so small it
had caused them some trouble. A few marines had gotten
nasty scratches from its talons when they had ventured
too close. He signalled his unit to move forward as
they approached the drop ship in tactical formation. 

He was not at all surprised that most of the marine
detachment were in the dropship bay trying to catch this
target. There is only so many simulations one could do
before getting bored.

Houseman paused and dropped into a crouch. His section
followed suit. He had spotted the target. It was
sitting about half way along the drop ship licking its
paw apparently not bothered about the whole situation.

Houseman saw movement behind the target. He saw a
marine who had quietly climbed up the side of the drop
ship and was silently edging forward. 

The target turned and looked at the marine and then
dashed off along the hull away from him. Houseman
watched as the marines instantly gave chase.

~Come on, Come on~

As they reached the end of the drop ship the marine
lunged at the target but he was too slow. The target
leaped off the front of the drop ship missing the
marines hand by a whisker. It sailed through the air
and landed on a pile of stacked containers, where it
vanished into the dark recesses of the containers.

The marine on the other was not so lucky he hit the
hull of the drop ship and with a startled cry slid off
the edge out of view.

“All units target is behind the stacked containers on
the right aft of the bay.”

He moved forward quickly to get over to the containers
so that they would not loose the target. As he came
round the side of the drop ship he saw the marine who
had fallen lying on the floor. He could see that he was 
in a lot of pain. 

Houseman forgot about the target and dashed over to
the marine. His leg was lying in an unnatural position
and he was gripping his arm.

~Get him to sickbay~

“Man down man down. Corporal Houseman to Sickbay. One
wounded incoming surgical emergency.”

(reply any from sickbay)

“Transporter room two surgical medical emergency two to
sickbay.”

(reply any in sickbay, any)
(posted by Robbie)



(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - SO, Ensign Nathanial Yates - 14:17)

"Hello, what do we have here then", said Yates
rhetorically as he began reading off the information
on one of the crates he had just been scrutinizing.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these atmospheric
relays?", he added just as Bristed arrived to begin
scanning the crates with her tricorder.

(Reply Bristed, Any on Away Team)

The ever present Ferengi Chaparone was upon them in an
instance of course, burbling something to the effect
that whatever it was that was contained within the
crate, it was nothing to do with him per se. How
typical, a specific query in regards the nature of a
single item of cargo & the squat troll was
disassociating himself with his Daimon already, just
in case...

"Isn't it strange that our present mission concerns
equipment of this very nature", said Yates, at which
point the troll immediately went on the defensive once
again.

"Ah, yes, I mean.... I am not responsible for any
specific item of this cargo, I, I just do as I'm
told", said the now slightly worried looking Ferengi
at his side.

"Do you even know what this is?", said the Security
Officer now looking down into the diminutive little
figures somewhat confused face. "You don't do you, as
far as your concerned this crate contains nothing but
Latinum, a cut of which is more than likely destined
for your own, very deep pocket", said Yates, his
expression now changing as he regarded the Ferengi
through narrowing, contemplative eyes.

"Like I said", said the Ferengi, his hands going up in
the air dismissively, "I just do what I'm told", he
added as he shuffled about the room taking notice of
what the other Spectre crewmen were currently engaged
in.

Yates let out a deep sigh, drew himself up to his full
six foot four inches & then shrugged his large
shoulders. 

"Of course you do", he said contemptfully, "of course
you do"...  

(Reply Any, None)
(Posted by Alan)


(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - FO Commander Michael Ian O'Connor - 14:19)

Michael looked over as Ensign Yates discovered the crates of
atmospheric relays.  Michael doubted it was a coincidence, they knew
someone had been supplying the Ushari with weather control parts
during the civil war and after, and the Ferengi were a reasonable
assumption given their proximity to the Ushari system as well as their
penchant for finding any business opportunity.

Michael finished with the scans of his crate and moved over to Yates
and Bristed.

"Regardless of whether these are intended for Ushar Prime or not,
remember," Michael said to Yates and Bristed, "There is nothing
illegal with the Ferengi trading with the Ushari government.  We're
just here to determine if any of the goods on this vessel are on the
Federation contraband list.  However I'd like you to take a look
inside the crates, make sure the contents listed on the packing slip
and the actual contents match up, also make sure they're not getting
any surprises." Michael said and turned to walk away, as he got out of
ear shot of the Ferengi, he turned to Bristed.  "Ensign, see if you
can also determine who made these parts.  I doubt the Ferengi produced
this, I doubt they produce anything this high end, they're more than
likely acting as a reseller."  Michael said.

(Reply Yates, Bristed, Any)
(Posted by Patrick D.)


(USS Spectre – Sickbay – CMO Williams - 14:23)

=^=Man down man down. Corporal Houseman to Sickbay.
One wounded in coming surgical emergency=^=

Andrew leaped up from his chair. 

“Dr Williams here. Understood Corporal standing by to
receive.”

Andrew headed into sickbay he saw Douwsy,   and   were
there.

~Good to see that we are ready for anything~

He looked over at Heyes and Pelletier.

“Would one of you mind giving me a hand in theatre?”

(reply Heyes or Pelletier)

Andrew nodded and looked over at Douwsy.

“Mind the shop while I am gone.”

With that he turned and hurried towards theatre.

“Computer emergency theatre start up.”

(reply Heyes,Pelletier, any)
(posted by Robbie) 


(USS Spectre – Sickbay – Nurse T’Pia Pelletier – 14:23)
 
“Would one of you mind giving me a hand in theatre?” asked Dr. Williams.
 
T’Pia had heard the commbadge announcement by the Marine Corporal. Heyes had been planning what she called a “poker night”. A certain junior counselor had recommended Chuck as a player and Heyes had been explaining it to T’Pia … as their relationship was well known, or rather well rumored. If only the idea of ‘Kaltoh partners’ wasn’t twisted into something romantic.
 
“I’ll take it!” shouted T’Pia above Heyes’ persistent ‘do you think Chuck might’ games.
 
“Computer emergency theatre start up.” Ordered Andrew.
 
“Just tell me what to do, Doctor.” Said Pelletier.
 
(reply Williams, Heyes, any)
(posted by Anton)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 14:25)

In the mean time, the Captain had ordered the Comms
officer to monitor the Ferengi vessel for any outgoing
communications, or anything untoward that could be
gleaned from them or their ship whilst they waited for
reports from the away team. It wasn't that he didn't
trust them of course but, well.... actually it was
because he didn't trust them. They were Ferengi after
all & as such, trust was not even in the Ferengi
dictionary. 

The arrival of Ensign Taya onto the bridge to relieve
the current Science officer, prompted the Captain's
thought's back to science itself & the role that the
department might possibly be able to fill. 

"Ensign Taya, would it be possible to ascertain from
residual traces on the Ferengi hull, exactly where
they may have recently been?", asked the Captain.

(Reply Taya)

"Please do so, even if it only gives us an estimation,
I am curious to see if the vessel can be placed
anywhere within Cardassian space in the last week or
so", said the CO. 

(Reply Taya)

The Captain then called for a routine update from the
First Officer aboard the Ferengi vessel.

(Reply O'Conner)

"Understood Commander, it was expected that Daimon
Blek would not be entirely forhtcoming but I would
urge that you leave no stone unturned. If anything
points to the Daimon being involved in the Ushari
situation, we need to know about it sooner rather than
later", said T'Vhor. 

(Reply O'Conner, Taya, Any)
(Posted by Alan)


(FS Good Profit - Cargo Hold - SO, Ensign Nathanial Yates - 14:27)

Well, this seemed to be going nowhere fast...

So far, the crates had all checked out as they should
do, with everything written on the outsides equaling
what was actually contained on the insides. Ensign
Bristed's scans had revealed no dangerous or hazardous
components whatsoever, in fact the only thing that
looked slightly out of place was a spent power cell
that looked decidely like the type that slid into the
chamber of a Varon T disruptor. Without the disruptor
itself however, this little snippit of evidence proved
as equally inconclusive as the examinations of the
crates themselves.

It was at that point however, that Blek's voice had
boomed from somewhere above them. It seemed that
something somewhere had failed on the freighter, it
didn't surprise any of them of course. With a mostly
incapacitated crew, the entire situation was just an
accident waiting to happen.

O'Conner had heard the call as well & as a result of
that, he had ordered Donaldson to go take a look under
the pretence of helping out in any way that he could.
The real reason though was clearly to see what else he
could find out in regards the why's & wherefore's of
this ships rather suspect mission objectives.

Yates took a seat upon one of the crates & stretched
his neck first to the right & then to the left before
looking to the FO.

"So, what now?", he asked.

(Reply O'Conner, Any)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - Chief Ops Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 14:27)
 
The good news was the Spectre did not have to fire on the Good Profit. Eventually Daimon Blek stood back from his ground and allowed the away team to enter and investigate the ship. It had been a little while since the bluff had happened and it seemed the Captain was itching for a report and something to do.
 
The Captain spoke with Science for a brief moment and then called for an update from the First Officer. It seemed to Calvin that all was going as expected when dealing with the Ferengi. Calvin could only do his duty at his station, but be alert enough for anything to happen. Which it did at that precise moment.
 
A beep not only on his station, but also on the Nav and Security station did a red flashing light appear. Anyone could have responded to what it was, but Calvin was the first to do so. The Captain had heard it to and was more than likely already waiting for an answer as to what it was.
 
"The Ferengi vessel has changed course." Calvin didn't notice at first, since he wasn't in the CONN seat, but after looking at the new direction of the Good Profit the Chief Ops noticed something else. "Correction sir. The Good Profit is being pulled of course by a near Type Y planet. Something that this route would normally need a course correction once near this location."
 
(reply T'vhor, iyw)
 
"We will need to convince them that they need to alter their course." Calvin responded. "If they don't the planet will eventually pull the Good Profit into its gravity well."
 
(reply T'Vhor, any)
(reply Calvin Capps)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - ACSO Ensign JG Taya - 14:28)
 
Taya stepped onto the bridge and nodded at the officer she had just relieved from the main science station.
 
"Ensign Taya, would it be possible to ascertain from residual traces on the Ferengi hull, exactly where they may have recently been?", asked the Captain.
 
Taya touched a few buttons and looked up at the Captain, "I can but it would only be an estimate and even then it might be wrong. Do you wish me to run the scan anyway Captain?"
 
"Please do so, even if it only gives us an estimation, I am curious to see if the vessel can be placed anywhere within Cardassian space in the last week or
so", said the CO. 
 
Taya ran the scan and was surprised at the results, "according to these readings the vessel has been here, and just about everywhere else in this sector. I can't tell how long it's been here or where it was before."

She continued to run a few scans but no further information could be found.
 
(Reply any/none)
(posted by Chris)


(FS Good Profit - Bridge - Damion Blek - 14:28)

Blek wasn't going to ruin his crews' celebration of the Grand Vaults
Light Day just because a bunch of Fleet people had shown up and acted like
they were the boss of all space. Didn't they know you could only control
what you had in your hand? Sell what you couldn't grasp, quick. Idiots, all of
them.

They seemed to forget that Ferengi *invented* synthahol. Sure, it might
not taste exact to their weak humanoid tongues, but it was a perfect match
for Ferengi taste buds and in case of emergency, all alcoholic effects
could be banished. Of course, then you'd have to start the party all over again
which had its pluses and minuses. The Captain was already owed a good batch
of re-drunk time thanks to the Federation. Maybe he should send them the
bill for interrupting religious worship, they seemed to fall for that sort
of thing.

A rumble went through the ship and suddenly the Good Profit lifted.
Blek swore and dove from the command chair to the helm, it seemed the port
thrusters had just blown trying to keep their position relative to the
Spectre. Well, all things broke down, or there would be no profit to be
had from replacing them. But really, the Blessed Exchequer could have
chosen a better time!

"Dogg, Lapp, Sing!" Blek ordered into the comm, "Shake it off and get
down to deck four, the port thrusters are gone and starboard are going
haywire!"

Predictably, Captain Ears chose that moment to stick his lobes in.

"Yes, yes, I know my thrusters are half stuck online and half offline. I'm
sure Federation ships never have malfunctions or errors," he groused, "You
could DO something, you - " he broke off as the tractor beam caught around
them. 

"Thank you." He managed bitingly. And then smiled, "If you feel a
refund for energy expenditure is necessary, you can apply to the office of the
Grand Negus at comm. Code.." he rattled off the information while he was
checking there was no sabotage attached.

(Reply T'Vhor/any)
(Posted by Lorna)

 
(USS Spectre - Bridge - Captain T'Vhor - 14:30)

Well this was interesting... 

The Captain had not needed to be told that the Ferengi
vessel was now veering off to the left in an apparent
state of uncontrol, it was blatantly obvious on the
viewscreen already but the Chief of Ops had rightly
alerted him regardless.

The first course of action from the Captain however
had been to check their own positional status via helm
& navigation. The Conn Officer had duly responded
with...

"It's a fluctuating gravity rift sir, sensors are
detecting a minimal draw to port from a class Y Demon,
12,500 kms in diameter & in orbit of the core star of
Lambda Boolis", said the Conn as he quickly fed the
data directly to the Helm. Smith of course was already
acting on the data the moment it had arrived & had
corrected their own list by compensating with the
Maneauvering thrusters.

(Reply Smith, IYW)

The Ferengi vessel however was now tumbling on it's
axis with a heavy yaw to port & if it wasn't stopped,
there was no telling what would happen to their away
team if things began to fail.

"Get a lock on the vessel with the forwards tractor
beam", said the Captain, "once they are stablised,
hail Daimon Blek", he added as he settled back into
his chair in preparation for Blek's inevitable excuses
for being clearly incompetant enough to not have a
sober crewman in the Good Profit's driving seat.

(Reply Any, IYW)

Blek then appeared on the viewscreen.

(Reply Blek, Smith, Capps, Any)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre - Science Department - Lieutenant (jg) Ardena Carrow - 14:30)

Ardena had learnt the hazards of staying up to the wee hours and then
going straight into primary shift and then, luck of all luck, having
interesting things happen preventing her from calling it an early day and going for
a nap. She was glad Ensign Taya was up on the bridge, she didn't think
the Captain would be too approving of his supposed chief of science yawning
her head off every three minutes.

She had her scientists doing various research tasks, historical signs
of the Ferengi trading with the Ushari. "Urban legend, Ferengi technology,
anything that shows that they've been this way before." was her order to her
staff. She, herself, was looking into Ferengi society to try and explain the
bizarre behavior of the Good Profit's Captain.

Finding the religious information, she forwarded it up to Ensign Taya.
Let her break the bad news to the Captain they were interrupting a
religious observance. Though, Ardena couldn't say she thought much of any
observance that required drinking kegs of alchohol, playing betting games, and
buying women's clothes to burn in an offering plate balanced against latinum
chips. She'd always believed Ferengi were one of the more unbalanced races,
she was starting to believe it the more she read up on them. Maybe the Captain
should schedule a counseling session or sixteen for the miscreants.

Digging out a fresh PADD to take notes on, she sent the earrings she'd
made for their new Chief Counsellor skittering off her boss of debris and
onto the floor. "I guess I could recyc those." She figured she had probably
offended the counselor somehow after all. She hadn't meant anything by
it, anymore than she'd have offered a cane to someone who had broken their
leg and needed to walk across a starbase. "I suspect, the counsellor would
consider herself unneedful of the assistance and would learn to walk on
her hands for the occasion." It was an unfair and uncharitable thought, but
she was short on sleep and cranky.

Of course, dealing with the archaic view of Ferengi about their females
wasn't helping much. "Women, may choose, if they so wish, to wear
clothes." was the 'enlightened' law changes that had been coming about on
Ferenginar. Forty years since women were first allowed to do business and they
still MAY wear clothes. 

Realizing she was gripping the PADD hard enough to crack her knuckles,
Ardena put it down gently and stood up. It was more than time to go
play supervisor and hopefully find some *good* news!

(reply any/all)
(Posted by Lorna)


(FS Good Profit - Lounge - Engineers Dogg, Lapp, Sing - 14:31)

A head shake and they were clearer of mind, the three Ferengi hopping to their
feet and shoving past the nosey hoomans and their lackeys. "Trying to get
your latinum back?" Dogg asked Donaldson with a sneer on his way past.

(Reply Donaldson/others)

"Maybe, he is with Fleet because they are the only ones who would not
charge him rent for a bunk." Lapp added as they disappeared down the hall.

(Reply Donaldson/others)
(Posted by Lorna)


(FS Good Profit - Lounge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson - 14:31)
 
Chuck had been essentially loafing when Blek had snapped orders via the comm. system.
 
"Trying to get your latinum back?" Dogg asked Donaldson with a sneer on his way past.
 
“Watch the comments.” Chuck said simply in passing.
 
(reply any IYW)
 
"Maybe, he is with Fleet because they are the only ones who would not charge him rent for a bunk." Lapp added as they disappeared down the hall.
 
Chuck, unable to help himself, changed his expression to a half smile.
 
“I am a bit strapped for latinum at the moment … maybe I could interest some of you in a game of dabo.” Chuck’s grin grew from ear to ear.
 
~Likely they’ve heard of the ‘demon man’ – if they haven’t I’m in for some profit, myself.~
 
(reply any, IYW)
(Posted by Anton)


(FS Good Profit - Lounge – Ferengi Engineers Dogg, Lapp and Sing  - 14:32)

“Watch the comments.” Chuck said simply in passing.

"Or you'll what, hooman? Start an international incident?" Dogg sneered up at him. "*Again?*" he added as an after-thought.

(Reply Donaldson, if any)

"Maybe, he is with Fleet because they are the only ones who would not charge him rent for a bunk." Lapp added as they disappeared down the hall.

Chuck, unable to help himself, changed his expression to a half smile.

“I am a bit strapped for latinum at the moment … maybe I could interest some of you in a game of dabo.” Chuck’s grin grew from ear to ear.

"Sure!" Lapp agreed happily, "We've got a dabo table down in the recreational area I'm sure you haven't had a chance to fix yet!"

Dogg rolled his eyes, "Don't throw your chips away, Lapp. He cheats better than a Ferengi."

Lapp and Sing both looked impressed at that.

(Reply Donaldson if any)

"What do you charge for lessons?" Sing asked.

(Reply any/all)
(Posted by Lorna)


(FS Good Profit - Lounge – TAC/ASC Charles “Chuck” Donaldson  - 14:32)
 
“Watch the comments.” Chuck said simply in passing.
 
"Or you'll what, hooman? Start an international incident?" Dogg sneered up at him. "*Again*?" he added as an after-thought.
 
“It’s good that you’ve heard of me, Doggy.” Said Chuck reaching a hand to pat the Ferengi on the head … Dogg dodged the movement.
 
"Maybe, he is with Fleet because they are the only ones who would not charge him rent for a bunk." Lapp added as they disappeared down the hall.
 
Chuck, unable to help himself, changed his expression to a half smile.
 
“I am a bit strapped for latinum at the moment … maybe I could interest some of you in a game of dabo.” Chuck’s grin grew from ear to ear.
 
"Sure!" Lapp agreed happily, "We've got a dabo tabl