Day: -25 years Stardate: 2418.12.19 (Dureth Station - Station Bar - CSO Lt. Jaton Alyl - 14:34) Day: -10 Stardate: 2444.05.22 (Bajor, Vulcan Defense Fleet Commander Sanok, 1342) Stardate: 2444.06.01 (SS Free Booster – Personal Quarters –Ensign (J.G) - Ire Williams – 0630) (SS Free Booster – Bridge – Ensign (J.G) - Ire Williams – 0636) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Entrance - Science Officer, ENS JG Sienna Williams-Verin - 8:30) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - William's Family Residence - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams - 8:31) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams- 8:36) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - Science Officer Ensign jp Sienna Williams-Verin- 8:41) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams- 8:42) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - Science Officer, ENS JG Sienna Williams-Verin - 9:07) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Medical Complex, Intensive Care - Jaton Alyl - 09:12) (01 - 09:12, Sickbay) (Sickbay, mars Station SD:2444.06.01) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Sickbay, Intensive Care - Jaton Alyl - 09:13) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Gymnasium Lounge - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams - 9:55) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities – Ancillary corridor – MO Ailynn Bracken - 1020) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities – Ancillary corridor – CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams 10:21) Star fleet Martian Ground Facilities, Main Engineering, Engineering Officer Grk, 11:02) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities, Outside the Landing Platforms, VDF Commander Sanok, 1139) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Landing Platforms - Medical Officer, Ens (jg) Ailynn Bracken - 11:40) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Landing Platforms - Medical Officer, Ens (jg) Kasian Poldan - 11:42.5) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities –Entrance – Unknown ENS JG Quinna Solace 11:45) (Mars Facilities - Outside landing platform - ENS jg Counselor Ariel Trei - 11.45) ==== Day: -25 years Stardate: 2418.12.19 (Dureth Station - Station Bar - CSO Lt. Jaton Alyl - 14:34) Jaton was tightly bound, hands behind his back and gagged. He could feel Alyl writhing in his abdomen as they both felt their panic rising. Hunter then placed his phaser against Jaton's temple. He couldn't pull away. His eyes went wide and he could feel himself on the verge of crying. ~It can't end like this. Please don't let it end like this.~ "The Orions don't take kindly to anyone trying to push onto their patches and they take less kindly to anyone trying to stop it. Let this serve as a strong warning to all of you. Don't mess with the syndicate." The phaser discharged. And then nothing. Day: -10 Stardate: 2444.05.22 (Bajor, Vulcan Defense Fleet Commander Sanok, 1342) While Sanok waited at the beam down depot, he reflected on what had transpired in his life that brought him to this point. Sanok had chosen to live with his emotions, feeling it was illogical to suppress something that was a natural part of who he was. Because of this, he did not fit in with his people, so at the age of twenty, he left home and journeyed to Earth. This led to him joining Starfleet and graduating from the academy in 2408 at the age of thirty-three. Serving on the Dennison during the civil war, Sanok had suffered so much emotional trauma because of the death and destruction, he had to take a medical leave to go to Vulcan to begin studying the ways of Kholinar. When he had returned to duty, he had served on the Mithrandir and the Rosenante. When the Vulcan government realized what was happening to the Federation, it quickly implemented a plan to insure the survival of their world in case the Federation collapsed. A massive ship-building campaign started and they created their own academy, the Vulcan Defense Academy, to train officers to man their own fleet of starships. A call went out to all Vulcans, asking them to come home to help. Since Sanok was serving in security at Starfleet Headquarters and not on a ship, he answered the call, resigning his commission. Because of his experience, Sanok was made an instructor at the new academy. He did not know this initially, but the government had also invited Romulans and Remans, and some accepted. Now that his home world was fortified, in the interest of the greater good, the government was allowing some to go to Earth to help. Sanok was one of them. Before reporting, he had gone to Bajor to visit his friend, Ben Soma, who had served with Sanok. Married to Marah, a Bajoran woman, Ben and Marah had settled on her home planet. "Sanok!" The familiar voice rang out. Seeing Marah running towards him, he waited for the inevitable. She threw herself upon him and gave him the biggest hug he had ever had. Though being uncomfortable with being touched, Sanok slowly wrapped his arms around her and gently placed his hands on her back. When Marah stepped back, Sanok saw that she was crying. "I got your uniform wet." Marah laughed through her tears. "It's so wonderful to see you again." "It is most agreeable to see you as well," said Sanok, not concerned about the wet spot on his chest. "How are you? Where is Ben?" "I'm fine. Ben's fine. There's plenty of time for that." Marah hooked an arm around one of Sanok's arms and began leading him away. "How long can you stay?" "Three days," said Sanok. "I am leaving for Earth on the BSS Bareil." The Bareil was the newest starship in the Bajoran fleet. Other worlds had followed the Vulcan example and begun protecting themselves, just in case. While the pair were walking, Marah fired off question after question, not giving Sanok the chance to respond. He was stronger now in the ways of Kholinar, but old feelings welled up inside him. He decided to let them. (reply none) (posted by Rob) (SS Free Booster – Personal Quarters –Ensign (J.G) - Ire Williams – 0630) =^=Come on Ire it’s time to get up=^= Ire groaned and rolled over in his bunk. “Aunty please.” There was a pause then the lights came up to their maximum illumination and the alert klaxon sounded. Ire squeezed his eyes shut and slammed his hand over his ears. “Okay, Okay Aunty I am up. I am up.” The room dimmed and the klaxon stopped. =^=You know Ire I expected a graduated cadet would be better at getting up in the morning=^= He sighed as he moved to the refresher. “Aunty, this is my slim opportunity between finishing the academy and starting my new post that I can revert back to a lazy sleep needy person.” He stepped out of the refresher and grabbed some clothes. =^=Well not on my ship you man. Come to the bridge we have arrived=^= “Yes Aunty.” He finished putting on his clothes and headed for the door. (SS Free Booster – Bridge – Ensign (J.G) - Ire Williams – 0636) Ire entered the small cramped bright and looked at the view screen. He could see the massive gas giant of Saturn with its rings appear into screen. “We got here fast?” He heard the familiar fuzz of power and the as the figure resolved itself into an athletic looking female human, roughly thirty years in age, with braded black hair which reached the shoulders and wearing a long flowing Persia style dress. “Aunty have you been watching those old movies again.” His Aunty looked down at herself and smiled. “I think I quite like it.” He smiled and shook his head. “I don’t think that is what people will be expecting a ships captain should be wearing.” She rolled her eyes and “Well as I am the ship, I should be able to wear what ever I like. But to help your delicate disposition I will change.” Her cloths shifted into a more utilitarian outfit. “That is very gracious of you.” She nodded her head. “And anyway, I have a gift for you?” Ire paused for a moment before speaking. “Aunty this is not the kind of present that you gave me at the Academy.” She gave him a wicked grin. “What that was character building.” He shivered involuntary. “Just because you are a super intelligent Artificial Intelligence dose not mean that you omnipotent. I got put on detention and had to do punishment duty for three weeks.” Her grin widened. “Exactly character building.” She paused for a moment. “I promised you parents that I would look after you. I understand that my methods might be a little unorthodox, but it comes from a place of live and concern.” Ire nodded knowing that she meant well is her own slightly quirky way. “I understand Aunty but I am old enough to make my own mistakes and learn from them.” The he got from his Aunty was that she did not totally agree with that statement. “Look I have the Endurance in the cargo deck C. Once you get to Mars and report in you are going to have to put her in storage why don’t you take her for a sail for a few days. You might not get the opportunity for a while.” He nodded with his Aunty’s change of topic but was still worried about her gift. (Reply any) (Posted by Robbie) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Entrance - Science Officer, ENS JG Sienna Williams-Verin - 8:30) Sienna had arrived on the base with her brother and several other Ensigns. She had been nervous and had been chattering to her beloved twin telepathically, which she knew that he didn't like, but she did it because her mother insisted that she do so. If Trip didn't use his abilities, and continued to repress them, he would eventually lose control over them, having the empathy bubble out at a moment of weakness or rage. So Sienna in her own way protected her brother. As soon as the shuttle had landed, Sienna put a hand on Trip's shoulder gently, "I'm going to check in, find my room and then figure out where the arboretum is. I'll wake up Kenna and put her in my room." She smiled happily at him. she was excited and happy about this posting. The state of the Federation taking sucker-punches over and over had her family angry. They had been fleet for generations on her Father's side, and on her mother's, well her mother had been a Captain and was still teaching diplomacy and first contact in the Academy as well as living happily on Earth with her Dad and a large amount of livestock. Sienna peeled away from her brother when he acknowledged her statement. She carefully picked up the crate that contained Kenna and directed one of the CPO's to send their luggage to their rooms. She also took up one of her duffels, one with her own personal treasures in it before heading towards the entrance. There were security people there, but oddly none of them were officers. "Ensign Sienna Williams-Verin." She put her palm on the indicated padd and accepted the bio scan. "Confirmed, Ensign. Your Quarters are listed on this padd, as well as maps of the base. It's a mess, Ensign. I hope that you enjoy chaos. Welcome to hell." Sienna accepted the PADD, winding her way through the base, tripping over wires, through dark corridors that needed repaired lighting. After getting turned around twice, she finally arrived at the door indicated. Placing her hand on the door padd, it did not open. She frowned at it, then kicked the panel. Hard. And it opened. (reply none) (posted by Mel) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - William's Family Residence - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams - 8:31) As Trip rounded the corner to where his quarters were supposed to be he saw the familiar visage of his twin sister standing there in front of the room that was supposed to be his. ~No, no, no, no, please don't tell me we are sharing a suite. It'll be like the academy all over again.~ "Hey Sy," he said as he approached his sister. He loved her dearly, and would take a phaser blast for her, in fact he had a scar across his chest where he took a knife slash from someone who tried to attack his sister in a bar. A Williams family tradition, starting a bar fight to protect your sister's honor. He started a fight to protect Sienna, his dad started a fight to protect his aunt Katie, and his Grandpa started one to protect his great-aunt Emily. Though he was the only one who ended up with any fun battle damage and reparative surgery. Though as punishment it did drop his dad from being academy Salutatorian to bottom of the class as a punitive measure for starting a fight with a drunk Romulan refugee. Trip's was less political nature, just some drunk jack wagon on Risa during spring break. (Reply Sienna) "Let me guess, they gave you room number 104 too?" (Reply Sienna) "Looks, like we are roomies again. You know I have shared quarters with you my whole life right? We shared a womb, then a romb until we were 10, then we had private rooms but shared a bathroom and a interconnected study until we were 18, then oh yeah shared a suite at the academy. I mean I love you sis, but it's always awkward to have a telepathic link to your twin and be in the next room when either one of us brings home a date." Trip laughed at that last part. He was usually pretty good and tuning his sister out when he didn't want to be in her head. (Reply Sienna) "Do you think mom had something to do with this?" (Reply Sienna) Trip grabbed his sister's bag and entered there new home. There was a large living room area, with a kitchenette to the side. Plenty of room for entertaining and not feeling cramped. There were also two rooms to the side, 104A and 104B. Trip looked down at his room number again, he had 104A, how he missed the A, he did not know. Still, he was home and it would be nice to be near his sister. He loved her, but he was also over protective. If anyone was going to hurt her it was going to be over his dead body. "So I am thinking of going to the gym, wanna come?" (Reply Sienna) (Reply Sienna) (posted by Will Banowsky) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams- 8:36) "Maybe I should leave it broken - but we'll have bruised toes if I do. Make sure to remember having time to clean up before we report in, brother mine." "Don't worry, there is a multi tool in my bag. I may hate being compared to Dad, but I wouldn't be his son if I didn't have tools just randomly in my bag." (reply Sienna) "I could probably just do some push ups in here, but it's not the same as the gym, I need to lift weights, do something. I need to loosen up the muscles. Besides, I ate way too much chocolate on the trip over here, like probably your cat's body weight in it." (Reply Sienna) "Just imagine how much studlier I could be if I didn't have the Betazoid chocolate compulsion." Trip said with a laugh. (reply Sienna) Trip entered his room, placed his bag on his bed, removed his gym clothes and a multi tool and returned to his sister. "This should fix the door." He handed her the tool and smiled. "Also, you know who I think is responsible for this room. Grandma Kate. This totally feels like a Grandma Kate move, she probably got the Admiral to pull some strings around, whatever little he had, to make room for her twin angels." (reply Sienna) Trip began taking off his uniform and throwing the tunic and the under shirt onto the couch. He was a bit of a slob and he didn't care. He also didn't care about walking around without a shirt in front of his sister. Whether she had a problem with it, he didn't know, but throwing his crap everywhere was a Trip Williams power move, basically saying, this is my house too, and I can do what I want. "How do you think Sky is doing, haven't heard from our dear older sis in a while. Though I'm not as close to her as you are." (reply Sienna) Trip entered his room and shut the door so that he could change. ::Hey, I no I can be a bit of grump and may act like I don;'t want my sister around, but I am really glad you're here with me, I may act tough, but big touch Trip still likes having his sister around.:: (Reply Sienna) ::Seriously though, same rules as in the academy, if you are going to have a boy over let me know, that way I don't overreact and try and beat up the guy like with poor little Billy Nix freshman year.:: (reply Sienna) (reply Sienna) (posted by Will Banowsky) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - Science Officer Ensign jp Sienna Williams-Verin- 8:41) "I could probably just do some push ups in here, but it's not the same as the gym, I need to lift weights, do something. I need to loosen up the muscles. Besides, I ate way too much chocolate on the trip over here, like probably your cat's body weight in it." "It's because you are nervous too, you just show it differently than I do." She smiled at him, glad he was close. "Just imagine how much studlier I could be if I didn't have the Betazoid chocolate compulsion." Trip said with a laugh.Sienna echoed it, she loved her chocolate too. He handed her the tool after a moment and Sienna watched indulgently as her twin began to turn the common area into a slobfest. He knew that she would clean up after him, she always did. They were opposites in so many ways. She took the tool and headed to the door, using the bladed side of the tool to disengage the panneling to get to the service hatch. "How do you think Sky is doing, haven't heard from our dear older sis in a while. Though I'm not as close to her as you are." Trip was heading into his room and the door closed so Sienna switched to telepathy. She was really the only person who could speak to Trip telepathically other than their Mother. Not even Grandma Suena on Betazed could get through to Trip. Sienna thought it was stubborness, really. On Trip's side. ::She's on Vulcan. That new Vulcan defense fleet thing they are making as a rival Starfleet. She's happy there, even though she doesn't really fit in with the vulcans. She's too Betazoid for them:: Skyler was their older half-sister from their Mother's first disastrous marriage to a vulcan of all things. Skyler had been the only really good thing to come of it, and then their Dad and Mom becoming Imzadi over her, basically. Sorta. It was complicated. Their Mother had healed their Dad's soul and they completed each other making a truly phenomenal team. ::But she's happy and the vulcans are at least acting like adults instead of scared little children.:: She frowned as she stared into the hatch. This wasn't going to be the easiest fix. Some of the wires were literally held together with an old earth substance called 'electrical tape' - she only knew what it was because her Dad had a roll of it and something called 'duck tape' that he prized. The chips were cracked and broken and most were dead. Where was she going to get more chips? It wasn't like you could just replicate the things easily. ::Hey, I know I can be a bit of grump and may act like I don;'t want my sister around, but I am really glad you're here with me, I may act tough, but big tough Trip still likes having his sister around.:: Sienna laughed out loud, distracted by her brother's commentary. ::I know. We share that mind touch, we always know the other, but that's a twin thing not so much a Betazoid thing.:: She frowned and pried the worst of the chips out, taking her not standard issue tricorder and scanning it to see if it was salvageable. It was not of course. ::Seriously though, same rules as in the academy, if you are going to have a boy over let me know, that way I don't overreact and try and beat up the guy like with poor little Billy Nix freshman year.:: She shook her head, those tendrils of Betazoid curls escaping where she had pinned them. Trip came out of his room and stared at the chip in her hand, dressed in his gym clothes. "Look at this mess. Is the entire base like this? Some of this is early earth tech, from when the place was first built. Who uses tape anymore?" She asked him, frowning. "I get what that woman was saying now, about this being a hell assignment. Do you know where we can get a box of chips? Or do you have any idea how to wire this so it works well enough until we can actually ..." Sienna screamed as something large and furry ran across her foot that wasn't her cat. The cat took off after it and Sienna ended up on top of one of the tables. "Was that a rat? Do they make rats that big? Oh crap, Kenna's after it, Kenna no!! Trip grab Kenna!" Sienna was literally shaking like a leaf, being the stereotypical super girly girl that she was. "And KILL IT" She shrieked, both telepathically and vocally. Any other telepaths in the vicinity would likely have heard her mind-call. (reply Trip, any other telepaths if you want) (posted by Mel) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams- 8:42) Trip couldn't help but laugh at his sister. in many ways she was a tom boy and in many ways she was a girly girl. Though Trip was certain that if a furry creature and across his foot he'd freak out too. He headed over to where the cat had run off to. Of all places it had been his room. ~Great he said, now the cat knows where I sleep.~ It wasn't that Trip wasn't a cat person. He liked cats, he just didn't like this particular cat. He and Kenna never truly saw eye to eye so to speak. Maybe it was due to the old saying that all cats were jerks, maybe it was because Trip constantly reminded the cat that dogs were smarter. Maybe it was because the first time the cat came home with Sienna it used his favorite pair of gym shoes as a litter box. Whatever the case he know how to go rescue what ever poor creature was being stalked by Cattila the Hun. ::You know I hate the cat right?:: (reply Sienna) Trip entered his room and saw that Kenna had cornered a poor frightened creature. As he got closer he saw that is was a baby raccoon. ~What the hell is a raccoon doing on Mars.~ He approached the meowing cat, gently picked her up and placed her on his bed before he could get scratched. Then he picked up the raccoon who was too frightened to scratch, walked from his room, across the living room, through the front door and placed the creature outside. Then returning to his room, took out a roll of duct tape and headed to the door. He kept the duct tape because it worked great for taping over holes in gym shoes. Then looking at the panel, took a bit, taped two wires together and smiled as the door closed right as the poor raccoon tried to get back into the quarters. "Sienna my dear, Duct tape fixes everything." (reply Sienna) (Reply Sienna) (posted by Will Banowsky) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Personal Quarters - Science Officer, ENS JG Sienna Williams-Verin - 9:07) Sienna sighed as the door finally opened. She dragged herself inside and stopped, her eyes wide as she looked around. Based on the state of the Base, this place was a veritable palace. There were clean, new couches, a table and three chairs, a replicator that looked operational, and doors that lead into other rooms. She placed the crate containing her cat, Kenna, down and dropped her duffel. "Hey Sy," Her brother spoke from behind. she almost jumped but laughed. "Let me guess, they gave you room number 104 too?" She nodded, and indicated her bag beside her. She moved around the suite to various doors and opened them. There was a large bed, a dresser, desk, chair and a small bookcase. She then moved to another door and opened it, discovering a bathroom. A working bathroom. That seemed to use water. Who actually used water these days? She shook her head in bafflement and closed the door, half-listening to her brother. "Do I think Mom had her hand in this? Of course she did. You saw the state of this place. It's a disaster. This room, suite, whatever? It's luxury. And if the other cadets..ergh ensigns don't have similar quarters it's going to make some pretty bad feelings of envy between us and them. Dad wouldn't think to do something like this. Dad would understand. Mom... I love Mom but she's a full blooded Betazoid. She doesn't -do- hardship." Trip had picked up her duffel and carried it into her room. She picked up Kenna and placed the small carrier on the bed, disabling the stasis field. She opened the kennel door and the sleepy, long haired rag doll seal point cat daintily walked out. Kenna launches herself at Trip, expecting him to catch the twelve pound ball of fluff. Sienna stored the carrier under the bed, filling water dishes and placing food in the kitchen area, as well as the convenience for the cat. Once she was done those chores she came back to Trip who was petting Kenna. "So I am thinking of going to the gym, wanna come?" "Do you really think that the gym is going to be any better than here?" She asked, frowning as she dug through her duffel. "I don't have my tool kit here. I guess our other belongings aren't here yet. Do you have yours? I want to fix that door, then find the arboretum and assess the damage there. The air is kinda stale - have you noticed? The environmental systems are pooched. Getting some oxygenators started would help matters." Sienna was a botanist first and foremost, but she had her Father's tinkering skills, and her Mother's love of people and animals. She would have been considered a jill of all trades in the past. She looked up at Trip with a soft laugh. "Maybe I should leave it broken - but we'll have bruised toes if I do. Make sure to remember having time to clean up before we report in, brother mine." She reminded him, but in reality they both knew it would be him reminding her later. (reply Trip if you wish) (posted by Mel) "Doc I am telling you we found this crate in a bunch of crap that was set to go to the furnace. When you find somebody inside a box with a weapons discharge in them it's a message.. like don't play with my toys again.." Castile looked down. "Amigo you look like you fought a phaser monster and lost." He flagged over a dfferent doctor and not the one who he had been arguing with. He looked down at Jaton. Then took out a pen light. "Can you follow this? I ain't a real medic, just a guy who has been beaten enough to know a fellow beaten when I saw it." He moved th elight slowly then noticed the officers pips. "I should say welcome to Mars, but its about in as grand shape as everything else." He pocketed the pen then offered his hand. "Can you sit up?" He asked. (tag Spencer) (Posted by Robert) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Medical Complex, Intensive Care - Jaton Alyl - 09:12) His mind was swimming. He didn't know where he was. Was this the afterlife? Did it truly exist after all? Was this what it would be like to exist as the memories of a symbiont? Would this change for the next host's zhian'tara? There were far too many unanswered questions for him. He had never been a spiritual person so he had no answers with which to comfort himself. But before he could contemplate any of this, something unexpected happened. He took a breath. He breathed in sharply and felt the life-giving air fill his lungs. He still had lungs! He willed himself to open his eyes. A blurry grey image filled his vision. He blinked a few times and the image resolved itself. He wasn't on Dureth Station. He didn't know where he was. It looked like a Starfleet facility, but it certainly wasn't the Paladin. Was this the zhian'tara? If so, why was he lying on his back? He raised his arm and brought it into his field of view. It was his own. He breathed again. He didn't know what was happening but he was glad to be in his own body. He took stock. The cool breath of air on his skin told him that he was shirtless. He felt the blanket covering his legs. He felt Alyl curled up in his abdomen. Maybe Hunter had the weapon set on stun? (reply anyone in Sickbay) (posted by Spencer) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Sickbay, Intensive Care - Jaton Alyl - 09:13) Jaton looked over towards the voices that he heard and saw two people walking in. One noticed him and walked over. "Amigo you look like you fought a phaser monster and lost." He flagged over a doctor and looked down at Jaton. Then took out a pen light. "Can you follow this? I ain't a real medic, just a guy who has been beaten enough to know a fellow beaten when I saw it." He moved the light slowly, Jaton following it with his eyes with little issue. "I should say welcome to Mars, but its about in as grand shape as everything else." He pocketed the pen then offered his hand. "Can you sit up?" He asked. Jaton took the offered hand and sat up hesitantly. He felt slightly lightheaded but was able to sit up. He adjusted the blanket to cover his bare chest and help keep himself warm. He was glad at this point to discover he was wearing trousers at least otherwise it would have been rather embarrassing. "Mars?" Jaton said, his voice sounding husky and scratchy. As if it hadn't been used in a long time. "How did I get to Mars? Where's the Paladin?" (reply Castile, any) (posted by Spencer) Chris sighed and pulled the man up. Jaton took the offered hand and sat up hesitantly. He felt slightly lightheaded but was able to sit up. He adjusted the blanket to cover his bare chest and help keep himself warm. He was glad at this point to discover he was wearing trousers at least otherwise it would have been rather embarrassing. "Mars?" Jaton said, his voice sounding husky and scratchy. As if it hadn't been used in a long time. "How did I get to Mars? Where's the Paladin?" Castile frowned, "Okay, report is this, Crewman laChance was repairing astomspheric processor three near the old scrapyard and electric incenerator. In a box marked for disposal he heard a coughing which was you. I am not sure where the Paladin is, but once you have recovered you can make a full conversation with Security. I am sure they will be real eager to speak to you. But if I had to take a guess you were dumped and somebody tried to kill you. Normally I see this kind of stuff with the Betazed Assasain Guild or the Am'tel. Whoever did this to you wasn't local." (reply Spence) (posted by Robert H) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Gymnasium Lounge - CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams - 9:55) There was a small lounge outside the gymnasium with a table and some chairs as well as a couch and a replicator. Even though it seemed to not have been used in awhile, it was evident to Trip that this was a small lounge to be used after a work out to catch one's breath and recover before going on one's merry way. Their was a little area to the side with a small couch, some comfy chairs and a table. "I'm gonna see if the replicator is working, you want any thing?" He said as he nodded to Rebecca. His nose had stopped bleeding. He was a bit embarrassed. He couldn't tell if he was embarrassed because he tripped during a match he thought he could win or because he looked like a fool, still if word got out people might thing he got his nickname from the fall rather than the fact he was James Williams the Third. (Reply Flagg) Trip went over to the replicator to get the drinks. Thankfully it was operational. For himself he ordered a Strawberry and Banana smoothie with a protein booster. If he wanted to maintain a chiseled physique he was gonna need to make sure that he took the necessary steps. He took to weight lifting in high school as a way to get his mind off of the fact that people expected him to be an engineering whiz like his dad, or an operations specialist like his grandpa. He had convinced himself that nobody with a six pack would ever be an engineer so he began training his body to be strong and to fight to prove a point. Little did he know that when he got to the academy he would meet many an engineer in peak physical perfection. Though everyone had their hobbies and he took to running, lifting, swimming, and training the same way his sister took to plants. All in. As he returned to where Rebecca was standing he handed her a drink and headed over to the couch are sitting on the couch and placing his feet on the table. ~Some may call this rude, but as dirty as this table is, it will be cleaned anyways.~ There was a part of Trip that wondered if he should be standing out in the middle of a public area without a shirt on, but at the same time, it was a ghost town so he wasn't really sure it mattered. Besides he could tell that Rebecca didn't mind. ~I wonder if she realizes that I'm only 22.~ He thought to himself as took a long sip from a drink. "So, what brings you to mars?" He said struggling to find something to say. It was the only thing he could say to keep him from telling her that she was a bit old to be an ensign. ~Never mention age to a woman, that's what dad always said. (Reply Flagg) (Reply Flagg) (posted by Will Banowsky_ (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities – Ancillary corridor – MO Ailynn Bracken - 1020) Ailynn had been walking for a while, poking into rooms, entering offices, and opening drawers, the deafening silence of the nothing encompassed her. She stepped, the rooms silent, the corridors dusty and unkempt, but still she wandered, her long legs, taking easy strides amongst the detritus ridden corridors. Slowly she made the beginnings of a list of things that were all to cock around here. She rounded a corner, and a ghost greeted her/ From the back, admittedly, but there was no mistaking the figure that had causally exited the room off to the right. “OH! HEY YO ACE!” She called out, knowing that the form in front of her would whip around. Holding her arms out she carried on “What? No love….FLYBOY??” (Reply Trip) (posted by Mark) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities – Ancillary corridor – CONN, ENS JG Trip Williams 10:21) Trip had only recently left hanging out with Rebecca Flagg and was making his way back to his quarters. He needed a shower and he needed a shirt. But he had no shame walking around with out a shirt, because he didn't think that there was anyone around. Then he heard it, that voice, the cadence, and the mocking way in which she said Ace, it was his old pal Lynn. “OH! HEY YO ACE! What? No love….FLYBOY??” Turning around Trip approached his old friend and gave her a big sweaty hug. Normally he would have been embarrassed to be caught walking around with no shirt by on old friend, but this was different, this friend was different, this friend saved his life. He had known Ailynn Bracken almost his entire life. Both their parents worked at Starfleet HQ and they actually lived next door to each other in the neighborhood set aside for Starfleet Brass. His dad was the Dean of Engineering at Starfleet Academy and her mom was the Chief of Surgery at Starfleet Medical. Even though Ailynn was 3 years his senior, she was a welcome playmate for Trip and his sister. As he got older, and he valued her age and wisdom, since to a 12 year old, 15 seems wise and experienced, she was his confidant, the person he went to when there were things he could not share with his twin. She was even his first crush at age 13, the first girl he ever liked romantically, though she was quick to remind him that she viewed him as a little brother, and he grew to consider her like his sister. They were able to bond for many reasons, Starfleet Legacies, trying to make their own identity, and both were half human, half something else, and trying to figure out there identity. It was especially rough for Trip as his sister felt more Betazoid and he felt more human, but Ailynn was a big help in reconciling his dual reality. Even if she was seeing him without a shirt, it wasn't the first time, both as children and as adults. She knew all the scars on his torso, except the one on his chest, intimately. She was the one who mended them. It was roughly two years ago, Trip was off doing an unsanctioned cage fight without anyone at the Academy knowing. Only his sister knew. He lost control of his emotions that day and beat his opponent within an inch of the poor man's life. Trip was horrified at what he had done and wasn't paying attention to his surroundings when the man's friends jumped him in the alley as he was leaving. They stabbed him multiple times before the establishments bouncers were able to come to his aid. They offered to take him to a hospital, instead he had them take him to Starfleet Medical where he arranged for Ailynn to meet him there. She knew her mom's codes to get in. So under the cover of night, he asked his old friend to patch him up and save his life, and she did. He asked her not to tell a soul, and she didn't, but she did read him the riot act. She got his sister to read him the riot act. She convinced him to stop cage fighting and convinced him to join the Academy wrestling team as an outlet for his rage and pain. And it worked. She saved his life that night, and by getting him to join the wrestling team, where he found a lot of joy and peace, she saved his soul. She was also there to help him pick up the pieces after his best friend died in his arms during the attack on earth, and his empathic abilities went heywire, feeling every single emotion that his best friend since he was 4, Tamrae Linore, felt as she died. Lynn, as he called her, was his platonic rock. He hoped he was hers. "Lynn, Lynnie the pooh, how the hell are you?" (Reply Bracken) "I meant to try and get in touch with you when I landed, but I wanted to get a workout in first. I figured we'd run into each other eventually." (Reply Bracken) (reply Bracken) (posted by Will Banowsky) Star fleet Martian Ground Facilities, Main Engineering, Engineering Officer Grk, 11:02) Grk had arrived just that morning to find the facility in a shambles. He couldn't stand it. It made his fur bristle. He'd immediately found his way to main engineering, found a tool-kit and gotten to work. His personal belongings were stacked up in a corner of the room while Grk was under the Master System Display console with it's guts strewn out around him. He had one paw jammed up into the console pulling out more fried or broken components. While Grk worked, enlisted men came and went carrying supplies for the base. Each and everyone of the them had to stop and step over Grk's large furry legs that were stuck out from under the MSD table and not one of them dared to disturb the large hairy engineer from his work. Grk growled and cursed as he tried to re-wire the table with one paw. ~I can get this working again. I know I can.~ (Reply Any) (Posted by Wes) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities, Outside the Landing Platforms, VDF Commander Sanok, 1139) When the Bareil had entered the Sol system, a comm from Earth had been sent, instructing Sanok to report to the Mars base for a briefing at 1145 hours, instead of to Starfleet HQ on Earth. There was no explanation as to why, but since he was stepping down from his position in the Vulcan Defense Fleet and rejoining Starfleet, he would follow his orders. When Sanok resigned his commission, he was the rank of captain, having been CO of the Rosenante. When the Rose was removed from service for upgrades, he had taken a security position on Earth. Because Sanok had resigned, and since he had been away for so long, an obscure regulation dictated that he would need to begin again as an ensign jg. Normally, this could have been taken as an insult, but Sanok didn't mind. He realized he wanted to be in Starfleet again. He would serve where he was needed. The Bareil had beamed Sanok to the Mars base just before the meeting would begin. He didn't have time to officially report to anyone, so he was still officially in the VDF. He was still wearing that uniform. There would be time for all that later, as it was best to be on time and not late. Standing in the middle of the gathering personnel, his hands clasped behind his back, Sanok noticed that everyone there had one black rank pip. Were they all ensign junior grade? Were there no officers of a higher rank. He was intrigued. Sanok also saw there was a Reman in the group. While teaching on Vulcan, he had befriended a Reman, R'vek Kental. He was too far away to tell if it was R'vek, but Sanok resolved to meet the Reman at the first opportunity. A shrill whistle quieted the crowd, turning every eye to the person giving the briefing, an admiral. It was time to learn why he was on Mars and what the plan was to begin rebuilding the United Federation of Planets. (reply none) (posted by Rob (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Landing Platforms - Medical Officer, Ens (jg) Ailynn Bracken - 11:40) Ailynn strode onto the platform slipping between other Ensigns, nodding a greeting and a smile here and there as she found her way toward someone that intrigued her. She was gratified for her height. even in these times, she was considered tall for a human female, as were all her family. There had been few Trill in her life, her mum had always spoken with the greatest fondness about the counsellor on the Hades, and the very few others that she had encountered. She, Addison had for a few years been a mainstay at her family home, and Ailynn remembered playing with other children, though memories became fuzzy when she thought about it. Years later, as she'd hit her teens, and mother nature had begun to weave her wonders upon her, she remembered then also, the same people coming to see them, she'd spent time with her guests, chatting and braiding hair, as all teenage girls almost universally did, but Ailynn's intellect was her downfall, she'd become aware of the tension in her family conversations, she'd grown up a Fleet Brat. not just any, but her family, on both sides, she'd come to understand, had considerable influence in the Federation at the time. Her Paternal grandmother, Admiral Greene, Fleet First Officer; Captain Aimee Bracken, Director of Surgery, SFMHQ, and although timewise, only 4 years older, her maternal grandmother, Captain Dale Bracken (SpecOps). They'd all looked more and more tired, irritable, worried, furious. Emmi had retired after a few years, leaving a hole in the Fleet. An air of isolationism had taken over, preferring isolationism over exploration, preferring to wrap themselves in the comfort of what they had, to bask in their acheivements, rather than to continue to look outward, to push the boundaries of knowledge, and understanding. Ailynn remembered the...no, not arguments, as her family was all of one brutally strong mind, but the discussion had been vociferous, they knew, back then, that the Federation was in danger of loosing it's way. She pulled herself back to the moment, realising that she had reached the young Trill Officer, seeing that he wore the teal of sciences or medical. "My apologies Ensign, it's been a long time since I met a Trill. Bracken. Dr Ailynn Bracken. Good to meet you." (Reply Kasian) (Posted by Mark) (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities - Landing Platforms - Medical Officer, Ens (jg) Kasian Poldan - 11:42.5) "My apologies Ensign, it's been a long time since I met a Trill. Bracken. Dr Ailynn Bracken. Good to meet you." Kasian smiled and turned towards the woman who was clearly going to be someone he was going to work with. “Dr. Kasian Poldan, nice to meet you as well” he said holding out his hand ~Bracken, why does that name sound so familiar.~ (reply Bracken) Kasian was now staring at the woman trying hard to figure out why the name and her face looked so familiar. Kasian held on to Ailynn hand and kept his eyes locked on her face for way to long and it was probably at this point super creepy. (reply Bracken IYW) “I’m sorry there is just something about you that reminds me of grape vines and laughter.” at this point Kasian still held onto the woman's hand it was really bugging him he could smell the dust taste the grapes, hear the children laughing. It was a fuzzy vague memory. Kasian felt Poldan twitch in his abdomen this bringing him back his senses he let go of Ailynn hand. “Sometimes it's hard to figure out my memories or a past Poldan memory. They give us all this training and we are helped to not get overwhelmed after joining but still little thing trigger deep buried memories. Ya know.” (Reply Bracken) (Posted by Richard (Starfleet Martian Ground Facilities –Entrance – Unknown ENS JG Quinna Solace 11:45) Quinna was so sure she was going to be late, but looking around, she was relieved that she was not. As she was fining out where she was supposed to go, the was remembering how she got there. Originally, she was posted to Starfleet Academy as an auxiliary staff. Though it was not her dream assignment to be a residence hall monitor, she was still serving in Starfleet. Just as she was about to unpack and settle into her new assignment, when a new communication came though telling Quinna that she was now to the Martian Facilities. And she would receive further orders there. After verifying the accuracy of her orders, she grabbed her bag and left. That is where she was now. Armed with her PADD in had containing the orders she was given, she aimlessly wandered around as she looked for someone that could supply the rest of her orders. (Mars Facilities - Outside landing platform - ENS jg Counselor Ariel Trei - 11.45) She filed in with the crowd waiting for the introduction announcements. She saw some trying to get to know each other. She chose to observe these conversations for now. She will mingle later. It is better to gather information to use later. She waited for the introduction to begin. (Reply Any) (Posted by Edward)