Illuminar Compile 3 Dates: June 6th, 2020 to June , 2020 Mission: The Root of Decay, Day -1 to Day 17 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: "The Root of Decay" Day: -1 Stardate: 2445.08.31 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar - Sickbay - Ops- CPO Charles Tamblyn -0838) (USS Illuminar -- Sickbay -- Deck 5 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 0845) (USS Illuminar – Sickbay – Ops NCOIC- CPO Charles Tamblyn -0847) (USS Illuminar - Deck 8, CSO’s Office - ACSO Lieutenant (jg) Jaton Alyl and ACSRD Ensign Stennin - 1025) (USS Illuminar --Aft Lounge -- Deck 11 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 13:15) (USS Illuminar -- Holodeck 2 -- Deck 5 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 2017) (USS Illuminar -- Holodeck 2 -- Deck 5 - EnsJg MO Aster Bennett- 2019) (USS Illuminar – Main Gymnasium - COUNS Alaya Ravenstone & Steven Hammons & Tressa Talence - 2230) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: "The Root of Decay" Day: 1 Stardate: 2445.09.01 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar – Meeting Room - Ops- CPO Charles Tamblyn - 1420) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: "The Root of Decay" Day: 1 Stardate: 2445.09.03 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Deep Space Nine, Quarks Bar - Ops, Ens(jg) Dieter Gregory - 1800) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: The Root of Decay Day: 4 Stardate: 2445.09.04 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar - Personal Quarters - MO Aster Bennett - 0001) (USS Illuminar- Bridge - FO - Lt. Sienna Williams-Verin - 0003) (USS Illuminar, Deck 1, Conference Annex- Luma’Lenai & ACEO, Ens(sg) Vex’ahlia Jordaan – 00:05) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room- CO- Lieutenant Commander Sekal- 0015) (USS Illuminar -- Personal Quarters -- Deck 2 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 0025) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room - 2O - Lieutenant Carson Peters - 0030) (USS Illuminar - Conference Room - ACOUNS ACMO ENS SG Ariel Trei - 00.55) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room - ACEO, Ens(sg) Vex'ahlia Jordaan - 0057) (USS Illuninar Conference Room - ACOUNS ACMO ENS SG Ariel Trei - 00.58) (Illuminar, Deck 1, Conference Room, Acting CEO Ensign sg Taya, 0059) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room - CO- Lieutenant Commander Sekal - 0100) (USS Illuminar - Deck 1, Conference Room - ACSO Lieutenant (jg) Jaton Alyl - 0101) (USS Illuninar Conference Room - FO Lt. Sienna Williams-Verin - 0102) (USS Illuminar - Conference Room - ACOUNS ACMO ENS SG Ariel Trei - 01.05) (USS Illuninar FO's Quarters - FO Lt. Sienna Williams-Verin - 05.00) (Bajoran Space – Runabout Othellio - Ensign Janice Hammerfield – 0800) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: The Root of Decay Day: 5 Stardate: 2445.09.05 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar – Bridge - Engineering - EO Scott Matrix - 0847) (Illuminar, Deck 11, Engineering, Acting CEO Ensign sg Taya, 0850) (USS Illuminar - Deck 1, Main Bridge -FSXO (Flight Ops/Conn)- Lieutenant (SG), Tempest Grey Wolf-- 0900) (USS Illuminar – Bridge - Ops- CPO Charles Tamblyn -0905) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: The Root of Decay Day: 8 Stardate: 2445.09.08 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Bajor, Ashala - The High Seat of the Assembly- High Committewoman's Office - High Committewoman Jnel Rinai - 2100) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: The Root of Decay Day: 16 Stardate: 2445.09.16 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Bajor- Ashalla- Personal Quarters- Kai Hetel Krevi- 1830) (Bajor, Ashala - Temple - Dean Vedek Horavei Taelsi - 2130) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: The Root of Decay Day: 17 Stardate: 2445.09.17 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Bajor- Ashalla- Plaza of the Prophets- Prylar Tekan Herla- 0830) (Bajor- Ashalla- Plaza of the Prophets- Major Tan Filar- 1320) (Bajor- Ashalla- Plaza of the Prophets- Major Tan Filar- 1820) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: -1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar - Sickbay - Ops- CPO Charles Tamblyn - 0838) “Hi, I’m Chief Tamblyn, the incoming Operations NCOIC. I need to get an in-processing physical.” Quinna turned. “Hi. Come on in. I am Quinna.” Quinna like to maintain a bit of an informal environment so people can feel more at ease. Charles smiled at the Lieutenant and held his hand out to shake hands with her, “Charles, ma’am, my name is Charles. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “So, you say you need an intake physical. I can help you with that. Come have a seat.” Pointing to the bio-bed. She then turned to get her tricorder. Tamblyn removed his shoulder-holster rig that held his twin disruptor pistols and pair of Bowie knives as he took the pro-offered seat on the bio-bed. “Is there anything I should know?” Quinna asked. Tamblyn raised his eyebrows and rocked his head from side to side two or three times before answering, “Well, I am a reservist who’s been mobilized. On the civilian side, I earn a living as a bounty hunter and private investigator. Each career field alone is dangerous at best. Both together…” Charles said with a whistle and made a face before finishing with “I average two cigars a week and 14 drinks a week made with actual bourbon, rum, or scotch; none of that synth-stuff.” Quinna started scanning Tamblyn. “Other than four broken noses, broken knee, and two broken fingers being shot in the leg and chest, and a couple of stabbing wounds, mixed with high blood pressure; I’m doing pretty good.” (Reply Solice) (Reply Solice) (Played by Charlie) (USS Illuminar -- Sickbay -- Deck 5 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 0845) “Other than four broken noses, broken knee, and two broken fingers being shot in the leg and chest, and a couple of stabbing wounds, mixed with high blood pressure; I’m doing pretty good.” “That is quite the laundry list. What are you doing to try and keep your blood pressure in check, besides meds?” Quinna asked. (Reply Tamblyn) After a final check, Quinna closed the tricorder. “You are the picture of health today. Your blood pressure is on the high end of normal, but it is within normal range.” (Reply Tamblyn) “Well, you are all done and I am declaring you medically fit for duty.I would like to have regular monthly Blood Pressure checks.” Quinna closed the medical tricorder. She opened a 3-D database and added the information. (Reply Tamblyn iyw) (Played by Kris) (USS Illuminar – Sickbay – Ops NCOIC- CPO Charles Tamblyn - 0847) “That is quite the laundry list. What are you doing to try and keep your blood pressure in check, besides meds?” Quinna asked. Looking at her sheepishly, “Well ma’am, I’ve never been one to take medications. I do however drink one or two 8-ounce glasses of kosher wine every evening.” After a final check, Quinna closed the tricorder. “You are the picture of health today. Your blood pressure is on the high end of normal, but it is within normal range.” Snickering, Charles comments “Only if the picture is a caricature.” “Well, you are all done, and I am declaring you medically fit for duty. I would like to have regular monthly Blood Pressure checks.” Quinna closed the medical tricorder. She opened a 3-D database and added the information. “Yes ma’am, I am tracking, monthly blood pressure checks,” Tamblyn said as he straightened himself out and resumed a more professional demeanor. (Reply: Solice iyw) (Reply: Solice iyw) (Posted by Charlie) (USS Illuminar - Deck 8, CSO’s Office - ACSO Lieutenant (jg) Jaton Alyl and ACSRD Ensign Stennin - 1025) Stennin took a final look at his PADD as he walked down the corridor. He stood still before the door behind which, if he remembered correctly, was Jaton's office. He straightened his jacket and tapped the console. Jaton set the bag with his office belongings on the desk and sat down. He opened the bag and began setting a couple of desktop items out. He was hanging a large nazar amulet on the wall when he heard the door chime sound. “Come in,” he said. Stennin watched as the door opened. He saw Jaton by the wall, apparently next to some big locket. " Lieutenant Jaton. I perceive you have just arrived?" Stennin inquired. He looked over and saw the bag on the desk. “Well I walked through here last night, but I’m just settling into the office, yes. Gotta make a space like this your own. How about you?” Stennin rose a brow, but then lowered it and nodded. “That is only logical, lieutenant. I have set up my own office as well. But I might add, there are no ornaments in mine as there are in yours.” He walked closer and looked at the crystal that Jaton had hung up. He inspected it and then looked to Jaton. “A fascinating item, lieutenant. Where did you find such a piece?” “I bought it on Earth last year. It’s called a nazar, and it’s a common amulet throughout the Eastern Mediterranean regions. They’re said to keep evil away.” Stennin turned to the table and sat down. “Your assumption is correct. I just returned from Captain Sekal. He instructed me to find you and assist you in your research.” “Ah, perfect. I’ve only had a cursory overlook of the facilities here on Deck 8, but nothing more in depth yet. I would appreciate your help and your input.” Stennin rose a brow and then looked a the console. “I have inspected the science facilities this morning. The Astrometrics lab was still being prepared. New software they were installing, with new subroutines. The notes on my rounds are logged in the ship’s database.” “Sounds good. From what I’ve heard the OS needed updating to handle the new Trill database information. I’ll be making a report to the captain tomorrow and your input will be most helpful.” Stennin nodded fervently. “That is agreeable, lieutenant. Is there a specific entry you need my inquiry on?” He stood up and walked to the LCARS terminal on the wall. “Well if I remember correctly, your area of expertise is in chemistry, am I right? In that case your insight on the chemistry labs and the current state of the chemistry workflow would be invaluable.” Stennin nodded and tapped some commands on the console. An inventory list came up. "The Chemistry labs are stocked properly, however we are missing a Bolzin-Marcer. This would be highly recommended when encountering volatile radioactive particles, not unlikely when we examine asteroids. The Microbiology labs, for another matter, could use some Milwaukee Agars." With a few more taps, he scrolled over to the personnel list. "I would also recommend a Cosmochemical specialist. We are lacking one, and this ship's mission is to return our knowledge of our region. Cosmic Chemistry is a field desperately need to prevent disasters like hypernovae or asteroid collisions." He nodded at the Trill, and waited for a moment as Jaton took it all in. Jaton nodded as Stennin spoke. “Those are all good points, and I think they should be implemented as soon as possible. However I think that we probably won’t be able to get a cosmochemical specialist transferred to the ship before we leave tomorrow, but I’ll see what I can do. And in the meantime I might have to ask you to pull double duty in that regard if you think you’re up to it.” Stennin nodded. "That is agreeable. It would be logical to perform these duties until a specialist is available. I shall look for a subspace connection to a planetary-based Cosmochemist I know." “Outside of chemistry, do you have any other recommendations?” Stennin frowned and thought for a moment. "I recently worked with intelligence on a few weapons upgrades. It would be logical if some of these were field tested by this ship." “That would make sense. I’ll suggest that to the captain as well, but we probably won’t have time to do so on the current mission. But we’ll see.” Stennin nodded a final time and stepped away from the console. "That is agreeable. Are there any other requests I could provide aid for?" Jaton thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Not that I can think of, but I’ll be sure to include you in any decisions that dovetail with your specialties.” Stennin rose a brow, but then nodded again. "That would be only logical." Jaton nodded. “In that case, dismissed, ensign,” he said with a smile. (reply none) (posted by Spencer and Yoerik) (USS Illuminar --Aft Lounge -- Deck 11 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 13:15) Quinna was pleased that Ariel did not appear to be upset with her presumption. Ariel even answered everything Quinna wanted to touch base on before Quinna asked. "I am fine Quinna. You see most Betazoids are very friendly and open. Yes I took a couple practice modules to help you in sickbay and yes I will be busy with my counseling duties. We can work that out together. It will be great working with you." Quinna pictured the conversation going a little bit differently. She had to give Ariel Credit for being prepared. “That is all I was going to talk about. So I guess unless you have anything for me, I will be going.” (Reply Trei IYW) (Played by Kris) (USS Illuminar -- Holodeck 2 -- Deck 5 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 2017) Quinna turned towards the holodeck arch. She had noticed the arch was still there and then saw way, “Ahh welcome, Bennett.” Quinna called out. “Come Join us, please.” Quinna then turned back to the table. “Ladies, this is Aster Bennett. He was a late transfer to our team.” (Reply Trei, Dalton, Miller, Ravenstone, Bennett) Quinna sat enjoying the interaction with the med team. She sipped on her port wine as she watched the interaction. She let the party interact as she sat quietly. A lot weighed heavily on her mind. Her day was to be an early one in the morning. Quinna tried to stifle a yawn, however it came out as big as it could be. She stood. And lifted her glass of wine. “Here to our team. May we always have each other's backs and and support.” (Reply Trei, Dalton, Miller, Ravenstone, Bennett) “Now I did promise not to keep you long. We are launching at 0800 in the morning. Please you can stay, leave, take desserts. Enjoy your evening.” (Reply Trei, Dalton, Miller, Ravenstone, Bennett) (Played by Kris) (USS Illuminar -- Holodeck 2 -- Deck 5 - EnsJg MO Aster Bennett- 2019) “Ahh welcome, Bennett.” Quinna called out. “Come Join us, please.” Quinna then turned back to the table. “Ladies, this is Aster Bennett. He was a late transfer to our team.” Aster left his place by the wall and joined the group. "Sorry for arriving so late, did I miss anything important?" (Reply Trei, Dalton, Miller, Ravenstone) “Here to our team. May we always have each other's backs and support.” He lifted his glass and joined her toast. He'd have to catch up later on the things he'd missed since he arrived at the tail end of the meeting. (Reply Trei, Dalton, Miller, Ravenstone) “ Enjoy your evening.” "Thank you, you too." he said to Quinna. (Reply Trei, Dalton, Miller, Ravenstone) (Played by Kathleen) (USS Illuminar – Main Gymnasium - COUNS Alaya Ravenstone & Steven Hammons & Tressa Talence - 2230) It was getting towards bedtime the night before launch and Alaya had found herself far too keyed up in order to sleep. Steven had tried to persuade her otherwise but she had dragged him up and out of the gloriously soft bed and into workout clothing in order to get some of that excitement out of her. Her partner in crime through the last year and a half, Hammons had brought aboard both Alaya’s true glaives and the practice bladed sticks that she had learned from both people in the Embassy on Earth and in the holodecks there. When she had been posted to Betazed for two years, she had studied there. Alaya was dangerously effective with her weapons, but she was by no means a Master, and she had very little skill with hand to hand and the bare minimum amount of training with a phaser. It was likely going to make her Hammons’ have grey hairs one day from trying to train her in more modern and acceptable forms of Starfleet security. But the rules tonight were simple. She was going to attempt to kill him and he could do anything that he desired in order to avoid dying via decapitation. She was going to use the practice blade which was made of a lighter material, one designed more towards hurting rather than harming. Bruises taught. Alaya had many over time. Hammons in turn got to take her down any way he could. As Alaya stood across from her chosen mate, her blue hair braided back and her workout clothing comfortable, a cocky smile on her face, Alaya waited. This was going to be fun. And already other officers were gathering to watch. Tressa being only just arriving on the Illuminar wasted no time trying to integrate into the crew. One of the best places to do that and also remain in shape was the gym. When she entered there was already a commotion where others had started to gather. She made her away to watch sparing match about to begin. Hammons was holding a wooden staff in his right hand. It was plain and unadorned with no blades or spikes. It wouldn't slice or stick but properly wielded it would cause crushing injuries and Hammons wasn't going to let that happen to Alaya if he could help it. He knew she was lithe and quick as a cat but he was going to have to pull his blows. Steven had been in security long enough to have seen that such blows could cause longer lasting and more severe results than could be seen on the surface. He also knew he couldn't pull back TOO much or she'd slip his blows so he was going to have to maneuver this with caution. She had the edge in agility and speed, he had a strength and reach advantage. He also knew some Thai kick boxing and jiu jitsu which would come in handy. If he got his hands on her she would go down but as proven against the assassin a year and a half ago he was equally adept with his feet. He was wearing a white gi with a brown belt which were old items of workout clothing he had held onto over the years. He wasn't wearing any shoes though, his feet were hardened from the kick boxing. He stepped onto the mat and twirled the bo stick, feeling its heft and weight then began closing the distance toward her, spinning the staff in alternating arcs while moving it from one side of his body to the other. The technique was showy, it was flashy and it was also drawing her attention while his eyes were locked on her and it helped cover other movements like his foot positioning. The two had sparred other times, but never anything this public and she knew and trusted that he knew her weaknesses and that was why they were playing like this. She stayed still, closing her eyes and opening her mind to her senses, including the empathic. She placed everyone then reopened them. Still that smile on her lips as she held the staff in her hands, the position absolutely correct to be perfectly balanced. Her partner was trying to draw her in and she was not falling for it. Someone shouted at Hammons to ‘get her’ but Alaya ignored that voice. Alaya waited for about thirty seconds, patient before she swung straight at him. She was not intending to bring the lighter wooden dulled blade into contact with his body quite yet. She wanted to dance with her mate and be exhausted so she could sleep. The staff spun in his hands into a clockwise rotation and contacted with the blade knocking it aside which opened up a hole in her defense. He danced forward and his left foot lashed out in a leg kick that contacted behind her right thigh causing an immediate sting. He then parried her return slash with the staff again and stepped back then began to circle to her right. Put enough kicks like that together and she would begin to hobble which would negate her movement advantage. Alaya hissed at the kick which stung, and she turned her dark eyes towards Hammons, “Quarters does have a nice couch, doesn’t it?” She asked as she ducked under his next swing to come up behind him and use her staff to give him a matching bruise in almost the same spot on his leg. Tressa watched the match intently while others cheered and jeered the fighters on. Tressa watched their movements, feet placement, balance, she took in everything. She hoped the female fighter would hold her own, even though it seemed her opponent had more skill. She opened her mind there were always more ways to fight than what was seen. It was a concept drilled into her from a young age. Tressa became curious at what else she could gleam, as blows continued to be traded. Alaya hopped backwards in time to avoid Hammons next swing, which she used to turn it into a twirl, aimed between Steven's knees and ankles. As she turned, the sharp end swung around in the same movement to slice into him. Alaya knew Steven well enough to know that he was not going to let that happen. She was moving, dancing through the form and her mind brushed against Tressa, causing Alaya to stumble, ending up on one knee. She had nor been around another Betazoid that knew the forms or recognized them. Alaya split her attention and 'threw' shards of telepathic light towards the area she sensed Tressa. One end of the staff slapped the blade away from it's intended trajectory high and to the right as he put his left hand on it as well then redirected the opposite end between her legs, hooked her right ankle which the bulk of her weight was currently on and flipped it out from under her. Alaya found herself suddenly slapping the mat with her back while Hammons stepped away out of reach. He wasn't grinning just yet. "Threatening someone with the couch is double edged my sweet. You would miss me sheathing my sword." The shards of light were dazzling but hardly something with Tressa's training she would be phased by. Standing still her eyes closed softly as her mind danced letting the shards of light pass her by. It was enough of measure for Tressa to pull her thoughts back raising her shields to cut the mental clamoring around her. Alaya laughed and nodded, holding her hand up in an offer to be pulled up. "I got distracted, there was someone else here who fights in the style, but better." Guys were congratulating Hammons. Alaya glanced around then headed towards the only other person in the room with the eyes, "Hey." Alaya spoke with a smile, "Ensign Alaya Ravenstone, Couns. My sparring partner is PO1 Steven Hammons, security." "Security Officer Ensign Tressa Talence. I'm sorry if I threw you off on your sparing. It was not my intent." She spoke calmly and sincere then nodded to Hammons as a silent greeting. Hammons had walked up. "Steven Hammons, Petty Officer first class, Security." He nodded back. "Pleased to meet ya." "Sorry if I threw the fight for ya." Tressa spoke in even measures. Noticing that the crowd around them was starting to break up. Hammons looked over at Alaya and grinned then gave a chuckle. "Don't let her buffalo you, she still needs work and she leaves that opening every time. I just had the weapon to take advantage of it." He twirled it a couple of times and winked. "You don't think I would handicap myself in a public match now do you? I got my choice so I picked what I needed." He grounded the butt of the staff on the deck and leaned into Alaya. Alaya leaned back, "You fought with this style? I have mostly been learning on the holodeck. And he IS right, I badly need the work? If you would not mind teaching?" Tressa nodded thinking for a bit. "My grandfather would tell me its the duty of our family to teach. I was raised in the dojo on Betazed. So I will be more than happy to teach," She smiled. "After all learning form an actual person is far better than a holoprogram." Alaya returned the smile. "You have to promise to beat up on him too." She smiled towards Hammons, then she yawned. "It was great meeting you, but we should get some rest. I usually take beta shift except if I am required to assist, say on the diplomatic end when we reach Bajor. Say," as something occurred to her, "Hammons and I do a lot of holodeck programs together. You would be more than welcome to join us?" Alaya looked towards her mate for confirmation. Those were his baby after all. Steven smiled. "We're always on the lookout for more people that like to play in the holodeck. The last one was a cold weather survival program but we're game for new or old." She smiled to both of them. "I'm game whenever you are just give me a call. Sounds like fun." She then continued, "What kind of holoprograms are you interested in?" Alaya bounced, “We play a survival game called ‘The Long Dark’ which is set in the frigid tundra of a place called Canada on Earth. It’s a fun little game. Luma made me a set of lovely snow furs to wear. And Steven promised that we were going to play a sword and sorcery game soon called The Scrolls of Skyrim. Or something like that. Steven’s pretty good at adapting old games for the holodeck.” Hammons smiled. "Cold weather games seem to be a thing with me. Why play in a game that's hot." He gave a chuckle at that one. "I'm not exactly a fan of desert games." “I’m sure we can get Luma to make you a set of furs to play in. The world that Long Dark is set in is somewhat similar to her home planet, she’s said.” Alaya frowned, “Have you met Luma?” "I'm sorry I have not. She's the presence with in the ship right?" She indeed could feel Luma's presence but she hadn't sought it out either it wasn't her place. She had read the briefing that explained the entity known as Luma briefly. It intrigued her but she also figured that Luma would be busy with her own duties and didn't want to bother her with idle chatter if she didn't care to talk. “Feel free to address her - she loves to talk. Gossip especially. She calls us her ‘small ones’ but that is in comparison to the size of her own people before they transitioned to the stars. She is less within the ship than she IS the ship. If you feel the need for privacy, just tell her, but we have taught her not to invade the privacy of quarters. She can be a good friend.” Alaya smiled at Steven. “We should get to bed. The morning is not that far away.” "I will seek her out when needed." She answered briefly. "Yes morning comes quickly. I'm sorry if I've kept you." Tressa nodded as she turned to leave the gym and head to her quarters. Alaya tugged on Steven's hand as they too headed back to their quarters. (reply any) (posted by Mel, Matt and Charles) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: 1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar – Meeting Room - Ops- CPO Charles Tamblyn -1420) Chief Petty Officer Tamblyn was having an interesting time onboard the Illuminar. Staff meetings onboard ships were far different than they were on space stations and starbases. On ships, there would be one meeting with officers and NCOs. Basically, a one and done type of thing. While on starbases and space stations there would be one meeting for officers, one for NCOs, and then a third meeting with the two combined. Charles entered the meeting room with a PADD and a capped tumbler full of sweet tea. As a member of Starfleet, Charles always felt odd being a non-commissioned officer when covering down to do the job of an officer. But as a civilian, it was a different story altogether. And the meeting was kicked off as he found his seat at the table. The captain, Sekal, started the meeting off with "This is our first mission briefing as everyone is well aware. The content of such briefings will follow the same framework in the future. Each of you will give a report concerning your department and the work you are doing in your department. If there are any questions or concerns about an item concerning your assigned duties, I will expect them to be included in your report." Tamblyn always hated it when Operations was one of the first to report. One thing Charles appreciated about the Vulcan skipper is that he agrees with the idea of Ops briefing last, so most of the operation’s brief is already given by other departments. Salak once agreed, seems ages ago, that it saves time for ops to brief at the end rather than the beginning. After listening to the other departments give their briefings, it was Tamblyn’s turn. Out of habit, the Chief Petty Officer stood up at the table and began speaking, “For the benefit of those I have not yet met, I am Chief Petty Officer Charles Raschen. I am currently the NCOIC for the Operations department and the acting department head.” Charles then looked around the table as he continued, “As of now, there isn’t much for operations to add that hasn’t already been briefed by other departments. That being said, we have received clearance confirmation from Bajor orbital control. They have requested that we use our assigned confirmation number as our call sign when we arrive and contact control. Arrangements have also been made for resupplying expendables and parts. This is a short trip, so not much will be required; I think the in-port watch can handle getting the parts and supplies onboard and stowed.” Tamblyn then turned to face the captain directly, “Sir, I do have a question, but it can wait until after” and with that, the operations NCO was finished and returned to his seat. (Reply Sakel, any iyw) (Reply Sakel, any iyw) (Played by Charlie) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: 3 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Deep Space Nine, Quarks Bar - Ops, Ens(jg) Dieter Gregory - 1800) Gregory leaned against the bar and watched the crowd gathered at Quarks. A long shift in operations, repairing the waste reclamation system was over and it was time to relax. As he sipped his his glass of Voodai. Turning to his roommate, he nodded. “So how was watch today Murdok?” The Benzite looked at Gregory, “There were several anonymous readings today, Omicron radiation with a field strength of 0.2. I have not completed my analysis yet to present to the Captain. Perhaps later you can review my findings.” Gregory shook his head at his friend. “Of course, Murdok, I would be happy to. It beats fixing plumbing and...” stopping in mid-sentence, Gregory looked at his tricorder. “Look at this Murdok,” he said, “see how this waveform propagates.” “Dabo,” came the call from the tables. Another winner. Quark would not be happy thought Gregory. Motioning to the Ferengi, Gregory waited. “What seems to be the trouble, Ensign?” Quark asked as he approached. “And why do you have a tricorder in my bar? Are you trying to cheat?” “No at all Barkeep. I’m still tracking down an issue with the waste reclamation systems, and it seems it might be coming from somewhere in the bar. Do you mind if I take a look around?” “Of course I do, Ensign. There is nothing wrong with our waste system, and even if there was, I have my third cousin, Igeba will take care of it. Rent is too high as it is for me to have to pay for Star Fleet to fix things my workers are paid to repair.” Quark replied angrily. “Now drink your drink or leave the bar for a paying customer.” “Any chance to get into your game of Tongo tonight?” Gregory asked Quark. “I doubt it Hew-mon,” he replied, “Tongo is too complicated for a mere Ensign to learn, much less be a challenging player. Stick with your poker, that is more your speed.” Gregory chuckled. In the nine months he has been stationed at Deep Space Nine, he’d been trying to learn the game. For a card player, Tongo was even more challenging than Fizzbin. Very few outside of Ferenginar were actually good at it. Thus, Gregory was interested in learning. “Suit yourself barkeep,” Gregogy drained his drink, “Come-on Murdok, let’s go take a look at those readings. “ Three hours and several theories later, Gregory threw up his hands. “I don’t know what to say mate, something seems to be there, and it doesn’t seem to be a sensor anomaly, but damned if I can track it down. I’m going to get some sleep and maybe something will come to me.” “Thank you, friend Gregory,” Murdok replied, “I will keep working so I can file my report.” Benzites were very particular and need to have a complete analysis of any unexplained occurrence before reporting to their superiors. This was both a good and bad trait, but Murdok was very good at tracking things down. Heading to his quarters, Gregory jumped into the sonic shower. Working in the reclamation system was never pretty, but always fell to the most junior Ensign. At least his orders for a transfer came through. Soon he would be on a ship, the USS Illuminar, fresh out of engineering trials, a new class of ship. It will be nice to focus on ship side problems than station wide problems for a change. The only thing he’d miss would be the climbing the mountains of Bajor. Holodecks just don’t have the same je ne sais pas that a real mountain, made of real rock and a real danger of falling for the foolish and ill prepared. Before laying down, Gregory checked his pack one more time. After tomorrow’s shift, he would catch the shuttle to Bajor and spend his last couple of days climbing the Kola mountain. While there was a path up one side, which led to a stronghold used during the occupation, the eastern approach was more to his liking, a nice, vertical climb. His climbing guide suggested it was somewhere between a 6b and 6c climb. That would have to hold him before his next shore leave. (Stardate 2445.09.04 16:00 station time) Finishing his latest job, Gregory checked the time. The chief had been on a tear about the waste reclamation system on the Promenade and after 5 hours of work, Gregory had not found a thing. The readings he took last night in Quarks were normal today, so he thought nothing more of it. Perhaps Quark’s third cousin had actually fixed something. Running to is quarters, he paused to see that Murdok was in there. He had been working all night on the strange Omicron radiation reading he had found. During the day Murdok has been sending him various sensor readings and models to try to explain them. Gregory’s specialty was Tacheyon radiation, and the warp/subwarp interface. While Omicron radiation was generated by matter-antimatter reactions, it took a special skill to properly bring them about. There were less than a handful of observations of them occurring outside the lab. Murdok’s last theory was most interesting, and he’s review it on the shuttle to Bajor. He had just enough time to get to his quarters, take a shower and get to the shuttle to Bajor. Handing over his pass, he found a seat in the back, stowed his backpack and settled down for a nap for the 3-hour ride. After an uneventful trip, Gregory retrieved his backpack and started looking for the transport that would take him to Dahkur Province and the next mountain. Taking his ticket, he turned around to find a seat to wait, when he ran into something. Stepping back, he saw a tall, giant of a bajorian stood before Gregory. He was wearing a blue shirt and red bow tie, but his gaunt, almost skeletal face and bald head held his attention. “It is happening again,” the man said to Gregory. “It is happening again,” he repeated as his eyes locked on to Gregory’s. (Reply: None) (Posted by Tim Bushnell -- Dieter Gregory) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: 4 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar - Personal Quarters - MO Aster Bennett - 0001) Aster had gotten off work and had spent the last hour relaxing in his quarters. He toweled off his hair, dressed for now, only in a pair of slacks. The shower having rejuvinated him. He quickly dressed in his duty uniform and after one last glance in the mirror stepped from his quarters and headed for the conference room. (USS Illuminar - Deck 1, Conference Room - MO Aster Bennett - 0017) He stepped through the door and looked around. Noting the only other person in the room was the CO. "Afternoon Commander." He said as he stepped to the table and took a seat. Having been a late addition to the ship he hadn't had time to meet many of the others on board, including the Commander. "Are the seats assigned or is this a sit wherever situation?" (reply: Sekal, Any) (posted by Kathleen (SPC)) (USS Illuminar- Bridge - FO - Lt. Sienna Williams-Verin - 0003) Sekal had suggested, with his eye on Sienna's unusual outfit, or perhaps on Vex being dressed in furs, that they go and change. Sienna would have said that the Vulcan had suggested it sternly, but his voice while showing some strain was close to perfect. Sienna likely would not have noticed if she had not been in close proximity to him for the last, well over two years. She had met Sekal her first day on the base, the two in charge of the sciences staff, the first people aboard. One with a hard research background, the other with excellent people and biology skills, in direct competition. That feeling of working against each other had changed when the sciences department had been split into research and more general sciences. She moved over to the turbolift and took it down a deck to her spacious, lonely quarters. (FO's quarters - 0011) Sienna dragged herself, wearily, into her quarters. Looking at the chronometer, she realized that she had gotten less than 90 minutes, depending on how long the Q experience had taken. For Sienna it seemed like it had taken days. She was exhausted. Kenna was whizzing around the room like a crazy cat. Sienna remembered that as well from the lectures in the academy. Animals did not react well to the Q, and tended to treat it..them..hostile. "Kenna, love, behave!" Sienna spoke sharper than she intended. She was so -tired-. She dragged herself into the bedroom before standing near the mirror to begin this process of getting out of this weird outfit. She began to unwrap herself, after running her hands down the raw, dyed silk. It was beautiful, beyond gorgeous. Red and gold with pinks and threads of blue. She unwrapped the first, over kimono while Kenna stalked and hissed and batted at the various pieces that fell around her. The next layer was another heavy kimono, this one patterned in tones of gold, but secured with a cloth wrap belt. She picked out the knots, then got down to the next layer, taking care to step out of the silk laying around her. Thousands of credits of beautiful silks.From the level of detail it was hand embroidered. Hand sewn. Sienna picked up the outer one, and now that she was down to just the inner 2, she moved over to the replicator, replicated two kimono hangers and hanged both of the heavy ones up on her wall. They were gorgeous pieces and she would likely find herself in the future here, just staring at them for hours. Kenna carried off one of the ribbon sashes that was closing the inner 3 kimono. She divested herself of the remainder of the cotton under robes, then stood there in the sheer chemise like garment. And the first thing that Sienna realized when she got out of the last pieces and looked into the mirror was that she was still wearing the blood. Dried, flaking but it was still there. She rubbed at the dried blood and the lines were under it. Her skin was cross-crossed with light pink scars. Stretching, she found that they hurt. Looking over at the chronometer again, she frowned. She needed to see Quinna and she didn't have time. She wanted to see Quinna privately, so no one else would realize the way that the blade had violated her body. Pain shot through her and she leaned against the wall. She had enough time, barely, to grab a shower and get a uniform on. She did not want to look any further down her body to find out how .... She closed her eyes. Scars could be removed, they had the surgical technology to do so. At least the vast majority of them. It would be just her luck that the scars would end up being permanent. Another 'gift' of Q. Maybe that was what he had meant. Sy knelt down to try and pet Kenna but Kenna was still in a mood and not letting Sienna get anywhere near her. Possibly because Sienna smelled strange. Or something. "I'll be back soon, I promise. Please calm down, Kenna." Sy headed back to the replicator, ordered a triple strength extra tall mocha coffee in an insulated mug and headed back to the bridge and to the conference room. (USS Illuminar - Conference Room - FO- Sienna Williams-Verin - 00.57) One of the very last people to enter the conference room, Sienna blinked tiredly and moved to take her seat to the right of Sekal. She saw Carson sitting beside Vex and she was concerned for the other woman. While the two were not super close, they were united in their care of Luma, first on Mars and then on the integration of Luma into the Illuminar. She took a long draw of her coffee and put her hand over her eyes, pressing her hand into her eyes for a long moment. She needed to sleep. Sienna was not at her best when she did not get a solid 4 hours at least of sleep. She knew she would not be getting it anytime soon. "Quinna?" Sienna asked softly, calling the attention of the medic, "I need to have you make a house call after the meeting, please." She hoped that her voice was quiet enough that the others didn't ask as to why. (reply Quinna) Sy looked over at Vex ::Are you ok? Did Q... Was yours difficult too?:: Sienna reached for one more mind, who she didn't see at the table yet. (reply Vex) ::Tressa hun? Are you ok? Did you...Did Q visit you?:: (reply Tressa, Quinna, Vex any at the meeting) (posted by Mel) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room - CO- Lieutenant Commander Sekal - 0100) Sekal took a sip of the juice before looking around at all of the senior officers aboard. Reviewing events of the evening had given him a theory which wasn't yet conclusive. Whether or not it was the cause did not matter, only the results. He stood to his feet and surveyed them one by one, some along with the few crewmen who had been affected looked very much the worse for the experience. His own encounter with Q had been strange and illogical yet far from damaging. He set the glass on the table then spoke. "It is possible that the maximum warp duration test and its results drew the attention of the being known as Q. As many of you already know the new crystal drive has some unusual properties being that the crystals themselves draw upon the subspace energy field." His eyes roamed from one to the other. "With equipment properly designed we will be able to use maximum warp for a much longer duration but that only scratches the surface. With the new drive we may have access to speeds that match that of the subspace river which has been closed to the Federation since the destruction of Starbase Geneva. Indeed in time we should be able to access that tributary." The Vulcan wasn't one to pace but had to hold himself in place and maintain focus. "The Subspace River will give us access to regions the Federation and 52nd Fleet once traversed but that is for another time. For now our attention must be on rebuilding our foundation in the Alpha Quadrant. Whatever Q's reason for visiting this ship we must deal with the aftermath." His gaze traveled to Sienna then back to the others. "Lieutenant Verin has theorized that Q had an ulterior motive for coming here, that he was attempting to instruct and prepare us for what is coming at the end of the mission. Part of the reason for this meeting is to find out what those who encountered the being may have learned." His eyes met their one by one. "The other reason is to assess what damage he may have caused by his interference. If your experience was intensely personal and you are remiss to share it here then you have permission to speak privately to a counselor. If however you are willing to speak it here then you have a forum and we will weigh the combined experiences to determine what may be learned from them." He gave one last look before sitting down. "Lieutenant Verin I will ask you to go first and I will go last." He then took his chair. (Reply: Verin, any) (Posted by Charles G) (USS Illuninar Conference Room - FO Lt. Sienna Williams-Verin - 0102) Sienna had been checking in with people, when out of the blue she got a touch from Trei. Trei was not a skilled telepath, but she was a very strong empath. It made Sy smile, and feel warm that the part klingon woman would try and help her. :: Honey it will be OK. I had a weird experience too. Tell me about it through this connection until we can talk officially.:: Trei was doing her job as a counselor, but they knew each other from Mars as well, they just had not travelled in the same circles. Sienna took a deep breath. ::Feel free to come to my quarters after the meeting and see what Q left me with.:: Sienna left it at that, bitterness in her voice. ::I am... we are... OK. The answer would have been different had it been asked an hour ago. Yourself?:: Vex seemed to be handling things better than Sy was. ::Q left me with presents. I'm not dealing well. But keep that between us. I don't have a lot of female friends aboard, just people I know.:: A hint of Sy's loneliness crept through. At the appointed time, Sekal began the meeting. She and he had managed a few minutes to talk via comms before the start of the meeting. He thought it was the disturbance from the ship slipping into warp 10 for the 90 minutes or so until they had corrected the issues and outdistanced the Exeter. Sekal spoke her name and her theory, then asked her to go first. She was not capable of standing, so she clenched her hands, then unclenched them and rubbed the suddenly sweaty palms on her pants. "I don't know if you had to attend the command track class on the history of the q, for me it was mandatory because I knew back in the academy that I wanted to follow in my Mom's footsteps. The lecture series studied that various Q encounters in depth. That is why what I'm going to say next might be difficult for some of us. We are all going to have to write or dictate reports about our individual Q encounters for Starfleet. I can say that if your encounters were as brutal or torturous as mine were, well I feel for you. My door is always open as are our Counselors and medical people. Sienna took a deep breath. "The Q are a godlike race of beings, almost always benevolent in their interactions with us. But, there is one that is..say..fascinated with us, and he is about 45 earth years of age, wears a red admiral uniform, brown hair, human, dark eyes. He can be very amusing and a bit...sardonic. He tended to be very attracted to Captain Picard of the Enterprise. Since then about every decade he interferes - almost always with Starfleet. At times his people get fed up and restrain him. Not often enough." Sienna muttered that last part under her breath. She picked up her coffee and took a deep breath. "My experiences, where in two parts. The first part was at the ranch that I grew up at on Earth.The Williams Ranch is a large place in the Earth province of Texas. It's very lush, and we grow a lot of crops and do animal husbandry there. The first thing I noticed in the vision was that the plants were wrong. They were betazoid plants that had never been successfully transplanted. But in the next instant it was all dead. The air was hot, not at all humid as it should have been. Dry. Dusty. When I went inside, Q bantered with me. My parents were dead before me. When I reached out to touch them, their ashes blew away on the wind. Everything at the ranch around me was dead, including the four foster children my parents recently adopted. " Sienna could not help the convulsive shudder that went through her. "He then put me in a school room at the academy and tried to explain to me about the space time continuum. He inferred but did not explicitly say that the civil war that our parent's generation went through was the cause of well, something. He was very vague and then transported me back to the dying texas ranch and left me there, with nothing to drink, death around me. I do not feel ashamed saying that I screamed and screamed. I can not tell you how long he left me there, from my perspective it was several hours at the least. The sun was westering in the sky." Sienna picked up her coffee, wrapping her hands around the cup to warm them, then drinking. "The second experience, it was much worse. I refuse to go into it here, I will take up talking it with one of the counselors later. Just, I can't. It was too awful. But at the end of it, Q left me presents. But one of those was a phrase that one of the torturers in my second vision spoke. It's burned onto my mind, so here are those words: The leaves of a tree are fed from its roots and as they decay the tree itself dies. Sienna paused to let the import of those words sink in. "I don't know exactly what they mean, or how they are connected to the space time continuum. The very last thing.." Sienna looked around the room and nodded to the new medic, "Medic Bennett, do you have a personal item I could borrow by chance? A piece of jewelry or something you carry in your pockets. For instance, I carry my Mother's original comm badge from when she graduated the Academy. Something personal." The man looked surprised and then dug in his pocket, handing over a small turquoise stone . "I picked our new medic not to embarrass him, but because I don't know him very well." Sienna closed her eyes and concentrated, then began to speak, "I see an older woman who you care for a great deal. She gave you this when you were about what 17? I can feel the family resemblance. It was hers before yours, and she wanted you to carry a piece of her with you. Oh!" Sienna gasped, love in her voice, "She loved and cared for you so much." Sienna passed the item back over to him, then rubbed her hand that had been holding it, hard on her uniform pants. "Q left me with what he called the 'lost' psychic abilities of earth. Psychometry and a few other forgotten ones. I don't want them. I especially did not want the..." Her voice trailed off as she leaned back, hard. "Who is next?" (reply all at the meeting) (posted by Mel) (USS Illuminar, Deck 1, Conference Annex- Luma’Lenai & ACEO, Ens(sg) Vex’ahlia Jordaan – 00:05) Walking down the corridor in somewhat of a daze allowing her body to walk her to the conference room on autopilot, Vex had tenuously closed the Telepathic link between herself and Luma for the brief walk. Although she didn’t like to admit it, the visions Q had given them of her dead parents had shaken her. The revelations around Luma’s origins and the significant powers she had access to had come as a second blow. Not because she didn’t expect that Luma was more powerful than she’d let on, more because she felt as if the reason Luma hadn’t told her of these powers because she feared that Vex would ask her to use those powers for a bad purpose. As she walked into the conference room instead of beginning to prepare it for a meeting she headed into one of the side rooms and just sank into a chair and laid her head against the hard cold table. After a moment she expanded her Telepathic reach so Luma was allowed back in. Luma had hovered outside of Vex’s telepathic awareness, frightened, scared, and underneath it all terrified. She knew that she should have shared all of her abilities with Vex, but she feared more that if Intelligence found out what she could do, those like the Jaelle would come and take her away in spite of what Saleke had promised her. Luma tried so hard to trust but she was conditioned to fear. In truth it had not been until she had been moved via the andularian crystal that she had been able to access those powers again. It was good that Vex was seated as Luma’s intense fear flooded the other telepath before Luma remembered to filter it. ::Sisar?:: Luma asked tentatively, the pretty word meaning more than just the straight translation of Sister. It contained the great affection Luma had for her bondmate. As the link reopened Vex knew Luma would be seeing her in a different way than she normally did. Difficult emotions were something Vex held onto in a strict manner, not allowing herself to feel the sadness at her mother’s funeral. Fuelling herself with the anger she held for her parents had been something that kept her moving forward. Tears streaming down her face, it seemed the encounter with Q had been the trickle that had broken the dam. ::My Vex is mad at Luma?:: Luma’s childlike voice rang in Vex’s mind. Luma needed a great deal of reassurance. Taking a deep breath and lifting her head, she wiped tears from her cheeks. ::No Luma, not mad… not upset with you…:: struggling to contain herself and to not burst entirely, the thoughts came slowly. ::I’m… sorry Luma… hang on…:: Luma tried to ‘help’ Vex, giving her happier emotions drawn from Luma’s past. Whether they were helpful or not was up to Vex. Shaking herself and then slamming a fist on the table she began to move herself through the emotions. ::I’m OK.:: she commented with a new resolve ::I’m not mad or upset with you. I am however surprised:: Luma skreeched audibly in response to the slam of the fist, whimpering as she withdrew before Vex surrounded her with reassurance. ::Why surprised?:: Luma knew there were many things that she and her Vex needed to discuss. Trust was such a fragile thing. And Q had been unbelievably cruel to Luma. ::Time-Travel? Dimension Hopping? You know all those things ‘Q’ mentioned. Did you think I would ask you to use these powers if you told me about them?:: she could feel a seep of disappointment heading towards Luma through their telepathic bridge and attempted to change her emotions to something less incendiary. ::Not you.:: Luma spoke very, very softly. ::The ones before.:: She whispered. ::The Saleke said that he would take Luma from the Federation if they attempted to harm her, but …:: She sighed very quietly. ::Luma was trapped for over 20 years on the Mystique, alone, and they tried to turn Luma into a weapon. Something they did, when they blocked out the Mystique's nav controls. It prevented Luma from being able to do any of it. Maybe because certain circuits were physically blocked from each other. It was not until Luma was in the Sekal's crystal that Luma came back fully together. :: Luma was quiet for a long moment, ::Do not trust that the Fleet will not give Luma back to the Intelligence peoples, especially if they knew what Luma could do. Luma would never be free.:: A soft sadness, ::Luma would give her freedom to save the small ones she cares for. Luma would even give into the entropy.:: And allow herself to die once and for all. Closing her eyes a level of understanding crested over her consciousness as she sat there and listened to Luma. Of course she was scared of saying anything about it, she knew full well exactly what Starfleet Intelligence would do with that type of information. She’d been dealing with them for almost as long as Vex had been alive. A sigh released from her lips and out loud as well as telepathically “::I’m sorry Luma::” standing up and moving around the table. Before she could say anything further, the Captain’s voice came over the comm system. =^=All who have had an experience with the being known as Q as well as the senior staff are to meet in the conference room on Deck one at zero one hundred which is one hour from now. Any experiences or 'lessons' learned will be made known. The Counseling and Medical staff will be present for consultation. By order of myself, Commanding Officer Sekal.=^= “That’ll be interesting.” she said out loud, to no one in particular. Returning to the thought process that she was thinking through before the announcement, ::It sounds like Q has left the ship.:: ::Yes, the threads that were disturbed, they are settling and not vibrating as badly. He could have settled them on his own, but he wanted Luma to know. :: Luma sounded almost peeved. ::I’m sorry.:: she thought once again, ::I don’t know why I assumed it was due to a lack of trust. Of course you didn’t want Intelligence to know… but you know I would never tell them, right?:: ::Sisar… would you have a choice? Your oath says that you have to obey your superiors. Luma know this. Luma knows you would not want to, but you would have to, yes?:: Luma’s voice was gentle and kind. And if it was not completely obvious, she had other tricks she could do. ::Was my Vex on the Mars before the Trill ship showed up?:: Luma was not sure, but did not think that she was. So Luma replayed the memory for Vex. Of Remae being on the Mystique’s bridge with a very young seeming Sienna and Saleke and Carson Peters. Remae was speaking to her and Luma had told him about the approaching Trill ship. She had also mentioned the approaching fighters, which were hiding in the wake but the Admiral had said the Mystique’s sensors could not sense it, and Luma had not wanted to draw attention to the fact that she was not tied to the Mystique’s physical sensors. ::This is what they felt like:: Luma shared the way that the psychic scent of the space around Mars had been - cool and tangy. But there was a cloud of noxious energy, hot and sparky and dangerous, and then the cooler, strange, metallic taste of the trill ship and the joined aboard. She had encountered the Trill before, she knew how to interpret that sense. Luma had no frame of reference for the Orion raiders, and had only been able to tell that they were ‘bad’. If the Admiral had listened, they would have lost less equipment. ::Vex, he wanted you to leave me. He wanted you to break the bond. He wanted me to be in pain. Luma doesn’t know why.:: It would likely take days for Luma to calm down fully. Her eyes closed again as Luma shared with her the memories and her senses. ~Amazing.~ Vex could only think, ::I have to obey orders, yes. Unless I’m pulled away and tortured I’m positive I could find creative ways around not lying about what I know. The question is now that Q has revealed these to me, did he reveal them to anyone else? Sekal and the others are coming here and they’re going to want to know what happened?:: Luma made a soft, distressed sound. ::Luma has to trust the Sekal, yes? And by virtue the other small ones who serve as his ruling council. Vex will help Luma explain this ? In a way that makes it clear that Luma will not use those abilities without very clear reasons… ones that will not result in other universes collapse to seal the rifts.:: If Luma could cry, she likely would be from the depth of fear/terror/sad/unhappy. ::I don’t like this.. I don’t like this.:: Vex replied, ::I trust Carson with my life. You know the Captain and First Officer better than I do. I’d be hesitant to share everything you can do with the rest of the crew though. Perhaps, I don't know… we can talk to the Command Team after the meeting but not divulge too much during it?:: Luma made a soft sound of assent. She did not seem much calmer. ::Luma is so scared, my Vex Sisar.:: ::Me too.:: Vex continued to sit in the side room as she could hear Sekal and another setting the conference room up for the arrivals. After a period of time she got up and entered the room. (Reply none) (Posted by Melinda Gatling - Luma’Lenai & Jono Bradley - Vex’ahlia Jordaan) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room- CO- Lieutenant Commander Sekal- 0015) The off interval had been cut short by a visit from the highly mercurial and seemingly unstable entity knows as Q. The yoeman Sekal had taken from the bridge had been in full bustle setting out pitchers of water and glasses at each end of the table and covered mugs of steaming coffee at each setting. Sekal himself had left for his quarters for a short interval to refresh himself and check on the furry occupant of his room who had been in a grouchy mood. Animals were well known to have an instinctive sense of danger and the appearance of Q had seemingly agitated her. The Vulcan sat down at the head of the table and considered the nights events from his memory. Every word from Q, every nuance was considered and analyzed from his perspective. The being had been among his crew for only a short time but had cut a wide swath and possibly wreaked considerable damage, not to the ship but to the beings aboard it. Counseling it appeared would be busy for the next several days but while it was uncertain whether medical would be involved their input would be valuable as well. He was tired but refused to drink any of the stimulant provided, choosing instead a glass of orange juice. The natural sugars would help give him energy and his father was partial to it and had shown no ill effects unlike Sekal's earlier misadventure with hot tea which had brought about dehydration. "Is there anything else sir?" "No yoeman that will be all." He was so deep in concentration when she left that he didn't notice her look of concern or her exit. Q had promised to return in the future which did not bode well. He was still deep in concentration with the partially full glass of juice by his right hand when the first of the officers began arriving. (Reply: All) (Posted by Charles G) (USS Illuminar -- Personal Quarters -- Deck 2 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 0025) Quinna had been asleep for a few hours. Her dreams filled with her laying on the ground in the front of a lake. The sun was high in the sky and the rays emitted heat that would make a dip in the nearby lake tantalizing. Her eyes remained closed as she felt strong hands on her. She was about to open her eyes but was met with a kiss. Slowing the lips parted ways and a masculine voice told her, “Emergency meeting.” Quinna opened her eyes hoping to finally see the man she was with. Instead she saw her quarters. Quinna shook her head and let out a grunt as she realized that she still did not see his face. Quinna then flung herself out of bed. “That man better reveal himself soon!” Quinna yelled at no one in particular. She changed out of her PJ's and into her uniform. In a short time, she headed to the Conference room. (USS Illuminar -- Conference room -- Deck 1 -- CMO Lt. J.G. Quinna Solice -- 0055) Quinna found the coffee in the conference room. She made sure she had a really full cup as she sat down at the conference table. She noted that Both Bennett and Trei were there but did not see the others yet. Crossing her legs, Quinna put her cup of coffee in her hands and took a sip. She savored the aroma, the first sip that slipped down her throat. She started to stare into space and reflect as to why they would possibly be there at this hour. (Posted by Kris Bailey) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room - 2O - Lieutenant Carson Peters - 0030) Having had to wait a little bit of time for an officer to come along and relieve him from the command of the Bridge, he then walked slowly to the Conference Room. Attempting to process what he was shown by the creature known as Q. Walking into the Conference Room, he acknowledged Sekal before moving to grab a hot coffee as the door at the rear of the room opened and Vex walked through it. She gave him a look before immediately looking away and moved to sit at the table. Even at a distance he could tell that she'd been crying and although the knowledge of that broke his heart, he found himself confused and wondering what she could possibly have been shown or put through. Attempting to remain professional he walked towards her slowly, standing behind the chair she was sat in and stood silently for a moment. Pulling out the chair next to her, he sat down and then quietly placed his hand on the top of hers and squeezed. He saw her glance sideways at him and smile sadly. For a slow moment he looked into her eyes and saw a sadness he'd never seen in them before. Saying nothing, he just focused on thinking about their first date, knowing that if she looked she would see it. She would see what he remembered and feel what he felt and continues to feel for her. He watched as the smile grew a little and her hand squeezed back. A few minutes passed as Carson now looked around the table and noticed a member of the crew he hadn't met before. He nudged Vex in her ribs and nodded with his eyebrows raised over in the Medical Officers direction. He watched as she turned her head towards him, took him in and then looked back with her eyes wide and she giggled a little. He winked at her and then let out a small laugh too. The man had to be the best looking specimen either of them had ever come across, ~If only Trip could see me now,~ Carson thought to himself, ~He'd 100% not be able to take the mick out of my looks with this dude hanging around~ (Reply all coming to conference room, or those already there) (Posted by Jono Bradley) (USS Illuminar - Conference Room - ACOUNS ACMO ENS SG Ariel Trei - 00.55) She entered the conference room and poured a glass of water then took her seat at the table. The mermaid experience was something to behold. She was sure others needed counseling for their experiences. She would help them any way she could. She waited for the others to arrive. She will tell of her mermaid experience if asked to do so. (Reply Any) (Posted by Edward) (USS Illuminar- Deck 1, Conference Room - ACEO, Ens(sg) Vex'ahlia Jordaan - 0057) Having sat with Carson in the Conference Room waiting for those who had also had Q experiences and then realising she was still sat there wearing the ridiculous clothes she had been put in she had quickly retreated into the corridor outside and had Luma utilise the transporters to beam her back to hers and Carsons quarters. She'd taken a few minutes to very quickly get undressed and redressed before beaming back to the corridor and walked back into the Conference Room. Sitting back down beside Carson, he smiled towards her and they returned to patiently awaiting others to arrive. The First Officer walked into the room rather hurriedly, as if she thought she was going to be late, out of the corner of her eye she watched as she spoke briefly with the Doctor and then sat down. There was a smattering of chatter throughout the room and out of the blue she heard Sienna communicating telepathically. ::Are you ok? Did Q... Was yours difficult too?:: She'd spent around a month on the shakedown cruise working with Sienna & Taya, they weren't close but they knew each other fairly well. Especially after collaborating on getting Luma onto the ship. Looking across the table to Sienna she began to nod her head ever so slightly, ::I am... we are... OK. The answer would have been different had it been asked an hour ago. Yourself?:: (Reply Sienna, all present) (Posted by Jono Bradley - Vex'ahlia Jordaan) (USS Illuninar Conference Room - ACOUNS ACMO ENS SG Ariel Trei - 00.58) She felt the distress from Sienna and wanted to go comfort her but didn't now how to do that without raising concern from the room. She thought for a moment and if she tried to telepathically voice her concern for Sienna, Sienna would know she was concerned for her and converse with her that way. She suspected Sienna's distress came from the experience with Q. She had a most unusual experience as well. She had a strange desire for seaweed and swimming in the sea. :: Honey it will be OK. I had a weird experience too. Tell me about it through this connection until we can talk officially.:: (Reply Sienna) (Posted by Edward) (Illuminar, Deck 1, Conference Room, Acting CEO Ensign sg Taya, 0059) Taya entered the conference room for the emergency meeting, taking an empty seat. She had a PADD, which she placed on the table. She sat quietly, still thinking about what Q had shown her. Taya wasn't naive. She knew there were those among her people that were petty, vindictive, pieces of shelat. To have some of them in places of influence think she was a person of dishonor because her shen mother chose Starfleet over the Imperial Guard, was incomprehensible to her. What difference did it make? Why did they even care? She was one simple person in the entire Andorian race. So why had she spent over a year allowing people like that to cause her so much inner turmoil? Taya was on the verge of a thrilling time in her life. Q had also stated that she had a part to play in the future. That's where she needed to focus her energy. Taya had always been able to plow through any challenge or obstacle in her life. She wasn't going to allow this to be any different. (reply any) (posted by Rob) (USS Illuminar - Deck 1, Conference Room - ACSO Lieutenant (jg) Jaton Alyl - 0101) Jaton had woken up a couple minutes ago, exceptionally shaken. It was all he could do to get into his uniform when the call came through for the emergency meeting. It took him nearly two minutes to put on his boots his hands were shaking so much. He walked into the conference room and saw he wasn't the only one it seemed. "It is possible that the maximum warp duration test and its results drew the attention of the being known as Q," Sekal began. "As many of you already know the new crystal drive has some unusual properties being that the crystals themselves draw upon the subspace energy field." Jaton sat and listened to Sekal's theory as to what might've gotten Q's attention, but Jaton was beyond thinking about that. He was too wrapped up in what Q seemed to insinuate about who he was and why he was out of his own time. And then Sekal asked something that Jaton had been dreading. "If your experience was intensely personal and you are remiss to share it here then you have permission to speak privately to a counselor. If however you are willing to speak it here then you have a forum and we will weigh the combined experiences to determine what may be learned from them." He gave one last look before sitting down. "Lieutenant Verin I will ask you to go first and I will go last." He listened to Verin's experience, and he knew then she had been visited by the same entity. But his experience was much different. Especially since he seemed to leave her with something else beyond the visions. "Medic Bennett, do you have a personal item I could borrow by chance? A piece of jewelry or something you carry in your pockets. For instance, I carry my Mother's original comm badge from when she graduated the Academy. Something personal." Bennett looked surprised as Verin turned to him and then dug in his pocket, handing over a small turquoise stone . "I picked our new medic not to embarrass him, but because I don't know him very well." She then closed her eyes and concentrated, then began to speak, "I see an older woman who you care for a great deal. She gave you this when you were about what 17? I can feel the family resemblance. It was hers before yours, and she wanted you to carry a piece of her with you. Oh!" she gasped, love in her voice, "She loved and cared for you so much." Sienna passed the item back over to him. "Q left me with what he called the 'lost' psychic abilities of earth. Psychometry and a few other forgotten ones. I don't want them. I especially did not want the..." Her voice trailed off as she leaned back, hard. "Who is next?" Jaton was stunned into silence for a minute, along with the rest of the crew. But he seemed to find his voice a little before everyone else. "I-I-I was on Earth too. In the central Anatolia region, where I had spent much of my secondary education. And Q reverted me back to how I was when I was 16, saying that he felt disgusted by Alyl. He then took me to Dureth Station, and forced me to watch my own death. As if experiencing it once was not enough. Next thing I know I was in my coffin, Q hovering over me, telling me to enjoy myself since most people don't get the privilege. But rather than being on the Paladin or out in deep space, we were on Mars. He seemed to be implying that he was behind my resurrection." He sat silent a moment. "Then we were in a void. Surrounded by giant amulets that according to the people of the Turkish region of Earth are supposed to ward off evil. He said something about a charmed life as one by one, the amulets began to shatter. In a way it felt like a threat. I don't know what Q could've meant by it, but I've already died once and I'm not ready do die again." At this last, he could feel his lip quivering and his voice starting to choke up. He began to silently weep. (reply all) (posted by Spencer) (USS Illuminar - Conference Room - ACOUNS ACMO ENS SG Ariel Trei - 01.05) She listened to two harrowing tales and felt the anguish from both of them. Thankfully her tale was way more playful and magical. She stood up to tell her tale. "The Q did not visit me personally but my experience was real just the same. I woke up on the Illuminar in my quarters with no memory of being my real self Ariel Trei. Instead my memory of who I was at that time was of a Teran fantasy tale of a little mermaid. I believed I was this mermaid named Ariel and behaved like I was this mermaid. Imagine being a mermaid in space and trying to figure out what everything surrounding you did. It started out with me trying to figure out how everything in my quarters functioned. Keep in mind I am thinking like a mermaid and trying not to get myself wet for obvious reasons as not to have a mermaid tail to deal with. Imagine me trying to move around the ship with a mermaid tail. I tried to order seaweed from the replicator eventually choosing rice as a substitute because arguing with the computer was futile at this point. I had a breakfast of clam, crab, and scallops over a bed of rice which was pretty good and a glass of iced tea. The next part of the experience involved my roaming the halls being ignored by many. In my state of mind I would not be ignored. From the story Ariel was a princess so she was not happy about being ignored. She found two men in security gold staring at their PADD's. I decided to have some fun with them and use the magical power of influence a mermaid has with her voice. I put them under a spell and asked them many questions to get the answers I was looking for. They followed me like puppy dogs. This was amusing to me. When I got the answers I was looking for, I released them from the spell and made my way to the Bridge. The Bridge was a world of amazement for me. After a while, I started to regain my memory of my true self Ariel Trei. The memories of the experience still stays with me. I don't know what the Q was trying to tell me. I hope we can figure out the clues together.." She went back to her seat and listened to the others. (Reply Any) (Posted by Edward) (Bajoran Space – Runabout Othellio - Ensign Janice Hammerfield – 0800) ::BEEP:: ::BEEP:: ::BEEP:: ::BEEP:: Janice rolled over in her sleeping spot and reached up to a panel above her to turn the alarm off. Slowly the lights automatically turned up a brightness level to dimly light the room for her so she wasn’t blinded. Groggily she twisted out of the enclosed space and stretched out a bit. “What a dream...” She remarked remembering a jaunt with Q. Slowly as she woke up a bit more staying in the same position her eyes widened. “When did I get into bed? When did I changed for bed?” She looked at the cup half full on the table she was having the previous night and with an agonising groan place her hands in her head and lowered it to her knees. A few moments later she slid her hands through her hair and got up as the realisation that - it was definitely no dream – sunk in. “Blast it,” she sighed moving over to the table, picking up the now stone cold drink and sliding it back onto the replicator table. She watched it disappear, “Computer?” There was a quite beep to let her know it was listening, “What happened last night?” “Please specify,” “What... Was I always on board the ship? Is there a recording of Q being here?” “Log show Janice Hammerfield has been on this ship since its departure from USS Edmonton. There is no record of the being known as Q on this vessel” “Well that’s just dandy. Now if it tell anyone here they will think im crazy,” Janice moved to a panel in the wall and flipped it open revealing a small wash station. Slowly and methodically she began to get herself ready for her next shift but her mind couldn’t escape trying to remember the details of what had happened with Q. Midway through brushing her teeth she pulled the toothbrush out, “comffpuffer, if fhee af uff ifufimaf?” She paused and at no reply she spat the toothpaste out and wiped her face. “Computer is there a USS Illuminar?” “Affirmative” “Well thats good news,” she said finishing washing up and sliding into her uniform out of her bed clothes. The lights start to turn gradually up to a normal level now after some time had passed for her eyes to readjust. “Dispatch a subspace message - To CO USS Illuminar – Apologies again for appearing one your ship. Standing by to assist with matter relating to Q. Security Officer Janice Hammerfield – USS Othello” “Now I just hope Q want playing games with that part or ill really start to look crazy,” she said to herself slowly straightening out her uniform for the day ahead. (reply None needed) (Posted by Adam) (USS Illuninar FO's Quarters - FO Lt. Sienna Williams-Verin - 05.00) 5 AM. Sienna sat with her back against the headboard of her bed, wrapped up in a chenille robe. Everything hurt, and she thought for a long moment, trying to remember a time when she was purely happy, wanting to hold that memory before she went to bed. It had been what, less than 10 days since she and her beloved twin had separated, less than 4 since they had launched. The Exeter was behind them, her mistake in pushing the warp engine just a bit had ended up with them leap years ahead of the Exeter. They had been in contact, checking in when it was over. It was hard - she wished for Lynn. She could have asked her friend Tressa to come, but Tressa was on shift and it would be rude to pull her off just because Sy needed a shoulder to cry on. "Computer, begin recording message to Lt. Commander Trip Williams, Captain of the Exeter." The computer paused and then beeped. "Hey older brother." Sienna whispered the words, a faint tease in her voice. She sounded like she was in a great deal of pain, and was exhausted. "I know you won't be thrilled that this is audio only, but trust me, I look awful and it's been a night. I went to bed on time and while I was supposed to be asleep, myself and a number of other people got kidnapped by a Q. My part of it was absolutely horrible. Q had a lot that he wanted to let me know apparently, some of it by letting someone carve into my body with an old fashioned scalpel. I've been seen by Dr. Solice, I'm not in danger. I'm just not ok. I'm going to need to see a counselor. I'm not really able to talk about what Q did to me, maybe if you were here to hold me I could, just share them with you telepathically. I.. Trip... some of the visions he showed me were of the ranch dead, with mom and dad and the kids and everything just dessicated and gone, like the weather modification systems had been permanently destroyed. That was bad, but there were other parts that were worse. I hope that we can meet up when we get to Bajor and that you don't mind holding me for a bit. I know this is too short, but give Layla a pet from me and say hi to Rissa. Give Ash a hug. " Sienna thought for a moment. "Computer, end transmission and send, priority 1. Code Sienna 6923, Sophie, Skylar 1." The end part was their family emergency code, Trip would know not to listen to it where others could hear. Sienna's hands stroked her siamese ragdoll cat, Kenna and she hoped that she could get some sleep without using the sedatives that had been left to help her sleep. (reply any) (posted by Mel) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: 5 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Illuminar – Bridge - Engineering - EO Scott Matrix - 0847) Matrix reported to the bridge earlier in the morning at the request of Ensign Taya. He’d setup the workstation to view the flow telemetry of the engines and supporting systems including power conduits and regulators. Probably more information then they needed to see during these tests and he felt in over his head. “Ensign Taya…does this look correct to you?” He asked pointing to the core power input. (Reply Taya) “Okay…I’ll keep an eye on the feed flow sub-system. I’m wondering what this ship can do when everything is tuned correctly?” (Reply Taya IYW) “I don’t think we had enough time to check all of the secondary power manifolds…we’re going to have to adjust if necessary.” He continued. (Reply Taya, Any) (Posted by Steve) (Illuminar, Deck 11, Engineering, Acting CEO Ensign sg Taya, 0850) It was ten minutes until the maximum warp speed test would begin and Taya was nervous. She had arrived in main engineering at 0600 and hadn't stopped preparing. Anything that could be checked, rechecked, analyzed, and diagnosed, had been. Twice. They were as ready as they were going to be, but she wanted to check things some more. Vex had to calm her several times. =^=Ensign Taya, does this look correct to you?=^= It was Ensign Matrix. Taya had assigned him to the bridge for the test. On her monitor, she accessed the bridge display. Matrix was pointing at the core power input. "Yes, that looks good. We're currently running at 34%" said Taya. =^=Okay, I’ll keep an eye on the feed flow sub-system. I’m wondering what this ship can do when everything is tuned correctly.=^= "We're about to find out," said Taya. She hoped they wouldn't open some new sort of anomaly and end up a billion light years away. =^=I don’t think we had enough time to check all of the secondary power manifolds. We’re going to have to adjust if necessary.=^= Yes we did, said Taya inwardly. She chuckled. Looking at Vex, Taya took a very large breath and let it out slowly. "We're as ready as we're going to be." (reply Matrix, Vex, but not necessary) (posted by Rob) (USS Illuminar - Deck 1, Main Bridge -FSXO (Flight Ops/Conn)- Lieutenant (SG), Tempest Grey Wolf-- 0900) The ship was humming along without a hitch at warp 7.5 and they were thirteen days from Bajor. Tempest was well familiar with the ship now, its quirks and idiosyncrasies. She had done some fine tuning of the thruster output to suit her but the rest of the controls had been optimized previously. There had been no need to try out the flight operational wavelength for communications yet but it had been tested. Navigational sensors were also spot on and no doubt calibrated during the test flight and then the CO threw something new into the equation. "Lieutenant Grey Wolf increase speed to warp nine point nine seven five." This was the start of the maximum warp duration test which the command crew and officers had been briefed on earlier. The commanding officer wished to push the baseline to fifteen hours. "Increasing speed to warp 9.975 sir." Her fingers inputted the required power output and the hum of the warp field generators increased in tempo as the ship's speed increased. She watched as the speed surpassed eight and climbed to nine. The hum was increasing in pitch. Nine point five was surpassed and it climbed from there slowly then leveled off at 9.9752. "Settling in at maximum warp sir." Her eyes scanned her board for any anomalies but found none. Everything was well within set parameters. "Maximum warp reached and holding. All navigation systems are green." "Noted. Continue to monitor during the test." "Yes sir." Her relief and their relief as well would be watching things constantly until midnight. She looked to her right. "Are there any power fluctuations Chief Tamblyn?" (Reply: Tamblyn, any) (Posted by Charles G) (USS Illuminar – Bridge - Ops- CPO Charles Tamblyn - 0905) "Noted. Continue to monitor during the test." "Yes sir." Charles herd the relief in Grey-Wolf’s voice and the next watch would be watching things constantly until midnight. The longer the ship held maximum warp, the faster his hands had to move over his console rerouting power as circuits burned out. He must have been doing something right because he could slow his hands down. Tamblyn looked at Grey-Wolf when he heard her ask, "Are there any power fluctuations Chief Tamblyn?" “No, ma’am. No fluctuations, but I’ve had to reroute power around overheated circuits and wiring so they don’t blowout.” He said to Tempest. After several minutes, no more warnings popped up on his console, “That should do it, L.T.” he said looking at Grey Wolf. (Reply Grey Wolf iyw) Tamblyn turned to the XO, LT Williams-Verin, “Ma’am, power flow is stable and maintaining. There are nine locations where circuits and wiring were starting to fail. I rerouted power from those locations to secondaries. Secondaries are holding. Do you want me to switch to all secondaries to test those as well or just maintain what I have set up?” Charles had a hunch that he may have overstepped his bounds and will most likely get a rather loud reprimand later. But captaining his own ship, even if it is only a Runabout, did give him a handy perspective, and if he did get chewed out he felt he probably deserved it regardless if he thought he was right or wrong. Not his ship and he ain’t the captain. (Reply Williams-Verin) “Roger that” was all he said as he turned back toward his console, continuing his duties. (Reply Grey Wolf, Williams-Varin) (Played by Charlie) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: 8 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Bajor, Ashala - The High Seat of the Assembly- High Committewoman's Office - High Committewoman Jnel Rinai - 2100) Rinai sat in her office going over the data that was coming in. People were afraid. There was unrest in the countryside due to religious fears. Several smaller temples were sending in data that their people were uneasy. And then there was what was going on at the Temple Grounds. The Kai had collapsed again. More of the Priests had grown ill in the temple, and there seemed to be no correlation that Rinai could figure out. It made her head hurt. "My fortune for a public health degree." She murmured, as there was a knock on her door and a few of her advisors entered. Njarre Lyian, Mistress of Public Health; Kzan Dirnay, Master of Security, Lor Neyrice, Governor of the City of Ashala and Kier Vrin, who was foreign Minister. The five people were spaced around the table and the Governor spoke first, "We're going to have a problem. Several of the Priests have left the city in defiance, and perhaps in ignorance," She glanced at the Security Minister, "But they have left. If it is a contagion..." "... Unproven." Snapped Lyian, who was more a politician than a doctor and not who they needed on this crises, "There in no pathogen, no disease, nothing in our rather extensive medical database that the federation shared with us and updates regularly. There is no reason for the people on the temple grounds to be so... If I didn't see the results myself, I would say that they were attempting to get out of work duties. But not on such a wholesale amount..." She sniffed, she was not their favorite person right now, but she was what they had to deal with. Rinai was unusual in that she preferred to have a foreign staff. She looked towards Kier Vrin, the half-cardassian, half klingon who shook his head in disgust at Niarre Lyian, who made no bones of her intense dislike of the monster that was Kier Vrin, "I have reached out High Mistress and made discrete queries of the surrounding systems. What has come back information wise is very useful but there is nothing like this malaise anywhere else aboard DS9, any cargo ship in the last few weeks, or the surrounding planets." Kzan Dirnay was also a half cardassian but this time with the bajoran 'better' blood, if anyone with cardassian blood could be considered untainted. It had not been long enough for people to accept and trust someone with that role, which was why he was older than the median age, and had served most of his life in the Bajoran Militia, a decorated officer, "Bribes and favors, eh Kier Vrin?" He laughed, to the disgust of the PHM (public health minister) Kier grinned back, “Discretion. We don’t want to let anyone off-planet know what is really going on or we’ll be interdicted under a quarantine. Just to be safe, since the vast majority of the problems seem to be centered in the Temple District, restrict travel to and from the Spaceport and ask workers there to stay within the confines of that District. We don’t want whatever it is to spread further. The others looked around at Lor Neyrice, the male governor of the city of Ashala. “It’s doable.” He said with a nod, thinking, one finger twirling his ridiculous looking mustache, “We need a reason, and saying the truth - that we don’t know what is going on with that temple isn’t the best one. Maybe say there is a chance of something coming in from space? Or say…” Lyian was a gifted politician, she was also a gifted liar, “We’ve been meaning to do some public health drills, what if something from space was brought to the planet, etc. So we’ll run the scenario, let the higher ups know it’s fake but let the workers think it’s real - it’ll leak it’s all a drill and no one will think twice.” Rinai was often reminded of the other woman’s deception and that she would need to watch out for her. “What people from beyond Bajor don’t see can’t be reported on.” “Still worried about the people who are in the Temple?” The Governor asked, glancing towards Rinai. “I am. And if, when she worsens, and right now it’s a when, well. I’m going to have to quarantine them, and its the TEMPLE. Our people fought for the right to enter and leave it any time, day or night. And since that temple is the one that houses the orbs….” Her voice trailed off. The Bajoran people were not at all rational about access to the orbs of their religion. They wanted to be able to go see the things, touch them, apply to have visions, talk about it all… “Our people are fanatical about the orbs. If the people within the temple continue to worsen, we might have to consider petitioning the Vedek council to move the orbs to a safer position. I can’t see the council disagreeing that the orbs are the most important part of the temple.” Rinai’s shoulders were aching. “If word continues to leak that the Kai is dying, the people will storm the temple grounds and hold vigil. Those sorts of crowds can quickly turn into a riot. We already have a large number out there.” Kier Vrin spoke last, “The Federation will have two starsips in orbit in about 2 of their weeks. The newest starships, the ones they just launched. Visiting us diplomatically is supposed to be their inaugural mission, which translates to checking on DS9 and the wormhole. I don’t want any of this getting to them before they arrive. Ideally none of it will reach them and we won’t have to explain anything.” He believed in the almighty credit and making loads of them so that his people were never cold or hungry again. Rinai saw that however with a grain of hope, “Maybe we will be lucky and not need their help, but I have to admit I am glad they are coming. I was going to pawn off some of the make work on them - I was told they are mostly crews of younger officers. The young like to have obvious tangible signs that they have done well so I was coming up with a list so they could pat themselves on the back, then go back to whatever it is they should be doing.” Unsurprisingly it was Lyian who concluded the meeting, “The Federation hasn’t been much helped the last 2 decades and we don’t need them now. But we might in the future and a couple days of letting some do gooders run around and do things we have been putting off is a small price. But if the crises in the temple persists, we need a good reason to deny them their shored leave. Maybe we can set one of the resorts in the southern peninsula aside and require them to beam directly in and out. “That’s a pretty good idea. Especially if we lead with it on the offensive and give them no choice.” Kzan noted. The four advisors gathered their belongings and left, Kzan being the last, waiting for all to leave before stopping beside Rinai. “Ree, I love you like a sister, but something bad is going on in that temple and I think we’re making the wrong choice about it.” He rubbed a hand over his oily black hair. “What would you have me do?” Rinai asked, casting her eyes up towards the older and taller male. “Move the patients first to a hospital far away. Move the orbs second. Disinfect the grounds of everything. And call Starfleet and get them here now and not weeks from now. Those ships that are coming are not dedicated medical ships. One’s a diplomatic party boat and the other is heavily scientific. Get one of the hospital ships here, now. Before this becomes a pandemic. Our people ….” He patted her hand when he saw the look on her face and then left, leaving Rinai with too many thoughts and emotions. (reply none) (posted by Mel) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: 16 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Bajor- Ashalla- Personal Quarters- Kai Hetel Krevi- 1830) She could hear them speaking as though from a distance as she laid upon her pillows with her eyes closed. Her breathing was shallow and it seemed as though all else in existence was far away. She had essentially been confined to her room since the fall in the grounds and for a day and a night had not had the strength to leave her bed. The world seemed to be withdrawing from her as the Celestial Temple beckoned. The warning from the Emissary remained in her thoughts, the leaves were indeed dying but what were the roots of which he had spoken? This was the enigma and the source of the mystery. "I am uncertain of the reason for it and it has spread all throughout the temple. I have Vedeks, and priests of various distinctions confined to their quarters and attendants by the score. Her very own physician is similarly affected." The voice was that of another Vedek. She had not seen Gele for a number of days. "She will need life support equipment soon at the rate she is failing." This from a physician who had been sent from the city. There were too many ill now to be cared for by those in residence. "Do what must be done. We need time to figure out what is happening." She opened her eyes and the light washed out her vision then it came to her in sudden inspiration. Her voice was low but understandable. "The ...orbs...the...answer...lies...within...the...orbs." And then she closed her eyes and drifted off. "What did she say" Vedek Carle Essen rushed to her bedside. The physician looked at him blankly. "It sounded like she said the answer lies within the orbs." "What do you mean it sounded like?" Vedek Carle growled. The physician shook his head. "My apologies, she said it quite clearly. She said the answer lies within the orbs." Essen turned quickly as he considered it. "The prophets tell us many things through the orbs but seldom give clear answers. I shall consider this and report it to those who are headquartered in the compound. It is time for me to leave before I am taken by this as well." The physician watched him leave, puzzled by the Kai's words. She would not awaken again for days ... if ever. (Reply: None) (Posted by Charles G) (Bajor, Ashala - Temple - Dean Vedek Horavei Taelsi - 2130) A message from Janus had come through, he’d completed his mission and was now getting out of the temple and suggested the Dean did so too. Horavei read the message twice to make sure everything that had been planned had been successfully implemented and then crushed it in his hand and threw the paper into the fire. “Tell the council I require them.” Staring at the fire and watching the paper burn before he turned around to see his aide Ranjen Sifal Eleki leaving the room following his command. Left alone as he preferred life, he walked around the room and waited for her to return. After perhaps 15 minutes, Sifal reentered, “They’re ready for you Dean, all 8 members are present.” Standing up and straightening his robes he made his way to the council room ready to move the next portion of his plan into action. (Bajor, Ashala - Temple Grounds - Dean Vedek Horavei Taelsi - 2215) The council had come to a unanimous decision within minutes, it had to have been some form of record for debate within the Assembly. A large number of the Vedeks now stumbling around in the dark in front of him as they headed for the main Temple gates. Crowds had flocked from around the planet once they heard of the Kai’s illness, worried, no doubt at the fate of their religious leader. Horavei had a part to play now, he needed the masses to see him in all his glory. In his gold robes, he marched down the cobbled steps a good few feet behind the Vedek Assembly as they all huddled forward. The elderly men and women arrived at the temple gates which stayed shut until the Dean gave the command for them to open. Rushing through- out into the freedom promised to them, they were forced through crowds of Bajorans shouting, screaming and praying. The Vedek’s, their aide’s and all other temple staff had gone before him and now he was alone. Waiting a good 20 count he then moved forward into the light and began waving and taking in the adoration of the crowd. Knowing cameras from all major news networks would be now focused on his face, he kept a reassuring smile and a friendly wave as he walked throughout the crowd. Nodding his head, “Nice to meet you,” “Lovely to see you here,” “Don’t worry, The Kai is well looked after,” “Praise be to the Prophets,” were some of the things he said as he passed by people. Holding their hands, saying prayers with them. There was a Temple vehicle waiting for him at the end of the road, the door held open by a driver who closed it as the Dean got in. “Get us out of here.” he said as he got comfortable in the car, not willing to drop the smile from his face until he was sure the cameras couldn’t see him. “Yes Master.” came the response from the front of the vehicle as it began to move. There was silence in the vehicle as it moved around the corner and away from the crowds. “You completed your mission?” The driver nodded, “Her dosage was upped as you requested.” and the vehicle stopped, just outside the grand hotel the Vedek’s were taking over. Just outside the temple grounds, so they were still on hand, but now, at least those who hadn’t been affected were safe. They had left the Kai & several hundred Vedeks & Ranjens inside the temple, anyone who had been symptomatic had been left behind. “Good. Stay close, the Prophets may have more use for you yet. Thank-you Janus.” He stepped out of the car and was ushered quickly into the magnificent foyer of the Temple Hotel. (Reply None needed) (Posted by Jono Bradley) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Day: 17 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Bajor- Ashalla- Plaza of the Prophets- Prylar Tekan Herla- 0830) There were hundreds gathered before the gates of the temple in the place called the Plaza of the Prophets. A number of volunteers were handing out water bottles to those in attendance. Since the Kai had fallen ill and lapsed into a coma they had been gathering from all over the city, some wailing, some crying out in prayer but most standing in shocked silence. The bulk of those here refused to depart and had remained outside the security cordon set up before the wide double gates. Others routinely changed out with friends or family members to keep a roughly equal number outside. The Prophets they believed must know their devotion lest they were in danger of somehow forgetting. And yet the plaza was not filled and the groupings had ample space between. There was room for thousands there and the longer the vigil continued the more would come. The Prylar was well advanced in years having served the Prophets with vigor for forty five of them. He also knew something they had apparently forgotten, something he would remind them of. It took about twenty minutes for him to find enough crates for the task and those to help him build his podium in the center while many looked on wondering. When it was set he mounted it, his head much higher than the rest. His voice was still strong after a lifetime of service and he had a willing audience. He wet his mouth with a swallow of the precious fluid and spoke, his voice growing stronger with each word until he was in full shout. "Children of the Prophets hear me!" His words had attracted not only the attention of the nearest but they shushed others who also turned to him. "Kai Hetel and many in the temple are being shown great honor by the prophets for their devotion." Those on the outskirts were now turning to hear and even the guards at the gate were giving him their attention. "The Kai has committed herself to the service of the Prophets and to their people. The Prophets have seen and have proven their promise." The people were edging closer but not the guards who were holding their place. "We know that we have this promise, that those who follow the Prophets will never taste death but these frail husks are only a temporary shelter and our Pagh will find their place with the Prophets in the Celestial Temple." There were many murmurs of assent coming from the men and women now crowded around him. "The Prophets are calling the faithful home!" His shout seemed to stab them through the heart and many shed tears. "But would the Prophets abandon those others who have served him faithfully?" The shouted "No!" Was like thunder. "Within the walls of the temple is the welcoming embrace of our gods! Who among you wishes to receive their reward for faithful service rendered?" The roar of assent that went up caused the security contingent before the gates to back away in shock. Remote cameras and those wielded by reporters on the scene caught his every word and the shouts of the faithful. "Why are we being turned away from the embrace of the Prophets?" His shouted question to the men before the gates raised their concern. "Why does the government deny our right to join them in the Celestial Temple?" This booming question directed at a nearby live reporter. "Who will join us in our vigil to see the gates opened so that we also may make our home with the Prophets?" The reporters mouth gaped at the power behind the voice that was directed to her audience. "These gates must open so that the faithful may receive their reward!" The Lieutenant in charge of the security detail was shocked at the roar that reverberated through the crowd exhorting others to join their cause while he continued to preach. "We are in deep ****!" He slapped his communicator. "I need the minister of security now! What? No I said now! There is a prylar inciting the crowd into a frenzy and he's calling more to join. Aren't you seeing the news?" =^= Just a second. By the Prophets!=^= The voice on the other end of the transmission shouted. =^= I'll get the minister right away.=^= He cut her off. "No need now just tell him to send help and send it now. This place is about to turn into a siege!" He turned to the six manning the checkpoint. "Phasers on wide beam, heavy stun. If they come after us we've got to hold them off until reinforcements get here!" (Reply: None yet) (Posted by Charles G) (Bajor- Ashalla- Plaza of the Prophets- Major Tan Filar- 1320) He was head of the reinforcement contingent who had just arrived on the scene. The thirty security men and women had been brought by shuttle to the temple grounds and made their way to the front gate where they had distributed the extra riot gear including stun batons, helmets and shields to the eight men on duty. Barriers had been brought in by another shuttle and were set in place along this preventing easy access to the Temple gates. The plaza was beginning to fill with people who were gathering around the Prylar who's sermon had been going on undiminished save for occasional breaks. While in flight they had seen the streams of Bajorans headed for the plaza. Listening to his sermon Filar realized all it took for a zealot to create chaos was for him to have a willing audience. The mood of the crowd was of rising religious fervor and if it tipped to violence they would be a terrifying.foe. For now though there had been no call for violence and the Prylar's pleas had seemed to be aimed at a peaceful end with the government dissolving the quarantine. This was his hope... that it would remain peaceful. =^= Situation report Major Tan. =^= "Barriers are in place and we are ready. We have created a buffer zone of thirty meters from the gates. All are armed with stun batons with phasers as backup weapons. The numbers however are continuing to swell and I request reserves be readied to move out on a momens notice in the event of a confrontation. I am also requesting that the streets to the plaza be blocked off to prevent more from arriving. The plaza has room for at least four thousand people and is already almost half full. We need to shut this down before it grows out of hand." =^= I will notify the minister but we may be stretched thin within the next twenty four hours. Word has come down that if people begin converging on Ashalla at the Prylar's request the city will be blocked from further access. That will be a tremendous drain on manpower to secure all outside routes in. I will provide as much support in that eventuality as I can.=^= That was not good news. "Then I suggest you begin pulling in more resources from around Bajor, this could turn ugly." ,=^= That is up to the minister but I will add my recommendation. Central command out.=^= Filar concentrated now on his immediate surroundings. The shouts of the Prylar were still booming, it was like he had been born for this moment. "It is time for the faithful to come together so that their voice may be heard!" The growing throng shouted in time to his every point. Rather than tiring those who had been here all morning seemed to gain energy from each new arrival. He frowned as he turned to his men. "Seven on guard duty while the rest stand down, two hour shifts. If anything happens we need to be ready and fresh until our relief arrives. Jezel you and your squad are the first up." He then ignored his own orders as he turned to watch the restless throng, his worries worsened by the thought that if personnel became as stretched as command feared they might have no relief. (Reply: None yet) (Posted by Charles G) (Bajor- Ashalla- Plaza of the Prophets- Major Tan Filar- 1820) "This is our right by Bajoran law, to give up our lives as we see fit and to the Prophets we have sworn our eternal devotion!" The words cut through Major Tan's head as the prylar took up his sermon once again. There had been an hour of peace while he took a break, ate and refreshed then he had started up once again. A number of his men had grown restless and a couple were paying attention too closely and nodding their heads in time to his words. Filar found this more concerning than those just outside the barriers. He had none to lose to the zealot's preaching. If the crowd turned toward the gates with the intention of forcing their way through he would need not just them but more besides. He stood up from the thigh high curb he had been sitting on and motioned for those who were not on duty to follow him, the ones who saw the gesture got the attention of the rest. There were hexagonal towers flanking the gates with arched entrances and he led then into one. There were tables of lacquered wood inside that visitors routinely put gifts upon for those who served in the temple and they were normally manned but not today. The voice of the Prylar was muffled in here. Once they were all inside he spoke at a normal volume but with a growl in his voice. "Let me make myself clear to every one of you. I know some of you are moved by the words of the Prylar but this is not the situation he thinks it is. There are things going on inside no one understands yet that is true but we can't let anyone outside the temple be exposed to it. This could be some form of contagion or radiation that could spread through the civilian population if we let it." A brown haired female with green eyes had a hard expression on her face. "But a number of the Vedeks have already fled whatever is inside." "Yes they did...," his eyes met and held hers, "... and they are in isolation as well in a temple building less than ten blocks from here. Everyone they came into contact with has been tested and isolated as well but haven't shown any ill effects yet." His eyes grew hard. "But that doesn't mean there's nothing there, it could have an extended incubation period." He stepped closer to his group while searching their eyes closely. "Perhaps he's right but what if he's not? What if he wants to expose thousands of people to a disease who could become carriers?" "But it's only IN the temple!" The woman retorted. He rounded on her. "And that is where we mean to keep it! Until we know one way or another that's where it HAS to stay." He hadn't convinced her and he knew it, he could see it in her eyes. "Anyone who can't do this gets sent back to headquarters am I clear? Am I sending you back?" She turned her head. "No... I... can do this." "Are you sure?" His gaze turned to each one. "Are all of you sure?" There were grunts and nods. He wasn't convinced but he would have to take them at their word. If any of them turned though he was going to put them on a shuttle out, he had no choice. If even one of them caved it would weaken the resolve of those who remained. He had to make sure that didn't happen. "Settle yourselves down in here until it's your turn to man the barricades, it's cooler in here." Indeed it was but it also muffled the voice of the Prylar, a win-win in his book. He left them there to take a look outside. Those who were napping when he returned he would consider to be safe. Those who weren't.... well he would be watching them closely. (Reply: None yet) (Posted by Charles G)