USS Spectre Compile - January 1st-31st 2014 by Alan Reading

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

Mission: Inimicus Invisa, Part Two – Fallen Comrades
Day: 5
Stardate: 2414.10.15

(USS Spectre - Observation Lounge - Science Officer, Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 15:30)
(USS Spectre - Bridge – Ops, Ensign Robert Smith - 15:40)
(USS Spectre – Sickbay – COUNS Elani Caras - 15:52)
(USS Spectre – Sickbay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 15:54)
(USS Spectre - Astrometrics - Science Officer, Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 16:08)
(Tellarite Vessel - Transport Room - Cadet Kurrik - and Tellarite, Dor Bashka - 16:32)
(Tellarite Vessel - Transport Room - Cadet Twinnings - 16:35)
(Tellarite Vessel - Transport Room - Cadet Kurrik - 16:36)
(Tellarite Vessel - Bridge - Cadet Twinnings - 16:40)
(USS Spectre - Astrometrics - Science Officer, Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 16:44)
(USS Spectre - Bridge, Ops – Ensign, Robert Smith - 16:47)
(USS Spectre - Astrometrics - Science Officer Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 16:51)
(ATV Garallon - Deck 7 - Cadet Udet - 17:00)
(ATV Garallon - Deck 4, Jefferies Tube Access Hatch, A9 - Cadet Porsa - 17:06)
(ATV Garallon - Turbolift 1 - Cadet Porsa - 17:10)
(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:14)
(ATV Garallon - Deck 7 - Cadet Udet - 17:14)
(ATV Garallon - Deck 7 - Cadet Udet - 17:20)
(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:22)
(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Udet - 17:23)
(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:24)
(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Udet - 17:26)
(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:27)
(USS Spectre - Medical Research Labs - Dr. Michaella Kirien - 18:16)
(USS Spectre – Sickbay – ACMO Ensign A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:20)
(USS Spectre - Bridge - CO, Captain T'Vhor - 18:21)
(USS Spectre - Deck 4, Security Station Alpha - TAC/ASC Ensign Will Frost - 18:25)
(USS Spectre - Deck 5, Corridor - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:30)
(USS Spectre - Engineering - CEO, Ensign Remae Ktell - 18:30)
(USS Spectre - Turbolift - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:30)
(USS Spectre - Engineering, Ensign (jg) Marianne Yelick - 18:32)
(USS Spectre - Deck 5, Corridor - FO, Cmdr Hoshimi Tsukawa - 18:32)
(USS Spectre - Deck 5, Corridor - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:35)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay - Acouns Lt., Dr. Riven Mias - 18:35)
(USS Spectre - Main Engineering - Medical Research Dr. Michaella Kirien - 18:37)
(USS Spectre - Deck 13, Main Engineering - ACEO, Ens. Jake Haltom - 18:41)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay - ACouns Lt. Dr. Riven Mias - 18:43)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:45)
(USS Spectre - Ten Forward - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:45)
(USS Spectre - Deck 13, Main Engineering - ACEO, Ensign Jake Haltom - 18:45)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay - Acouns Lt., Dr Riven Mias - 18:48)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:50)
(USS Spectre - Engineering - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:55)
(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area - Marine Corpsman 2nd Lt. Lhiannon Kindell - 18:55)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:59)
(USS Spectre – Outside Marine Staging Area – Corporal Houseman - 19:00)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:02)
(USS Spectre - Sickbay – ACMO Ens. A.O Windsong-Trommashere - 19:05)
(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area - Marine Corpsman 2nd Lt. Lhiannon Kindell - 19:10)
(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area – Marine, Corporal Houseman - 19:11)
(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area – Hologram, Jose Rameriz - 19:11)
(USS Spectre - MXO's Office - MXO, Major Bruce Kowalski - 19:12)
(USS Spectre – Sickbay - CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:12)
(USS Spectre - Marine Staging - MXO, Major Bruce Kowalski - 19:14)
(USS Spectre – Sickbay - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 19:14)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:22)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 19:24)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:27)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 19:29)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:36)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:38)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:40)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:42)
(USS Spectre – Bridge – OPS, Ensign – Scott Smith – 19:43)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:45)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:47)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:50)
(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:52)
(USS Spectre – Corridor – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:55)
(USS Spectre – Bridge, CONN – Pilot Officer, 2nd Lieutenant Jennifer Smith – 19:58)

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

Mission: Inimicus Invisa, Part Two – Fallen Comrades
Day: 5
Stardate 2414.10.15

(USS Spectre - Observation Lounge - Science Officer, Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 15:30)

"In the interim I want a viable plan to find this vessel and crew in place within the hour. We will send a class II sensor into the void to gather the relevant data. Lieutenant Palmer and McKenzie, I suggest that you use this data in devising that initial plan" Said the Captain.

As the meeting came to a close and everyone started to leave, Lieutenant Palmer approached McKenzie.

"Lieutenant, I have to finish something on the bridge quickly. I will meet you in the science department in 30 minutes."

"Aye, Sir." McKenzie replied.

Both men left the room, but headed in different directions. McKenzie wondered just what was going on, and he didn't like it. He felt nervous about this whole event, even more so if certain elements of Starfleet Command might not be trusted. He feared there might be some double agent or saboteur on board. It would not be the first time he had suffered the effects of such an event.

Suddenly a chill came over him. He stopped and looked behind him, fearing that someone might be following him, but the corridor was empty. He thought back on the meeting and why he might be worried. He had openly said he would investigate the logs to set aside truth from lies, and if there was a party at work here who didn't want that, McKenzie might be a target.

He wanted to tell himself he was just being paranoid, but he could not shake off the feeling that any saboteur would target him.

He frowned in determination. He was not going to be caught out, and he would rather be safe than sorry. When he entered the Astrometrics Lab, he already had a plan to counter any threat.

"Computer: Seal the doors and erect a Level Three forcefield around Astrometics. Allow access only to Senior Officers."

As he spoke, he walked over to a small keypad on a wall and entered a four-digit code. A small panel next to it opened to reveal two hand phasers. He took one and closed the panel, leaving the other inside and locked away once more. He continued to speak as he holstered it on his belt.

"Notify me when any lifeform approaches within 20 metres of the Astrometic Lab's doors, including the doors to the jeffries tubes."

The computer bleeped. He spoke again.

"Run a Level Five virus sweep on the Astrometic consoles."

WORKING.

McKenzie picked up a PADD and entered some data into it. He planned on using this as a mobile back-up in case any data was wiped, weather intentionally or not.

VIRUS SWEEP COMPLETE. NO VIRUS DETECTED.

"Good." He muttered. "Isolated the Astrometic consoles from the rest of the ship."

LEVEL FOUR CLEARANCE OR ABOVE REQUIRED FOR THAT ACTION.

"McKenzie. Zeta, Two, Seven, Alpha, Five, One, Epsilon."

CODE ACCEPTED. CONSOLES ISOLATED.

McKenzie did not want to risk an attack on the system while he was working on it, so isolating it from the main computer would mean that any virus attack would have to be directed uploaded from the console. Of course, he knew that requesting a system isolation automaticly alerts Ops. He was expecting a call from them soon to ask about this. 

(reply Ops if you want.)
(Posted by Gavin Work.)


(USS Spectre - Bridge – Ops, Ensign Robert Smith - 15:40)
 
Robert looked at his console as it beeped at him. He found the alert and frowned at what is had stated.

~Astrometrics has been isolated as well as the console~

He looked at the authorisation and frowned again.

~ McKenzie~

He opened a comm channel.

“Ensign Smith to Lieutenant McKenzie”

(Reply McKenzie)

“Sir I have been informed that astrometrics has been isolated as well as the consoles. Your authorisation codes have been used. What are you doing Sir.”

(Reply McKenzie)

(Reply McKenzie, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre – Sickbay – COUNS Elani Caras - 15:52)

Elani had been standing back watching but when Dr. Trommashere yelled at her, her own temper snapped as well. She'd been angry, upset, second guessing herself and angsty as she blamed herself for what was a reaction.   But her fury snapped and her back went rigid. Her eyes grew cool and her usual comforting empathic aura just collapsed.

"No, it was not in her records. I have given sedatives to patients in counseling in the past, it is part of our training. I deemed it would have been more detrimental to summon a nurse and expose my patient  to ridicule and gossip from her peers than to give her a simple dose of a rather  mild sedative.  I've done it at least two dozen times in the past, I will likely do it again in the future, Doctor.  If you believe this policy is in error, then we can convene a department meeting and discuss a change to the policy." Elani lifted her proud Betazoid chin and stared up at Angeni. 

"Until then, Miss Trommashere, you will refer to me as Counselor Caras as professional courtesy dictates. I followed protocol and the moment there was a problem I called for help, did I not?" Her face was flushed with anger over this. She didn't like to be dressed down in public and she was a scrapper.  One of her dark Betazoid curls came loose and she tucked it behind her ear impatiently. 

"And I would thank you, Doctor." And Elani stressed this title quite rudely, "That the next time you have a professional disagreement to not dress down your coworkers in the full view of your entire sickbay. Professional, friendly advice from one professional to another."

Elani kept eye contact with Angeni and certainly wouldn't be the first to look away. Alpha women and all that.  

(reply Angeni, any)
(posted by Mel)


(USS Spectre – Sickbay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 15:54)

Angeni listened to the Betazed dress her down and quite thoroughly. The reaction to a simple question obliterated any initial respect she had for the woman.  Quietly, she listened to her, never breaking eye contact with her.

"And I would thank you, Doctor." Angeni saw red at how curtly the word 'Doctor' fell from the woman's lips, but her expression never changed.
 
"That the next time you have a professional disagreement to not dress down your coworkers in the full view of your entire sickbay. Professional, friendly advice from one professional to another."

Angeni grinned a wolfish grin. "I had just asked a simple question, Counselor, nothing more." Her tone was firm but neutral. Angeni shifted slightly on her feet, brining her body within the Counselor's personal bubble. With the shift, her posture straightened and she raised an eyebrow.

"Also, I believe I will have a discussion with Dr. Williams about this and I will see what his decision is about a change in policy, but in the interim, I hope you will be more careful next time." She crossed her arms over her chest, her face neutral. If the woman before her wanted to play Alpha...well...she didn't realize who she had just started with.  Too many years of having to stand out against Type-A Testosterone filled men kept her from backing down from a challenge.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I've got to finish taking care of this patient."

(Reply Melinda)
(Posted by Kari)



(USS Spectre - Astrometrics - Science Officer, Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 16:08)

McKenzie had brought up a map on the Void and had studied it while waiting for Palmer to arrive, as well as ensuring he had a permanent lock on the buoy the Captain had ordered at the entrance. 

LIFEFORM APROCHING ASTROMETICS.

McKenzie glanced back slightly at the door as it opened to reveal Palmer.

"So, where are we?" asked Palmer.

"For now, I have added some security measures to the lab in case of attack. If we have been told that we need to be careful about who we are sharing information with, then I wanted to ensure we were not caught out."

McKenzie moved to another part of the console.

"Also, I have been looking at the void, and I believe you will find this interesting." He said as he showed Palmer the interactive map of the Void on the large view screen. "This place is massive and it defies logic. Some areas show plasma storms and next to them, highly volitie gases which should ignite but don't. Or small nebulae which appeal to change colour dispite being made up of molicles of different colours. Just a few examples of rather odd logic-defying anomalies. Anyway, this PADD should contain everything you want to know."

"Superb. I'll tackle the research part; see what we have on the void. Shall we exchange information in an hour and try to assemble a plan of action?"

"I agree" McKenzie said. "But lets use a secure and isolated channel for any discussion related to this. Oh, and I have isolated these consoles, so you won't be able to gain access to them outside of this room, so you'll have to return here for more data."

(Reply Lieutenant Palmer.)
(Posted by Gavin Work.)


(Tellarite Vessel - Transport Room - Cadet Kurrik - and Tellarite, Dor Bashka - 16:32)

Kurrick had barely finished his sentence when the Tellarites moved in. Needless to say, Twinnings had reacted in a typically Human manner by immediately on the offensive.

“Who are you? And why have you taken us from out ship?, he cried. Kurrik raised an eyebrow, curious. He thought that Twinnings might have realised that they were Tellarite, so why ask who they were. Not only because their appearance removed any doubt, but that half of the equipment in the room was 'borrowed' from others! One of the Tellarites, Dor Bashka looked the Human up and down and then shook his head. This was only the fourth time he had interacted with Humans, and each time had taught him that they could not be trusted. He turned instead to the Vulcan.

"I might ask you who you are", he said curtly, "but the question would be wasted. It is obvious to us why you are here and that is because you don't want to be", he added. "Human's and Vulcan's are near identical"

"That, would depend upon which part of the body you were comparing", said Kurrik, "you might say that externally we are very similar, but you would be incorrect to state that we are... identical", he added.

The Tellarite screwed up his eyes and then shook his head, "I was referring to the way you act, not the way you look", said Bashka, "typically, you both leap before you look and if you can pay, bribe, or force someone else to do your dangerous and dirty work to keep your own hands clean, then you do so", he added. "Which explains why you are here"

"How so?", asked Kurrik, "we have not forced anyone to come into this place"

"Pre-cisely", said Bashka, "you are the 'forced', not the force. No one would come here willingly", he added. "So who sent you?"

Kurrik raised another curious eyebrow. "Your logic is not entirely without flaws", he began, "you forget....."

The Tellarite cut him off in an instance. "I'm not interested", he said, "who sent you in here?"

"That would take a very long time to explain", said Kurrik, "needless to say, we would rather not be here. Are you the Captain of this vessel?", he asked. The Tellarite looked stunned at the query, of course he wasn't. Couldn't he tell by the insignia?

"I think that you should both come with me now", said Bashka, "Oh, and the air in here is breathable. You can remove your helmets"

Kurrik looked to Twinnings standing nearby and then to the Tellarite before unlatching the helmet locks and turning the unit to the left until it released. Then he lifted the helmet from his head and lowered it to his side as both he and Twinnings followed the Tellarites.

"I don't suppose that you know where my Mothers recipe for Plommik soup is, do you?", said Kurrik.

(Reply Twinnings, IYW)

"You, are clearly under the influence of the void", said Bashka. "Tell me, have you seen any ritaboolskort yet?"

(Reply Twinnings, IYW)

Clearly the UT was not familiar with one of the words the Tellerite had spoken, but from the sounds of it, it probably wasn't very pleasant. Kurrik turned to Twinnings once again. "Porsa", he said, "Porsa is on the Garallon, alone"

(Reply Twinnings)

(Reply Twinnings)
(Posted by Alan)


(Tellarite Vessel - Transport Room - Cadet Twinnings - 16:35)
 
"Oh, and the air in here is breathable. You can remove your helmets"

~No way in hell I am taking this thing off. Medical said it was dangerous for me so I won’t~

He watched closely out the corner of his eye as Kurrik took his helmet off but showed no problems with the air. He then followed Kurrik and the Tellarites

"I don't suppose that you know where my Mothers recipe for Plommik soup is, do you?", said Kurrik.

Twinnings rolled his eyes as Kurrik mentioned his soup.

“I am sorry I can’t take my helmet off, I have been told by medical that I would die.”

"You, are clearly under the influence of the void",

"Tell me, have you seen any ritaboolskort yet?"

Twinnings looked at Bashka as the universal translator tried to change it into an understandable language and failed miserably.

He shook his head as he spoke.

“Um no I have not seen a ritaboolskort.”

As he tried to get his mouth around the unknown word. 

"Porsa"

"Porsa is on the Garallon, alone"

He looked over to Kurrik and nodded

“We need to get back to her soon or she might succumb to the voids influence.  

(Reply Kurrik)

“I will try and communicate with Porsa and tell her where we are.”

(Reply Kurrik)

He brought up the environmental suits communication system.  There was a lot of static as he tried to punch through a message but he would be surprised if it go through.
He shook his head and spoke softly to Kurrik.

“I don’t thinks it’s getting through but we may be lucky.”

(Reply Kurrik)

(Reply Kurrik, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(Tellarite Vessel - Transport Room - Cadet Kurrik - 16:36)
 
What on Vulcan was Twinnings on about, thought Kurrik. Who told him he would die? Surely he was fabricating for some reason but why? Perhaps he knew where the recipe was.

Kurrik looked at his colleague suspiciously, it was not an emotion that he was comfortable with.  Indeed he was not confortable with 'any' emotions. Porsa however had immediately entered his mind, his concern for the young woman suddenly over riding any need to confront Twinnings about the recipe.

"Porsa is on the Garallon, alone", he offered, to which Twinnings responded accordingly.

"We need to get back to her soon or she might succumb to the voids influence."

Kurrik quirked his head and then reminded the man about the Dragons she had been reporting.

“I will try and communicate with Porsa and tell her where we are.”

Kurrik raised an eyebrow quizzically, and then looked to Bashka and the other Tellarite as they proceeded down the corridor to what appeared to be a standard Federation turbolift!

"I do not believe that you will successful in that attempt", he offered, still curious about the turbolift. Obviously, the Tellarites had scavenged it and reversed engineered it to fit their own systems. But where had they got it from? Predictably, Twinning was unable to raise Porsa, and as the doors to the turbolift closed, Kurrik motioned to their surroundings witha nod of his head and then left him in no doubt as to what he was trying to get across.

"Our surroundings seem remarkably familiar, wouldn't you say Mr Twinnings?", he said.

(Reply Twinnings)

Needless to say, their arrival on the bridge of the ship was prompt and without incident, Bashka leaving the lift first and then presenting the two men to his superior.

"The two Starfleet crewmen, Gicha", he began. "they are requesting to know why we have brought them aboard"

Gicha nodded and then brought his hands across his chest as he settled back into his chair.

"Are they now", he said, "perhaps they would like to be beamed back to the failing comfort of their own vessel", he offered. "Or perhaps they might consider a trade of some sort in exchange for some much needed assistance"

Kurrik was the first to respond, Twinnings still trying to work out why they had just stepped out of a Federation turbolift onto the bridge of a Tellarite vessel.

"A trade?", said Kurrik. "What would we have that you might consider useful to you, and more importantly, what assistance could you offer?", he enquired. Gicha nodded and inhaled deeply, something told him that the two fleeters might like what he had to say, but would they be prepared to give him what he required?

"You need your warp core bacck I believe?", said Gicha, "to bring your ships main propulsion online, a fighting chance to get away from this place?", he asked. "I can recover that for you"

"And what would you require in return?", asked Kurrik.

"We can discuss terms later", said Gicha, "if I am not mistaken, your remaining two crewmen are in danger of running out of air", he added, leaving both Kurrik and Twinnings somewhat confused. Did he say 'two' crewmen? There was only one and that was Porsa...

(Reply Twinnings)
(Posted by Alan)


(Tellarite Vessel - Bridge - Cadet Twinnings - 16:40)

"We can discuss terms later"
 
"if I am not mistaken, your remaining two crewmen are in danger of running out of air",
 
He glanced at Kurrik
 
~Two, he said two. How else is on board with Porsa~
 
He looked over at Gicha.
 
“Yes the two others are over there and we need to help them. So what is it that you want from us so we can go and do that.”
 
He knew that getting snippy with the Tellarite which was not a good idea but he was not known for his diplomatic tendencies which was why he had been put into the emergency engineering rescue and recovery team. He pulled himself up to his full EV suited high which was a few inches more than his normal and looked at Gicha.
 
(Reply Gicha)

(Reply Kurrik, Gicha, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Astrometrics - Science Officer, Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 16:44)

“Ensign Smith to Lieutenant McKenzie”

McKenzie tapped his badge. "McKenzie here."

“Sir I have been informed that astrometrics has been isolated as well as the consoles. Your authorisation codes have been used. What are you doing Sir.”

While still in the comm chat, McKenzie spoke. "Computer, isolate this comm channel from common chat frequencies" The computer bleeped. Kenny didn't want anyone else hearing this chat in case any potential saboteur found out what he was doing. Now he was sure that only he and Ensign Smith could hear this chat.

"I am working on a project in Astrometrics and, given the nature of our mission, I cannot have any potential spies or saboteurs interfering with my work."

(Reply Ensign Smith.)

"I understand your concerns, Ensign, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. As per protocol, you have the right to object and inform your Chief."

(Reply Ensign Smith.)
(Posted by Gavin Work.)


(USS Spectre - Bridge, Ops – Ensign, Robert Smith - 16:47)
 
Robert paused as he saw from his console that the comm channel had been isolated so that no one else could listen in to his and McKenzie conversation.
"I am working on a project in Astrometrics and, given the nature of our mission, I cannot have any potential spies or saboteurs interfering with my work."

Robert paused for a moment before he spoke taking in what McKenzie had just said.
 
“Sir I understand that but with all due respect it is not really a good idea to isolate you in astrometrics.”
 
"I understand your concerns, Ensign, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. As per protocol, you have the right to object and inform your Chief."

He paused again.

“Yes sir that is my protocol Sir, but just so that you understand. With you isolating astrometrics you have massively reduced our capability to see what is happening outside the ship. We are having problems as it is. Sir would it be possible for you to move to a different location this would be immensely helpful?”

(Reply McKenzie)

(Reply McKenzie, any)
(Posted by Robbie) 


(USS Spectre - Astrometrics - Science Officer Lt JG Kenneth McKenzie - 16:51)

=/\= “Yes sir that is my protocol Sir, but just so that you understand. With you isolating astrometrics you have massively reduced our capability to see what is happening outside the ship. We are having problems as it is. Sir would it be possible for you to move to a different location this would be immensely helpful?”=/\=

McKenzie stopped what he was doing and looked up, his eyes darting around as he thought hard. This was an odd request from Ensign Smith. Surly, Smith, would trust McKenzie to be able to relate any relevant information from Astrometrics to other parts of the ship... unless...

A shiver ran down his spine. Smith wanted to move McKenzie from Astrometrics... which is what any saboteur would want to do! If he left the lab, anyone would be able to enter and steal data or upload a virus, compromising the mission. No, he could not leave the lab.

He had to think fast about his response. Five seconds had gone by and he had not answered Smith. Six, seven, Eight. He had to reply so as to not arouse suspicion, but now he had to consider the possibility that Smith was compromised. Was he a spy? Was he working with anyone else?

"Uh... that is... OK... Ensign Smith." McKenzie said, though no were near as convincing as he wanted it to sound. "I can relate any information the ship needs on contact."

(Reply Ensign Smith.)

"I uh... must get back to work now. Contact me if you need me. McKenzie out." He said, and closed the channel before Smith could reply.

His fingers darted around the console. He established a quick and secure connection to the system for a few sections to pull Smith's file, before closing the connection again. He read as much as he could of the file with his level of security clearance. He would not risk an alarm going off.

However, he didn't find anything in Smith's public file, but that didn't mean he was not involved. He knew he had to be careful. Spies could be anywhere on the ship.

The Tempest... he had to find out what it had to do with all of this, and why he was told he could not trust Starfleet.

And why had Smith wanted McKenzie away from Astrometics?

(Reply Ensign Smith.)
(Posted by Gavin Work)  


(ATV Garallon - Deck 7 - Cadet Udet - 17:00)

How long had he been in hiding?  Max had lost track of time, and even
place.  He knew the British and French patrols wouldn¹t find him after
he¹d programmed the security console so that the internal sensors would
ignore his biosigns, but he still tried not to risk unnecessary movement.
He at least five corridors and then 6 decks to make it back to the safety
of the German lines, and knew that entering "no-man¹s lift² would expose
to the dangers of not only British and French machine guns, but to
friendly and equally dangerous German fire as well.  No, it was better to
stay put.

How many hours had he been crouching in the Jeffries tube?  How many hours
since his last meal?  It seemed almost like another life when he¹d been
flying over the French countryside in his Fokker DVII biplane, its
distinctive black paint with yellow wingtips exceeded only by his
commander¹s blood red Fokker Triplane in the fear it instilled in enemy
rookies and aces alike.  But here, on the Garallon¹s decks behind enemy
lines, Max was nobody.

If he could only find and surrender to a British or French airfield, he
knew he would be treated well, swap stories and drink wine with the other
side¹s pilots, many of whom were friends from before the war, and
eventually be traded back for some unlucky pilot who was equally enjoying
stories and schnapps with his German captors.  It was the infantry, the
trenches and that damned turbo lift he needed to avoid.

(Reply None)
(Posted by Andrew)


(ATV Garallon - Deck 4, Jefferies Tube Access Hatch, A9 - Cadet Porsa - 17:06)

... The communicator just clicked, and then returned static. All attempts so far had failed to raise anything but, and Porsa was now more worried than she had been before. Suddenly the Garallon seemed much bigger, the thrum of the warp engines having long since faded after the rushed ejection of the warp core courtesy of some quick thinking from Kurrik. Exiting the hatchway though, she allowed her feet to find solid gound and then eased her now aching body out from the cramped crawl space and into the corridor proper, the back-up lighting flickering just briefly as she did so.

Porsa stood up straight and then looked along the length of the corridor, a dirty hand coming up to brush an errant strand of greasy hair away from her eyes.

~Where the hell are you guys?~ she thought. And what the hell was it with Kurrik anyway? Plommik soup was Plommik soup, what was so damned special about his Mothers that he had to go out onto the hull and look for it? It didn't exist! The ever logical Vulcan though seemed convinced that it did.

The questions hung in the degrading recesses of her troubled mind like a bad smell. It had been nearly forty five minutes since Twinnings had spoken to her, and far more for Kurrik, both of whom had simply disappeared off the radar now. Add to that the fact that she kept bumping into Dragons at almost every turn and the situation was even further compounded.

Porsa glanced back hesitantly into the Jefferies tube as a shriek echoed from somewhere deep in the bowels of the ship, and that eerie scraping of talons along metal bulkheads and trunkings. The exhausted Cadet wondered for a moment or two if she had simply gone mad, then she reached down to grasp at the fallen panel to lift it up to place it back into the hatch before turning the locking pins into place. They latched with a click just as a metallic thud sounded elsewhere causing Porsa to jump nervously.

~What the hell was that?~ she thought. Perhaps Kurrik and Twinnings were back on board? Perhaps their comms had failed? After all, who else could it possibly be?

"Kurrik! Twinnings! Is that you?", said Porsa, her voice echoing down the corridor of the empty vessel to remind her of the time that she and her sister, Ampera had played in a huge oil container to see how long they could make their echoes last. Of course there was no answer so she again activated her comms badge.

"Kurrik,  please respond. Twinnings?", she said, hoping now that one of them would at least answer her call.

Once again though, only static issued forth, lowering Porsa's spirits even further than they already were. The notion that something had happened to them did not bear thinking about, and nor did the thought of being alone on the Garallon with nothing but Dragons and no other help. She had to find them, if she didn't find them then she was lost and she might as well blow herself out of an airlock and be done with it rather than sit there waiting for the air to run out.

"The bridge", said Porsa, "I need to get to the bridge"

A logical thought that even Kurrik would have appreciated. Access the internal sensors, activate the external hull cameras, find Twinnings and the half baked Vulcan before anything else went wrong, or more Dragons appeared. It seemed like a good plan. Perhaps even Donnelly, her tactical theory instructor back at the academy might even have given her an extra credit for it...

(Reply None)
(Posted by Alan)


(ATV Garallon - Turbolift 1 - Cadet Porsa - 17:10)

Hoping that the turbolifts were still functioning, Porsa entered through the doors and then gave the command for the bridge, the doors sliding closed making the light within the cramped cell fall to an even lower level before it moved vertically, and then horizontally along the internal transport tubes. It took longer than normal due to the ship being on back up power, all essential systems, life support and such being given priority access to the remaining reservoir available. Eventually though the doors slid aside and Porsa found herself looking out onto a bridge bathed in red low level lighting.

(Reply None)
(Posted by Alan


(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:14)

Porsa looked at the command chair and raised an eyebrow. At one time she would have given anything for a chance to just sit in that chair, if even for a few moments. Now though her objective was the tactical console away to the left, thoughts of Donnelly losing his temper with her the time she had accidentally misjudged a supply freighter for a Romulan Warbird and targetted it's engines during a simulation, still prominent in her mind. This was no simulation though, this was a real flesh and blood, do or die situation that required accuracy and a level head at a time when Porsa's head was anything but.

Misjudgement was not an option. What if another Dragon appeared though?

The Cadet quirked her head and then streched her neck to ease the tension that had been developing in it over the last few hours. Then she accessed the console to bring the external cameras online, panning along the length and breadth of the ship in an attempt to locate Twinnings and Kurrik, all to no avail of course. Switching to the internal sensors, the external sensors having long since failed, she then began looking for Kurik and Twinnings lifesigns.

Nothing showed.

Leaving the internal sensors online, she then moved to the centre chair and looked to the viewscreen, the pink and orange glow of the void swirling about to create visible eddies that carried small rocks and broken equipment in ever expanding circles, remnants of other vessels that had had the misfortune to become trapped in this nightmare of a place no doubt. Without even thinking, Porsa sat in the command chair and then slumped back into it, her hands coming to rest on the banks of switches and readouts in both armrests as she did so. It didn't really register that at that exact moment she was doing precisely the thing she had always wanted to do, now though all she wanted was to find Kurrik and Twinnings, and to get the hell out of this place.

Somewhere beyond her though an alarm sounded to break her reverie. Porsa dismissed it as another system alert, a failing battery cell... or something. Then she got up idly to move back to the tactical console, the thought occuring that perhaps it might be an airlock warning to signal the return of her colleagues.

It turned out to be no such thing...

~What the hell~ thought Porsa, registering the single contact on deck 7 as she adjusted the sensors for a closer look. Was it a life sign? If it was then it could only be Twinnings or Kurrik, everyone else had been taken aboard the Tempest before that woman had cast the ship adrift and sent it towards the void. Nervously, Porsa opened a channel once again.

"Kurrik, Twinnings? Please respond guys. Come on gimme a break here. Stop fooling around if that's you", she said, wondering then if what she was actually seeing might be another Dragon.

~No, that's not real. It can't be real. This place is screwing with my head. There aren't any freaking Dragons~

Porsa watched the contact for a few seconds more, and then it disappeared!

"Damn you!", she cried, hitting the console with her hand in frustration and then returning to the viewscreen to stand immediately before it, a tear appearing and then trickling down her cheek as she surveyed the expanse of the void and feeling that it was about to consume her. And then she saw it! Another vessel just sitting there, unmoving, dead ahead and about four thousand metres seemingly holding station.

"Hello, who the hell are you then?", she said, reaching up to gingerly touch the viewscreen itself where the vessel was. So near and yet so far. The Garallon's comms system was down now, only short range internal communication being possible which excluded the means to contact whoever 'that' was out there. What could she do? How could she let them know she was here? Did they already know? Did they perhaps have Kurrik and Twinnings?

So many questions, so little time and no means to answer any. The frustration building within her now was palpable, her brow furrowing in confusion. She needed to sleep but that of course was completely out of the question.

Where the hell was Kurrik and Twinnings?

The alarm sounded on the console beyond once again, but Porsa ignored it. It was probably just another Dragon....

(Reply, Udet IYW)
(Posted by Alan) 


(ATV Garallon - Deck 7 - Cadet Udet - 17:14)

Suddenly a sound came from behind him.  The engine sound was distinctive;
British SE5s, three by the sound of them.  Were they looking for him?  It
had been days, hadn¹t they given up yet?  Max knew that he couldn¹t linger
in one spot too long, so he decided on action.

With a mighty kick the access panel from the Jeffries tube was veritably
launched across the corridor, with Max moving quickly down the corridor,
around the corner and then just as quickly into another tube.  His motion
was too fast for his trickery with the internal sensors to hold, and the
beep on his security tricorder confirmed that he had been detected.  No
hope of concealment now, he rose four decks through the Jeffires tube and
exited back to the corridor and made a run for the lift.  

He made it without contacts and then closed the door behind him, but remained
stationary, not ordering the lift anywhere as he listened carefully for
the sound of enemy troups or those blasted SE5s.  Sure enough, the engine
sounds came along shortly.

(Reply None)
(Posted by Andrew)


(ATV Garallon - Deck 7 - Cadet Udet - 17:20)

"Bridge" Max whispered quietly.  The lift moved slower than usual, but did
make its way to the bridge.  Max had no idea what to expect when he got
there, but he was ready.  His Luger hand phaser was set to heavy stun and
its battery fully charged.  It was now or never.

The lift doors opened and Max saw a woman seated in the captain's chair
with her back to him.

"Hands up, and stand up straight.  Nice and slow."

(Respond Porsa)
(Posted by Andrew)


(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:22)

Porsa had now retaken the command chair, the ship on the viewscreen had not moved at all. Indeed, the only thing that seemed to be moving at that moment in time was the debris outside that had been caught up in the giant swirling eddies of the void. For a moment, the young Cadet just sat there watching the eddies form, and then dissipate in long streaks. For what it was all worth it really was quite beautiful. Dangerous, but beautiful. Hardly the kind of place though that anyone would want to spend a holiday!

Suddenly, a voice boomed from behind her and she stood up straight and turned to face the source.

"Hands up, and stand up straight.  Nice and slow.", said the Human male, his expression one of confusion and an equal amount of exhaustion. Porsa recognised the man as one of their crew of course, but he did not seem to recognise her. What was his name? Uden? Udey? Something like that. Porsa drew a sharp intake of breath and then shot her hands up.

"Hey", she said, "I'm unarmed, I'm not a threat to you. Just take it easy will you"

(Reply Udet)

Clearly, the man was posessed by the same madness that had been affecting them all since arriving in this soup of a place, and he was talking gibberish. My god, this was worse than Kurriks incessant search for a recipe for Plommik soup!

"I know you", said Porsa, attempting to put the man at ease somewhat as he moved towards her. "Your name is Max. We worked together, don't you remember?"

(Reply Udet)
(Posted by Alan)


(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Udet - 17:23)

"Hey", she said, "I'm unarmed, I'm not a threat to you. Just take it easy
will you"

Max thought she looked familiar, but he wasn’t sure.

Clearly, the man was posessed by the same madness that had been affecting
them all since arriving in this soup of a place, and he was talking
gibberish. My god, this was worse than Kurriks incessant search for a
recipe for Plommik soup!

"I know you", said Porsa, attempting to put the man at ease somewhat as he
moved towards her. "Your name is Max. We worked together, don't you
remember?"

Max looked over his shoulder as he heard the sound of the British planes
in the distances. 

“Its not safe here.  They’ve got SE5s up scouting for me and they seem to
be getting closer.  I have to make it back to the German lines, or at
least to an enemy airfield.

(Reply Porsa)

“What?  I, you aren’t making any sense.  We should be about 30 kilometers
from the lines, if we run we can make it by nightfall."

(Reply Porsa)
(Posted by Andrew)


(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:24)

“Its not safe here.  They’ve got SE5s up scouting for me and they seem to be getting closer.  I have to make it back to the German lines, or at least to an enemy airfield.", said Max, leaving Porsa with a connundrum indeed. German lines? SE5's?

For a moment the cadet just furrowed her brow as she tried to fathom what the hell the man was on about, and then she suddenly remembered the Dragons, and the notion she had formed that they were not real at all, and that this place they were in was messing with their heads in some way, including Max's it would seem...

"I don't suppose you've seen any... Umm, Dragons on your travels have you?", she asked, cautiously.

“What?  I, you aren’t making any sense.  We should be about 30 kilometers from the lines, if we run we can make it by nightfall.", came the equally confusing response from the man currently pointing a phasor directly in her direction. Why, just a few days beforehand, she had been discussing the molecular parameters of a transporter beam with this guy, and now here she was on the wrong end of a weapon in his hand!

"I'm sure I saw a Dragon with wings an hour or so ago", said Porsa, "perhaps we could fly to the German lines", she offered, wondering what Max would make of that, whilst glancing up to her hands, which were still held aloft. "I don't suppose I could lower my hands now could I? Only my shoulders are beginning to ache", she asked.

(Reply Udet)
(Posted by Alan)


(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Udet - 17:26)

“What?  I, you aren’t making any sense.  We should be about 30 kilometers
from the lines, if we run we can make it by nightfall.", came the equally
confusing response from the man currently pointing a phasor directly in
her direction. Why, just a few days beforehand, she had been discussing
the molecular parameters of a transporter beam with this guy, and now here
she was on the wrong end of a weapon in his hand!

"I'm sure I saw a Dragon with wings an hour or so ago", said Porsa,
"perhaps we could fly to the German lines"

Max lowered the phaser and visibly relaxed, almost overwhelmed with a wave
of exhaustion as realization sank in.

“There are no German lines.  We are….”

Max looked around, clipped the phaser to his belt and walked closer to
Porsa.

“Am I the only one going crazy?”

(Reply Porsa)

“Well in a strange way, I guess that’s good to hear.  What is still
working?  We can’t just stay here.  Breathable atmosphere won’t last
forever, and eventually there won’t be any snapping out of whatever it is
I was in.”

(Reply Porsa)

“What about a shuttle?”

(Reply Porsa)
(Posted by Andrew)


(ATV Garallon - Bridge - Cadet Porsa - 17:27)

"There are no German lines.  We are….", said Max, apparently momentarilly confused as to what Porsa was going on about. Porsa breathed a sigh of relief as he lowered his phasor and then clipped it to his belt, then she lowered her arms.

"Am I the only one going crazy?", he asked.

"You, me, Kurrik and... Twinnings seems to be the least affected by whatever this place is doing to us", said Porsa, "at least I'm pretty sure it has something to do with where we are as there were no Dragons before we came in", she added, looking about the bridge and wondering if one would suddenly appear again.

"Well in a strange way, I guess that’s good to hear", said Max, "What is still working?  We can’t just stay here. Breathable atmosphere won’t last forever, and eventually there won’t be any snapping out of whatever it is I was in."

Porsa paused just briefly before answering that. She had questions too after all, like where the hell had Max been hiding, and why had he left it so long to show himself?

"The ship is on emergency back up power, our external sensors are fried and we have no propulsion due to having dumped the core", she answered, still wondering where he had been all this time.

“What about a shuttle?”, asked Max. Porsa shook her head.

"The shuttles are gone", she offered. "Creepy girl and her entourage took them when they transferred over to the Tempest and set the self-destruct. Bitch is weird, weird I tell you", she added.

(Reply Udet)

"So", said Porsa, "what's your story? Where the hell have you been hiding all this time and how come you managed to evade internal sensors?"

(Reply Udet)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre - Medical Research Labs - Dr. Michaella Kirien - 18:16)

Michaella crossed her legs at the ankle and leaned back in her chair, comfortably, studying the screen with a pleased smile on her face. The strain of fungi that she was culturing the dna strains for were progressing nicely as her test model was showing. She wasn't suprised when she felt Riven's touch, a pleased feeling flowing through the slightly younger Betazoid woman. Her mind opened to Riven's and the two merged for a moment, the spirits touching as the Betazoid religions stated.  It was a mystical experience, which was appropriate since Riven was a Priest of the Goddess, and Michaella was technically a daughter of the Goddess since she had been born in the Temple while her Mother was serving as an acolyte. This hadn't endeared her to her future step-father or siblings. While daughters of the Goddess were favored in the old religion, in the more modern times, these bastard children were looked slightly down upon.  Michaella supposed that it was the influence of the humans and their puritanical culture that was subtly shifting the views of a vast majority of the Betazoid people.  As a daughter Michaella herself was technically an acolyte as well, though she hadn't practiced in such a long time that she was sure she had forgotten half of the mysteries that were taught in the Temple.

Another nudge brought a brighter smile to her lips and put a halt to her reminiscing.  She laughed softly, relaying in a few bursts of thought what she had been thinking about, knowing that he would have a good idea of what to do to reverse this trend.  Or at least now he would be thinking about it and the two of them could discuss it over dinner.

Dinner... Michaella's stomach growled and she hit the save button with the edge of her fist on the side of the small pedastel that she was doing her modelling on. She made sure to turn off the specialized stylus that allowed her to manipulate the very air of the hologram to make subtle changes to the structure with the ease and practice of a surgeon. Which Michaella was.

::Forgive me c'estri, I was woolgathering. We have dinner plans, yes?:: She sent, the smile touching her lips. The smile faded almost immediately when he relayed what was going on.  Michaella worked in an isolated lab, usually without other people around, since a great deal of her work was done in a negative pressure clean room and getting the proper clearances to go in and out of that room took a while. Contamination could destroy months of research and work.  This was Michaella's Domain and she was very protective of being the Empress of this little hill.

She listened, frowning, her mind flashing back to that final battle when the sentient ship that had linked into the Mystique had grabbed Vanyssa Winters' mind and the minds of almost every telepath on the ship.  Many had been injured, few had been burned out, sent back to Betazed or Vulcan with Starfleet's apologies.  And Vanyssa, she had been one of Michaella's friends and she had gotten the rawest deal of them all.  Put into stasis and shipped off the Betazed and to the Temple.

"And all of the King's horses and all of the King's men.." Michaella whispered, one horrified part of her fearing that this time she would be called upon to give the ultimate sacrifice, to give her life for the ship.  Realistically Michaella wasn't a particularly brave person.  She really didn't want to be in that position at all, and she certianly didn't want to really think about it. One could be driven crazy doing those hypothetical what ifs.

::Riven, I'm going to go to Engineering then, and set up a safe area there.  If there is an Engineer you would like me to work with, Captain, it would be my pleasure to do so.::

Michaella had opened her mind slightly to include the Captain in her broadcast.  She didn't want to do this. All she wanted was a good dinner in ten-forward, a glass of wine, a dish of something delectable and chocolate and a long evening with Riven, spent leisurely doing absolutely nothing.  Such was the life of a starfleet officer.  
Michaella stopped long enough to grab her blue lab coat and pin her comm badge to it before exiting her small corner of the ship and making her way towards Engineering.

"I swear to the Goddess, " She muttered as she stepped into the turbolift, "Riven you -owe- me."  She leaned against the wall as the computer chirped and she barked out, "Main Engineering."

(Reply Riven, T`Vhor, any)
(posted by Mel :-)


(USS Spectre – Sickbay – ACMO Ensign A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:20)

Angeni didn't want to leave Riven's side. It took everything she had to not reach out and put her hand on his shoulder; she didn't want to disturb him in any way. She felt dramatically better, but her adrenalin was wearing off and all she felt was sick to her stomach and exhausted. The biobed that Security officers would relax on while guarding a high value corpse in the Morgue was calling her name and loudly, yet she was afraid to go to sleep for fear of having nightmares again. She didn't want to admit to herself all she wanted to do was be around as many people as humanly possible. Without others milling about, she'd have no idea if the hallucinations...if they came back...were real.
 
She heard Andrew talking to her and she moved closer to him, a weak smile on her face.
 
"At least it's just the normal crazy people now."
 
Angeni snickered and laughed. The woman who was about to kill her atop the Bio bed was holding onto her boyfriend for dear life. She looked at her watch and sighed. "I'm famished. Do you want me to go and get some food? I'll see if the kitchen in Ten Forward will let me make up some sandwiches. I can leave food and tea in the conference room. I don't see the onslaught ending any time in the near future. Anyone with any sort of mental problem will be here, even with the good Doctors' ministrations."
 
(Reply Robbie)
 
Angeni nodded and checked on her patients one last time before dropping her coat off in her office and she ran out the door.

(Reply Robbie, Any)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Bridge - CO, Captain T'Vhor - 18:21)

Dr Riven, it seemed was now ready to proceed with his plan, the Captain settling back into his chair in readiness. Riven then began with further instructions, which basically amounted to a brief description of what, exactly was happening to them. It made sense of course, the release of emotions and memories from the subconscious into the hear and now. No wonder everyone was experiencing what amounted to impromptu mental breakdowns.
 
::Medical could make use of this information as well in formulating some treatment to control the release of endorphins, knowledge of which I unfortunately did not have time to pass along.Angeni however has also experienced this same type of attack in the past and now that she can think more clearly I am sure she is already working on the problem however I know you will pass this information along::

::Do so:: replied the Captain, preferring to keep the responses at a minimum in order not to stress the Doctor with his task. ::Have Doctor Williams, and anyone else assist in whatever procedure you deem necessary to find this information:: he added, glancing briefly to the viewscreen as the ship veered to the right to avoid an incoming fragment. Riven then continued on with his telepathic communication, alerting the Captain that he was about to tranfer to him the healing discipline that he would need to continue his duties whilst effectively actiing as part of the relay that Riven was trying to establish.

::Are you Ready?:: requested Dr Riven.
 
T'Vhor gave a nod and transferred the response that he was. And then it began.

The first impressions were fast, random and incongruous shapes swirling around in the CO's mind as Riven sent the information to him, then the shapes began to coalesce and take form, a mennacing darkness engulfing the unmistakeable form of the Spectre itself. At first the Captain furrowed his brow as the image formulated and then entered thedefines shape of the ship from all sides. It was like an amoeba absorbing a virus or a germ and it was not something that he enjoyed watching. After all, the crew and ship were 'his' responsibility, and any sign of harm was as uncomfortable as any that a parent might feel for their child when threatened.

Riven continued on

:: This telepathic field is protecting the brain functions of those within your vicinity by erecting a buffer zone between their brain functions and the energy field. It is not necessary that you completely understand how it is formed, you need only continue it and I have no doubt you will be able to enter it once again should your energies wane and you are given time to rest. I myself have only a few hours of energy remaining to continue my watch in sickbay.::

Again, the Captain responded with an affirmative response, informing the Doctor that he understood, and that he was ready to continue. Riven then appeared to return to a quiescent state in order to conserve his energy levels, the intial information now passed as required.

T'Vhor looked around the bridge at those assembled. There was only one telepath on duty and he immediately established the required link to her, and informed her of what was occuring. Initially she had looked startled of course, after all, it wasn't often that your Captain initiated telepathic contact to his subordinates without good reason. Inevitably the contact was broken, the new links in the chain being made aware of what was happening and to pass on that knowledge to the next telepath in the chain. The Captain was then alerted to the FO, who stood suddenly, looked about in a disorientated manner, and then immediately made for the turbolift!

"Commander?", asked the Captain, concerned as to her quick departure and then immediately contacting security at the sudden realisation that the FO had just become compromised.

"Bridge to Security." he said curtly.

(Reply Frost)

"Locate Commander Tsukawa and make sure that she goes to sickbay in the first instance", said the Captain.

(Reply Frost)

The Captain then closed the channel, wondering as he did so how many others would become compromised before Riven's shield could be brought up to full effectiveness...

(Reply Frost, Any)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre - Deck 4, Security Station Alpha - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:25)

=/\="Bridge to Security." =/\=

Will snapped to attention from reading security reports when he got the page from the bridge.

"Frost here, go ahead" He replied with a sense of urgency.

=/\="Locate Commander Tsukawa and make sure that she goes to sickbay in the first instance", =/\=

"Aye sir, I will keep you up to date as to my progress" Will then grabbed his phaser for precaution sake, setting it squarely on stun, as he was trained to do. Tapping his commbadge he asked the computer, ¨Computer what is the location of Commander Tsukawa?¨

=/\=Commander Tsukawa is on Deck 4 headed towards astrometrics=/\=

"Keep me up to date on if her location changes." he replied as then holstered his phaser.

Will then motioned to one of the crewman to take his spot and the security station terminal and he headed down the hall towards astrometrics in a bit of a sprint. He was thankful for the fact he kept up a rigorous cardio regimen. He rarely went to astrometrics but he was certain of the way. As he neared closer however his commbadge beeped.

=/\=Commander Tsukawa is no longer on Deck 4 and is currently en route to Deck 5 via the jeffries tube=/\=

~Damn, I don´t want to cause a panic~ he thought to himself as he changed course to the turbo lift,~What the hell is going on, anyways, I´ll try and corner her on Deck 5.~

He reached the turbolift and hoped for the best.

(reply any)
(posted by Will Banowsky)


(USS Spectre - Deck 5, Corridor - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:30)

Will exited the turbo lift and ran as quick as he could to the jeffries tube junction entrance that he believed that the FO would be existing from. He needed to catch her, he needed to make sure she got to sickbay, and he needed to prove himself to the captain. He wanted to be a better officer, and the only way to achieve this was to do his duty. In a fight to prove himself was easy, he just needed to go out there, do his best, and keep his mind and body sharp. But being a good office and choking a guy out in a strangle hold.

He picked up the pace and managed to reach the entrance just as the commander was exiting into the corridor. He positioned himself in away to block her escape.

"Commander, Captain T'Vhor would like you to accompany me to sickbay."

(reply Tsukawa iyw)

"Commander, I had to give the easy way or hard way speech, but I would much prefer the easy way. I don't know why you are running, but if you follow me, I won't have to stun a superior officer, and your head wont hurt in the morning."

(reply Tsukawa iyw)

(reply Tsukawa iyw, Any)
(posted by WB)


(USS Spectre - Engineering - CEO, Ensign Remae Ktell - 18:30)

Emerging from the jefferies tube, Remae looked around at Engineering and
then at himself. His uniform was unkempt and he looked quite a site. He
looked like he hand spent a long time in that tube but he had completed
the realignment that had been on his mind.

"Computer, log me back on duty.", he said now standing up. The computer
beeped but then a loud non-computer noise came from his back.

*click*

The Bajoran had frozen half way to standing straight and was now stooped
over, looking at the floor. He attempted to return to the crouched
position.

He couldn't move.

He then attempted to straighten again.

He couldn't move.

Remae contemplated his options...

(Reply from Any)
(Posted by Anthony Keen)

 
(USS Spectre - Turbolift - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:30)
 
Angeni leaned her head up against the wall as she closed her eyes. For the first time in several hours, her mind was quiet. Every once in a while, the shade of a creepy feeling would pass over her, but it quickly dissipated. As she walked through the corridors to reach Ten Forward, she could tell that Riven's ability had its limit; people were walking around like Zombies. She startled each person as she moved past them. They looked at her with an accusing eye, trying to figure out why she was unaffected. She spoke gently and lovingly, telling people there was an oasis of sanity in Sickbay and they should visit it. In time, there would be food and drink.  As she reached the doors, a child ran into her, screaming violently. She picked the child up in her arms, cooing softly. "Oh, little one. It's okay..." She looked at the child and recoiled in horror; the child was covered in blood. He looked to be only three or four years old and all he was doing was screaming and crying in her arms. She looked around and followed the bloody footprints down the corridor. The door slid open and she could see two very deceased adults laying on the floor.
 
"Security!!!" She screamed loudly. She hit the alarm on the door panel and set the child down. He clung to her leg tightly as she was able to just glance over the bodies and tell they were gone. Security ran in the room and she picked the child up, holding him to her. He fell asleep in her arms quickly as she worked around the security officers. They were already packaging the bodies for transport to the morgue as she emerged from the bedroom with a small bag packed with childrens' clothes.
 
"I guess you can drop him off at Lt. Narano's  quarters..." She went to hand the child over and the Klingon looked at her quizzically.
 
"Lt. Narano was left at the Starbase to deliver her child. We never picked up another nursery teacher."  Angeni looked at him in horror. "Well...what...I can't..."
 
They were in the middle of nowhere. They couldn't just drop the kid off on a random planet. They were nowhere near a Starbase that could care for him and send him to his family. She had met the family just once before for a follow up after a cold for little Andy. She knew they were from Earth, but nothing more much more about them. She looked at the mocha skinned child that was sleeping peacefully in her arms and she looked back at Sgt. No'thera. He just raised an eyebrow and went back to work securing the quarters and bodies.
 
Within a few minutes, Angeni found another crewmember who had taken over Lt. Narano's responsibilities. She explained the situation and the Andorian woman showed up just outside the quarters within moments. Angeni handed over the bag full of clothes, but hesitated on handing Andy over. The Cherokee woman had mused about having children and it had been a while since she held a young child in her arms. Angeni looked at Casreni and smiled softly.
 
"Is it okay if I visit during my off period? It would be a good idea if he got a full work up and everything. He seems fine now. If you are experiencing any hallucinations, feel free to go to Sickbay. It's a safe zone against the mental onslaught."
 
Casreni nodded at her and took Andy from her. For a moment, Angeni's heart sank, but she turned on her heels and headed to Ten Forward.

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Engineering, Ensign (jg) Marianne Yelick - 18:32)

"Mum!"

Marianne heard Casi's voice loud and clear from the hatch, and stood up
to see what was going when she rammed her head against a strut.
"DAUGHTER OF A DUMPING!" came the mock profanity. She muttered as she
rubbed her head. Where was her mind, anyway, that she thought she heard
Casi? Last update was her daughter still wasn't talking to her for not
making it back to Hazul for Casi's birthday.

Crouching down again, she kicked her scanner off the ledge and it
rattled and thumped its way to the deck below. "Double ham on toast!"
was the less enthusiastic cursing.

If Bek hadn't come down with the stomach ailment, she wouldn't even be
working here at this time, but no, she just had to take pity on him --

"MUM!"

"What the blazes?" Marianne grabbed the ladder and slid down, leaving
her toolset by the repair site. Its not like she wouldn't be back. She
dropped the last few feet into a crouch before straightening up.
Everything in Engineering seemed perfectly normal, except for the
engineer doing a very credible impression of a corner square.(1) Tilting
her head sideways, she noticed said engineer wasn't moving and didn't
look particularly comfortable. She took the lift to the lower level,
almost swearing she saw her daughter wave from beside the man, but when
she got to the lower level, there wasn't a sign of Casi anywhere.

"I gotta give up the caf." Marianne muttered shaking her head. "Uh,
excuse me? Are you alright? Can I offer assistance?" She was hoping
assistance wouldn't require anything more complicated than 'summon
sick-bay.'

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Lorna)


(USS Spectre - Deck 5, Corridor - FO, Cmdr Hoshimi Tsukawa - 18:32)

Hoshimi was in a world of her own now, the bridge and her position of first officer a million miles away. At first she had wondered what she was even doing on a starship, the last thing she remembered was the sound of a fairground from someplace nearby, a pipe organ wailing away like a demented banshee and skewing out of phase to create warbling notes that seemed to grate upon her nerves.

And now she was here.

A little while ago a man had appeared with a weapon and challenged her. She had no idea who he was or why he had done so but he had demanded that she go with him, something that she had no intention of doing. All she wanted to do was get to whoever was playing that damned pipe organ and shut them up! Having evaded the man with the weapon though, she had now run into a Lion tamer who was cracking a whip and pursuing a large maned feline at the end of the corridor.

Immediately, Hoshimi had shrieked and backed into the wall, the man in the top hat turning suddenly and then advancing towards her in a menacing manner. He seemed hostile enough, the Lion having now run off down the corridor as the man coiled his bull whip and then prepared to strike. Through the haze though, his voice seemed a little strange and out of place.


"Commander, I will ask you once more, I needyou to come with me to sickbay, Captain's orders"

Hoshimi looked down the corridor past the top hatted man. Who was this Commander and Captain? Pirates of the high sees perhaps? Buccaneers intent on raiding whichever unfortunate soul crossed their path next?

The Lion had appeared once again though, this time it roared at her and then began running towards her. Hoshimi turned and ran away, and then as the roar filled her ears, she felt the beasts claws rip into her back to tear flesh and cloth from her unprotected body. Then she fell to the floor, everything suddenly going black as the Lion began ripping chunks from her torso. The blackness closed in and the pain suddenly ceased.

Hoshimi lost consciousness....

(Reply Any, None)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre - Deck 5, Corridor - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:35)

Will stared down the First officer, she didn't move, she didn't say a word, it was a silent stand off. His right hand, impatient and full of unrest, was wrapped around his phaser, which was still nestled in its holster. He didn't want to have to fire at the FO, but he knew sometimes that people just needed to be dragged kicking and screaming to the doctor. Hell sometimes he felt like his parents were going to stun him just to get him to the Dentist when he was little.

Still he began to weigh all his options. The commander was 5 foot 5 inches tall, Will was 6 foot 2, she was about 121 lbs, will was 225, he outweighed her by about 100 lbs and could easily out muscled her without having to shoot her. Still, he was worried that putting a superior officer in a choke hold would be worse for his career then stunning her. Something about use of excessive force and what not. Still, he was thankful to know that if worse came to worse, he could call Captain Alexander from the Starfleet JAG corp for advice if this whole mess got him sent to the brig.

"Commander, I will ask you once again, I need you to come with me to sickbay, Captain's orders."

This time however, she looked at him, then turned and bolted down the corridor. Will did not hesitate, he pulled out his phaser, knowing full well it was at the lowest stun setting and fired.

As the commander fell to the ground, living but immobilized he holstered his phaser and walked over to her.

"Well I could probably use the peace and quiet of the brig anyways."

(reply any)
(posted by Will Banowsky)


(USS Spectre - Sickbay - Acouns Lt., Dr. Riven Mias - 18:35)
 
After the communication with T'Vhor faded Riven settled back into his own mind for a time but not before touching minds again with Michaella.
 
::Just be careful my sweet, I'm more concerned with the state of those individuals who have already been subjected to the Void's not so tender mercies to this point and how they might react before you are able to give them succor. Medical was a near certifiable madhouse before I was able to gain the attention of all present. The doctors were far too busy with the hardest hit of the crew to succumb to it for the most part but there are some individuals out  there who seem to be much more susceptible to the worst of its siren's song.::
 
(Reply: Michaella)
 
He gave the mental equivelant of a nod.
 
:: One of the ACEO's left a short while ago, he seemed innured to the worst effects and his mind was fairly clear. I believe you will find Mr. Haltom in Main Engineering. I also believe he is orchestrating things in the department from there. I am not certain of Chief K'Tell's status at this moment.::
 
(Reply: Michaella)
 
::If you have any problems let me know and I'll help all I can though I can do precious little from here.:: 
 
(Reply: Michaella)
(Posted by Charles)


(USS Spectre - Main Engineering - Medical Research Dr. Michaella Kirien - 18:37)

Michaella was standing in the turbolift when she was surrounded by daisies and cornflowers.  The scent of roses hung in the air.  The sound of a waterfall in the distance heralded that this was not the holodeck. This was Betazed, the Betazed of Michaella's childhood. She stood watching as a group of children surrounded the then five year old Michaella in the Temple's Gardens.

"What sort of Betazoid has white hair and blue eyes!" One girl jeered as the others started shouting insults at Michaella.  Luckily she hadn't developed her telepathic talents yet, and could only watch as the children heckled their peer. 

"No Father, No Mother, no one wants you. What kind of name is Michaella anyway? some stupid earth name. You aren't really a Betazoid Mikey, you are just a human!"

The older Michaella fought the tears in her eyes as she remembered how that horrible name, Mikey, had stuck with her until her telepathic powers had manifested, proving that in spite of her then white hair and pale blue eyes she was as gifted as the rest of them.

And then Riven's voice broke through the fog and she was again in the turbolift.

::Sorry love. I had an episode, I was back at the Temple...:: She caught her breath, her heart pounding. :: Do you remember me as a child with that shockingly white hair? o Betazoid albinos indeed.::

(reply Riven)

Michaella listened then nodded, ::I'll do my best.  I know you are with me. You are always here. I love you.::  She liked the way he called her his sweet, it warmed her deeply. ::And stop that doubt, Riven. You are one of the strongest telepaths to even be born, if not the strongest in recent recollection. If you have doubt, you will fail and if you fail we are all dead. I draw my strength from you. ::  Her words as she exited into Engineering were for him alone, the frank truth between two people who knew each other better than any two should.

Shortly she was approached by a tellerite and what seemed to be a human. She recognized the human from Riven's mental image.

“Can I help you miss?” He asked her and she cast her gaze over him appraisingly.

"I'm Dr. Michaella Kirien from Medical Research. I'm a Betazoid and I studied under Dr. Mias at the Temple. He sent me here to set up a safe area for your people to work in. So if you please, is there a centrally located area where I might be most helpful and more importantly, out of the way of your business? Oh. Dr. Mias wanted me to check on the Chief as well. Do you know where he is?"

The woman looked as classically Betazoid as any would, and smiled at them, not letting any of her earlier troubles show. She had to be strong, to project a strong feeling to them that she could do this. Because belief mattered here.

::Oh Riven. You are cooking for me when this is all over. Something with lemon and butter... dripping in butter...::  Her stomach gurgled reminding her that she hadn't had a chance to eat yet. Because it was easier to blame Riven than it was to face the situation that they were dealing with.

(reply Riven, any)
(posted by Mel :-)


(USS Spectre - Deck 13, Main Engineering - ACEO, Ens. Jake Haltom - 18:41)

It appeared that Gork’s words might be proving prophetic.

Even though he had not had any psychic episodes of extended hallucinatory worldscapes there had been no shortage of unexpected visitors.

The first was perhaps the most saddening.

“You let me die!” The wraith hissed. What was left of her hair was a scorched mess clinging to her skull, much like the vestiges of flesh about her person and her teeth were playing peek-a-boo with him through the ravaged cheeks.

The Harbinger however regarded her with a neutral expression as he folded his arms and watched her impassively. “So the fact that you decided to scamper through the city while a dragon was busy immersing the streets in hellfire and threatening it with a dagger while I shouted at you to take refuge within the bardic college is my error eh? Perhaps you believe your inability to hear me above the dragon’s roars is also my fault?”

She didn’t sound quite so assured on the next point though she did try. “You were the reason I was there!” She said as she shook a bony finger at his nose.

He gave a wry shake of the head. “I merely liberated a book of verse from a dungeon for the headmaster and help him fill in some of the more illegible gaps. It was Queen Elisef who reinstated the festival which was fattening your coffers since you had the spiced wine vending to yourself. By the way where is my thanks for getting your business back on its feet? I seem to remember speaking in your defense to the authorities so they would release the spices you needed without an exorbitant fee.”

She backpedaled away from his argument and he grinned to himself. It did seem sometimes that the Vulcans had it right. Who could really argue with logic when it was presented in such an irrefutable way? It made sense though if you thought about it since the Void was pulling memories from the subconcious weren't you really in essence arguing with yourself?

The last though had been more malignant because it provoked a visceral reaction.

“Such prey as you do not deserve the gift.” The aristocratic figure of seemingly timeless mien spat at him. “I will destroy you for turning my daughter against me!”

“Harkon!” The Harbinger felt at his belt for the hilt of the sword that was not there as his enemy changed before his eyes, the lordly figure blurred and was replaced by a figure from Oblivion’s deepest pits, a Vampire Lord.

It hissed as it clutched blue fire in its left hand and red in its right as it wings beat at the air and kept it suspended, hovering above the floor.

Jake realized at that moment that the Harbinger could not help him out in every situation, his desire now was to lunge at his enemy with Dawnbreaker burning in his hands and plunge the sword into Harkon’s chest which would surely end with him in sickbay in restraints so he pulled himself back from the brink and did the hardest thing possible… he turned his back on the specter as he spoke. “I’ve destroyed you once… another chance at me would make no difference.”

The short hairs on the back of his neck bristled as he looked back at the warp drive engine which had a brass hue though the blue radiance it shed was the same whether engine or Aetherium forge. As a matter of fact the walls were taking on the same hue as a Dwemer ruin as he watched.

His reverie however was broken by the sound of a familiar voice.

“Who were you talking to?”

Jake turned to look at Gork and noticed that everything seemed to have reverted to normal. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“I doubt that.”

“True.” He nodded his head. “Let’s just say then that the name would have no meaning for you.”

“Now that I can agree with!” Gork gave him a quick grin before her expression sobered. “By the way if things go south don’t hesitate to stun me if necessary.” She shook her head. “The alcohol appears to be wearing off.”

Jake considered his last encounter and nodded. “Believe me I understand.”

The Tellerite gave a frown as she looked beyond him. “Did you call for medical?”

“Why no…” He turned to see a woman in teal walk through the doors. He remembered seeing her on the ship in the company of the counselor who had for a transient moment had transcended all Jake had known about the universe in medical. He still felt his eyes widen at the thought of what he had seen and felt.

He walked toward her and got her attention. “Can I help you miss?”

(Reply: Michaella)
(Posted by Charles)


(USS Spectre - Sickbay - ACouns Lt. Dr. Riven Mias - 18:43)

::Sorry love. I had an episode, I was back at the temple on Betazed. Do you remember me as a child with that shockingly white hair? o Betazoid albinos indeed.::

:: Yes I remember.:: His reply was thoughtful. :: You were given quite a bit of grief over it as I recall.::

He distinctly remembered chastising the most outspoken of her detractors. It had been shown time and again that children were often the clueless members of any species.

:: Once you are centrally located I will introduce you to the discipline I am maintaining.::

::I'll do my best.  I know you are with me. You are always here. I love you. And stop that doubt, Riven. You are one of the strongest telepaths to even be born, if not the strongest in recent recollection. If you have doubt, you will fail and if you fail we are all dead. I draw my strength from you. :: 

He projected an image of himself into her mind. He was chuckling.

::That is not doubt silly girl. I was speaking of physical aid. I will help you all I can with what I can spare of my mental reserves, this is a given. Being there in the flesh is another matter.::

He discreetly  observed as she made contact with the engineering crew of which one was the ACEO.

::Oh Riven. You are cooking for me when this is all over. Something with lemon and butter. Lots of butter.::

He smiled internally at her angst.

:: That goes without saying my dear. It will be my favorite native Bajoran dish then. I'm sure you will enjoy it. I'm watching you so just let me know when you're ready.::

(reply: Michaella any)
(posted by Charles)


(USS Spectre - Sickbay - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:45)

It took will a bit longer than usual to get from Deck 5 to sickbay, but he had taken the utmost care in getting there. He was after all carrying the unconscious first officer in his arms. Worst of all he was the one who shot her, in the back, as she was running away from him. Thankfully no one was around to see it, because it definitely would not have painted him in a very flattering or positive light. Still, after this was all over, he knew full well that Commander Tsukawa was going to get a very nice gift basket from him.

~Hopefully they let me read a book in the brig, I need to catch up on my reading.~

As he walked in he looked for the first person he saw that might be in charge, locating Dr. Riven, whom he knew was a counselor not a doctor, he went up to him saying.

"I was ordered to bring the FO to sickbay by the captain, I had to ummm, bring her in the hard way."

(Reply Riven)
(posted by Will Banowsky)


(USS Spectre - Ten Forward - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:45)
 
Angeni finished packing up the last of the sandwiches. With the help of the kitchen crew she had a large woven basket full of fresh fruits and sandwiches bundled up in tight packs. She had bribed a young Engineer with the promise she would drop off one of the handmade bundles of sandwich awesomeness if he would upload the recipe into the replicator. Each bundle contained several satchels of Lavender and Rose tea. It was to help keep the mind calm and allow the magic of the Telepaths to work. She may not have been able to contribute with mental abilities, but she would do what she could with what she had on hand. As she walked, she exuded an air of confidence and serenity to the scared and terrified crewmembers she met. She directed them to Sickbay, sometimes sending them along with an Apple or a Sandwich. She was a healer first and foremost and she couldn't go past someone who was hurting without rendering aid.
 
She stepped into the Turbolift, her arms still laden with her basket.
 
"Engineering, please."

(Reply None)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Deck 13, Main Engineering - ACEO, Ensign Jake Haltom - 18:45)
 
"I'm Dr. Michaella Kirien from Medical Research. I'm a Betazoid and I studied under Dr. Mias at the Temple. He sent me here to set up a safe area for your people to work in. So if you please, is there a centrally located area where I might be most helpful and more importantly, out of the way of your business?"

The wheels in Jakes brain immediately churning into gear at the query, if Dr. Mias had indeed sent her then it behooved him to find as beneficial a spot as possible for her to work from. He was just settling on a good vantage point when her next words broke through unexpectedly.

"Oh. Dr. Mias wanted me to check on the Chief as well. Do you know where he is?"

"The chief?" It made him want to curse. He had been so engrossed in his duties and the effects of the void he had forgotten chief K'Tell and his concerns for his health. 

"Stand by a moment." His words had been clipped and a bit harsh but directed at himself rather than her as he hit his combadge.

"Chief K'Tell this is ensign Haltom, how are you doing sir?"

(Reply: K'Tell)

His eyes widened a bit. "Good thing we have someone from medical here then sir, what is your location?"

(Reply:K'Tell)

"We'll be right there then. Stand by chief it will only take a couple of minutes to get to you."

(Reply: K'Tell iyw)

He disengaged his comms and looked at her." If you would please accompany me doctor it appears he needs a bit of medical assistance. After that I will be most happy to guide you to a good position from which you can do your work."

He turned and started off at a quick pace to rendezvous with the CEO.

(Reply: Michaella, K'Tell, any)
(Posted by Charles)


(USS Spectre - Sickbay - Acouns Lt., Dr Riven Mias - 18:48)
 
Engineering had taken a bit of a detour as Riven had noted Michaella being routed to the CEO's location for medical treatment. He wasn't sure of what his condition was at this time, only that he required medical attention so he left Michaella's mind so that she could get on with the work at hand and returned stolidly to maintaining the meditative state he had formerly been engrosed in. this trance however did not rule or cancel out his telepathic or empathic senses which is why one incident came to his attention with aplomb.
 
He was reading chagrin, concern and embarassement in varying degrees and the source was nearing his location with their attention fixed on him.
 
His purpose in this had been to maximize his energy levels which he had been doing for some time so withdrawing from such a deep state might not only be warranted in his opinion but to no ill effect to his original purpose.
 
Therefore over his quiescent form the monitored life signs such as mental activtity, heartbeat and blood pressure began rising from their depressed state as he himself was rising from his self-induced trance.
 
Riven's eyes fluttered open and  he lifted them to fix on the form of a security officer carrying a body in command uniform and his dark eyes widened more than a bit as he rose from the chair. The officer as he had expected walked right up to him.
 
"I was ordered to bring the FO to sickbay by the captain, I had to ummm, bring her in the hard way."
 
"As I can see." The Betazoid mind healer said with a wry twist to his mouth."I assume then that you used a stun setting as I see no obvious signs of damage to her body." He stated as he looked quickly over her still form. During this period he was wondering why the man had brought her to him as he had no standing in medical even approaching the emergency personnel who had been brought in from other duties to staff sickbay due to the influx of ships crew. However he had been sought out and could not turn his back on the situation so his eyes sought out someone who might be of better service as he gestured to the man.
 
"I see an empty biobed in the corner." As he gestured for Will to follow him he caught a glimpse of one of the aforementioned crewmen and hurridly caught his attention from across the room. "I need you to see to the First Officer please."
 
(reply: Will)
 
NRPG: Time to bring in a Vulcan for future considerations. *Impish wink*
 
RPG::
 
Sestan immediately made for them and met them at the biobed.
 
"Place her down gently." He instructed the Lieutenant impassively and tapped the sensor that brought up the vitals scans.
 
(Reply: Will)
 
Neurological scans showed inhibited function that was returning slowly. Vital signs were low but stable and strengthening quickly and there were no signs of organ damage or imminent failure.
 
"Might I ask the reason for the Commander's current condition?" he asked as he looked at Ensign Frost with a lifted eyebrow.
 
(Reply: Will)
 
Riven coughed as the Operations officer's eyebrow rose higher. The Vulcan however turned away quickly and prepared a hypo with a dose of stimulant mixed witth a pain suppressor which she would need to avoid the headache that inevitably followed an awakening from a phased energy burst even at the lowest settings.
 
When he had administered the dose he turned back to the two and Riven groaned as he locked eyes with the Lt. "Sir may I ask why you felt the need to use your weapon against a command officer of the ship?"
 
~Vulcan's!~ The Betazoid thought. ~Never ones to pass up an opening.~ Dispassionate and logical they may be but the race seemed to take a perverse pleasure in the slightest bit of esoteric data which seemed secondary to an urge to watch other beings squirm in its light.
 
(Reply: Will, any)
(Posted by Charles) *Grin*


(USS Spectre - Sickbay - TAC/ASC, Ensign JG Will Frost - 18:50)

"As I can see. I assume then that you used a stun setting as I see no obvious signs of damage to her body." The Betazoid counselor stated as he looked quickly over the First Officer's still form. 

"I see an empty biobed in the corner." As he gestured for Will to follow him he caught a glimpse of one of the aforementioned crewmen and hurridly caught his attention from across the room. "I need you to see to the First Officer please."
 
"Thank you Doctor. I know you are not a Medical Doctor, but well, when you have to bring in the First Officer to sick bay, under these circumstances, well you were the first blue uniform I saw."
 
Will carefully went over to the biobed and placed the first officer down gently.
 
Sestan immediately made for them and met them at the biobed.
 
"Place her down gently." 
 
"That's what I am trying to do.."

~Vulcans...~ Will thought to himself ~No for a 5 hour lecture on how illogical I am. It will be like kindergarten all over again.~
 
Neurological scans showed inhibited function that was returning slowly. Vital signs were low but stable and strengthening quickly and there were no signs of organ damage or imminent failure.
 
"Might I ask the reason for the Commander's current condition?" he asked as he looked at Ensign Frost with a lifted eyebrow.
 
"Well, I was ordered to bring the first officer to sickbay, she ran, I fired. Here we are. Simple as that."
 
 The Vulcan however turned away quickly and prepared a hypo with a dose of stimulant mixed witth a pain suppressor which she would need to avoid the headache that inevitably followed an awakening from a phased energy burst even at the lowest settings.
 
When he had administered the dose he turned back to the two  "Sir may I ask why you felt the need to use your weapon against a command officer of the ship?"

~Well time to start getting my story telling well, though I'm sure the brig will be much quieter than here.~

"I was asked to bring the first officer in. She was moving erratically through the ship, cutting through jeffries tubes, like she was, well, on some sort of bad drug trip. I cut her off on a deck 5 corridor, and asked her to accompany me. Well that is sort of true, I told her that there was an easy way and hard way, and implied I would use force if needed."

(reply Riven, Sestan iyw)

"I asked her again to stand down, she turned and ran. Her eyes were glossy, a bit glazed, but had this look of fear in them, like she was running from death itself. But she ran, and I had orders. I had two choices, I could stun her, or I could chase her down, and I probably would have caught her, I am in amazing shape. But what would that help. I am outweighed her by 100 pounds, towered over her by roughly 8 inches give or take a pair of high heels. I am also trained in multiple martial arts and am a professional fighter, semi retired. I could have caught up to her and choked her out easily, or even dragged her here by force. But that would have caused more damage to her than a phaser. So I fired. Sure it wasn't logical, maybe I could have tried to convince her with my words some more, maybe I was to threatening. But let's be honest, I call this the hard way, yeah It's the hard way to her, but for me, this was the easy way, and honestly the logical choice at the time. Well, I guess I could have beamed her to sick bay, but you try beaming a possibly drugged up person running down a corridor and see what happens."

(reply Riven, Sestan)

"What the hell is going on anyways, those eyes man. She seriously looked as if she was about to die, like the instrument of her death was facing her down. I didn't even have my phaser pulled until her back to me. I'm a low level ensign, we get paid to do grunt work, not know why the FO is running around like a mad woman."

(Reply Riven)

(Reply Riven, Sestan, any)
(posted by WB)

 
(USS Spectre - Engineering - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:55)
 
Angeni popped into Engineering and the Engineer she met in Ten Forward met her at the door.
 
"As promised." She held up the bundle with a smile on her face. "Thank you very much for your help...I owe you one."  He nodded at her, holding the bundle protectively.
 
"Can you...are you guys going to be in Sickbay all night?"  Angeni nodded, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Of course. Our doors always slide open, no matter what time it is. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to stop by." She slowly started to back away. "Can you do me a favor?" He nodded and she paused for a moment. "Never mind. Enjoy the sandwiches."  She smiled once more and she made her way back to Sickbay.

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area - Marine Corpsman 2nd Lt. Lhiannon Kindell - 18:55)

After getting off the comm with Williams,  Lhiannon had begun to bark orders to her people.  The ones with medical training she had sent off to various parts of the ship to be stationed in case of emergencies.  Her squads she ordered to readiness, walking around and speaking quietly to  her people.  And then she had turned the corner and walked into a scene out of her worst nightmares.

Intellectually she knew that it was a delusion  of being in the void.   Others in the staging area had been reporting similiar delusions.  But it didn't make it any less real.  She found herself facing her symbiont, and then it turned it's back on her in the cavern.  It wasn't the illusion that the pools invoked when youwere standing there, touching the symbiont.  She remembered feeling at peace when that hadappened, a sense of acceptance.

This, on the other hand, was malevolent.  She felt it reach out towardsher, brushing her face as it hissed in common, "You killed me." A voice spoke to  her.  It was then that she realized that it was the voice of the symbiont that she had helped die.

"No!" She cried out, bringing a hand up to brush the hand away defensively.  "I didn't kill you, the commission cleared me."

Her hand brushed air and the vision faded, leaving heer standing in a corridor of the Staging Area, two of her Marines pointing phasers at her.

Lhiannon felt like a fool for  letting the apparition affect her in such a manner.  She straightened up and nodded to her crew, brushing back a strand of sunshine gold hair from her face.

"Nothing, it was nothing, just an apparition.  Stand down." She waited until her marines were out of the way then leaned back against a bulkhead and closed her eyes.  Obviously she had issues that she needed to resolve and made a mental note to meet with the Counsellors.  This was going to haunt her for  a while it seemed.

(Reply none)
(Posted by Mel)


(USS Spectre - Sickbay - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 18:59)
 
Angeni came back through the doors and the sense of dread that had slowly come upon her lifted almost immediately.  She set the spread out on the table and set the tea to brew, which filled the front of Sickbay with a lovely Lavender aroma. She grabbed a Turkey and Mustard sandwich and walked over to Commander Williams with a smile.
 
"Why don't you sit down for a bit and relax? Eat a sandwich, it's good for you..."
 
(Reply Robbie)
 
She stretched her arms over her head, stifling a yawn. "I think the insanity is going to calm down a bit. People are going to use Sickbay as an oasis, so we'l probably get surges, especially when people should be asleep."  She nodded toward the morgue. "I think those two killed themselves over the hallucinations. I just happened to come upon the kid in the hall before Ten Forward. That side of the ship is in bad shape, so I think they are going to start filtering down here to get some relief."
 
(Reply Robbie)
 
She looked at the half of sandwich she had in her hand and she turned her nose up at it. It didn't even look appetizing anymore.
 
(Reply Robbie, Any)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre – Outside Marine Staging Area – Corporal Houseman - 19:00)

~This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine~

Houseman was ready. They were not going to get him, he would not get caught and he would make sure that he would die then be caught. He scanned the corridor carefully his eyes running over every inch as he crept forward.

~My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life~
He held his type III phaser close and firmly placed against his shoulder moving it around as his eyes roamed the corridor.

~My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless~

His head snapped round along with his rifle as he heard a sound.

~I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...~

He backed away towards the doors to the Marine Staging Area.

“I must shoot him before he shoots me”

He switched his rifle to fully automatic and pulled the trigger as the enemy came closer. Phaser fire slashed across the corridor as the doors to the Marine Staging Area opened and he stepped through firing down the corridor screaming.

“This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.”

(Reply Kindell, any)

(Reply Kindell, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Sickbay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:02)
 
Andrew glanced over at Angeni as she came over to him.
 
"Why don't you sit down for a bit and relax? Eat a sandwich, it's good for you..."
 
Andrew smiled at her.
 
“A tranquiliser and 48 hours sleep would be good for me.”
 
He nodded at her as he went come over with her to the food.
 
"I think the insanity is going to calm down a bit. People are going to use Sickbay as an oasis, so we'l probably get surges, especially when people should be asleep." 
 
He nodded as he began to eat a sandwich.
 
"I think those two killed themselves over the hallucinations. I just happened to come upon the kid in the hall before Ten Forward. That side of the ship is in bad shape, so I think they are going to start filtering down here to get some relief."
 
He nodded again.
 
“Yeh that’s true but at least we are prepared.  As lest we’ve initiated mass casualty protocol which means that we have every one ready for everything.”   
 
He paused for a moment as he looked around before looking back at Angeni as he dropped his voice low.
 
“Did you see a burning woman coming out of my office when all the weariness started?
 
(Reply Trommashere)
 
(Reply Trommashere, Any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Sickbay – ACMO Ens. A.O Windsong-Trommashere - 19:05)

“Did you see a burning woman coming out of my office when all the weariness started?
 
Angeni shook her head as she sat next to him, watching everything going on around her. One of the Medics held up a color coded hypo and gestured to the patient. Angeni registered the color and nodded.
 
"No, I didn't see it, but that doesn't mean anything. I am sure we were all seeing different things." She sniffed at her sandwich again and she wrapped it back up, tucking it in her pocket. She pulled a bottle of cold tea from her pocket and she sipped it slowly. Her stomach was still unsettled and she let out a small, queasy burp.
 
"Excuse me..." Her face flushed. "I kept seeing burning people and..." she paused, lowering her head. The last words came out as a whisper, "...dying children..." She straightened up, clearing her throat.
 
"But it's all okay, now. Riven and the other telepaths will be setting up oasis stations all across the ship. Should we consider sticking at least a Medic with each person? We don't know if whatever is causing this may start to become even more malevolent and start to attack the telepaths individually since we've figured out that they will keep the ship sane. What do you think?"
 
(Reply Williams)
 
Angeni nodded and she rubbed the back of her neck. The doors slid open and two people walked in clutching each other. By the time they made it fully into the bay, the stare of life had faded from their eyes and they looked more comfortable. As they were in full Triage mode, they were met by a Medic who quickly scanned them with a tricorder and she pinned a green pip to their collar; walking wounded. They needed nothing more than comfort and calm. The Medic showed them into the conference room turned overflow treatment. The large computer table had been removed and a smaller wooden table sat in the corner full of food. The floor was covered in bed rolls that people were stretched out on, catching an hour or two of calm sleep before they moved back to their stations or quarters. She knew the same thing was happening in their assigned cargo bay and the overflow Sickbay just a few levels below them.
 
The anticipation was killing her. They had heard nothing, but were doing everything. What was the outcome going to be? Were they moving closer to their target?
 
She spoke openly, "We're going to need to start turning over the ancillary bay and soon. We have no real place for battle casualties if something were to go down. Since Riven is here, we can't turn this bay over. We need to start preparing that bay, making sure it's ready for casualties..."
 
(Reply Williams)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area - Marine Corpsman 2nd Lt. Lhiannon Kindell - 19:10)

Lhiannon rounded a corner and faced Houeman  with a phaser rifle, shooting at her. She barely had time to form the words, "No!" as the phaser cut through her armor, hitting her symbiont.  He must have had the thing on one of the highest settings as she flew back and hit a wall, barely able to turn her body to protect her symbiont.   Lhiannon heard screaming around her, chaos, as a ringing in her ears drowned out the sound and a heavy blackness hit her like a ton of bricks, blacking her out before the pain and shock had the chance to register.

A screaming private ran towards her body as other marines fought with Houseman to get the phaser rifle away from him.

"This is Private Jacobs, in the marine staging area. Lt. Kindell was shot by Corporal Houseman and we don't have anyone with this level of skill here. Please, we need a medical team in the marine area."  She sobbed as the private ran the tricorder over the body, screaming again when she saw that the symbiont had been damaged as well.

Another marine hit his comm badge and called for the MXO, "Major Kowalski, we have a situation here in the staging are. Corporal Houseman shot Lt. Kindell."

(reply houseman, medical, kowalski, etc)
(posted by Mel)


(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area – Marine, Corporal Houseman - 19:11)
 
The enemy had tried to sneak up on him. It had tried to catch him off guard and flank him but he was too good for that. He was quicker he spun years of combat and muscle memory moved his body almost by instinct. He fired a smile of glee crossed his face as he saw the enemy being hit by his phaser shot and get thrown back into a wall before slumping to the ground. He saw another enemy give a scream of sadness and scrambled over to the enemy he had just shot. He paused, there was something wrong the enemy did not behave like that they would leave their wounded this was all wrong.
 
~What the hell is going on~
 
Something heavy slammed into his side and he was hurled sideways, his weapon skidding from his hands. He was pinned to the floor by the weight of enemies on top of him. He looked up to see his phaser rifle being up ended and smashed into the side of his face as the blackness rolled over him.

"What in God's name is going on here!",
 
Houseman’s eye s blinked open. He was on the floor being pinned by two marines and a third with his rifle ready to strike. He looked around the chaos in the room.
 
~Where they all go~
 
His eyes saw Kindell she was lying against the wall with a phaser wound, right where he had killed the enemy. Suddenly everything slammed into place. He was not Akantee 5’s moon, he was on the spectre with a loaded phaser shooting at everything that moved.
 
He leaned forward trying to keep his meal into his stomach.
 
“Ow hell what have I done!”
 
He muttered to himself as he saw Major Kowalski step overt to him.
 
“Sir I am sorry I did not think that I was here.”
 
He said almost in a whisper. He then got up and stood to ridged attention in front of his superior officer as befitting a marine talking to his officer.
 
(Reply Kowalski)
 
“Sir I was in on operation Fire Brush in the tunnel system of Akantee 5’s moon in the rear guard giving the retreating marines time off get off the moon before the air wing glassed it.”
 
It had been a nasty operation with massive casualties and a humiliating scramble first across the moon and then the system as the marines extricated themselves as fast as possible.  
 
“Sir, I was tail end charley bringing up the rear and got separated from my squad. It took me half an hour to get to the rally point being chased and hunted by the enemy all the way.”
 
He took a deep breath as he glanced over at Kindell before looking back at Kowalski.
 
“Sir, I thought that 2nd Lieutenant Kindell was an enemy coming to kill me Sir which is why I fired at her.”
 
(Reply Kowalski)
 
(Reply Kowalski, any)
(Posted  by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Marine Staging Area – Hologram, Jose Rameriz - 19:11)
 
It was the words 'Akantee 5' that started the chain reaction. Deep within the computer a switch tripped. The switch activated an algorithm that ended with a program restarting. The program stretched itself, feeling its way through the Spectre's systems, adjusting to changes, evaluating personnel, reading logs personal and official. If it was in the computer, the program could see it; it just didn't care about most of it. The program wasn't much interested in enlightenment so much as entertainment.
 
It evaluated the current situation aboard ship, it looked around to try and figure out what exactly had brought it back. As far as it knew, it had been trapped on a data cube and deep spaced, there was a log that said so. So how was he back in existence? He shook his mental head, trying to chase out electronic cobwebs.
 
It reviewed internal sensor logs from when it had been awoken and realized what had happened. Bloody Houseman. Always Houseman.
 
Down in "green territory" a long lost hologram formed, looking around, feeling out what it was like to be humanoid once more.  Why this image? Why this personality? Couldn't a programmer done better somewhere? Wait, no, he was awesome, he was perfection, and he was the only one that could solve the problem. The hologram entered the room, looking at the mess.
 
"DUDE! Chico! You shot one us! I tolds you your aims was LOUSY, man!"
 
(Reply Houseman, any)
(Posted by Lorna)


(USS Spectre - MXO's Office - MXO, Major Bruce Kowalski - 19:12)

Kowalski had been perusing the classified documents pertaining to a section 9 order when the call came in. Needless to say, he was not particularly overjoyed at the news that one of his men had shot a platoon member, and the fact that it was Housemen that had actually pulled the trigger left him stupified.

What the hell had prompted him to do that? Houseman, of all people! And what the hell had Kindell done to deserve it? Already though he was on his feet and heading out the door and into the corridor. His expression said it all. Someone was going to get a size eleven boot up their backsides over this stunt...

(Reply Any, None)
(Posted by alan)


(USS Spectre – Sickbay - CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:12)

"But it's all okay, now. Riven and the other telepaths will be setting up oasis stations all across the ship. Should we consider sticking at least a Medic with each person? We don't know if whatever is causing this may start to become even more malevolent and start to attack the telepaths individually since we've figured out that they will keep the ship sane. What do you think?"

Andrew thought for a moment before answering.

“Yeh that’s a good idea but I need you and me to be floating in case we have any bigger problems.” 

Andrew glanced around sickbay it was full and the information he had been updated by ICU and High Dependence that they were close to over flowing. They would need more space soon or they would need to replicate bunk beds.

"We're going to need to start turning over the ancillary bay and soon. We have no real place for battle casualties if something were to go down. Since Riven is here, we can't turn this bay over. We need to start preparing that bay, making sure it's ready for casualties..."

Andrew nodded in agreement and stood up.

“Well there is not time like the present. Shall we go?”

(Reply Trommashere)

He nodded again and headed for the door.

(Reply Trommashere)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Marine Staging - MXO, Major Bruce Kowalski - 19:14)

By the time Bruce had arrived at the staging area, a medical team had already arrived and were working on Kindell as Jacobs and a few others attempted to console a distraught Houseman who by now had been relieved of his weapon. Kowalski looked to Kindell laying on the floor, her face etched with pain as the medic injected her with pain relief and then began assessing the damage with a medical tricorder, then he made his way to Houseman.

"What in God's name is going on here!", he hollered, Houseman shaking his head in dismay and clearly
disorientated now as Jacobs moved aside, to reveal a familiar face. Kowalski's jaw dropped.

"Who the hell reactivated you!", he hollered, looking right into the holograms eyes before quickly turning to everyone else in the room one at a time. "Who put this light job of a clown back online", asked Kowalski, eager now for a reply from someone, anyone. The thing was though that nobody had an answerto that. Not even Rameriz himself it would seem.

"I'll deal with you later", he said dismissively, remembering back to the time that Rameriz had deactivated himself. What was he doing out of the computer now though? Could this possibly be something to do with the void. Whatever the case the real concern now was for Kindell, and Houseman who seemed to be at a loss to explain anything.

"“Sir I am sorry I did not think that I was here.", offered a confused Houseman as he stood and came to attention.

"Didn't know that you were here, soldier?", snapped Kowalski, "run that one by me again will you, I'm not sure my ears could beleive what they were hearing"

"Sir, I was tail end charley bringing up the rear and got separated from my squad. It took me half an hour to get to the rally point being chased and hunted by the enemy all the way."

Kowalski just frowned, his expression saying everything that really needed to be said right now. They had a man down, a symbiont injured, and Houseman was talking jibberish. Bruce looked again to Rameriz who for the moment anyway was saying nothing more. Suddenly though, jibberish seemed to fit for the holo-marine was pretty conversant in jibberish. Perhaps he had more to do with all this than he was letting on.

Houseman continued on trying to explain himself, still in jibberish of course.

"Sir, I thought that 2nd Lieutenant Kindell was an enemy coming to kill me Sir which is why I fired at her."

"Not another word Lieutenant!", said Kowalski, "you better hope and pray that Kindell comes through this. Meanwhile, my office. NOW!", he added, before giving a cursory glance to Rameriz in the process. "That means you too, Rameriz", said the XO, who turned and headed out of staging.

"Keep me updated on Lieutenant Kindell. If she worsens, I want to know right away", said Kowalski as the two marines followed on...

(Reply Houseman IYW, Rameriz IYW)
(Posted by Alan)


(USS Spectre – Sickbay - ACMO Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 19:14)

“Well there is not time like the present. Shall we go?”

Angeni nodded and stood up from her chair. She stretched her arms far above her head, then she smiled fondly at her CMO. She gently woke up one of the sleeping Doctors, letting her know of what they were doing and she grabbed another bottle of juice before following him out the door.

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:22)

Andrew looked around the ancillary bay. It was not as big as the other bays obviously but for what they needed it for it was big enough.

“Right then!  We can do this in two ways. One make this an independent sickbay with its own triage and ward space or we can use it as a total ward space with the casualties being siphoned of at triage in sickbay and the casualties being placed her in order of priority?”

(Reply Trommashere)

(Reply Trommashere, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 19:24)

Once they walked in, she keyed in the authorization code to activate the computers. Almost all of them flickered to life, save one or two. She frowned slightly as she removed her coat; coverings had to be removed from the beds and medications would have to be gone through. She grabbed a Med Padd off one of the counters and began a running list of things that would have to be fixed.
“Right then!  We can do this in two ways. One make this an independent sickbay with its own triage and ward space or we can use it as a total ward space with the casualties being siphoned of at triage in sickbay and the casualties being placed her in order of priority?”
 
Angeni nodded as she looked around. "Everyone knows where the main Sickbay is, whereas Medical and Security are probably the only ones familiar with the location of this one. I guess we could use the main bay as a triage point; after any stabilizing treatment, any walking wounded or non-violent mentally disturbed patients can stay there or be moved to the cargo bay. We can use this bay for advanced treatment and Intensive care...surgeries and crap like that."
(Reply Williams)
 
She strolled around the bay, pulling off the covers on the bio beds. She started each one up; all but one was working. She rolled her eyes and glanced over at Andrew. A sudden sense of foreboding washed over her and she began absently wringing her hands. She looked up at the ceiling, trying to compose herself. The feeling wained quickly; it was obvious the ancillary bay was just outside Riven's sphere of influence, but it was close enough that the major hallucinations would be dulled.
 
"Do you want to check the office? Make sure everything is working in there?"  She looked toward the dark room. She felt rooted to her spot; she didn't want to go into the darkness.  She forced herself to step near the room, but couldn't make herself go in.
 
(Reply Williams)
 
"There are a few things that need to be rehabbed. I'll call Engineering and get a Tech down here as well as a few bored Nurses and Medics. We need to make sure all the equipment is in working order..."  She gestured to the non-functioning biobed as an example.
 
Angeni tapped her comm badge, going through the medical drawers, replicating out of date supplies as she went about.
 
"Dr. Trommashere to Engineering."
 
(Reply any engineer)
 
"Is it possible I can borrow someone to do a little work here in the Ancillary Sickbay? We have a couple of wall screens down as well as a biobed that isn't working. We're trying to get it ready for a possible onslaught."
 
(Reply Engineering)
 
"Thank you kindly, Trommashere out."
 
Angeni grabbed a rag and wiped a bit of dust off a cabinet, trying to clean away the feeling of someone watching her...

(Reply Williams, Engineering)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:27)

"Everyone knows where the main Sickbay is, whereas Medical and Security are probably the only ones familiar with the location of this one. I guess we could use the main bay as a triage point; after any stabilizing treatment, any walking wounded or non-violent mentally disturbed patients can stay there or be moved to the cargo bay. We can use this bay for advanced treatment and Intensive care...surgeries and crap like that."

Andrew grinned as he heard what Angeni said. He could feel the flicker or heat on his skin as they had left sickbay and had further and further away from outside Riven's sphere of influence.  He saw that Angeni was wringing her hands and glancing at the ceiling

~Its affecting her as well~

"Do you want to check the office? Make sure everything is working in there?" 

He saw her look towards a dark room and she stiffened. He saw her take a step towards the door but could not go near.

Andrew stepped beside her,  placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and gave her a warm smile.

“It’s not a problem I’ll take a look. Why don’t you get things started out here?”

"There are a few things that need to be rehabbed. I'll call Engineering and get a Tech down here as well as a few bored Nurses and Medics. We need to make sure all the equipment is in working order..." 
 
Andrew nodded as he took a step into the dark room. The gloom covered him and he smelt a strong whiff of smoke.

~Great that’s all I need~

He activated  the light which flickered as the power flowed uncertainly and came up in a weak glow.

“At least I can see the desk.”

He gave the console a few experimental taps and watched as it flickered into life.  He entered his access code and smiled as it synchronised with the sickbay mainframe. He paused again as he smelt another whiff of smoke drifted by.

~For goodness sake pull your self together~

He stepped back into the main room and saw that Angeni was cleaning a cabinet. He could see that she was tense and nodded to himself.

~If I’ve got problems then I am sure she has too~.

He stepped over to her.

“I’m getting a tired of being in this place. It will be good to get out of this cloud.”

(Reply Trommashere)

He picked up a dust covered tricorder and was surprised that there was so much dust on all this equipment. He flicked it open and began to run it through a diagnostic program.

“You doing okay? You look a bit tense. Is there anything you want to talk about?”

(Reply Trommashere)

(Reply Trommashere, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere - 19:29)

“I’m getting a tired of being in this place. It will be good to get out of this cloud.”

Angeni nodded quickly. She continued rifling through the drawers, chucking the dead or dying equipment over her shoulder into a pile that was growing on the floor. She figured she'd just scoop everything up and take it with her as they left. She needed to get out of there and fast.

"I agree. This place is way too creepy for me."

She cleaned off the last bio bed and she began to wipe down the consoles. Looking into one of the black screens, she saw a face looking back at her and she stepped back, her hand to her mouth. It caught her off guard and she continued to stare; the face seemed like it was melting away. As she looked closer, she saw a form move up behind her and seem to reach for her. She went to scream when she heard Andrew's voice behind her.

“You doing okay? You look a bit tense. Is there anything you want to talk about?”

"I...uh...just keep seeing things." The faces in the console were gone.

"I remember this..." She started slowly. She reached over, wiping off another console without looking at it.

"Riven and I served on the same ship at one point. We were investigating a damaged ship and the same things started to happen. People were seeing funny things, acting weird...just like now."  She closed her eyes against the flashbacks. "One of my Medics slit his throat in Sickbay. This is almost nothing compared to then. I remember being chased by a Djinn...it went from the abandoned ship to ours. It was horrible. I woke up with physical scratches on my body that completely healed by the time I would show them to someone. I keep thinking this is going to get that bad. We were all paralyzed by fear; no one could function. Even the strongest of us started to crack under the mental strain..."

She moved about, fishing through the last drawer on her side of the room.

"The psychic trauma lingered for a very long time afterwards. A lot of us were in therapy for a while to try and heal from it. I still have nightmares about it every once in a while. I'm sure many of the others have the same problem."

She closed the last drawer, wiping off her forehead.

"Is it warm in here...or is it just me?"

(Reply Williams)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams - 19:36)
 
"The psychic trauma lingered for a very long time afterwards. A lot of us were in therapy for a while to try and heal from it. I still have nightmares about it every once in a while. I'm sure many of the others have the same problem."
 
"Is it warm in here...or is it just me?"
 
Andrew nodded.
 
“No it’s not just you.”
 
He had felt the heat rise for the last few minutes. He just though it was his burning lady coming back for another visit as he also smelt burning but at Angeni’s question he straightened up and scanned the room for the source. His eyes spotted a blackened patch around a small panel across from them as he continued to watch a flicker of flame spread around it and he heard a crescendoing whine emanating from panel.
 
~Ow hell~
 
“Watch out!”
 
He turned and dived at Trommashere tackling her to the floor as he tried to put himself in the way as he heard a bang from behind them as the panel zipped over their heads and into a cabinet. He landed hard against a solid cabinet as he hit the floor.
He rolled of Trommashere and looked at her as he gave her an apologetic smile
 
“Are you okay? Sorry about that.”
 
(Reply Trommashere)
 
He glanced up at the open panel which had fire spreading from it.
 
“Computer activate fire suppression system.”
 
The computer beeped but nothing happened. He signed and then looked back at Trommashere.
 
“You don’t happen to know where the fire extinguishers are do you?”
 
(Reply Trommashere)
 
(Reply Trommashere, any)
(Reply Robbie) 


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:38)

Angeni turned just in time to see Andrew flying towards her. She instinctively wrapped her arms around him to go with the fall and she saw the panel fly across the room just over their heads. The noise his body made as it hit the cabinet caused her to shriek out; her elbow that had struck the corner of the same cabinet was numb, her fingers tingling painfully.

"Are you okay? Sorry about that..."

Angeni sat up, moving her arm. It hurt, but was survivable. She reached over, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I'll live. What about you? You took a hard hit..."

(Reply Williams)

Angeni turned her head and saw the now burning hole. It started licking up the wall, bright blue and green flames. The smoke hung lazily at the top of the room, thick, dark, angry smoke. She could feel the heat radiating from the hole.

"Is this...is this real?" She stood up, slowly moving toward the source. The heat was intense as she moved closer. They were both seeing it. They could smell it, feel it, see it. The smoking panel was lying on the floor across the room.

"Computer, activate fire suppression system." She heard Andrew command, then she looked up and nothing happened.

“You don’t happen to know where the fire extinguishers are do you?”

Angeni could barely believe it. She moved slowly, her mind still trying to absorb whether or not what was going on was actually happening. A bale of smoke rolled down into her face and the acrid taste of plastic in her mouth had her choking.

"Get on the floor!" She threw herself down and crawled to the main office. She pulled out a Fire Bomb; a small device that would explode upon sensing high heat, exposing the area to Halon. She crawled back into the room and grabbed two oxygen masks. She turned them on and the outside air was immediately filtered into 100% pure oxygen. She fit one over her mouth and nose and she handed one to Andrew.

"Ready?"

(Reply Williams)

Angeni backed up against the wall and she baseball pitched the device into the corner. After a few seconds, nothing happened. The smoke intensified and the far wall was full of flames. She crawled to the entrance doors and they didn't slide open.

"Andrew!! The doors won't open!"  She began beating on the doors, her fingers fumbling over the keypad. It buzzed angrily at her, but the doors wouldn't open. Fear filled her veins and her heart was beating so hard in her chest it was making her ears ring.

She slapped her comm badge, "Emergency in the Ancillary Sickbay! Console fire!"

She then turned to Andrew, "We've got to figure out something...."

(Reply Williams)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:40)
 
"Get on the floor!"
 
Andrew dived to the floor as he saw Angeni scramble into the main office. He stuck his face a few inches off the floor as he tried to suck any oxygen which was spread across the floor in front of him.
 
~This day is just getting better and better~
 
He looked up as Angeni thrust an oxygen mask into his face. He nodded his thanks as he put in on and took a deep breath coughing and spluttering as he started to clear his smoke filled lungs.
 
"Ready?"
 
He saw that Angeni carried a fire bomb, he gave her a smile and a nod.
 
“Go for it.”
 
He saw her through the fire bomb across the room and waited for it to go off. He muttered under his breath as nothing happened and watched as the far wall was full of flames
 
"Andrew!! The doors won't open!" 
 
He rolled over to see that Angeni was beating on the doors he saw her fingers fumbling over the keypad. He could see that fear was creeping into her which he was not surprised. He looked back at the wall as he heard Angeni calling for help. He was glad that they were in gravity and not zero-g as the fire would have been worse
 
"We've got to figure out something...."
 
Andrew nodded as he crawled over to Angeni who was by the door. He knelt beside her, leaned against the door and placed a hand on her shoulder
 
“You need to calm down. We need to conserve oxygen okay. It will be okay we will get out of her.”
 
(Reply Trommashere)
 
He looked around the heavily smoke filled room trying to calm his own rising fear. He took a deep breath to calm himself down.
 
“Can we get to a jeffrie tube hatch?”
 
He pointing through the dense smoke
 
(Reply Trommashere)
 
(Reply Trommashere, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:42)

Angeni was in a full blown panic. She found herself clawing at the door panel, scraping her fingers up as she went. She felt Andrew's hand on her shoulder.

"You need to calm down. We need to conserve oxygen, okay? It will be okay, we will get out of here."

Angeni took a deep breath and nodded. She had to calm herself down; all her training was coming down to this.  The room was getting hotter by the moment and she felt a tickle in her lungs and chest. She took her trauma shears from her pocket and she cut two wide strips from her lab coat. She tied one, bandana fashion, over her nose and mouth and she did the same thing to her CMO. The respirators weren't made to filter out bad air like this and would soon fail.

"Can we get to a Jeffries Tube hatch?"

Angeni scanned the room. Between the burning console and one that was trying not to catch was the door for the Tube. She looked over her head; the flames were starting to consume the super heated gasses in the smoke and the flames were beginning to bank down the opposite wall. The smoke layer was thickening; it was getting to the point where the room was approaching its auto ignition point. Everything would go up in flames all at the same, grisly time.

"Crawl and crawl fast!"

Angeni now army crawled across the floor, pulling herself along with her arms. The skin that was exposed was starting to get very warm and she pulled her arm across a metal strip on the floor, leaving an angry burn on her forearm. Once she got to the tube, she pressed the unlock sequence, but the door only slid open part way.

"Help me!" She began pulling on the door with all she was worth. The metal was getting hot under her hands, but she barely felt it. Suddenly, the computer was heard in the room.

"Fire in compartment. De-Oxygenation of compartment will begin in thirty seconds. Please evacuate the area immediately."

Angeni looked at Andrew, her eyes wide. Humor was the only way she felt as if she could keep herself calm.

"Now Lola decides to help us!"

(Reply Williams)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre – Bridge – OPS, Ensign – Scott Smith – 19:43)
 
Scott went from boringly scanning his console to total readiness in a split second
 
=^=Emergency in the Ancillary Sickbay! Console fire!=^=
 
“Ops here understood help is on its way.”
 
His hands danced across the console and glowered at the result as he spoke up.
 
“Sir we have a console fire in the ancillary sickbay. I can’t get a scan on the transporter the scanners are being thrown off by something in the room.”
 
(Reply T’Vhor)
 
(Reply T’Vhor, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:45)

He followed Angeni across the floor trying to keep as far away from the fire as possible.

"Help me!"

He stood next to her as she pulling on the door. He could feel the metal heating up under his hands. He gritted his teeth and pulled harder but suddenly the voice of the computer bounced around room.

"Fire in compartment. De-Oxygenation of compartment will begin in thirty seconds. Please evacuate the area immediately."

~Ow great that’s just not fair~

He saw the look of horror on Angeni face which changed to a twinkle in her eye.

"Now Lola decides to help us!"

He gave her a sly grin as he pulled harder.

“Better late then never.”

"Fire in compartment. De-Oxygenation of compartment will begin in twenty seconds. Please evacuate the area immediately."

The hatch creaked with their combined effort and opened a few inches.

“Do you think Lola would be nice to give us a hand.”

(Reply Trommashere)

"Fire in compartment. De-Oxygenation of compartment will begin in ten seconds. Please evacuate the area immediately."

He slid his shoulder behind the hatch to give some more leverage and gave her a grin.

“No time like the present. I think we should get out of here!”

(Reply Trommashere)

(Reply Trommashere, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:47)

They pulled and struggled with the door. The mask around her face dropped off and she took a shuddering breath, breathing in all the fumes. She gasped and choked, but she continued to pull.

“Do you think Lola would be nice to give us a hand.”

Angeni laughed, about to say something when the door tried to shut back on them. The heat warped the door enough that the "Stuck body" sensor kicked in, keeping the door from closing.

"Guess that was her *cough* answer!"

She watched as he wriggled into the small opening and the door moved open just a few more inches.

“No time like the present. I think we should get out of here!”
Angeni put her hands on his back and shoved him through the opening, falling in behind him. The door slid shut as her foot passed the frame and the sudden rumble of the entire room being de-oxygenated behind her passed as quickly as it started. She sat on the floor, looking at her singed and tattered uniform, smoke rising from burn holes on her pants and shirt. Her white lab coat was nearly black, and soot burned in her eyes and nose.

She looked at Andrew and he looked just as pitiful as her. With that, she burst out laughing and coughing at the same time. The whole situation was surreal and bizzare; they had been fighting against psychological terrors for the last few hours, yet a malfunctioning room was the thing that was going to kill them.

"Can...can you believe this?! *Coughhackcough* Remind me to throttle everyone in *cough* Engineering...*snicker*"

(Reply Williams)

"Well...we've spent the day fighting mental demons, then we nearly get incinerated. At this point, the Jeffries Tubes should start flooding and The Mother should send down a plague of frogs."

She continued to snicker as she pulled off her tattered coat and uniform top. She took the pips off, shoving them in her pocket. The flesh on her forearms was raw and oozing and she felt the stinging sensation of a thousand tiny needles on her face.

"So...how do we get out of here?"

(Reply Williams)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:50)

"Can...can you believe this?! *Coughhackcough* Remind me to throttle everyone in *cough* Engineering...*snicker*"
 
Andrew grinned and he coughed uncontrollably for a moment
 
“I would not want to be there when you do?”
 
"Well...we've spent the day fighting mental demons, then we nearly get incinerated. At this point, the Jeffries Tubes should start flooding and The Mother should send down a plague of frogs."
 
He gave her a weary smile and nodded.
 
He watched as Angeni pulled off her tattered coat and uniform top which he did as well revelling his uniform’s under shirt. He saw the flesh on her forearms was raw and oozing and on her face.  He could feel the burns start to sting on his body as the adrenalin dropped in his system.
 
~Need to get that sorted for both of us~
 
As the pain increased he felt relieved which he knew was strange but if it had not been sore then it would not be a superficial burn.
 
"So...how do we get out of here?"
 
Andrew winced as he shifted his weight to get a better balance.
 
“I’m a doctor not an engineer….”
 
He grinned at her.
 
“I know the way out it up here. We can get to sickbay soon, a dermal regenerator and some pain killers.”
 
(Reply Trommashere)   
 
He moved carefully forward trying not to scrape any of his burns.
 
“I really hope this day does not get any worse but flooding or a plague of frogs at this stage nothing would not surprise me.”
 
(Reply Trommashere)   
 
They moved through the Jeffries tubes and he carefully slid out of the hatch into the corridor. He turned to give Angeni a hand out.
 
“Shall we head back to sickbay. We can get treated and there is a spare change of clothes there as well or you can pop back to you quarters if you want?”
 
(Reply Trommashere)   
 
(Reply Trommashere)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre - Ancillary Bay – ACMO, Ens. A.O. Windsong-Trommashere – 19:52)

Angeni grinned at his horrible joke. Dr. McCoy was known for his one liners like that and considering he was one of the most well respected physicians in history and he was known for his 'I'm a Doctor not an X..." comments.  She followed behind him as they moved through the tube, the adrenalin backing off enough that she was starting to feel each scratch and burn on her body. The idea of laying on a biobed for an hour with her eyes closed was enough to push past the aches and pains long enough to emerge from the Jeffries Tubes.


“Shall we head back to sickbay. We can get treated and there is a spare change of clothes there as well or you can pop back to you quarters if you want?”

"No, we should get back to Sickbay. I have a change of uniform in the office. I want to make sure everything has calmed down before I take my union break." She winked at him as they walked.

"I wish we would just get this mission done with..." she bristled a bit as she spoke.  "I'm tired of just floating here..." Angeni wrinkled her nose, shaking her head. She didn't know why she was so angry at the mission since it was the definition of 'Hurry up and wait'. She took a deep breath, trying to center herself.

"I'm sorry...not sure why I'm all upset about something so stupid..." She touched his arm as they walked. Crewmembers were walking past them, giving them strange looks. She figured they looked like a mess and a half.

(Reply Williams)
(Posted by Kari)


(USS Spectre – Corridor – CMO, Andrew Williams – 19:55)

"I'm sorry...not sure why I'm all upset about something so stupid..."
 
He grinned as she touched his arm as they walked and he nodded.
 
“It’s not a problem. It’s been a long day to say the least I’m not surprised that you feel a worn out.  So don’t worry about it.”
 
He smiled at her.
 
“A bit of TLC, a new uniform, a shower and something to drink and you will feel right as rain.”
 
(Reply Trommashere)
 
They entered sickbay and he ushered her to a bio-bed.
 
“You first. Let’s get you sorted.”
 
 (Reply Trommashere)
 
He grabbed a dermal regenerator and began working on her burns.
 
“Do you want any pain killers?”
 
(Reply Trommashere)

“How’s your chest feeling do you need anything?”
(Reply Trommashere)
 
(Reply Trommashere, any)
(Posted by Robbie)


(USS Spectre – Bridge, CONN – Pilot Officer, 2nd Lieutenant Jennifer Smith – 19:58)

Jennifer spotted it again as it appeared on her sensors. She frowned at it as it appeared. It was bigger than their target object. From the sensors it was the size of a starship but with no signs of power but it had mass which was why Jennifer had spotted it in the first place.
 
She scanned the locations of the navigational buoys they had been deploying behind them to make sure that they were all behaving themselves as she turned her attention back to the new object.
 
~What’s that~
 
She hunched closer to her console to try and get a better look. There was something smaller near the bigger object. The swirling sensor mass of the void moved so that for a slit second she got a fleeting signature of the smaller ship.
 
~it….. has…. power~
 
She turned in her chair and looked at T’Vhor.

“Captain I have two unidentified objects off the sensor probe’s starboard quarter and one has a power signature. Sir I request permission to re-orientate the sensor probe for a fly by so that we can get a better reading.”

(Reply T’Vhor)

(Reply T’Vhor, any)
(Posted by Robbie)

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