NRPG: Alright. This is it! I'm sure, this is pure science fiction! Right? Right! (I don't know how the other guy did this for long. I'd go crazy) Once upon a time there were three beautiful girls who went to Starfleet academy, and they were each assigned very hazardous duties. But I took them away from all that and now they work for me. My name is Archy. Silhouette of Gates holding tricorder followed by images of Gates in action. Silhouette of Straton with phaser rifle followed by images of Straton in action. Silhouette of al-Sharif with bat'leth followed by images of al-Sharif in action. Silhouette of Stolev followed by image of Stolev not quite in action. Silhouette of the three ladies, one with a phaser rifle in hand, one with a tricorder, and another with a bat'leth Today's Compile Index is brought to you by the Stakes Investigation Agency: Day 1 (USS Boudicca - Laroon's Quarters - OPS Lt (jg) Donald Johnson - 2106) Day 7 (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward – AOPS Ensign (Jg) Carft Kea- 2146) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - CIV Arania - 2153) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - Boudicca CIV Arania - 2156) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - AOPS- Lt. Tollian Yalix- 2200) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward -Boudicca aCO - Commander Archibald Stakes - 2221) (USS Boudicca - Storeroom - Boudicca aCO - Commander Archibald Stakes - 2229) Day 8 (USS Boudicca, Sickbay - MO Dr. Jahlen - 1431) Day 12 (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Nurse Carl Masterson - 1229) (USS Boudicca - CMO's Office - ACMO Gates - 1230) (USS Boudicca - CMO Office - Nurse Carl Masterson - 1235) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Nurse Carl Masterson - 1245) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Ensign Lorimar - 1257) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13 - Marine Staging Area - Sgt K'nan K'iria - 1300) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACMO Gates - 13:30) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - aCEO Jael al-Sharif, 14.08) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - OPS Lt (jg) Donald Johnson - 14.50) RPG: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mission: The Fires of Heaven, Day 1 Stardate: 2407.06.28 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Boudicca - Laroon's Quarters - OPS Lt (jg) Donald Johnson - 2106) Donald sat across from his friend disturbed by the seeming palor that had come over him. He was still learning how to read the body language of Lyrans or at least this particular Lyran. But he could at least tell that something was disturbing him, a reading that was confirmed by his friend's vocal admission. He listened attentively as Lorak spoke about some misgivings, trying to be as helpful as possible. He nodded silently, wondering what could possibly be the cause of this distress. When his friend became silent, Donald looked at the Lyran and thought about what Lorak was saying. He did not want to respond to quickly or Lorak might think that he was not taking the matter seriously. Finally, he responded, "I am very glad that you would look to me for such a serious matter. I will assist you in whatever way that I can." (Reply Laroon, Any) (Posted by Kaweo Kanoho) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mission: The Fires of Heaven, Day 7 Stardate: 2407.07.04 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward – AOPS Ensign (Jg) Carft Kea- 2146) Carft had arrived in ten forward. He grinned when he noticed some familiar faces of the crew. He got a drink when suddenly there was a lot of laughter and moving around and saw the drew redecorating ten forward a few seconds later he didn’t even recognize it. The place was a mess. He almost spilled his drink in the chaos. For a split second he got dragged away in the chaos. He then later joined up with several crewman who were all holding glasses of beer and were about to do some wrestling and drink lost of beer by the looks of it. “To the federation,” one gasped and took a big draught of beer. “To the fleet,” Carft added and took a zip of his beer. A few seconds later Carft found himself wrestling with one of the fellows. (Reply any) (Posted By: Maarten) (USS Boudicca, Ten Forward - CIV Arania - 2153) Arania had corrected Josh about her name and then she asked. "You are well?" Josh hugged Arania back and nodded, apologizing for getting her name wrong, commented about how Arania had learned to speak far better standard than she had ever learned to speak Iradoni. "Tell me how is Matthew?" "Matthew is well, as I am too! Come here we did for eyes scream, and I hoping to make music also..." Arania lovingly caressed a hand over the keyboard on the counter. "How fare the others of the Iradon team?" "Well, I look forward to hearing you play soon then. As for the rest of the team, she nodded her head in the direction of Captain Rivers and Dritzz, as you can see the Lady Susan is well and so is Dritzz. John was, the last time I saw him on Geneva, doing as well as could be expected." Arania opened her mouth to ask what Josh meant by 'as well as could be expected', when the healer must have read her mind for she explained. "What I mean is that he is recovering, although very slowly. However I think he may have you to thank for a great deal of his recovery. I rather doubt that we will have much time tonight, however I would like if possible to learn more about your Iradoni healing practices once the war is over. If you have no objection then I would like to keep in contact with you and learn more." Reaching to give Josh's hand a squeeze, Arania grinned at her, thrilled that the healer was interested in her race's healing methods. "I would like that over much, healer Josh. Music on my world, in all ways is used. Music is magic to us." Her eyes strayed to the Lady Susan who anyone with eyes could see, was very pregnant. Arania was about to ask Josh for the day the baby was to be born, when their conversation was interrupted. (reply none necessary) (posted by Sal) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - Boudicca CIV Arania - 2156) Arania had watched in horrified fascination as the great Bear Officer managed to wreak complete chaos in ten forward. Tables had flipped, bodies had been sent sprawling to the deck, food and drink had been splattered all over the place, and Arania had been truly grateful that Matthew hadn't brought her eye scream at the time, or she was sure that she would have ended up with it in her lap. As it was her robes were far more colourful than they had been when she'd arrived. The young Iradonian couldn't help but notice who was entering ten forward when the Great Bear had been about to run out with poor Captain Rivers clutched in his arms. It was the one who had been known as The Anointed on her planet. For one terrifying moment, before she'd heard him shouting about Rivers having her cubs, she had thought Zzt had grabbed the woman to have for his supper. She would have run for her life had the Great Bear not been blocking the only exit out of the lounge. Who knew, perhaps he'd have returned for some desert once he'd gobbled up poor Lady Susan, but once she realized what was really going on, she couldn't help but laugh, it had been entertaining if nothing else. As for The Anointed, Arania felt it best that she just pretend she hadn't seen her. She saw Matthew was on his way over, somehow he'd managed to keep their eye screams intact and soon he was placing hers in front of her. Smiling to him she thanked him, her eyes never leaving him as she began to eat the treat. After a mouthful of (what was to Arania) a strange looking fruit, Arania asked him what it was and he told her it was a bah-nanah. She tried the word aloud a couple of times to get her tongue around it, it wasn't a hard word but it reminded her of the cute 'goat' belonging to Donald, that she'd encountered, it was a baahdret and its name was nana or something similar. "Is good eating." She stated, and proceeded to tuck in to the desert quite happily, pausing now and again as more unusual goings on, happened around her. She didn't think she'd get to play any music, the people at the party were far to busy doing strange things and wouldn't listen to her anyway. (reply Any) (posted by Sal) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - AOPS- Lt. Tollian Yalix- 2200) As the room exploded into chaos, Tollian did the only honorable thing he could think of to do. He shielded the Yeoman, Esme form the worst of the mess using his own body. He hadn't pressed her against the bulkhead per se, but he had bracketed her with his arms as the ice cream and toppings splattered all around them. Broken desert containers shattered on the floor at his feet and at least one over turned piece of furniture rebounded off his lower legs. When the 'event' was finished, he looked Esme in the eyes and smiled. "I hope you weren't injured? He inquired. (reply Esme) (posted by Daniel Greene) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward -Boudicca aCO - Commander Archibald Stakes - 2221) "Yes, Commander thank you for your consideration. I'd like to first apologize for my earlier lack of judgment in interrupting you during your conversation with the Other senior officers. I hope that you will convey my apologies?" Baylon replied. Archibald looked back at the group of officers he had just left. "Whatever they think of your transgression is up to them, Lieutenant, not me. But I understood from yeoman Stakes that you spoke to her with some urgency. Which may or may not excuse your actions to me. I can not say, not knowing what the matter is. If it is trivial, I will not be impressed. But then again, you are not to impress me, but Captain Sash. He may have other thoughts about the matter. As is his right. So, what matter was so urgent, Lieutenant?" "As for the matter that I'd like to speak to you about. It is of a delicate and personal nature. I think it would be in both our interests to discuss it privately." The Boudicca aCO raised an eyebrow, but refrained from commenting, other then nodding dispassionate and saying: "If you feel that is appropriate, Lieutenant. There is a disused office nearby. This way." As he started to make his way over to the doorway and the corridor behind it, Archibald suddenly felt himself covered by all manners liquid, some of them actually stocking. Archibald stopped abruptly and with fire blazing in his eyes he regarded the psammead, who made futile attempts to wipe some of the ice cream off Archibald's jacket. "Mis.." he started to bark, when suddenly he was hit by a sledgehammer from the side, knocking him off his feet and into the hapless Betazoid Lieutenant, who fell to the floor and Archibald fell on top of him. Archibald only saw a flash, a big brown furry flash whoosh past him, carrying something red and black. "Are you injured, commander?" Archibald looked at the Lieutenant as he righted himself and shook his head. "Somebody will be, though" he muttered through clenched teeth as he first shot a quick glance at the psammead, then at Mei Ling and finally at the Geratlian. He shook his head as he suddenly saw Straton and Rivers there as well, being assisted by Lieutenants Ranae and Caskie. "Right," Archibald started then fell silent as he tried to bring everything in perspective. Rivers was wearing red and black, he suddenly realised. "MISTER ZZT!" he barked. "Step away from the Captain. NOW!" He didn't stand to watch and see if the Geratlian followed his command but turned to the psammead as he was still trying to clean Archibald's uniform. Or was he just licking off the icecream with his paws? Images of Billy and a jampot sprang to his mind. ~Right.~ He grabbed the creature by the scruff of its neck and held it close to his face, his eyes piercing Tommy's. "Assaulting a senior officer, are we?" he hissed. "And at time of war? There is only one penalty for that. MISTER LING!" He handed the psammead over to the bartender who had just made her way over to the scene. "Make sure that he is ready for the firing squad, tomorrow morning." (reply Zzt, Mei-Ling, Tommy, any) He turned towards the group near the door and watched the Geratlian through narrowed eyes. "Would you like to take a few minutes to give us a chance to be more presentable sir?" Archibald shook his head at the unexpected question. "Uhhh, what?" then he remembered and he looked down at himself and the Betazoid. "Yes, that might be a good idea. However, I haven't finished with Mr. Zzt yet, so I don't want to go too far. We'll use the store room. This way, Lieutenant." (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - Manager Mei Ling Hikaru and Tommy Tucker - 2223) Tommy suddenly found himself grabbed by the scruff of the neck and hauled up till he was eye to eye with a very angry-looking Archibald. "Assaulting a senior officer, are we?" Archibald hissed. "And at time of war? There is only one penalty for that. MISTER LING!" Mei Ling hastened over, one look at the mess and Archibald's face made her keep quiet about him getting her name wrong. ~Poor man, he must be really upset!~ Tommy whimpered as Archibald handed him over to Mei Ling. He clung to her, not entirely sure why Archibald was so angry. After all, Tommy had tried to clean up the mess, hadn't he? And it wasn't HIM who had pushed Archibald over, that had been Zzt. Tommy had almost been squashed in the crash but had fortunately managed to jump clear before Archibald landed on top of him. And he'd carried on trying to clean him up, even after all the other stuff landed on top of Archibald. "Make sure that he is ready for the firing squad, tomorrow morning." Tommy shook his head frantically, looking pleadingly at Archibald with a soulful expression. "Zzt," he said, pointing at the Gerattlian. "Archibald, I'm very sorry for the mess that Tommy caused," Mei Ling said. "And so is he, aren't you, Tommy?" "Sorry," agreed Tommy. "Very sorry." "But," Mei Ling continued firmly, "Tommy is not responsible for most of this mess. Zzt is. Tommy spilled a few drinks. Zzt seemed to go crazy and grabbed Susan and ran around the room with her, and it was Zzt who knocked you over and created the majority of this mess. So I think," she added, guessing that Archibald didn't really mean it about the firing squad, "I think if Tommy is going be shot for what is really a very minor thing and mostly an accident, then Zzt should be too, don't you?" Her eyes twinkled as she spoke but her face and voice were apparently serious. "NO!! Please?" Tommy said, his eyes almost at their full extent. "Be good!" he added. He contemplated offering Archibald a peanut to seal the deal but couldn't see any. He wasn't sure Archibald liked peanuts anyway. His friend Bob did but Bob wasn't here. "Very good," he assured Archibald again. "Very, very good!" (Reply Archibald, any) (Posted by Liz) (USS Boudicca - Storeroom- Boudicca aCO - Commander Archibald Stakes - 2229) Archibald entered the store room and made his way over to the back, staying as far away from the eggs that were stacked on one of the shelves. He felt under the left lapel of his jacket and pressed the small button on the underside. He felt the jacket and trousers contract for a second then relax again. He stood motionless for a few seconds as the excreted enzyme reacted with the layer of resin, making it well up and trapping all that was on top of the layer of resin. It took only a few seconds for the resin to harden and become brittle, a casing for the rubbish that could be easily removed. "There we go," Archibald said as he started brushing off the resin with his hands, flakes falling down from his uniform, as if it suffered from a severe case of dandruff. Unfortunately, a uniform like that only held one charge of enzyme so he would not be able to use it again. "You were saying, Lieutenant?" Archibald said. "Well sir, I don't know how much you may know about me already, so I'll start with some background. I was on Andoria attending the Military Institute when Doenitz began the invasion. The institute was a military target and I was lucky to escape there when the fighting started. Myself and a few other Institute attendees banded together and we conducted partisan raids against the occupying forces. Eventually, I joined an Andorian Resistance cell." Archibald just nodded, wondering where this would lead to. "My father was a merchant who smuggled weapons to the resistance aboard his freighter, the Phylar. His name was Kamden Borastal. He stopped making his deliveries, and much later I was advised by members of the Andorian Resistance that he had been captured, his ship impounded and my father sent to be tried for Sedition. He was executed." Again Archibald nodded. That was a common story. "The reason I wanted to speak to you sir, is that the name of the ship that captured his freighter was reportedly the Rose of Samarkand. And I was told that you were that vessel's Captain at the time. I wanted to know what really happened and determine if everything I had come to think about the situation was justifiable. So I'm asking you to convey to me the truth of what happened if, indeed, you are the Archibald Stakes that was the Captain of the Rose of Samarkand at the time." Archibald eyed the Lieutenant for a second, going back in his mind to the days of Andoria's 'pacification'. He shrugged and turned his back to the Lieutenant, deliberately. "There has been and ever will be only one Rose of Samarkand, Mister Trinin. And only one Captain Stakes has commanded her. Me." Archibald fell silent, considering his options. "My commiserations, Lieutenant. But I would think that your father must have known the risks that he took. It was a brave thing to do. But also stupid. Doenitz used his best troops in the assault on Andoria and it is unlikely that any resistance would have made any difference. Well, difference with regards to the ownership of the planet. It made a *lot* of difference for the population on Andoria, as I understood. Curfews, executions, ransacking, you name it, the blackies did it. And for every blackie that was killed, twenty, thirty, one hundred civilians were killed in retribution. I can remember Kolirana. Have you ever been there, Lieutenant? The second city of the eastern hemisphere on Andoria? No? Too bad, because you won't be able to, anymore. Completely obliterated because a group of one hundred freedom fighters decided to use that city as a base. Thirty five thousand civilans dead, the city levelled by bombardments. And all for a futile attempt to stop a storm with an umbrella. Futile, stupid yet commendable." Archibald fell silent. "As futile, stupid, yet commendable as a certain group of Starfleet Commanders, who wanted to stop the madness from within. They felt that there were enough good Commanders still left to make a difference. If not stop him, then by all means lessen Doenitz's impact on those who opposed him openly. And we would have stood a chance, if LoDona had not pulled his fleet out and retreated behind his subspace river, leaving too few to hold the madness in check. If you wish to blame anyone, Lieutenant, blame LoDona. His decision alone made sure that Doentiz would control the fleets unopposed. Of course, *WE* could have run away too, hiding behind the river. But we did not want to run, *we* did not want to turn our backs on those that we were sworn to protect. So, severely weakened, we remained and did all that we could to lessen the evil. Lessen, Lieutenant, not stop it, not fight it because we did not have the strength anymore to do that." The aCO sighed once. "As for your father, it was a choice. Either *we* captured him or the blackies would. And the blackies would not have stopped at just the Captain, they would have slaughtered everyone, including any living relative that they could lay their hands on. So we intervened, took the ship and let everyone else go. Because that was all we could do. And I would do it again, if I ever got the same choice. But you may think differently about that, that is your choice, not mine." (reply Zzt, Mei-Ling, Tommy, Trinin, any) (posted by Adrie Geuken) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mission: The Fires of Heaven, Day 8 Stardate: 2407.07.05 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Boudicca, Sickbay - MO Dr. Jahlen - 1431) Jahlen was glad when the meeting drew to a close and the staff left to return to duty or their time off. She was very tired, but she knew she wouldn't sleep anymore, but she returned Dr. Gates' smile. "Thank you for being here. I won't hold you up too much longer, I just hope you can catch some more sleep before your shift. Speaking of which, I wanted to let you know that if you would like to change to Alpha or Beta shift, I'm happy for you to do so. I'm sure Nurse Mason can tweak the roster to suit. I just think maybe Gamma shift isn't the most suitable to utilise your talents." "That's very considerate of you Dr. Gates. I don't mind Gamma shift, it's generally quiet and gives me a chance to study, but I won't mind at all if you change my rotation. I will leave it up to you as to which shift you'd prefer me to be on." Jahlen gave a slight shrug, "whichever one you think I'd be more useful on is fine by me." (reply Gates) With a nod Jahlen prepared to leave, picking up her PADD that was shoved into her pocket. "Is it okay if I leave it to you to tell Nurse Mason?" (reply Gates) "That's fine, thank you. Goodbye for now." Stifling a yawn, Jahlen headed out of the office to make her way back to her quarters, at least now she didn't have to worry about working the Gamma shift that night. (reply Gates) (posted by Sal) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mission: The Fires of Heaven, Day 12 Stardate: 2407.07.09 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Nurse Carl Masterson - 1229) Carl had decided to get out of his quarters early, since Ray had been switched on his shift and was rummaging around their room. He was once again in one of his varied moods, which was good incentive for Carl to finish an assignment Dr. Gates had given him earlier. Several of them were compiling reports on the crew medical records for Dr. Gates. So with a stack of padds in hand for each category, he headed to Dr. Gates' office. (USS Boudicca - CMO's Office - ACMO Gates - 1230) Georgia re-read what she had written and then deleted it for the 4th time. She threw the Padd down on the desk in disgust and buried her head in her hands. What she wanted to say just wasn't coming out right. Sometime during the previous night she had finally decided on a gift for Lorimar. It had been a hard decision, but after meditating on it, she had decided it was the right thing to do. Parting with one of her stones was hard. They had become almost an extension of herself, and she relied on them in times of stress. ~probably too much~ Now the hard part was trying to find the words to convey her thanks, and wish him well in the lead up to the coming battle. With a sigh she picked up the Padd, determined this time to write something and send it on its way before she could delete it. ~what do I call him for a start? Bob the goat-wrangling engineer?~ She grinned at the thought, almost tempted to do it, but decided 'Ensign Lorimar' was probably more appropriate. "Ensign Lorimar, Your gift was perfect. Thank you. You've done no wrongs toward me, I seem to specialise in doing them to myself. Please accept this gift as my gift to you. Bloodstone is considered the heros stone to many people and instills courage in dangerous situations. I hope......." She was still trying to form the last part of it when Nurse Masterson entered the room. He placed a stack of pads on her desk. “As requested, Dr. Gates.” he said, with a smile. “Is there anything else you need?” She quickly saved what she had written, and placed the black velvet pouch containing the bloodstone on top of it. "Um, do you think you could drop this down to Main Engineering for me Carl?" “Sure,” he asked. “Where in Engineering?” Georgia thought for a moment, not sure whether Lorimar would even be in his office or not. "Um, just leave it on the ACEO's desk would be fine." It wasn't until Carl had left the room with pouch and Padd in hand that Georgia realised she hadn't finished what she had been writing. Not only that, but she was now filled with a sudden dread that Lorimar would not appreciate the stone in the way that she had hoped. To some people they were just pretty stones, especially stones the colour of the bloodstone. But for Georgia they held more meaning than that. (USS Boudicca - CMO Office - Nurse Carl Masterson - 1235) Carl knocked on the outside of Dr. Gates' office and entered when he heard her approval. He found her working hard over something, as he walked over to her desk to put the padds down. “As requested, Dr. Gates.” he said, with a smile. “Is there anything else you need?” Dr. Gates finished writing on her padd and then placed a small bag on top of it. "Um, do you think you could drop this down to Main Engineering for me, Carl?", she asked. “Sure,” he asked. “Where in Engineering?” Dr. Gates paused for a moment before saying, "Um, just leave it on the ACEO's desk would be fine." "Okay, Doctor." he said, accepting the padd and bag. (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Nurse Carl Masterson - 1245) "Hi there, Mike" said Carl as he walked into engineering. He wasn't down here often, but he knew a few of the engineers here. He played cards with some of them occasionally. The engineer nodded in his direction and then returned to his work. Mike wasn't the most verbal guy around and still not much of a poker face. It was fun to play Mike. ~Now where is that office.~ he thought as he looked around the busy room. ~That looks like it.~ He wandered over to the office and looked in. With no one inside, he dropped the bag onto the desk with the padd on top. ~Looks good~ he thought, as the padd teetered on top of the bag precariously. ~Job done~ he thought, as he smiled to himself and headed out back to sickbay, the padd now lying on the floor. (Reply Any) (posted by Kaweo Kanoho) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Ensign Lorimar - 1257) Lorimar was busy in engineering, anticipating the call to battlestations. Not that you could do all that much before the time came... but it was better to be prepared, given the urgency of the situation they were heading into. He made his way in a clockwise direction from workstation to workstation around the upper gallery, stopping briefly to chat with each engineer as he came to them. He cast a glance down toward the warp reactor, noting the increase in reaction frequency. Examination of a repeater panel confirmed what his eyes and ears already told him; other departments were anticipating the alert as well... power consumption was up, and generated power was being ramped up to match the demand. ~We must be getting close... ah'm sure the skipper will make the call in short order~ He moved to the next station, placing his hand lightly on the shoulder or crewman Harper. "Are ye ready laddie? We'll be goin tae battlestations in a few minutes ah suspect." Getting a slightly nervous, but affirmative nod in reply, Lorimar grinned and moved on... He made his way down the ladder to the main engineering deck and repeated the process he had just completed above. Station to station, checking in with each engineer. They were as ready as they could be, without actually being at Red Alert. A lull. Not something to be taken lightly, no doubt downtime would be a rare or perhaps mythical creature for the duration of the battle. He headed for his office to double check duty rosters and assignments. Walking quickly, he kicked a PADD and sent it skidding across the deck. "Ye are gettin' sloppy laddie," he said aloud to his empty office. He bent to pick it up and place it on his desk, taking a seat when he had done so. Only then did he notice the small bag atop his desk. A new, and intriguing addition to his well ordered, but cluttered desk. More than simply a bag, it was a black velvet pouch. Curiousity got the better of him and he opened it, tipping the contents into his open palm. ~ A stone? What in the... och. The PADD ye oaf. Check the PADD~ He read the PADD and a bemused look came to him. So, the Doctor *had* gotten it after all... He held the stone in his palm, closing his fingers around it. He shut his eyes a moment. He could *swear* that the stone was warm to the touch... but dismissed it to his active imagination. Now... what to do... Keep it simple. No time for notes. Some messages can't wait. "Lorimar to Doctor Gates." (Reply Gates) "Doctor, ah'd come in person tae thank ye... but ye'll need pardon mah manners, we are right busy here. There wasnae any need tae return anythin'... but ah appreciate it greatly. Perhaps ye can take the time tae tell me the tale o' yer stone sometime? Until then, ah'll keep it in mah pocket... ah need all the help ah can get. Thank ye kindly Doctor." (Reply Gates, Any) (Posted by Russ) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13 - Marine Staging Area - Sgt K'nan K'iria - 1300) K'nan sat crosslegged surrounded by the rest of her recon squad. The battle was coming and soon they would be needed. To defend the ship and to take the battlestation should the need arise. So as was her custom, she surrounded herself with her men and meditated. The leggy Andorian's eyes were closed centering herself, as she sought the calm to carry out whatever would need to be done in the oncoming conflict. They had trained diligently since they received the battle plans for the marines. Things were different with Drizzt gone, but changes in command were the like the stars, constant and plentiful. Especially with this war, but Drizzt had remained with them far longer than K'nan had expected. But his mark had already been left and their performance would reflect his time with them. Finally, K'nan nodded her head ever so slightly, sending her squad to prepare. They rose in silence and began to suit up. Methodically they checked their equipment and girded themselves for battle. Battles in space were not how it was meant to be. One should be able to look into the eyes of the person that will be killed. So that they know they died with honor and that if one died, that it had been for a righteous cause. The Battle of Andoria had been a horrific moment in every Federation citizen's mind. It was among those horrible moments that would remain seared into the minds of the survivors. Though the war would come to an end, these scars would remain with her forever. She could not imagine how things could return to the way it was before. She pondered what she would do after the war. Would she stay in service or return to Andoria to help her people rebuild. While she was a warrior, it did not mean she loved war. Peace was how people survived and great civilizations would rise. And Andoria and the Federation were great civilizations. She even wondered if Andoria would remain with the Federation. She put her doubts away. Her face remained placid throughout the turmoil that stormed within her. Placing her Ushaan-tor in place, her last weapon ready. Let the battle come. She would do what she must. (Reply Any) (Posted by Kaweo Kanoho) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACMO Gates - 13:30) Although they had been prepared for days, when the red alert came it took Georgia and everyone in sickbay by suprise. Stakes voice cut through the air, silencing them. =^=Now hear this, now hear this. We have arrived at Sol system. The next hours will determine what future there will be for us and the Federation. But whatever happens, I am assured that at the end of the battle, I will be proud to have served together with you. Good luck and good hunting.=^= ~and may we all live to see the other side of this all~ She looke around at the worried faces and knew they mirrored her own. "Okay people, I guess this is it. May lady luck be on our side." (reply any?) (posted by Wendy, with creative input from Kaweo) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, aCEO Jael al-Sharif, 14.08) And Lorimar spoke: "Ye hae indeed built a fine team here Lieutenant... They'll gie ye their very best when the time comes, as they hae all along." Lise nodded. "I know. And they were here, right from the start, as we will be -- till the very end." With that, Lorimar and al-Sharif went about their various tasks. Each absorbed in their own train of thought. While Lise had no concept of what was plaguing the engineer's mind, she knew what plagued hers. Family. Honour. Friends. How was Angel? Would Susan be alright? The baby? All those she served with. Would she die, as Jael and no one but Falthgood and Susan to know the truth? What would happen if her body was found, and they did the diagnostic to reveal who she really was? What would Commander Stakes do? - a half-smile almost lit her face as her mind's eye imagined Stakes uttering something to the effect of "I KNEW it". His instincts were good -- a little too good for Lise's liking. But moreover, all the personal things, what worried her was honour. The state of being. Angel was in the midst of all this, growing up in a highly fractured world. What would come of it? What would her tomorrow and her future hold? The present- the time was now, for her to make a difference, for this group to create a future that allowed for people like Angel and Susan's offspring to be able to live, to breath, to BE human or bajoran or klingon or betazoid or whatever it was that they were, but to be those identities, to live those cultures and experiences -- together. For if not, then what would the future hold? Pushing the myriad of thoughts that began to bombard her aside, Lise continued working. Perhaps today would be a good day to die -- but, she would make sure, that the future died not with her. (Reply any) (Posted by Kat) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - OPS Lt (jg) Donald Johnson - 14.50) Donald hung on to his console as the ship rocked. He cursed that they hadn't been able to execute their plan to fool the MDP's sensors. In the end it just wasn't possible in the time frame they had to work with and the equipment at hand. They had succeeded in doing a number of things, but Donald hoped that the evacuation equipment would not be needed. Because even if they managed to get there, there was no guarantee as to who would be picked up. But as the ship was shaking, Donald prayed that the Boudicca would hold. Pulling himself together, he reviewed the damage reports and worked in concert with his fellow ops officers on the bridge to dispatch repair crews to the necessary areas. So far they had not been able to return fire and they were just hanging on until their weapons were in range. The environmental systems were starting to light up and that wasn't good. Donald made sure that his subordinates saw it, so it was their priority. It wouldn't do to have them start acting up. If the temperatures started going to extremes, the crew wouldn't function properly. Not that explosions were any better, but this was at least something they could work on that didn't involve anyone dying. His eyes flicked over the console and noticed that wounded and casualty reports were beginning. So far mostly small injuries, but notices were going to sickbay for help. He could only imagine that those quick reports would grow more complex as time went on. Hopefully not too many reports would grace that section of his board. After the few months of having been in the war on the Boudicca, Donald was surprised how calm he had remained. He had thought he would be more scatter brained about the whole affair, but he had taken it in stride, something that surprised him. Granted he was no spring chicken, but it wasn't as though war was a natural state of things. He was thankful though since it allowed him to do his job better than if he was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Unlike CONN and Tactical, OPS was often silent on the bridge during the battle. Their work continued as always in silence and in the background. But his ears were listening carefully for any orders that would indicate some response from him. Especially with the ship shaking about. For now, his eyes remained flickering over his console along with the occasional glance at the viewscreen, as the MDP seemed loom toward them. (Reply Any) (Posted by Kaweo Kanoho) NRPG: *empty seat* -USS Boudicca, NCC 49901 Star Trek: Freedom - http://www.startrekfreedom.com