~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: To Live and Die in Starlight, Day -5 - 8 Stardate: 2407.01.27 - 2407.02.08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List of Headers: (Starbase Geneva, Temporary Quarters, Lt(jg) Susan Rivers and NPC Admiral Ohlsson, 1400) (USS Boudicca-Corridor Outside Conference Room 2-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-12:49) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-12:54) (USS Boudicca, Tactical Interactive Holographic System Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1940) (USS Boudicca - TIHS Control Center - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 1941) (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1943) (USS Boudicca - TIHS Control Center - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1950) (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1954) (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1955) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1956) (USS Boudicca - TIHS Control Center - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1956) (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1956) (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - SCPO Haverstaad - 1956) (USS Boudicca - Science labs- Research Scientist - Dr. Engtamn-Jensi - 1957) (USS Boudicca - Science labs- ACSO Sarrik - 1958) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 2004) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren – 2004) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 2005) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - 2006) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 2011) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 2012) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 2013) (USS Boudicca - Rec Lounge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 2033) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - Commander Trevan West & Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 2308) (USS Boudicca - Marine Helldeck, "Security Center" - Lt Major 'Spider'Drizzt - 0139) (USS Boudicca - Marine Helldeck, "Security Center" - Lt Major 'Spider'Drizzt - 0146) (USS Boudicca, Personal Quarters, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 0200) (USS Boudicca - Helldeck - Lt Major Drizzt - 0201) (USS Boudicca - ACEO's office - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0422) (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0438) (USS Boudicca - Outside Holodeck 1 - LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0558) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck, Rohtashe Theater - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0600) (USS Boudicca, Bridge, Captain Grailik, 0748) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0748) (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, Captain Grailik, 0749) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Captain Sevant - 0750) (USS Boudicca - Deck 3 - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 0820) (USS Boudicca - Corridor near holodeck - COUNS - Lt. (JG) Brian Rogers - 0821) (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 0821) (USS Boudicca, Transporter Room 1, Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0845) (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0855) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0856) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 0857) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0859) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Rivers - 0900) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0901) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 0903) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0904) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 0905) (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0907) (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0907) (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Ensign Samantha Chandler - 0908) (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Lt (jg) Susan Rivers - 0909) (USS Boudicca - COUNS Office - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 0928) (USS Boudicca - COUNS Office - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev & COUNS Lt. Brian Rogers - Day 2 - 0930) (USS Boudicca, Personal Quarters, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 09.40) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1006) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1006) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:08) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:09) (USS Boudicca - Corridor enroute to Sickbay - SCPO Haverstaad - 1120) (USS Boudicca, 10 Forward, MCO, Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 12:45) (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1246) (USS Boudicca - 10 Forward - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1249) (USS Boudicca - 10 Forward - MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton & TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr.Stolev - Day 2 - 1253) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Capt Sevant - 1301) {USS Boudicca - Marine Center, MXO's Office - Lt Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 1305) (USS Steel Talons - Admiral's War Room - Admiral Robert LoDona - 2310) (Earth - Starfleet Command Headquarters - President Rodrigo Doenitz - 0940) (Earth - Government Complex, Presidents Office - President Rodrigo Doenitz - 1035) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Start of Compile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: To Live and Die in Starlight, Day -5 Stardate: 2407.01.27 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (Starbase Geneva, Temporary Quarters, Lt(jg) Susan Rivers and NPC Admiral Ohlsson, 1400) ==================================== "Come in!" Susan continued to pack as the doors to her quarters opened, but when she saw who had entered, she dropped the top she was folding onto the open bag and came to attention. Admiral Ohlsson waved his hand impatiently. "No need for that, Susan. Not just between ourselves. Sit down." He took a seat himself and stretched out his long legs. "I could do with a coffee, though. My assistant limits me to two a day, dragon that she is." Susan grinned and got his coffee and one for herself then sat down. "I'm sorry about the court-martial," Ohlsson said. "But it had to be real to give you the right cover, you know?" Susan shrugged. "I know," she said. "It has to be not just believable but verifiable, right?" "Right. And of course when this is all over your rank will be fully restored, no stain on your record." He grinned. "Well, apart from what was already there, that is." Susan acknowledged that with a wry smile. Anyone who knew her and her temper would have little difficulty believing in her court-martial and subsequent demotion for gross insubordination. She also noted that Ohlsson had not specifically said once this assignment was over, but had been rather more vague. "As you know," Ohlsson continued, "For some time now we've suspected that a ring of infiltrators has been passing information to Doenitz somehow. Your job will be to find and identify the members of that ring. If you can infiltrate it, so much the better." Susan raised an eyebrow. "You think they'd try to recruit me? Even though my feelings about Doenitz must be well-known?" "Ah, but that's the beauty of it. A Starfleet Captain, stripped of her command and demoted over a relatively minor misdemeanor, might be expected to harbour a lot of resentment, even a grudge, don't you think? You must admit, Susan, you'd be a tempting target. Especially if they were to offer you a command in return for your... co-operation." She nodded slowly. "I suppose so." "We know they've turned at least one officer that way before." He handed her a PADD. "For your eyes only. Your code-name will be Vixen, and you should use that in all your communications with me, which should take place on the channel detailed here only. Your access code is also detailed on this PADD. Your assignment, Susan, will be as TAC/ASC on the Boudicca. There's one there already but the Boudicca is a tactical ship just starting a covert mission in Federation space, so I doubt anyone will question it." Susan stared at him. "The Boudicca? But I know so many people there! People I've served with, trusted, come to think of as friends!" "Name me one ship in this fleet where you *don't* know someone," Ohlsson retorted. "Susan, when I recruited you to my section a year ago, you knew none of the assignments would be easy. This one is harder than most because of your personal relationships with some of the people under suspicion, but you can't let your guard down with anyone except Captain Sevant." Susan snorted. "I'm glad *one* at least of my former friends and colleagues is regarded as above suspicion!" Ohlsson regarded her soberly. "I wouldn't exactly say 'above suspicion' but he was the one to voice his concerns to me over a certain piece of information ending up in the wrong hands and to request a covert investigation. So he alone knows why you'll be there. But no one else is to know, understand? I don't care how long you've known them, how good a friend they are, if they've saved your life or you've slept with them. No one at all." Susan looked down at the PADD again and sighed. "Very well," she agreed. Ohlsson handed her a second PADD. "This one just contains your reporting instructions as per normal." He swallowed the last of his coffee and stood up to leave. "Good luck, Susan. I have a feeling you're going to need it, on more than one level. It won't be easy working under people you once commanded. And this job... dangerous as well as difficult." He turned towards the door, then looked back. "By the way, what exactly *did* you say to Admiral Weston to provoke him into court-martialling you?" he asked. Susan told him, and Ohlsson gave a sudden bark of laughter. "You hit a raw nerve there all right," he said. He was still laughing as he walked down the corridor to the turbolift. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: To Live and Die in Starlight, Day 1 Stardate: 2407.02.01 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Corridor Outside Conference Room 2-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-12:49) ==================================== "Good," Grailik said, with a smile, "I'll meet you in your office then in five minuets then." Nodding her head, she made her way past him and headed towards the nearest turbolift. Getting inside, she called out, "Sickbay," and listened as the she moved from deck to deck. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-12:54) ==================================== In her office, Kaitlyn busied herself only momentarily while Grailik made his way back to sickbay. It didn't take long however, as she heard a rap at the door frame, and she looked up seeing him. "Here we go," Grailik said, holding up the PADD. "Have to keep this stuff written down. My memory isn't like it use to be." He joked as he handed the decrypted PADD to Mackenzie before taking a seat in front of her desk. Scanning through the decryption sequence, she joked back, "With something like this I don't see how you could remember it at all." <> Still going through the decryption process, it took her awhile before she was finally granted access. Something of this importance wasn't just decrypted for the fun of it. If it was decrypted it was for a good reason. As she looked at the data, she raised her eyebrows and looked at Grailik in disbelief. "This is.....a lot of data to pour through," she said. "Not to mention the building blocks to this drug." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Tactical Interactive Holographic System Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1940) ==================================== "Evening Chief, What can I do for you?" Melody nodded to the Warrant Officer and then gestured with her head. "This one is on me." She said to the guards. "Sir, if you will." She said, gesturing again. Jerral waited for the guards to open the door to the control center then walked in followed by Melody. "So, what is it you need me for?" Melody took one of the two seats on the room. "I would like an engineering expert to take a look at this, Sir." She said once she had settled, "I've done what I can, I am by no means an expert in engineering. This is to important to put to chance." "Anything specific you want me to look at or do you want me to do a full diagnostic?" Jerral asked. "Oh, and cut it out with the 'Sir' stuff, I'm still a chief at heart. Star Fleet Command gave me the warrant so they could give me more work to do. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - TIHS Control Center - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 1941) ==================================== "Anything specific you want me to look at or do you want me to do a full diagnostic?" Jerral asked. "Oh, and cut it out with the 'Sir' stuff, I'm still a chief at heart. Star Fleet Command gave me the warrant so they could give me more work to do." She smiled grimly, "Don't they always?" she asked philosophically. She grabbed a PADD from one of her pockets and handed it over, it was the complete listing of diagnostic test results done so far. She'd tweaked as much as she could at this point. "A full diagnostic and any fine-tuning you see it might need. Our lives could to easily rely on this hunk in the next couple of days." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1943) ==================================== "Don't they always?" she asked philosophically. She grabbed a PADD from one of her pockets and handed it over, it was the complete listing of diagnostic test results done so far. She'd tweaked as much as she could at this point. "A full diagnostic and any fine-tuning you see it might need. Our lives could to easily rely on this hunk in the next couple of days." Jerral looked over the diagnostics that had been run, and then put the PADD down on one of the surfaces. "Well then lets see what I can do," Jerral said put his kit down, and pulling his tricorder off of his belt. (Reply Haverstaad) "Computer, Recognize and grant maintenance level access to TIHS control systems: Warrant Officer Jerral Revan, Weapon Systems Specialist, authorization code: Revan-Omega-6-2-0-Epsilon-Sigma," Jerral said, starting the rituals that were needed to do anything in the room, a routine he had performed hundreds of times over the last four years. [Voice print and authorization code verified, Warrant Officer Jerral Revan is recognized and granted maintenance level access to the requested systems.] "Computer back up all operating programs and isolate the backups on the secondary computer core," Jerral said continuing his ritual [Back-up Complete] ~~Lets see, where to start...~~ Jerral thought to himself for a moment before popping an access panal off the wall and crawling under one of the control consoles. He made a quick pass of all of the inner workings of the unit, making sure chips were set snugly, and the power leads were tight and secure. What he was really under the console for, was to look at the Holographic input processor. The processor was what interpreted the TIHS users movements and relayed the correct information to the weapons systems. The processor's sensors were a frequent trouble spot, and needed to be recalibrate fairly frequently. Opening his tircorder he ran a slightly more thorough diagnostic on the input processors. Like he thought, the sensors needed to be realigned, they were within tolerance limits, but if it was as important as Melody said, then no variance was going to fly with him. Sliding back out from under the console, he looked up at Melody "Well, Chief," not being close enough to the Chief to even try a first name basis, he kept things professional, "it looks like there is a slight variance in the Input processor sensors, nothing to major but I'll bring them back to perfect. After that, I'll do full diagnostics on the rest of the systems, starting with the problem areas." (Reply Haverstaad) "You might want to get a book or a pillow or something, this might take a while," Jerral said jokingly, a friendly smile on his face. He took his job seriously, and if the chief in charge of the system asked for his help, he wasn't about to overlook anything, which meant he was likely to be working well into the Gamma shift. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - TIHS Control Center - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1950) ==================================== Melody watched the Weapons Systems Engineer move around the room with more then a hint of professional interest. The Tactical Holographic System was her baby, the one reason she'd been assigned to the Boudicca in the first place. Not that she didn't trust Jerral, of course, but she was still skittish when others had their hands on it. "Well, Chief, it looks like there is a slight variance in the Input processor sensors, nothing to major but I'll bring them back to perfect. After that, I'll do full diagnostics on the rest of the systems, starting with the problem areas." Haverstaad nodded, "Good." "You might want to get a book or a pillow or something; this might take a while," "Pffft." She said as she kicked back in the chair and took a slightly exaggerated posture. "Haven't you heard about me? I like roughing it." She rubbed her face, "I'll also need the dedicated power source checked from the bridge sometime. Is that your province, or should I get the Chief on it?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1954) ==================================== "You might want to get a book or a pillow or something; this might take a while," "Pffft." She said as she kicked back in the chair and took a slightly exaggerated posture. "Haven't you heard about me? I like roughing it." She rubbed her face, "I'll also need the dedicated power source checked from the bridge sometime. Is that your province, or should I get the Chief on it?" Jerral chuckled, he was quite impressed with her restraint. Jerral was meddling around in her area, and he could tell she was watching him mess with her department. "I could probably take a look at it for you, but power systems aren't really my specialty. You're best bet would be the Chief, or one of his assistants. My responsibilities tend to limit me to things that go boom or make things go boom. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1955) ==================================== "I could probably take a look at it for you, but power systems aren't really my specialty. You're best bet would be the Chief, or one of his assistants. My responsibilities tend to limit me to things that go boom or make things go boom." Melody chuckled a bit at that, "I hear you." She tapped her badge. "Chief Haverstaad to Engineering, I need a crackerjack engineer with to much time on his or her hands. Who's the lucky victim?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Engineering - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1956) ==================================== =^=Haverstaad to Engineering, I need a crackerjack engineer with to much time on his or her hands. Who's the lucky victim?=^= Mathew looked up at this call and chuckled. Tapping the comm pannel he said "Chief this is Lieutenant McLaren, looks like i'm your victom, what can i do for you?" (reply Haverstaad) "Understood i'm on my way then." And with that he snatched up his tools and walked out of engineering. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - TIHS Control Center - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1956) ==================================== =^="Chief this is Lieutenant McLaren, looks like I'm your victim, what can I do for you?=^= "I need the independent power source for the TIHS checked on the bridge, Lieutenant, for a final checkout before battle. =^=Understood I'm on my way then.=^= "Thank you Sir, I'll meet you there." She stood up, "Well Sir, I'll be back, it shouldn't be long." She said to Revan. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 1956) ==================================== "I could probably take a look at it for you, but power systems aren't really my specialty. You're best bet would be the Chief, or one of his assistants. My responsibilities tend to limit me to things that go boom or make things go boom." Melody chuckled a bit at that, "I hear you." She tapped her badge. "Chief Haverstaad to Engineering, I need a crackerjack engineer with to much time on his or her hands. Who's the lucky victim?" Jerral ran through some information on the PADD Melody had handed him earlier, as she talked to Engineering. Once she signed off she turned to him. "Well Sir, I'll be back, it shouldn't be long." She said to Revan. "Not a problem, I promise to be a good boy in here while you are gone. And what did I say about the sir thing, my name is Jerral," He said with a friendly grin. (Reply Haverstaad iyw) Jerral chuckled and grabbed his kit and pulled it over to the open access hatch and pulled out his quantum attenuator and slide back into the tight space under the console to continue his work. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, TIHS Control Center - SCPO Haverstaad - 1956) ==================================== "And what did I say about the sir thing, my name is Jerral," Melody shook her head in mock retreat, "As you wish." and waved as she parted. "The Warrant Officer will be staying." she said to the guards before heading off. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Science labs- Research Scientist - Dr. Engtamn-Jensi - 1957) ==================================== "Astrophysics, specifically dealing with wormhole theory and tachyon emissions from them. I also deal in metaphysics as it relates to travel through wormholes." Sarrik put his hand out in human fashion at the meeting of a new colleague. Engtamn looked at the hand coming towards him and smiled. He raised his cloven hand and divided the four fingers easily in a 'v' shape in the Vulcan greeting. "It is okay, I understand touch telepath's adversion to physical contact. My species is not overly fond of physical contact either, but for different reasons. We view most other species as potential predators. I know in the case of Vulcans that you are by and large vegetarians, however still physical contact with one we have just met is uncomfortable as well." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Science labs- ACSO Sarrik - 1958) ==================================== Engtamn smiled and raised his cloven hand and divided the four fingers easily in a 'v' shape Sarrik immediately recognized. "It is okay, I understand touch telepath's adversion to physical contact. My species is not overly fond of physical contact either, but for different reasons. We view most other species as potential predators. I know in the case of Vulcans that you are by and large vegetarians, however still physical contact with one we have just met is uncomfortable as well." Sarrik returned the greeting and said "I understand and thank you. After I settle in, I would be very interested in sitting down with you and discussing your research." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 2004) ==================================== Melody stepped onto the bridge and looked around, wondering if the Assistant Chief had arrived yet. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren – 2004) ==================================== The turbolift doors slid apart and Matthew stepped through them onto the plush carpet of the bridge. Looking around he saw the the chief standing near the tactical console obviously waiting for him. "Chief i'm LT McLaren." He said to her. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 2005) ==================================== "Chief i'm LT McLaren." "Lieutenant," she said agreeably. "Thank you for taking a moment." she put her hand on the holographic ring of the bridge-TIHS. "The only think I'm not certified to tweak is the independent power source for this thing." she continued in a quiet voice so as not to disturb the rest of the bridge crew. "I've gotten nothing negative back from the diagnostics, but I need it checked out by hand before it can be signed off on... and I'd feel better with it looked at before we stepped into battle." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge – McLaren - 2006) ==================================== "Lieutenant," she said agreeably. "Thank you for taking a moment." she put her hand on the holographic ring of the bridge-TIHS. "The only think I'm not certified to tweak is the independent power source for this thing." she continued in a quiet voice so as not to disturb the rest of the bridge crew. "I've gotten nothing negative back from the diagnostics, but I need it checked out by hand before it can be signed off on... and I'd feel better with it looked at before we stepped into battle." "Ok, I'll give it the twice over then." He said and knelt to lift up a floor panel so that he could get to the power conduits. The TIHS had its own independent power source from the rest of the bridge so that it would stay online even if everything else was damaged. He ran the tricorder over the conduit and detected a few microfractures in the metal. He then visually assessed the joins and the power converters. He then shutdown the power and lifted out the primary conduit to get to the auxiliary and emergency conduits. The backup batteries were located to the right of these conduits and he tested them and found they were fully charged. He replaced the primary conduit and crawled out of the hole in the floor and looked up at the chief whilst wiping the Greece from his hands onto the sides of his uniform. "It all checks out. There is a few microfractures in the primary conduit but nothing serious although I can have it replaced if you would like." (reply chief) ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 2011) ==================================== "Ok, I'll give it the twice over then." She stepped aside as he knelt down and pulled off the access panel. She didn't often get into the guts of the bridge, most of her work dealt with the actual holo-ring and its sub-processor. That, or the actual processing unit down in the TIHS center. She crossed her arms as he dug around before popping out again. "It all checks out. There is a few microfractures in the primary conduit but nothing serious although I can have it replaced if you would like." That didn't take much thought, not if she was going to go into combat with this system. "Please, Chief." She said firmly. "I wouldn't want it anything less then 100% going into battle." She looked around the bridge and briefly wondered just how much havoc this would cause. Her deliberations were quick though, a bit of noise was nothing if the system decided to fail while being fired at. She therefore continued with, "It can be done at your leisure, just as long as it's done, Sir." She paused again, "Do you need a hand?" ==================================== (Uss Boudicca - Bridge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 2012) ==================================== "Please, Chief." She said firmly." Matthew raised an eyebrow to being referred to as the chief although he didn't say anything. ~Maybe i've been promoted and haven't found out yet, or maybe not~ "I wouldn't want it anything less then 100% going into battle. It can be done at your leisure, just as long as it's done, Sir." She paused again, "Do you need a hand?" "It should be fine. It wont take too long i hope. I'll get it done tonight so that i'm not pulling apart the bridge when the captains in here." He said righly looking down at the hole in the floor. (Reply chief) After replacing the floor covering and a bit more discussion he left the bridge to head back to engineering to replicate the new conduet. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 2013) ==================================== "It should be fine. It won't take too long I hope. I'll get it done tonight so that I'm not pulling apart the bridge when the captains in here." She nodded crisply, "Aye Sir." She watched him put it all together again and they both moved out of the rest of Tactical's way. The upgrade to the TIHS was just that, an upgrade, so all the access points to it were typically in -someone's- way, in a way that wouldn't have been acceptable if it had been built into the class. It was a small matter, for now at least. She nodded to the Tactical Officer in charge and escorted McLaren to the turbolift, "Thank you again, Sir." She said mildly, in the best Petty Officers tradition of mollifying officers. He stepped into the turbolift to go do... whatever it was he was going to do, leaving Melody on the bridge again, mostly to herself. She mused as she stepped into the next available turbolift and called out, "Security." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Rec Lounge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 2033) ==================================== "I learned how to play the piano at a young age," Sam answered. "But once I became a teenager, I became interested in other things and didn't really have time to play it. It has been a while since I have." "Yeah, I know how it is. I play piano a bit, but haven't had much time lately, not as much as I'd like." "So, what made you want to be an engineer?" Sam asked, changing the topic. Matthew swirled the liquid around in his glass as he thought about it for a second. "Not really sure. I've always liked playing with technology and fixing things. There was quite a calling to engineers that know what they're doing on fraters and cargo ships. That's where I got most of my work before joining the fleet so have had a bit of experience." Matthew thought back to those days and recalled how many positions had been available and how hard it was to be accepted. Most captains weren't particularly keen on having a blind engineer repairing their warp cores but he had got there in the end. (Reply Sam) The conversation was interrupted by Matthew's com badge which began beeping. =^=Lieutenant McLaren=^= The soft voice of the computer said. =^=The diagnostic on the propulsion systems is complete. This is an automatic reminder.=^= Matthew groaned. Tapping his badge he said. "Forward the results to my office and begin a level 3 diagnostic on the offensive systems." A soft beep came in reply and Matthew tapped his badge to close the channel. Looking across to Sam apologetically. "Dam thing wasn't supposed to be finished until the morning. Sorry about this I'll have to get back to engineering." Matthew thought of the work ahead of him. He hated doing double shifts but had become use to them now. ~Looks like an all-nighter again.~ (reply Sam) Standing up he quickly knocked back the rest of his drink and sat it back on the table. "Thanks for the chat. Is nice to get to know you. Will have to do this again." (Reply Sam) After saying good bye Matthew turned and exited the lounge and headed to engineering. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward - Commander Trevan West & Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 2308) ==================================== Staring out into space feeling empty, and drunk, was Trevan. The stars slipped by the windows silently, he looked out for Earth but couldn't see it due to the ships heading at the moment, but he was sure it was still there. His thoughts and feelings began to surface, thinking back to the shuttle accident, being trained on Rigel, looking forward to his first deep space assignment, were all clear as the window he was currently standing in front of. Trevan wasn't sure how long he had been standing there, minutes, perhaps hours, when his concentration was broken by a small whisper from behind him. It was Melody. She sounded a light-year away. He didn't move or look in her direction, he just stood there staring. She placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him around, finally seeing the emotions on his face and in his eyes. "Why am I here Melody?" he asked. "For a drink I would assume." She said with just a hint of a smile. "No, I know why I am in the lounge," he explained, "I mean why am I on this ship?" "That's a more interesting question, and it calls for a more interesting answer." She said after a few moments. "You are here... to do a job. We all are." She paused as she stepped up next to him and looked out the window herself, "I never much liked floating the stars, at least, not as Ive heard so many others say. I came to the stars to do a duty, and I'm still on this ship because that duty lead us to do... things we never thought we would do. We're both here to set things right." She looked over at him, almost as if challenging the answer. Her reply didn't surprise him at all really. "Well, maybe for you, but I didn't want to be involved in this." He said gesturing to the stars outside, "I always wanted to be a part of Starfleet since I was five, and I was happy when I got assigned to the Boudicca. But after that ended and I was assigned to Starbase 63 I was happy there." He thought back to the base, "You know what that place was like?" he continued without waiting for her answer, "It was great. Located on the edge of the Talarni sector, more of an outpost then a Starbase. We had only 6 operations officers, and 3 command officers. We could sit there for weeks without a visit from another living soul, I was happy. Fixing the station, getting her all repaired and enjoying the life." Trevan ran off at the mouth, talking about how command never bothered them out there on the fringes of nowhere and routinely spending hours on the holodeck sitting with the first Martian explorers as they journey to the Red Planet and establishing the first human colonies back in the 21st century. "No good deed, Chief, no good deed." he said From the look on her face she didn't really understand what he meant by that statement. "I did a deed for the Captain, and now, I am being punished," he sipped his ale, "The Captain drafted me back aboard the Boudicca because he needed an experienced engineer to help her through the refit and I was more then happy to have the run of the Boudicca's engine room once again." Trevans face brightened just ever so slightly, "Getting her up to spec again, hoping everything worked." once again his face fell, "Then the punishment began once everything was running, staring at status screens that you know won't change, filing and reading reports, meetings. All that is for politicians, not for an Engineer on the finest ship in the fleet." Feeling slightly tipsy again he sat at the table nearest the window. "Then, I got promoted." She took the seat opposite him and placed her drink, some sort of Andorian mixture, before her. "You make it sound like a curse." She said, swinging back to amusement. "Well of course I was honored to be the First Officer of this fine ship. Who wouldn't be." He tipped back on his chair legs, "I could have gone back to Rigel and commanded a freighter, or retired and started a family somewhere with someone. I have nothing here. The only bright spot on this whole bloody ship is you." With that statement he stared into her eyes, seeing everything that he loved about her. "Now this bloody war. I have fired too many phasers, seen too many people killed, vaporized, crushed and captured. I am sick of it. Hell, even my first week on-board I was trapped in a plasma fire. You know, the Vulcan's say Live Long and Prosper, the Bajoran's say 'May the Prophets be with you' the Klingons say, well, whatever they say. Me? Nothing. No guiding light, nothing. All I have to hope on is the phasers fire, the torpedoes lock and the shields hold out." he slammed his arms full force on the table. "What the hell kind of hope is that!?" "The fact you still have those phasers to fire says something," she said evenly. It says we're still here, we still draw breath, and we're not just going to lay down like a ferengi rat." She took a sip of her drink as she gathered her thoughts, "Unless you'd rather that old Klingon saying after all, 'today IS a good day to die!' ?" He looked into her eyes yet again, and turned away. "I know, but still. Everything just came up today and it just exploded. I don't want help. I don't want anything. I just want to wallow." He replied and shrugged his shoulders. Melody snorted, "Don't go gentle into that good night, fight the good fight precious, damn the torpedos and full speed ahead..." she was about to continue when he waved her down. "Don't give me the peptalk Mel, I don't need it. I need a friend. Are you a friend or are you just with me for the show?" He regretted those words the second it came out of his mouth, but it was too late. Trevan could see the look on her face. "Oh yes," she said coldly. "I do this for fun." She pushed back her chair and stood up. "And such fun it is." "Mel, wait." he paused, "don't go. I need you." "Then get a hold of yourself, right now, Commander." She said with more then a hint of frost about her tone. "Even better, I'm going anyway. Get on your feet and follow along, I think you've had quite enough booze by this point." She glared daggers at him, "Well, on your feet soldier!" That snapped him back into reality for a moment, thinking back to the last time she got this way, "On second thought, why don't I follow you." Trevan stood up slowly, the affects of the drinks still lingering in his head made the room spin a little. "Okay, where to now?" "We're going for a walk." She said with her arms crossed over her chest. "That way," she finished, with a jerk of her head to the doors of Ten Forward. She reached out and finished the last of her drink as West began to staggering to the exit, she followed close behind to make sure he wouldn't fall on his face or something equally painful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: To Live and Die in Starlight, Day 2 Stardate: 2407.02.02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Marine Helldeck, "Security Center" - Lt Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 0139) ==================================== Drizzt quirked his head to the side as he crouched quietly around a corner and watched his three targets with espionage devices. He slowly pulled back before turning to his partner, "Oorah, time to party." "Dirty?" "Absolutely." His squad-mate pulled out his combat knife and some cord while Drizzt pulled out his side-arm. The two Marines had separated from the CE's on the whole in order to take out Security; the rest had split evenly in half. One group was making way for the base commander, the other to the biggest fusion generator. The goal was to take all intelligence possible in a hurry, and to destroy the base on the way out. There was, as always, a catch. The base was wired for bare. They'd been lucky moving around so far, both groups were currently caught in areas they couldn't get out from until Security was taken down. That meant breaking into Security, amidst all the guards, and controlling the systems without being caught under the noses of those same guards. Drizzt and this Marine, whom most Marines named "Gold Dust Bill", were the two best infiltrators in the Fallen Angels. Drizzt supposed, as he mentally prepared for what was going to happen, that both being trained assassins helped as well. Just a bit. "Aight Sir, show-time." The Andorian nodded and clasped arms with him briefly before flipping over on his knee and watching the security center again, weapon in hand. He waited until Gold Dust had climbed back up into the crawlspace before pulling himself around the corner and closer to the three guards standing duty over the base surveillance room. It was a nerve wracking business, they were two marines in the heart of a Starfleet trained security force, trying to sneak around... there was a good reason that few infiltrators lasted long in time of war. The only reason he hadn't been caught yet was the whole setup was done foolishly. The control room was at the back of yet another room, one meant for security clerks. Therefore there were plenty of desks, walls, partitions and the like for people to hide around. Drizzt had been hiding just inside the area at a partition and was now making his way to the guards left flank a few inches at a time while Gold Dust Bill made his way above them. If they had any luck then Bill would fall on their heads about the same time that Drizzt came at their legs... and all would be silent. Of course, it wasn't to be. One of the guards just caught a glance at Drizzt as he was pulling into position and his gasp caught the attention of the other two guards. Drizzt cursed and pointed with his phaser, catching the first in the forehead with a setting-10 phaser shot, followed by a second in the throat. The third managed to get off a yell and a few phaser shots before he was taken down by a knife to the skull, thrown from the ceiling by Bill. Drizzt cursed loudly and flung himself at the door, ripping it open before any security locks could engage and firing at the two guards inside before they could react. ~Dirty indeed.~ Alarms started going off around them, apparently someone had heard the screams and phaser fire. Drizzt pulled Bill inside and slapped the emergency blast-door commands. Two sets of doors closed, locking both of them into the room very effectively. "Bypass the commands, keep those doors closed." Drizzt growled as he picked one of the dead guards up with the BDU and tossed him to the side. The Andorian was now in a VERY bad mood. Not only had he been caught, but now they were both effectively trapped in the middle of the instillation with no way of getting out. He could already see troops moving for their direction in the multiple security monitors around the complex. "All Forces," he said into his mic. "Proceed to targets at your discretion, hunting season is on!" Drizzt heard ripping sounds behind him, he turned just in time to see Bill rip the controls right out of the wall so he could get to the 'wiring'. "This is... great." The other Marine muttered as he worked. "Isn't it though?" Drizzt said with only half a mind as he scanned the areas that his team was moving. "Hurry up; I could use another pair of eyes." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Marine Helldeck, "Security Center" - Lt Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 0146) ==================================== "Yanno Sir, it could be said we're in trouble." "You don't say." Spider said quietly as his eyes flicked over to the monitor over-looking the door. There were twenty security guards there, half of them standing with phasers at the door. A couple others appeared to be in an animated discussion. He shook his head and looked back at the rest of the monitors, "I would imagine they're discussion options A or B. Either cut us out, or grab some grenades and try blowing the door." "They'd get in faster if they cut us out, a few of those phasers on level 16 should do nicely without messing up the rest of the decor." "Mmmm." Spider agreed. "In which case, I'd vote for option B, blow us out. Gives me a few more minutes to ride your rear before we go. Besides, I love seeing security mess up their pretty mustards." Neither of them said much about the mouse-trap they had gotten their tails caught in, they couldn't just waltz out of this room through a back way. They didn't have enough phaser power to cut their way out of the hardened room, and neither did they have enough sheer space to protect themselves from the concussion should they detonate all their grenades at once (which is what it would take to blow a hole in the wall) They were, for all intensive purposes, quite stuck. They'd either have to surrender, or shoot their way out. Odds are they wouldn't survive long if they tried to blast their way through... but Spider wasn't in much of a surrendering mood. =/=Sir, we've got the Commander. We lost two getting through his guard though, we're grabbing intel and preparing to beam out.=\= "Very good," Spider said. He'd not yet reported to anyone else that they were caught, not that it would have taken much to figure out. It was easier to ignore this way, the squad could beam out with acceptable losses. He sighed and shook his head; they were the only team to succeed so far. The Engineering team had been bushwhacked half-way to their destination and only one had escaped. ... this was not one of their more successful test-runs. "Well, we just screwed the pooch." Bill said quietly. Drizzt turned to look at the monitor; several of the security guards were standing in a rough line firing at the door. "Hmmm, give it two minutes." he said as he turned back. "Not that I want to." Spider stood up and cracked his neck. "Time for some fun." Gold Dust Bill snorted, "Par-tay." The MXO yanked out his combat-knife and took a deep breath. They were going to be in very close quarters, phasers would be useless. Not that the knife would matter much, Spider could pick up most of a ton with the BDU, he could literally force his gloved fist 'through' a Klingon's chest if he wanted. However, when dealing with combat so close, fear held a lot of sway... the blade was messy; it caused soldiers to second guess themselves and make mistakes. "I take it we're cracking open early?" Spider nodded, "No like the present, I'd hate to keep our guests waiting." Both of them chuckled in gallows humor as they took up places beside the door. Spider reached out with his hand and hovered just over the door control, "3... 2..." He slammed the control a moment later and rolled slightly away. Several phaser beams lanced into the room at exceptionally high power, disintegrating everything they touched, before the guards realized the door had opened and the beams shut down. Neither Combat Engineer wasted any time; they rolled out the door like a streak and jumped into the middle of the mass of men. Spider jabbed his knife deep into the skull of one man and lashed out at another, crushing the guard's throat; while Bill grabbed two of the guards and smashed them into each other with a force that jellied their bones. Things quickly disintegrated into chaos as the two Marines, loosed in the middle of the squad, worked every dirty trick they knew in order to keep the Security Guards off balance and present no target. Guards were disembowel, several had their heads twisted off, yet others were injured badly but purposely left alive so that their moaning and writhing on the floor would serve to hinder and distract anyone else joining the melee. There was nothing honorable about it; both Marines were putting every terror technique in hand-to-hand that they knew into practice in order to buy precious seconds... But they didn't have a chance. Several of the guards pulled away from the carnage and several more, stationed outside the work area, stepped in and took aim. Bill was the first to go, his body was hit by multiple high-power blasts and his armor was left a smoking ruin. Spider avoided the same fate only by seconds, and that only by taking one of the enemy guards and forcibly throwing her into the mass of newly arrived mustard shirts. It bought him enough time to jump away, but he was caught a glancing blow the second he landed... a blow strong enough to spin him around and throw him to the ground hard. [Lower back armor integrity 0, armor breached. Nanites activated...] The Armor started its litany of Suit Status immediately, not that it mattered. Spider was dead and he knew it, he managed to flip over and pull his side-arm from his under-arm holster, but he didn't get off a single shot. At least three beams caught him in the chest and one more in the head. [Simulated Death, please step away from the battle-scene.] Drizzt sighed as he got up. Lying where he had 'died' was a computer generated replica of himself, his armor ripped apart and smoking, his face... gone. His entire body had disintegrated after his suit had been breached. He winced and turned away, walking through the simulated walls off to one side where several other 'casualties' had gathered. None of them looked happy, but then... they had been killed. Combat Engineers trained hard, they were some of the most skilled (and arrogant) men in the Corps. They detested loosing; it was in the basic CE psychological makeup. "Computer, End Simulation." The Helldeck reverted to its grid, leaving the entire squad in various positions around the room. Spider pulled off his helmet, revealing a sweat-stained face. "That was fun. We're supposed to be good at this people; we were barely there for twenty minutes before we were caught. We might as well be regular marines... or Security. Thoughts?" Several of the CE's looked at each other, several looked at the support Recon squad which had joined them, and none of them looked comfortable. "Right." Spider said, none to enthused by the reaction. "Hit the showers, we'll have a total de-briefing in thirty minutes. Maybe by then some of you will have something to add... Dismissed." He tossed his helmet onto the deck as the Marines filed out and rubbed his tired eyes. That they had succeeded in getting the intel they wanted meant that this had been a strategic victory, but it had been messy and 3/4's of the Angels had been slaughtered. The info they 'recovered' might have made it worth while, but that didn’t change the cold hard fact that they wouldn't have survived to undertake another mission at a time when there -was- no steady supply of new recruits to fill the holes blasted in their ranks. They had to play better, and smarter, then normal. He took a breath and said, "Drizzt to Colonel Straton, I have some training news you might want to know." into his mic. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Personal Quarters, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 0200) ==================================== =/\=Drizzt to Colonel Straton, I have some training news you might want to know.=/\= Eva forced her eyes open and sat up in bed as she heard Drizzt's voice. She took a few seconds to fully shake the cob webs out of her head before picking up her comm-badge from the nightstand next to her bed. ~This had better be good.~ She thought, as she pressed badge with her thumb. "Straton here. Go ahead," She said. (Reply Drizzt) (NRPG: As I already know what he is going to report, I'll just go ahead and post Eva's reply now.) "Pathetic," She snapped. "Your boys are getting soft, Major." That, she knew, would be taken as the verbal equivalent of a slap in the face to any self respecting CCE. Exactly as she intended it. It would motivate Drizzt to more aggressively motivate his squad. "So, your boys think this is a picnic do they?" She continued, her voice hard as duranium. "Fine, schedule another training session for latter today, and I will give them a taste of what we are going up against. You have till then to make sure, that this time, they are ready." She closed the connection without waiting for Spiders reply. It would be another indication of her disappointment in the Fallen Angels. Another kick in Drizzt's tail end, to motivate him into motivating his squad. She couldn't allow such sloppiness, not now. She tossed her badge back onto the nightstand and laid back down. Closing her eyes, she tried to get back to sleep. She would deal with Drizzt and the Fallen Angels latter. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Helldeck - Lt Major Drizzt - 0201) ==================================== =^=Straton here. Go ahead,=^= Drizzt took a moment to gather his thoughts. "We just finished a basic base scenario and suffered 75% casualties before pulling off the mission and getting the goods. A strategic victory, a tactical failure. =^=Pathetic, Your boys are getting soft, Major. =^= Drizzt ground his jaw, "Yessir." =^=So, your boys think this is a picnic do they? Fine, schedule another training session for latter today, and I will give them a taste of what we are going up against. You have till then to make sure, that this time, they are ready.=^= The line clicked off, leaving Drizzt in the middle of the holodeck in an even worse mood then he was before. After tonight, he vowed, the Angels would be nothing if not vicious. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - ACEO's office - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0422) ==================================== Matthew leaned back in his chair and stretched. The diagnostics had taken longer than he'd hoped and he was dead tired. He had the bad habit of being a perfectionist and had went over small glitches several times to get things working properly. As the last lines of text flashed off the screen he sighed with relief and began compiling a report for the CEO. This didn't take long and he stabbed the send button with satisfaction. Standing up from his chair, he walked back out into the main section of engineering. The nightshift, many of which Matthew didn't know were going about their duties efficiently and Matthew only gave the master situation display a quick look over before heading for the exit. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0438) ==================================== Matthew stepped through the double doors into the living room of his small quarters. He called out for the lights and they came on illuminating the sparsely decorated room. He removed his uniform and stepped into the sonic shower. For the first time that night since the Drinks with Sam earlier he began to relax and his thoughts turned to trivial matters which was a nice change. After his shower he dressed in his night clothes, blacked the lights and crawled into bed. Only 5 minutes earlier he had been so tired that he would have given anything to go to sleep but now that he had the opportunity, sleep did not come easily at all. He tossed and turned for hours his thoughts now focused on the upcoming battle and with a sigh realization came to him that it was highly possible that he wouldn't live to see the end of the week. He questioned himself again for what seemed the thousandth time on why and how he'd gotten himself into this mess. The passed months had been so disjointed and confusing what with all the changes and the growing tensions in the federation and its allies . He didn't know where he stood anymore and whether he had made the right choices to join up in the first place. Although deep down he knew he was on the right side of the fight, he wasn't sure entirely what he was defending it for. The UP hadn't done him any favors before he joined up. He had had to fend for himself most of the time and he never was able to enjoy the good things that the federation offered. He found that his mood was getting worse and worse as he layed there. "Computer, time?" He called into the darkness. =^=The current shipboard time is 0550 hours.=^= Groaning, he climbed out of bed, pulled on some off duty clothes and walked out of his quarters once again. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Outside Holodeck 1 - LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0558) ==================================== The holodeck was not in use and McLaren activated the console outside the huge double doors. "Computer, Andoria, capital city, Rohtashe Theater." He said. He was half expecting the place to not be in the computers database but he was surprised when the soft voice said. "The program is running, enter when ready." He gave a thumbs up to the console halfheartedly and pushed the control to open the doors. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Holodeck, Rohtashe Theater - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0600) ==================================== As the arch disappeared behind him Matthew did a complete 360 degree look at the place and was astonished at the detail. A series of both good and bad memories flooded over him. In his childhood he had come here with his uncle sometimes to watch performances. One time he had snuck in to play the andorian equivalent to a keyboard that resided on the stage in the centre of the theater. It was from here that his inspiration for music had begun all those years ago. The room was huge. With 3 levels of tiered seats surrounding a stage in the centre. The room was designed with typical andorian architecture in mind, most of which was not incredibly civil. Most of the artwork depicted battles and schermishes in years gone by. But this was typical of the Andorian culture and one grew use to the barbaric displays of violence after a time. Matthew walked up to the stage in the centre of the huge theater and sat down at the keyboard. Looking around at the hundreds of empty seats around him he began to play. The slow familiar sounds gave him the reassurance he needed and after a time found himself singing along. He hoped no one could hear him from out in the corridor but didn't really mind. He doubted that anyone would be up at this time of the morning anyway. He dismissed the thoughts and allowed himself to go with the music, completely separating himself from the world around him and allowing himself to drift away. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Bridge, Captain Grailik, 0748) ==================================== Grailik stood when he heard the Ready Room doors open. He turned to see Straton, followed by Stolev, head across the bridge and into the turbo-lift. Straton's movements had been stiff and jerky, and she had refused to look directly at any one. Stolev looked like a man deep in thought. Grailik shook his head and moved toward the Ready Room doors. He pressed the door chime, waited to the count of 3, then walked through the door. Grailik moved in and took a seat in front of Sevant's desk. He looked at Sevant and shook his head. "This is *not* good." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0748) ==================================== "This is *not* good." "It's not bad either." Sevant said after a moment more of rubbing the bridge of his nose. "She will get a hold of herself and the mission will continue." He looked over at Grailik, whom he had almost been expecting; the bugger had a magical sense of timing. "Besides, this might even help us." He said in a distracted manner. "Betazoids are stronger telepathically while they are pregnant." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, Captain Grailik, 0749) ==================================== "It's not bad either." Sevant said after a moment more of rubbing the bridge of his nose. "She will get a hold of herself and the mission will continue." Sevant then looked over at Grailik. "Besides, this might even help us." He said in a distracted manner. "Betazoid's are stronger telepathically while they are pregnant." "Yes," Grailik said, "but the increase in telepathic strength won't be fully evident till at least the 3rd month of pregnancy. I can tell just by looking at her that she is not that far along. In addition, she will be far more emotional than normal due to hormonal changes. We will probably start noticing that in the next few weeks if not already, depending on how far a long she is. All that aside, I am not comfortable with the idea of sending a pregnant woman into a kill zone, even if she is a marine. It's one thing, if she is willing to risk her life, but now we must consider the life of her unborn child. The idea leaves a very foul taste in my mouth." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Captain Sevant - 0750) ==================================== "Yes," Grailik said, "but the increase in telepathic strength won't be fully evident till at least the 3rd month of pregnancy. I can tell just by looking at her that she is not that far along. In addition, she will be far more emotional than normal due to hormonal changes. We will probably start noticing that in the next few weeks if not already, depending on how far a long she is. All that aside, I am not comfortable with the idea of sending a pregnant woman into a kill zone, even if she is a marine. It's one thing, if she is willing to risk her life, but now we must consider the life of her unborn child. The idea leaves a very foul taste in my mouth." Sevant ignored the image that popped into his mind of Eva spinning his Security Chief around, "You don't think it leaves the same taste in mine?" the Captain said focusing hard on Grailik. "We don't have a choice, child or not. There are few on this ship as well trained as she is, it could be all our necks if she's not on the line. We can inquire with Sickbay about getting some hormonal therapy or some such to calm her down during combat, if necessary. But the needs of the ship must come first, no matter how cold it might sound. Colonel Straton will be on the front line for this mission, there is no other alternative." He would have sighed then, and he bit back the words he wanted to say, which were 'Would that I could, but we can't spare a single hand.'. They sounded to much like an epitaph. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Deck 3 - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 0820) ==================================== Sasha walked slowly down the corridor towards his own quarters. It was the first time he had been alone since he had heard those two words that had were going to change his life forever. Much as it galled him, he knew that he would need some help sorting through all of his emotions. He had had his fill of counselors and then some after Mara had died and he had been in the throes of battle with his alcoholism, but he could see no way around it now. Sighing, he tapped his comm badge. "Stolev to Counselor Rogers." (reply Rogers) NRPG: Hopefully Sasha can catch him before he gets sent off the ship. ;) RPG: "I'd like to make an appointment to speak with you at your earliest convenience," Sasha said as he came to the door of his quarters. "When would you be available?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Corridor near holodeck - COUNS - Lt. (JG) Brian Rogers - 0821) ==================================== Brian was wearing a workout suit, and on his way to some holographic hockey was interrupted. =/\= Stolev to Counselor Rogers, =/\= the voice said. Brian had to take a moment to recall it belonged to Commander Stolev, the chief tactical officer. "Yes, Commander. What can I do for you?" Brian said, the selfish part of him was worried this would interrupt his hockey game. =/\= I'd like to make an appointment to speak with you at your earliest convenience. When would you be available? =/\= Stolev said. Brian paused. He pondered if his off-duty holodeck activity was more important than the Chief Tactical Officer wanting to meet with him. "Well, how about 09.30 in my office, Commander?" Brian asked. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 0821) ==================================== Sasha entered his quarters and headed for the comfortable chair in the corner, where he liked to sit when he had something weighty to consider. =^= Well, how about 09.30 in my office, Commander? =^= came the counselor's voice through his comm badge. Sasha glanced at the chronometer. "That should be fine. See you there." (reply iyw) Sasha turned, plopped down in the chair, and gazed out the viewport at the stars streaking past. His life had been turned upside down this morning, in more ways than one, yet he felt oddly at peace. Perhaps his overloaded mind was just shuttering itself as a defense mechanism. Or, perhaps he had simply finally allowed himself to seek out and find what he needed to fill the hole in his life... and his heart. Perhaps he was no longer living in fear of the buried, long forgotten emotions that had given him such joy but also left him so vulnerable. Yes, it was a good thing that he was going to see the counselor, he decided. Sasha got up out of his chair with another glance at the chronometer. He still had nearly a half hour until his appointment with Rogers. He walked over to his desk, tapped in a few commands at the console, and the reference library index appeared on the page. He scrolled down to to the section labeled "Betazoids" and brought up the article. As he perused its contents, he realized that there were a lot of things about Betazoid customs, and biology for that matter, that he did not know. A beep from the console distracted Sasha from his reading, and he noticed that the "new message" icon was flashing. He tapped the button, hoping that perhaps it was a note from Eva, but with disappointment he saw that it was merely from the personnel office, with a subject of "New TAC/ASC assigned." Sighing, he flipped the display back to his article without even reading the message. ~I can read that later, when I'm on duty,~ he told himself, thinking that it likely just officially designated Lt. Isengard as an assistant chief. NRPG: He'll be in for another shock when he gets back from the counselor and actually reads the message. ;) RPG: Sasha had already read several articles referenced in the Betazoid article when the console beeped agin, this time with the "Appointment Pending" light flashing. He glanced at the chronometer: 0925. Taking a deep breath, he switched off the console, stood up, and headed out the door. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Crawlway - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 0832) ==================================== The spanner clattered to the metal grated floor again and Matthew swore rather loudly this time. At the same time his fingers slipped and he copped a small electrical jolt which only made him sware again. This had been the routine for the last 10 attempts to replace the power inverter in this section and he was just about to scream with frustration. It was a pretty routine adjustment, but this one in particular was just in a bad spot and was on the wrong angle making it very difficult to get into and the cabling was just a little bit too short making it a temperamental connection to make because the cable kept slipping back into the wall. The lack of sleep the night before hadn't helped the situation at all. He prayed for someone to call him away on another assignment, anything would have to be better than what he was doing now. His prayers went unanswered for the moment and he repeated the procedure only to have both the spanner and his palm beacon slip out of his grasp and roll down the tube. He just didn't have enough hands. Eventually deciding that he didn't need the flashlight, he retrieved the spanner and proceeded to do it all from touch. It maybe took a little bit longer but was successful and with a relieved sigh, he slammed the panel closed and activated the power flow. Using his tricorder to run a quick diagnostic on the junction, he found it all to be working fine now and he crawled out into the nearest corridor with his tools to go to the next assignment. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Transporter Room 1, Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0845) ==================================== As she materialized, Susan recognized the operative and saw with a certain amount of wry amusement, well hidden behind an impassive expression, that he recognized her too. "Welcome aboard, Cap- uhh... Lt Rivers." "Thanks, Hobek. I'm to report to Captain Sevant." Still staring, he nodded. "He's... Umm, he's in y- his Ready Room, sir." "Thank you," Susan said. "Could you make sure my bags are taken to my quarters?" "Yes, Ca- *Lieutenant*." She thanked him with a nod and left to report in to her former FO and new CO. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0855) ==================================== Apparently oblivious to the stares of those on the Bridge who recognized her, Susan approached the Ready Room and sounded the doorchime. She felt as if their eyes were boring into her back, and flushed slightly. It would be, she realized, even harder than she had thought. "Enter!" She walked in and came to attention before the desk and the man sitting behind it. "Lt Susan Rivers reporting for duty, Sir!" She handed him the PADD containing her reporting instructions and waited for his reply. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0856) ==================================== "Lt Susan Rivers reporting for duty, Sir!" Sevant took the PADD pro-offered him and sat back in his chair. He'd been in more awkward moments before, but not many. The only one that came to mind, in fact, was re-meeting his dead wife who wasn't his wife (but was). "Have a seat... Mr. Rivers." He said, tasting the words as he did so. It was the first time he'd ever uttered them, considering she'd been a command level Captain after he'd graduated from the fleet. (reply: Rivers) He looked at the PADD as she settled herself, taking in everything. "Gross insubordination, conduct unbecoming an officer of Starfleet in wartime." He looked up from the record, "If it weren't for a civil war, with these charges, I have a sneaking suspicion that the admiralty I question would have had you drummed from the fleet." Sevant looked at her hard for a few moments, then chuckled and sat back in his chair. "I can't say that I'm surprised. 'Unorthodox' was always high in your vocabulary..." He put the PADD on the desk and folded his hands together, "Though I never in my wildest dreams imagined we would meet under these circumstances, unorthodox or not." He tapped his fingers together. "Our Security Chief is having a bit of an issue at the moment, which legitimately gives us more time to speak then normally I would grant. Further, its known we've served together many times in the past, it would be expected that we would spend some time getting caught up. Therefore, you have plenty of time to tell me what you know already, what you suspect, and what you can of how you want to proceed. The Boudicca is flying headfirst into an uneven battle, even with the rest of the task-force around us; I'd rather not have to deal with moles on top of it all." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 0857) ==================================== Captain Sevant took the PADD pro-offered him and sat back in his chair. "Have a seat... Mr. Rivers." "Thank you, Sir," Susan replied as she sat, wondering if Sevant found the situation as odd as she herself did. "Gross insubordination, conduct unbecoming an officer of Starfleet in wartime." He looked up from the record, "If it weren't for a civil war, with these charges, I have a sneaking suspicion that the admiralty I question would have had you drummed from the fleet." Sevant looked at her hard for a few moments, then chuckled and sat back in his chair. "I can't say that I'm surprised. 'Unorthodox' was always high in your vocabulary..." He put the PADD on the desk and folded his hands together, "Though I never in my wildest dreams imagined we would meet under these circumstances, unorthodox or not." He tapped his fingers together. "Our Security Chief is having a bit of an issue at the moment, which legitimately gives us more time to speak then normally I would grant. Further, it's known we've served together many times in the past, it would be expected that we would spend some time getting caught up. Therefore, you have plenty of time to tell me what you know already, what you suspect, and what you can of how you want to proceed. The Boudicca is flying headfirst into an uneven battle, even with the rest of the task-force around us; I'd rather not have to deal with moles on top of it all." Susan grimaced. "What I know is depressingly little. Your suspicions were correct, and Ohlsson believes the ring may be centred on the Boudicca. but he has no idea who may be the ringleader or even if there's more than one operative on this ship. The list of suspects is basically the crewlist, more or less excepting yourself. No one else." (reply Sevant iyw) "Ohlsson made it clear to me that *no one* is excluded as a suspect and even you are 'not exactly' above suspicion, although I am allowed to confide in you since you were the one to approach him with your suspicions." NRPG: So you're all suspects RPG: (reply Sevant iyw) "As for how I want to proceed, I need to be seen to be what I appear to be, a demoted officer trying to settle in to a new rank and position." A wry grin. "Which is what I am. That *was* a real court-martial, you know? After that, well, hopefully being assigned to Security will give me the chance to probe around a bit without arousing too many suspicions in the wrong places. What I need to know first is, do you have anyone in the frame for this? However unlikely?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0859) ==================================== "What I know is depressingly little. Your suspicions were correct, and Ohlsson believes the ring may be centered on the Boudicca. but he has no idea who may be the ringleader or even if there's more than one operative on this ship. The list of suspects is basically the crewlist, more or less excepting yourself. No one else." "How refreshing," Sevant said in the beginnings of a foul mood. "Continue." "Ohlsson made it clear to me that *no one* is excluded as a suspect and even you are 'not exactly' above suspicion, although I am allowed to confide in you since you were the one to approach him with your suspicions." He quirked an eyebrow slightly and waved for Rivers to continue. "As for how I want to proceed, I need to be seen to be what I appear to be, a demoted officer trying to settle in to a new rank and position." A wry grin. "Which is what I am. That *was* a real court-martial, you know? After that, well, hopefully being assigned to Security will give me the chance to probe around a bit without arousing too many suspicions in the wrong places. What I need to know first is, do you have anyone in the frame for this? However unlikely?" "Nobody that comes to mind, or I already would have dealt with them by the articles of war." Sevant said with flat finality. The articles had only one punishment in mind for traitors in time-of-war. "And there are a small handful that have only just arrived on the ship and thus are cleared of immediate suspicion, if only due to the timing." A small shadow passed over his face, "Including at least one that's going to make you blink a few times. Victoria Sevant lives again... in a way. Bah." He waved his hand, "You can read her record to understand." ... not that Sevant understood everything himself, of course. (reply: if desired) Sevant refolded his hands and lost himself in thought for a few moments before saying, "You trying to fit in, there will be plenty of natural awkwardness. I doubt either you, or the crew that remembers you, will have any problem acting that." He quirked his head slightly, "How -are- you handling this, so far? I would assume the whole situation is... disorienting?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Rivers - 0900) ==================================== "Nobody that comes to mind, or I already would have dealt with them by the articles of war." Sevant said with flat finality. The articles had only one punishment in mind for traitors in time-of-war. "And there are a small handful that have only just arrived on the ship and thus are cleared of immediate suspicion, if only due to the timing." A small shadow passed over his face, "Including at least one that's going to make you blink a few times. Victoria Sevant lives again... in a way. Bah." He waved his hand, "You can read her record to understand." Susan did blink, several times. She certainly would read the record! Sevant refolded his hands and seemed to lose himself in thought for a few moments before saying, "You trying to fit in, there will be plenty of natural awkwardness. I doubt either you, or the crew that remembers you, will have any problem acting that." He quirked his head slightly, "How -are- you handling this, so far? I would assume the whole situation is... disorienting?" "That's an understatement," Susan replied wryly. "It'll certainly take some getting used to. The habits of command die hard, but I expect you can guess that. Oh, and I'm to make regular visits to the Counsellor, which would be the cream on the cake as far as I'm concerned. Except for having to investigate old friends, people I thought I could trust with my life. No amount of training can prepare you for that, and I've had a lot, working for Ohlsson the last year or so. Life should certainly be... interesting from now on." She paused. "I'm not the same person I was 18 months ago. Then I'd have hated to give up command. Now? The court-martial wasn't pleasant, and I'll not forget that smug ******* of a JAG in a hurry, but in an odd way it's liberating. Awkward too, of course, given I'll be reporting to a number of people I once commanded, but in a way I'm looking forward to it. Well, some of it." (reply Sevant iyw) "What can you tell me about our current mission?" she asked. "I only got the briefest rundown from Ohlsson. I guess Admiral LoDona plays his cards as close to his chest as Ohlsson does!" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0901) ==================================== "I would assume the whole situation is... disorienting?" "That's an understatement, It'll certainly take some getting used to. The habits of command die hard, but I expect you can guess that. Oh, and I'm to make regular visits to the Counsellor, which would be the cream on the cake as far as I'm concerned. Except for having to investigate old friends, people I thought I could trust with my life. No amount of training can prepare you for that, and I've had a lot, working for Ohlsson the last year or so. Life should certainly be... interesting from now on." Sevant steepled his fingers as she paused, as if in thought, before continuing with; "I'm not the same person I was 18 months ago. Then I'd have hated to give up command. Now? The court-martial wasn't pleasant, and I'll not forget that smug ******* of a JAG in a hurry, but in an odd way it's liberating. Awkward too, of course, given I'll be reporting to a number of people I once commanded, but in a way I'm looking forward to it. Well, some of it." "It will certainly be interesting." He said, vaguely. First Vicki coming back, now his old CO rejoining the ship in a perfect reversal of roles. He'd first met Rivers as a junior Ensign and TAC/ASC. It almost seemed like, lately, the Boudicca had been bitten by an Imp of the perverse. "What can you tell me about our current mission?" she asked. "I only got the briefest rundown from Ohlsson. I guess Admiral LoDona plays his cards as close to his chest as Ohlsson does!" "War, death, destruction." Sevant said as he leaned forward. He mused for a moment, "Which reminds me, you'll have to make your way to sickbay for an anti-telepathic injection within the next few hours." He folded his hands on the desk, "This task force is beating our way to one of Doenitz's little secret projects that he loves so well, this one using forbidden technology to manufacture telepaths." He considered, "Our intel says they stopped production for some unknown reason, but everything is just waiting there to be turned on again." He leaned back in his chair again and balanced his head on two of his fingers, which he braced by placing his elbow on the arm-rest. "The logistics of it are almost frightening. One strong telepath on the bridge of a flagship could order an entire fleet of sensitive individuals in a fraction of the time it would take a subspace message; response times would be slashed by half or better. And that's only one of the fringe benefits; they could get enough of them together to fry a few of our Captains in their chairs... instant chaos for us. That's what we're being sent to stop." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 0903) ==================================== "The logistics of it are almost frightening. One strong telepath on the bridge of a flagship could order an entire fleet of sensitive individuals in a fraction of the time it would take a subspace message; response times would be slashed by half or better. And that's only one of the fringe benefits; they could get enough of them together to fry a few of our Captains in their chairs... instant chaos for us. That's what we're being sent to stop." Susan thought over what Sevant told her. Privately she considered the logistics were more than almost frightening; they were terrifying. She got to her feet and paced the room restlessly, her mind racing with possibilites. "Are we sure of the intelligence?" she demanded as she paced to and fro. "I mean, isn't there a possibility we're flying straight into a trap? It seems to me that this is an excellent way for Doenitz and his forces to destroy a significant portion of our fleet. If we don't know *why* they're supposed to have stopped production, then how can we be sure that it *is* stopped? Or that they haven't already got enough for their needs? And just how sure are we that this 'anti-telepathic injection' will actually work, or at least work for long enough to protect the whole task force if they have already succeeded in producing one or more of these super-telepaths? Of course, I do see the facility needs to be destroyed. I'm just not so sure that it'll be as simple - for want of a better word - as fighting our way in past whatever defences they've no doubt had ample time to put in place and destroying a facility that's not in use any more. We need to be prepared for -" She stopped abruptly, suddenly remembering their relative positions. "I'm sorry, Captain. Old habits do indeed die hard, harder than I thought. I'm sure you've already taken all this into account. It's just... dammit, I thought I'd do better than this!" she finished, her voice a mixture of frustration and exasperation. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0904) ==================================== Sevant had quirked his head to the side as Susan had began pacing, and a slightly quirked eyebrow. He decided not to interrupt her, simply because the thoughts pouring out of her were good ones worth considering. ... this was going to be difficult. She stopped abruptly, "I'm sorry, Captain. Old habits do indeed die hard, harder than I thought. I'm sure you've already taken all this into account. It's just... dammit, I thought I'd do better than this!" "One doesn't learn to put away the trappings of power in a day." He said easily. "But it would be best if you weren't on the bridge on duty until you have become more accustomed to it." He finished, coming to a quick decision. He stood and pulled on his uniform top. "Find Chandler on the bridge and introduce yourself, then find some quarters and get your things packed away. I would imagine that Stolev will be busy for at least a couple more hours..." he gave that a thought and nodded, "This is about the last time any of us will be able to indulge in personal matters. As the saying goes, 'For Tomorrow, we go to battle.'" Sevant did something rare then, he extended his hand over the desk. "It's good to have you back Susan, whatever the position." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 0905) ==================================== "One doesn't learn to put away the trappings of power in a day." He said easily. "But it would be best if you weren't on the bridge on duty until you have become more accustomed to it." He finished, coming to a quick decision. Susan was momentarily shocked then realised that this might, in fact, work to her advantage. After all it would be a lot easier to pursue her purposes off the Bridge than on it, though she accepted that at some point she would be expected to undertake normal duties, else people would question why she was here. Sevant stood and pulled on his uniform top. "Find Chandler on the bridge and introduce yourself, then find some quarters and get your things packed away. I would imagine that Stolev will be busy for at least a couple more hours..." he paused, then nodded, "This is about the last time any of us will be able to indulge in personal matters. As the saying goes, 'For Tomorrow, we go to battle.'" Sevant did something rare then, he extended his hand over the desk. "It's good to have you back Susan, whatever the position." Susan took his hand, touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Captain," she said warmly. "It's a real pleasure to serve with you again. Even if the odds are against us and the situation is grim." NRPG: couldn't resist the quote ;-) RPG: Then she turned and left the Ready Room. As she did so, she thought that perhaps she should repeat the kind of slip she had made inadvertantly with Sevant, only more publicly, where word might spread around. It could work to her advantage if the 'right' person got to hear about it. She nodded to herself. Stolev would seem the obvious choice, if she could manage it. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0907) ==================================== Returning to the Bridge Susan was unexpectedly given an opportunity to pursue her plan. There was a familiar face, sitting in the command chair and wearing commander's rank pips. She nodded at him casually as she walked towards the Tactical station. "Nice to see you again, Trevan. Congratulations on the promotion. Good to see you doing well." There was an almost audible intake of breath across the whole Bridge as an unknown junior officer addressed the FO with casual familiarity, almost as though she outranked him. "Sir," she added in an uncomfortable tone after a slight pause, as though she had just realised her mistake. (reply West iyw) "My apologies, Commander. It won't happen again." ~well maybe not with you and not too often, or it'll look false~ Susan looked at the young ensign standing at the Tactical station and gave a small smile, as if embarrassed at her gaffe with West. She held out her hand. "Ensign Chandler? I'm Susan Rivers, I've just been sent here to join the Boudicca as a second TAC/ASC. Captain Sevant said I should introduce myself to you before settling in to my quarters." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 0907) ==================================== Commander Trevan West was busy still going over fleet deployment screens and status update reports from all stations when a familiar face popped onto the bridge. "Nice to see you again, Trevan. Congratulations on the promotion. Good to see you doing well." she said There was an almost audible intake of breath across the whole Bridge as an unknown junior officer addressed the FO with casual familiarity, almost as though she outranked him. "Sir," she added in an uncomfortable tone after a slight pause, as though she had just realized her mistake. "My apologies, Commander. It won't happen again." Trevan just stared at her, a ghost from the past. Trevan made a huge grin across his face and embraced her with his eyes, "Susan" he replied to impersonate her own gaff, "it's great to see you again!" "Don't worry about it Lieutenant, as long as this is the last time." he bent over to whisper something in her ear to make sure the bridge didn't hear it as well. "I really don't mind, but if you do it again, I am going to have to court=martial you." he said in a joking tone to her. He straightened up,"As you were Lieutenant." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Ensign Samantha Chandler - 0908) ==================================== Sam had been running weapons diagnostics for quite some time. It was to make sure the weapons would be in good shape for the upcoming battle. With Stolev busy, she had bridge duty. She saw a leiutenant she didn't recognize walk out of the captain's ready room. She didn't pay much attention to her, until she walked over to Sam. "Ensign Chandler? I'm Susan Rivers, I've just been sent here to join the Boudicca as a second TAC/ASC. Captain Sevant said I should introduce myself to you before settling in to my quarters." Sam looked up at the woman, "Nice to meet you, ma'am. I'm Ensign Samantha Chandler," she replied, reaching across the console and offering the woman her hand. "Most people just call me Sam." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Lt (jg) Susan Rivers - 0909) ==================================== "My apologies, Commander. It won't happen again." ~well maybe not with you and not too often, or it'll look false~ For a moment the FO stared at her as if he'd seen a ghost. Then a big grin spread right across his face and his eyes lit up. "Susan! It's great to see you again!" he exclaimed, the twinkle in his eyes telling her he was teasing her by imitating her 'mistake'. Then he continued more formally, "Don't worry about it Lieutenant, as long as this is the last time." Bending over, he whispered jokingly, "I really don't mind, but if you do it again, I am going to have to court-martial you." Susan's face flushed, and she wondered if he knew about the court-martial. If not, he must surely wonder why she was no longer a CO but a mere junior lieutenant? but she had no time to consider this now. West straightened up. "As you were Lieutenant." Susan continued to Tactical and looked at the young ensign standing there. She gave a small smile, as if embarrassed at her gaffe with West. She held out her hand. "Ensign Chandler? I'm Susan Rivers, I've just been sent here to join the Boudicca as a second TAC/ASC. Captain Sevant said I should introduce myself to you before settling in to my quarters." The auburn-haired ensign looked up at Susan. "Nice to meet you, ma'am. I'm Ensign Samantha Chandler," she replied, reaching across the console and offering the woman her hand. "Most people just call me Sam." Susan smiled and took the hand. "Since we're equals in position, I don't think we need to stand on protocol. It's Susan, not Lieutenant and NEVER," she couldn't resist flicking West a very quick glance to see if he remembered how much she hated to be called ma'am, "EVER ma'am." She grinned and lowered her voice so only Sam could hear her. "It makes me feel like a whorehouse madam!" Aloud, she said, "I've got to settle into my quarters but perhaps we could meet later when you're off-duty and you can fill me in on the chief and how he likes things run?" She knew, of course, that Stolev was her new boss but the last time they met she had been his commanding officer. So she was curious to know what his underlings thought of him, and how he liked to run his department. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - COUNS Office - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 0928) ==================================== Brian entered his office, carrying the standard issue Starfleet back, with the plans to fill what few personal possessions where located on his desk. He sat at his desk and noticed the display was flashing an appointment alert. [Lt. Cmdr Stolev, TAC/SEC, COUNS Office, 0930] ~Oh great...~ Brian said, almost forgetting about the meeting with the Lt. Commander. He dropped his bag behind the desk, and brought up Stolev's file and quickly started reading over it before he arrived. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - COUNS Office - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev & COUNS Lt. Brian Rogers - Day 2 - 0930) ==================================== Sasha walked up to the door to the counselor's office and reached for the chime. He hesitated for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ~You need to do this,~ he told himself, then he reached the rest of the way and pressed the button that triggered door chime. Brian was looking over Stolev's file when he heard the door chime. He stood up straight in his chair and cleared his throat. "Come in," he declared. Sasha tapped the button next to the chime and the door whooshed open. He walked in and offered his hand to the counselor. "Counselor. We haven't really met yet, I know. I don't really make a habit of coming to see a counselor." He noticed that his personnel file was up on Rogers's console, and he also noticed a half-packed backpack on the floor beside the desk. "So I guess you've read my file. You've probably by now heard about what happened on the bridge this morning too, right?" Brian raised his eyebrow like a confused Vulcan. "I'm sorry, Commander. I was pretty busy this morning, I didn't hear anything on what happened on the bridge. If you feel comfortable, would you fill me in?" Brian asked politely. Sasha nodded and took a seat, again taking note of the backpack on the floor. He wondered idly where the counselor could be going considering their current status, but pushed the thought aside, as he certainly had more pressing matters to discuss. "First of all, please call me Sasha," he said with as much of a smile as he could muster. "So anyway, I guess I'll start at the beginning." He told Rogers about his first date with Eva, and how that had mustered feelings in him long forgotten, and the guilt that came along with them. Then he told him about their second date, to the ballet on the holodeck, and how they had ended up in Eva's quarters afterwards. Then, finally, he told him about what happened on the bridge this morning, and their subsequent conversation in Eva's quarters. "So, as you might imagine, I'm sorting through a lot of things in my head right now, and I hoped you could help me with that." Brian leaned back, listening to Sasha's long story, intently watching him. When he finished, Brian leaned forward in his seat. "Well, thats quite a story, no offense, Sasha. Lets start with your guilt on dating Lt. Colonel Straton. Why do you feel guiltily? Would your fiancée want you to be unhappy and alone the rest of your life?" Brian said, quietly. Sasha shrugged. "Well, before I met Mara..." He sighed. "I was basically addicted to sex. It had gotten to the point where it didn't matter with whom, or where, or if I was seeing someone else. That almost caused me to lose her, but instead of giving up on me she made me face my problem and overcome it. It was difficult, of course, but love is a powerful incentive. So when I started having these feelings for Eva, along with being physically attracted to her... well, I had conditioned myself to avoid that, so I felt guilty, even though Mara had been gone for almost a year at that point." He quickly brushed at his cheek and hoped that the counselor hadn't noticed the tear that he'd swept away with it. Brian leaned back in his chair. "Sasha," he began, "the way you described your dates with Colonel Straton... Eva, to me, it sounds like you enjoy the time you spend with her," Brian explained softly to the chief tactical officer. "You are a unattached male, who is romantically interested in a unattached female. There is nothing wrong with being physically attracted to Eva. You've got to move on. You don't have to forget, Mara. You should never forget a loved one, but, you don't have to punish your self for the rest of your life for it," Rogers explained to Stolev. Sasha nodded. "I know. I've actually come to grips with that, more or less. But now, with her being pregnant and all..." He paused, and reflected on what he had been considering earlier in his quarters. "It's strange, but I actually feel kind of at peace with it all. I don't know if it just hasn't sunk in yet, or what. One thing I do know is that all of this has helped me to see that it's not just a physical attraction, or just enjoying spending time with her. I'm in love with her, you see. I didn't think it could, or would, happen, but it did." While Sasha was talking, Brian casually grabbed some items off his desk and slipped them into his open bag, "Sounds to me like everything is falling into place the way you like it, Sasha," Brian said. Sasha smiled then, but it was a smile tinged with sadness. "I have pretty lousy timing, though, with us about to go into battle, and her definitely being on the front lines of it all. Although I have to admit that, in a very selfish sense, I'm glad for the timing. Maybe it'll mean that Eva won't take some risky chance that she would have taken otherwise, and maybe that means that there's a better chance of her coming back alive and well. I know, rationally, that such considerations on her part could compromise the mission, but on a purely emotional level... I just want her to make it back to me." Sighing, Sasha ran a hand over his close cropped hair. "But I need a way to keep those feelings and responses at bay. I can't have them subverting my duty to the safety of the ship and crew, and the mission objectives." The corner of his mouth quirked up in a twisted half-smile. "How's that for irony? I've had so much counseling on how to deal with grief and loss, and now I need counseling on how to deal with love and joy." He chuckled mirthlessly. "Pretty pathetic, isn't it?" Brian rose from his chair. "Sasha, with all the difficulties in your life, maybe, you are so used to having bad things happen to you, that when something good comes along, then you don't even realize how you've got it," Brian said softly to Sasha. "You should try to enjoy these new things you've got in your life," Brian recommended. Sasha turned to look at Brian and blinked a couple of times. He then looked off into space, thinking about what Brian had just said for several minutes. It was definitely a good point. He and Mara had talked about this very thing; it was like he had been searching and searching for something that made him happy, and when he found it, he didn't know how to stop searching. Mara had taught him to stop searching, and then... she had gone out of his life, leaving him to wonder if it was worth the search at all. As he was considering this, Sasha noticed out of the corner of his eye that Brian was surreptitiously sliding a few more things into his bag. The average crewman probably wouldn't have even noticed, but as the chief of security, Sasha noticed almost everything that happened around him -- he was trained to. Sasha turned his attention back to Brian with a sigh. "I'm sorry, am I keeping you from something, counselor?" he asked, trying to keep the edge of irritation out of his voice, and not entirely succeeding. Brian stopped putting his things in his bag, and felt ashamed. He turned straight and looked at Sasha. "I'm sorry, my friend. I'm in the middle of packing. I've been transferred off the Boudicca. I'm not sure why, my orders are sealed. Captain Sevant would only tell me the minimum. I'm not sure if he knows much more. I've only got two hours, or else, according to the Captain, my life may be in danger. Personally, I expected to serve on the Boudicca for along time. I've only been here for a few weeks. So that means I'm afraid that this will be our last session. I'm sure Counselor Alizara will help you if you have any further problems," Brian stopped, and realized he was talking about himself. "But please, Sasha, this time is for you, and I'll stay here talking to you as long has you need," To prove his point that he was interesting in helping Stolev, Brian closed his bag and gave it a good toss away from him, landing somewhere near the door. ~Hopefully there was nothing breakable in there...~ Brian thought. He turned back to Sasha. "Well, we've discussed a lot, anything else you need to discuss?" Brian asked. Sasha sighed and stood up abruptly. "I don't think so. I certainly don't want to keep you -- orders are orders after all." He walked to the door, grabbed the bag that Brian had just tossed there, and handed it back to the counselor. "It would have been nice if you had told me before hand, instead of making me feel like I was of secondary importance during a therapy session. I've had my share, I know how they work." He shrugged. "Anyway, thank you for your time, you have given me some things to think about. I hope your assignment goes well, whatever it turns out to be." Sasha turned and walked out of the room without looking back. His impression of counselors had certainly not been improved by this visit, although he definitely had been given a few thoughts to consider as he headed back to his quarters. Brian watched in shock and horror has Lt. Commander Stolev left. He returned to his seat and sat down, and put his head in his hands. ~Damnit, I should of canceled the damn session, or not packed at all,~ Brian sat, hunched over in his chair, feeling horrible. ~Maybe I should resign, go turn in my pips to Sevant right now.~ Brian thought, pondering his abilities has a counselor. Finally, he pulled himself out of a slump and sat up straight. In a very solemn and quiet fashion, he finished packing his personal items from his desk. He grabbed his bag and walked out slowly before leaving his office for the last time. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Personal Quarters, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 09.40) ==================================== Susan had located her quarters without too much trouble. She was expecting rather less spacious quarters than she had been used to, but when she opened the door she was still surprised at how small they seemed in comparison. A loud MIAOW! greeted her as Pangur Ban leapt off her bed and ran towards her, complaining as he always did somewhere new that nothing was as he expected it to be. She scooped up the ginger cat and stroked him until his complaints subsided into a loud purr. Looking round, she smiled. Hobek had not only had her stuff sent over, but had thoughtfully arranged for Pangur to be released from his box and food and water to be left for him. "We're being spoilt, Pangur" she said. "Though if I'd known back on Bajor what we'd be getting into I'd have left you behind with Shun and Loren." The cat rubbed his head under her chin, still purring. She put him down gently on the sofa. "I've got a lot of unpacking to do," she told him. It didn't actually take that long to unpack, but arranging the few keepsakes she always carried with her took longer. Eventually she decided on mounting Rory's dak'tagh on the wall. Next, she opened the narrow wooden box containing the beautifully-worked silver dagger that Tobias had given her not long after she had joined the Nimitz as a very green ensign fresh out of the Academy. She sat back on her heels for a moment, remembering the angular Dr Spectre, his weird plants (some of which were illegal in more than one sector) and his even stranger pet, the illdragarn Rachel. ~I wonder where you are now, Tobias~ Smiling, she placed the dagger on her desk, knowing that she would remember not just Tobias but all her friends from those early days in her career every time she looked at it. A pair of silver combs, a gift from Kestra, she placed on her dressing-unit, to be worn on special occasions. The strange black cube Louise had left with her she decided eventually to display on a shelf as if it were an ornament, together with the holopicks of her family her mother had insisted she bring along. With a wry smile she placed those of Shun and Loren Toral, her two wards, on the right, and her mother with Susan's brother Marc and his wife Kalpek on the left. Finally she brought out a small blue box, inlaid with an unusual pattern in red stones. Opening it, she read again her father's last letter to her, before laying it to one side and lifting out a small, silk-wrapped object. Unfolding the silk she slipped the betrothal bracelet Steve Zintel had given her only weeks before he died onto her wrist. She looked at it for a moment, her finger tracing the intricate decoration, then took it off again and wrapped in its silk once more. She closed her eyes. ~How many years?~ she asked herself. Too many years, too many friends lost or dead or just missing. Some were still there, of course; Sevant, for one, was here. Sasha for another. Vanyssa was Captain of the Mystique, Ktell Captain of the Spectre. Kestra had returned to Betazed and Susan hadn't been able to find out what had happened to her. Zephrine, Tobias, Irmat, somewhere out there in the void of space. Safe, she hoped, but had no way of knowing. Too many others were either dead or missing in action. ~Or just... unreachable,~ she thought, her eyes turning involuntarily to the black cube. Introspection was not a luxury she allowed herself very often but somehow being back on this ship ~my first command~ seemed to call for it. Taking a deep breath she pushed aside her thoughts and restored the letter and the bracelet to the blue box. She closed it, walked to the bedroom and placed it gently in a drawer beside her bed. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1006) ==================================== Brian walked, carrying his two bags, rounded the corner and entered Sickbay. His mind went back, to that night, almost three months ago. He was a junior ensign, still wet behind the ears, and more nervous than a Grazerite in a firefight. He stuck to the captain's side like a thorn, since she was the only person he knew. Then, another person tapped his shoulder... ~"Excuse me....I don't believe we have met before. What's your name?", "I'm Brian Rogers. Nice to meet you.", "Well I'm Kaitlyn Mackenzie."~ Brian set his bags near the door, away from where they would be out of the way of medical staff. Brian saw Dr. Mackenzie and approached her. "Dr. Mackenize... Kaitlyn, can I have a moment to speak with you?" Brian asked quietly. (reply Mackenzie) "Well, I know you're busy. I just wanted to let you know, I've been transferred. I'm leaving the Boudicca, my destination is classified, even from myself," Brian explained to her. (reply Mackenzie, iyw) "I just wanted to say thank you for your friendship, and helping me when Casely was injured and with..." Brian lowered his voice," the drug problems," Brian said. "I don't think it would be right if I just left without saying good bye and, thank you," Brian explained. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1006) ==================================== Has he explained his situation to Kaitlyn, Brian felt as if there is something else he should say or do. When he was finished, she said, "And thank you as well, for being a good friend to me. I hope you keep in touch. After all, I look forward to hearing from you once in awhile," Brian smiled lightly, "Don't worry, I'll stay in touch," Brian said. She then stuck out her hand and Brian shook it and after a few moments of silence he looked back at the patient she had been attending before he asked to speak with her. "Well, I suppose this is it. You've got patients and I've got a shuttle to catch," Brian said, trying to hold off saying good bye has long as possible. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:08) ==================================== Out in the main area of sickbay, Kaitlyn was checking a few patients' charts and doing her morning daily rounds, when Brian came up beside her. "Dr. Mackenize... Kaitlyn, can I have a moment to speak with you?" Brian asked quietly. The tone of his voice suggested something wrong, although Kaitlyn wasn't sure at this point. Looking over at her patient, she said, "I'll be right back." She then bobbed her head towards her office so that he would follow her in. Once they were in her office, she started in first. "What's wrong?" "Well, I know you're busy. I just wanted to let you know, I've been transferred. I'm leaving the Boudicca, my destination is classified, even from myself," Brian explained to her. Kaitlyn stopped dead in her tracks from fiddling with the PADD she held. The words themselves seemed to crash down on her almost more so then the fact he was leaving. Silent, she looked down in attempts to say something....anything...without having dire emotion involved. She was usually good at masking her feelings, but this.......this had happened to her more than twice now, and she was getting awefully tired of it. Finally looked back up at Brian, she put on her 'command' mask she used to hold and said, "Well, congratulations Brian. I hope you end up liking where you're off to...wherever that may be." "I just wanted to say thank you for your friendship, and helping me when Casely was injured and with..." Brian lowered his voice," the drug problems," Brian said. "I don't think it would be right if I just left without saying good bye and, thank you," Brian explained. She saw that Brian was being professional about this, so she decided to stick with being professional herself as well. Nodding, Kaitlyn then said, "And thank you as well, for being a good friend to me. I hope you keep in touch. After all, I look forward to hearing from you once in awhile," she said, smiling through her pain. <> Still in professional mode, she held out her hand to him, ready to shake it and tell him one last 'good-bye'. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:09) ==================================== "Don't worry, I'll stay in touch," Brian said. She then stuck out her hand and Brian shook it and after a few moments of silence he looked back at the patient she had been attending before he asked to speak with her. "Well, I suppose this is it. You've got patients and I've got a shuttle to catch," Brian said. Sighing audibly, Kaitlyn felt like this was how things were just meant to be. Men seemed to come in her life and leave as soon as she got to know them. First there was Wilson....until his ex came aboard with their two children he didn't know he had and ruined things between them. Knowing this, Kaitlyn would have gladly accepted the fact he had children and would have treated them as she would her own, but no.....he had to shove her off to the side and go off with his ex to some planet...... Fuming wasn't going to get her anywhere, but neither was letting someone go that she cared deeply for. There were of coarse three other's she had this happen with, and everytime she regretted not doing something about it because she never heard from any of them again. But not this time.....this time she would take that leap and make sure she'd hear from Brian again..... Taking a breath, she took a step closer to Brian and threw her arms around him in a hug. She wasn't sure if he would push her away or not, but she needed to feel this closure she had never gotten before. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Corridor enroute to Sickbay - SCPO Haverstaad - 1120) ==================================== Melody, her head still smarting from the night before... lots of dead soldiers (in the form of empty bottles) had been born... growled a bit as she continued in her trip to Sickbay. Standing orders had been left with Security to head to sickbay in shifts. Mel had already missed hers (go figure) because of her now-completed duties with the TIHS. But, much as she might hate doctors, it was time to get inoculated... she had no particular wish to end up a broken wreck because of some telepaths. The crewman wire was working overtime about these inoculations, nobody without an ensigns pip seemed to know just what was going on, and the department heads were being awfully quiet about it. She shrugged the thought away as she stepped into Sickbay. There were quite a few people hanging around, some were getting shots, others in there for other reasons. She saw Jorge on a bed with a nurse hovering over him, the fool had yanked his arm pretty good during a sparring match last night... he looked worse for the wear, apparently he thought it would heal on its own. She walked up to a doctor, she couldn't tell who from behind, and said "And, um, where do we go for that telepathic shot?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca, 10 Forward, MCO, Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 12:45) ==================================== After a long 'talk' with Domini, the conversation had been entirely telepathic as could be expected with two Betazoid's, Eva was much more at ease and finally coming to grip with the startling revelation she had gotten that morning. Eva now sat alone in 10 Forward currently staring out the large window at the star streaking by. On the table, beside her empty plate, sat a PADD that she had been reading between long periods of staring out at the stars deep in thought. She was faintly aware of everyone else in the room as they went about their business. Some would give her an odd look or they would whisper to each other while nodding in her direction. She ignored it all, too deep in thought. Her time with Domini had been a time of revelations, as well as a cleaning of the muddy emotional waters she had been in. She now had a much clearer idea of what she wanted, and she could finally admit it to herself. She closed her eyes as she reached out across the ship, following the link that had begun to form almost two weeks ago, and only seemed to be growing stronger. ::Imzadi,:: She sent down that link, ::I am in 10 Forward. Join me. We must talk.:: ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1246) ==================================== ::Imzadi, I am in 10 Forward. Join me. We must talk.:: Sasha instinctively turned his gaze from the viewport to glance around the room, even though he knew full well that Eva was not in his quarters with him. His conversation with the counselor had helped clarify his thinking, and given him some direction to go in sorting out what it was he felt and what it was he wanted. He glanced at the chronometer and almost stood bolt upright in surprise. He had been sitting in that chair, gazing out the window, for over two hours! He thought about trying to send a message back, an "on my way" at least, but figured that in the time it took him to focus, concentrate, and actually send something out, he'd already be in 10 forward... and that's assuming that he'd be successful. So, instead, he hurried down the corridor for the nearest lift. His stomach growled loudly as the doors to the turbolift closed, and he hoped that Eva wouldn't mind if he ate lunch while they talked. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - 10 Forward - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1249) ==================================== Sasha knew from that still unidentifiable sensation in the back of his mind where to find Eva as soon as the doors to ten forward parted. As he saw her sitting alone, gazing out the window, all thoughts of food and hunger fled from his mind. He noticed that heads started to turn towards him as he walked towards her table, and the low murmur of muted conversation and whispered speculation surrounded him as he maneuvered through the tables and chairs. He found that he didn't care about all of that; all that mattered to him was the woman across the table as he sat down to join her. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - 10 Forward - MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton & TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1253) ==================================== Eva knew Sasha had entered the room. She had felt his presence drawing nearer for several minutes. She didn't take her eyes off the streaking stars as he sat down across from her. ::They are beautiful, aren't they,:: she said telepathically, nodding briefly towards the stars. Sasha exhaled deeply and closed his eyes, focusing on the thread of Eva's presence in his mind. ::They are, indeed. I've spent a lot of time looking at them this morning.:: ::As have I,:: she replied. ::Don't over tax yourself. Just relax your mind. I will hear you. You have to but think it. Order something to eat if you like. You probably haven't eaten since this morning.:: Sasha opened his eyes to look at her. His stomach evidently got her message as well, as it resumed its low rumble. ::Sorry about that.:: He glanced over at the menu, tapped in an order, and pulled his reuben out of the replicator, along with a tall glass of water. He took a bite to calm his stomach, then took a sip of water. ::Thank you.:: ::No need to thank me,:: she replied, watching him eat for a few moments before looking back out the window. ::Did you have a chance to talk with a counselor, and did it help?:: Sasha nodded. ::Yes, I did... and yes, it did, somewhat. He had to cut our session short for some mysterious reason that he couldn't tell me about, but he at least gave me some starting points, some things to consider that I hadn't considered before. What about you?:: ::Domini and I talked for some time,:: Eva said. ::Our talk has given me a clarity of focus that I have not had for some time. It has forced me to open my eyes and see what I would not allow myself to see before.:: She took a deep breath and a sip of her iced tea before continuing. :: I have lived my entire life focused on my duty. My duty to Star Fleet. My duty to the Federation. Even my duty to my world and my people. It has been the sole driving force in my life for as long as I can remember. It has been that focus, that determination, and passion that has allowed me to achieve so much. To overcome what would have broken others.:: Again she paused, as the emotions began to rise in her again. She didn't fight them. She smiled as a tear slid down her cheek. ::But I want more. It is no longer enough for me. After being the dealer of so much pain and death, life is *still* precious to me. I do not relish the killing. There is no joy in it. I do it in defense of my worldonly. Because if I don't then countless innocents will die, and I will continue to do that duty. But now, now I can be more. I want to be more. I *want* to be a mother. To bring new life into the world. To nurture and protect it, while watching it grow. There can be no higher honor. No greater reward, than to bring new life into the world.:: She looked at Sasha and grabbed his hand and squeezed it. ::Will you join me in this journey? To raise our children. It will be long, even difficult at times, but I believe that it will be worth it.:: With her free hand she slid the PADD over so Sasha could see it. Sasha looked down at the PADD and saw that it contained floor plans for a nursery. He wasn't able to study it in much further detail because the tears started to blur his vision. He looked up at Eva with a broad smile on his face. ::I would love nothing more than to go on this journey with you,:: he said as he squeezed her hand. ::I, too, have lived my life a certain way -- at least my personal life. For so long, I was searching for something that was missing, something that would bring me happiness and joy. I first found it in Mara, and one of the things I learned from her was that I didn't need to search anymore. And then, when she...... after what happened, I was afraid to search anymore, for fear that I would just be hurt again.: The smile faded from his face then. ::Now I face that fear again, except now instead of a fear of something abstract, it is very concrete. And this fear is rooted in who and what we are -- creatures of duty, sworn to uphold and protect something greater than ourselves, even if we have to sacrifice ourselves for it. I don't fear my own death; I never have. But I fear your death greatly, because the pain that would bring to me would be even worse, I think.:: He paused at this, then took her other hand in his free hand and squeezed it as well. ::Let us make a promise to each other. Let us promise that if we both make it through the upcoming battle, that we will spend the rest of our lives together. If we both make it back, Eva Straton, will you marry me?:: ::Yes, I will,:: Eva replied; she didn't even have to think about it. ::But only after the mission. I will soon have to wrap myself in duty once more. I have work to do. Dirty work, and so do you. We must both be focused if we are to survive. We will both have to be strong, perhaps you more so. Be strong, and let me do what I have trained my entire life to do. Defend the Federation and my world from those who would seek to destroy them.:: Sasha nodded solemnly. ::I know. I have insulated myself with the cloak of duty before, and I can do it again. I will try to keep my fear, and my joy, contained within it. I will be strong, for both of us... for all four of us.:: He turned and looked out at the stars once more. ::Sevant will probably want to know that you plan to continue the pregnancy. But let's keep our other plans to ourselves until after the mission. There's no need to add any more complications to the emotional state of the crew at this time; we probably have enough of them all on our own.:: Sasha looked back at Eva with a small half-smile. ::And then, when we return from this mission, we can share our joy with our friends and crewmates. Not if, but when. I have faith that we will both return; we are both strong, we both know how to prepare, and we both know how to survive. It is this faith that will keep me sane through the coming days, Imzadi.:: ::I'll hold you to that,:: Eva replied. ::Let us go give Sevant the news.:: She tapped her comm-badge. "Colonel Straton to Captain Sevant." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Capt Sevant - 1301) ==================================== =^=Colonel Straton to Captain Sevant.=^= Sevant, who hadn’t been on the bridge for very long and was enjoying the simplicity of watching the stars... even if they were flying into danger... said, "Sevant here, Colonel." =^=Commander Stolev and I would like to have a word with you in private at your earliest convenience.=^= The Captain looked around the bridge, "Right away Colonel, I'll be in the ready room." (reply: if desired) Sevant stood and made his way for the ready room, "First Officer has the bridge." ==================================== {USS Boudicca - Marine Center, MXO's Office - Lt Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 1305) ==================================== Spider, his arms crossed tightly across his chest, looked at the list of officers on the ship and the first list for the tentative combat team that Captain Grailik had provided. The problem with this list was, it was subject to change at any time, there was not yet a set team in which to train. Even better, the plans for the base were sketchy at best. As MXO, he'd already decided that the next time he sent his troops into simulated battle; he was by-god going to give them a reason to fight harder. Their performance last night had been acceptable according to traditional training methods, but it didn't cut it in terms of their situation now. They had to do it better then average. Far better. So that left an issue with who to invite (or order) into "Drizzt to Straton. Colonel, I'd like to invite most of the senior officers into our little... training scenario. It gives the marines something more to fight for, and it gives our crew a bit more training before those selected go on the away mission. Do I have your permission?" (reply: Straton) NRPG: I'm assuming yes, since this is what we had discussed. RPG: "Thank you Sir." He cut the line and touched the screen for a moment. "Major Drizzt to: Doctor McKenzie, Doctor Alizara, Doctor Mor'rel, Commander Stolev, Lieutenant Rivers, Ensign Chandler, Senior Chief Haverstaad, Lieutenant McLaren, CPO Miller, Doctor Monroe, Dr. Engtamn-Jensi, Ensign Sarrik." He paused for the computer to digest all that, "You are all requested and required to join the Marines and Security forces in Holodeck 1 at 1800 hours tonight for prelim training for the upcoming raid. If there is a conflict in schedule you will please let me know immediately. Otherwise, I will expect you in the holodeck geared appropriately at the appointed time. Drizzt out." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stardate: 2407.02.06 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (USS Steel Talons - Admiral's War Room - Admiral Robert LoDona - 2310) ==================================== "The Boudicca and the Paladin's Task Forces have broken through the initial defenses, Admiral." Rear-Admiral Richard Ian Lee said firmly. "The problem is, now they're sitting ducks, much as was expected. There is approximately five hundred enemy ships en-route for battle." LoDona, his arms crossed as he looked out of his window, said. "Then I suppose its time we sent everything we have at them, no?" He turned back to face the room. "We have three-hundred Federation ships sitting right here with us, we have another six-hundred confirmed sitting at various places all around the Federation. And lastly, we have the Klingon High Command just a few hundred kilometers off our starboard bow in a Command Ship with approximately 1200 ships under their command. And there are, what, another 600 refitting in the Empire for entry into the Federation within the next two weeks?" Robert brought his hands forward and rubbed at his Borg Implants. "We have twenty-one hundred ships, I think it's time we used them. God knows, Doenitz has been given plenty of chances to surrender without full-out war." He turned his head slightly so he could look at Lee, "My orders to all Commanders... Sail the River Styx." His look was grim, "Send that with my compliments, immediately." Rich cleared his throat, "Aye sir. I'd best be getting back to the 'Watch." Robert nodded and turned back to the window as Rich dismissed himself. 'Sail the River Styx'** wasn't a set of orders so much as a password, a final set of safe-words that had to be sent and verified before all the pre-packaged orders were followed. It was basically a statement saying 'Proceed'. Once given, all the fleets and task-forces would move in for war. The Talons surged under him as, all around him, Klingon and Federation ships engaged into warp. There were eight-hundred ships in his Task Force, the mostly-combined might of the Klingons and the 52nd fleet with more then a handful of stragglers from other deep-space assignments. Their first standoff would be against a vastly inferior fleet sent by Doenitz to protect the outer line; he couldn't yet afford to send a fleet this size with the Core worlds still unpacified. Of course, by moving in this manner, LoDona might have just forced Doenitz to deal in even harsher methods of pacification. Robert would pity Doenitz in that case. Most of his officers already wanted Doenitz's head; leveling every Core planet would make him the most wanted man in the galaxy. One of his aides walked up to him, "Captain Rhea's compliments sir, the Talons is going to proceed under yellow alert." Robert nodded briefly that he'd understood, twenty-seconds later the ship went to yellow alert. The Klaxons were immediately disabled within the Warroom, not that it mattered. Robert had learned to ignore them after a lifetime of war. He turned on his heel to face his staff once more, "Alright people, lets do this." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stardate: 2407.02.08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (Earth - Starfleet Command Headquarters - President Rodrigo Doenitz - 0940) ==================================== "Mr. President, the borders are not looking good. Defections are increasing." Rodrigo crossed his arms behind him absently as he looked at the tactical map. "That's to be expected." he said crossly, "Even so, I want punishments stepped up. Make defection to ugly to contemplate." The Fleet Admiral he was talking to nodded. One of Doenitz's cadre, Dostare was fully onboard with Rodrigo's style of gathering loyalty and inspiring fear. He made a note on a PADD and changed the area of the star-map, "We've also got reports from the incursion fleet, and they've met heavy resistance... enough that they were forced to turn back with near 50% casualties." Admiral Dostare looked over at the self-proclaimed president, "We'll need to pull forces off of the pacification fleets or we'll be buried inside a month. The thrice-damned Klingons have given them the numbers they needed for a push, and the newly turned rebel fleets are making life difficult all along the frontier." Doenitz said nothing for long moments; he just looked at the map. Inside he was seething; he had never dealt well with people who didn't follow his commands. They were traitors, all, and should be executed. However, to get what they so richly deserved would turn what was left of the loyal fleet against him. He needed to win a coup, something he could use against LoDona and the Klingons. Further, he needed a victory... something that would send them reeling to lick their wounds, something that would give him the necessary time to solidify his regime. There were only a couple things that came to mind, but Falthgood's warning was also firmly nestled in his brain. He muttered to himself as he considered the ramifications of action VS non-action. Finally, after long moments of silence, he said. "Get me Trididar on the horn, its time we turned up the heat." The Fleet Admiral stiffened, he was one of the few others who knew what Trididar did for Doenitz, and he was one of only three others who knew about Captain Falthgood's warning. "Sir, are you sure..." "Yes." Doenitz said simply. The Admiral nodded to an aide, who quickly disappeared from the room to carry out the president's order. Doenitz, his arms still crossed, said: "Prepare a battle group; I want the Nimitz taken down. Falthgood is to be targeted." He looked over at the Admiral, "Pull what you need from the pacification fleet, but make sure that the local populaces are under control before you do." he turned on his heel and said over his back, "Whatever it takes Fleet Admiral. If you can't do it, I'll find someone with the brass who will." ==================================== (Earth - Government Complex, Presidents Office - President Rodrigo Doenitz - 1035) ==================================== "Mr. President, there is a Captain Trididar here to see you." Doenitz waved his assent without looking up from his monitor. One of the things he'd become used to over the years was paperwork, there was just as much as President as there was as an Admiral. It took more of his time then anything else... it was enough to drive a man not inclined to perfection mad. He shut the monitor off as the Benzite Captain Trididar stepped in. Trididar was the fourth man in charge of Reverse Technologies since Doenitz had left for higher duties, the second since Falthgood had cravenly abandoned the post. And of them all, he was Doenitz's least favorite, the man had argued endlessly against the use of the devices. He'd latched onto that argument; he always said something about never being able to close Pandora's Box again if they did. "Captain, have a seat." He said with all the arrogance he'd gathered from a lifetime in the fleet. He picked up a PADD as the Benzite quietly took a seat, and then handed it over. "I want these projects restarted and deployed." He held up a hand when Trididar opened his mouth, probably to protest. "And I don't want to hear a word about it." He said in a no-nonsense tone. "I'm tired of hearing it, don't make me replace you." The Benzite shut his mouth and took the PADD. He scrolled it for a few moments before saying, "Yes Sir." "That means now, Captain." Trididar stood and snapped a salute, "Aye Sir." Doenitz watched him leave with narrowed eyes. The man was rapidly becoming a liability. Once those orders were deployed, he might have to have an 'accident'. The world of Reverse Tech was cloaked in secrecy anyway, he wouldn't be missed. It was something to consider anyway. Rodrigo made a note of it and turned back to his work. If not attended to, it would breed.