Compile#7 December 20-26 (USS Rosenante & USS Boudicca Joint) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 1 Stardate: 2414.02.12 Compile Summary (USS Rosenante, Ready Room, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 1, 1149) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 2 Stardate: 2414.02.13 Compile Summary (USS Rosenante, Ready Room, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 2 - 1057) (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - Dean of Sciences, Daystrom Institute - Dr. Bruce Maddox - 1152) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 4 Stardate: 2414.02.15 Compile Summary (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4 - 1502) (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - Counselor Parker Davis - Day 4 - 1506) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 5 Stardate: 2414.02.16 Compile Summary (Starbase Geneva - Medical Holodeck 16 - CMDR Liam O'Neill - Day 5 - 0910) (Starbase Geneva - Eian O'Neill's Temporary Quarters - CMDR Liam O'Neill - Day 5 - 0920) (USS Rosenante - Captain's Ready Room - CMDR Liam O'Neill - Day 5 - 0930) (USS Rosenante - Captain's Ready Room - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 5 - 0936) (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1203) (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - ATAC/SC Ensign (sg) Jessica Signos - Day 5 - 1210) (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1215) (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - ATAC/SC Ensign (sg) Jessica Signos - Day 5 - 1222) (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1230) (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - ATAC/SC Ensign (sg) Jessica Signos - Day 5 - 1245) (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1300) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 6 Stardate: 2414.02.17 Compile Summary (Starbase Geneva, Gym, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 6, 1400) (Starbase Geneva, The County Cork, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 6, 1420) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - aCEO Ensign Henry Jacobs - 1600) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 7 Stardate: 2414.02.18 Compile Summary (Starbase Geneva - Main Medical Office - OR 2 - aCEO Ensign Henry Jacobs - 0800) (Starbase Geneva - Main Medical Office - OR 2 - FO - Cmdr Jennifer (Josh) Caskie - Day 7 - 0900) (Starbase Geneva - Main Medical Offices - OR 2 - aCEO Ensign Henry Jacobs - 0904) (USS Boudicca - QV - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 11.00) (Starbase Geneva, Medical Waiting Area, SO, Ensign Eva Saint Jean, Day 7, 1400) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 8 Stardate: 2414.02.19 Compile Summary (Starbase Geneva - O'Malley's Pub - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 13.00) (Axtis III, Axtis City, Klagth's Cabin, Lieutenant sg Sanok,1648) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 10 Stardate: 2414.02.21 Compile Summary (SB Geneva Classroom Wing - Lt. Cmdr Tom Jackson 2O/ COPS Day 10 0900) (USS Rosenante - ACSO - Personal Quarters/Temp CSO Office - LT (jg) Viskhard - 1417) (USS Rosenante- CSO- Sick Bay- LT David M. Tamblyn- 1425) (USS Rosenante- Sickbay - CMO's Office - aCMO - Lt (sg) Katherine (Kitty) - Day 10 - 1430) (USS Rosenante - ACSO - Main Science Lab - LT (jg) Viskhard - 1545) (Axtis III, Axtis City, Lieutenant sg Sanok, 2143) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 11 Stardate: 2414.02.22 Compile Summary (Axtis III, Axtis City, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma - 0800) (Axtis III, Axtis City, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma - 0855) (Axtis III, Axtis City, Lieutenant sg Sanok, 0900) (Starfleet Academy - Shuttle Deck - Departure Bay 03, Gantry 011 - Ensign Joshua Amundsen - 1400) (USS Boudicca - Docking Bay - Ensign Joshua Amundsen - 1425) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Ensign Joshua Amundsen - 1430) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Durand - 1432) (Axtis III, Wilderness, Lieutenant sg Sanok, 2100) (Axtis III, Wilderness, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma, 2103) ======================================================= Mission: Personal Logs: Day: 13 Stardate: 2414.02.24 Compile Summary (Axtis III, Highlands, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma, 0600) ======================================================= (USS Rosenante, Ready Room, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 1, 1149) "Has he been to trial yet?" he asked sipping the very fine coffee the Captain had graciously offered him. "No, he hasn't made his decision on that matter yet. I've given him an alternate option to a full blow trial." Ahmed responded politely enough. "What had you planned the punishment to be?" he asked tentatively. "A Captain's mast." the Commanding officer replied simply. "Well then, if Starfleet has allowed you to make it a purely administrative matter, then perhaps I could persuade you to lighten his sentence?" Bruce asked. "I wonder, Doctor Maddox, what it is that makes you think that you have any say in the matter? Do you believe that your position as the Dean of Sciences at the Daystrom Institute in any way allows you to dictate punishments in judicial matters aboard my starship?" He asked, allowing a hint of challenge to rise into his voice. "No, no, Captain, I do not presume to tell you your business, or think for a moment that you do not know what is best for your ship. Besides a larger grasp of science there is one thing in this universe that I know better than you do and that is my son. I know that had he had time to come to grips with who he was and how that effected him as a person, he would have never agreed to be manipulated by the Borg. That is not his mistake, but mine. It was my error, my belief that he would be ostracized by the public at large and ultimately Starfleet that urged me to make the decision to keep his heritage a secret." "I wholly agree with you Doctor." Ahmed replied evenly, "yet Andrew did make a decision, one that he should not have been difficult to make correctly. One that he was prepared for in his academy training as well as in his life as a Starfleet officer. He was given an opportunity to do the right thing, and he did not. I cannot possibly salvage him as an officer if I do not make the consequences for his actions dire enough that he learns his lesson." (reply Maddox) "Perhaps them Doctor, there will be two of you that will learn a lesson from all of this." (reply Maddox) "I will give it some consideration, but that will be dependent upon Andrew." Ahmed replied. As if to push the point home, there was another chime at his door and Ahmed glanced up at the chronometer. "As a matter of fact, that would be your son now." Ahmed stated as he reached out to activate the door to allow them entry. (reply Both Maddoxes) Daniel Greene ======================================================= (USS Rosenante, Ready Room, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 2 - 1057) "Well, a pleasant surprise indeed," Visk muttered. He looked back at the Captain with a sheepish grin on his face, "I really hadn't expected this, sir, am I to assume you have a post for me on the Rosenante?" Ahmed nodded, allowing a smile to spread across his face. "I do indeed, Lieutenant. I'd like for you to work as an assistant department head in my Science Department. Lieutenant Tamblyn will be the head of the department, but I have no doubt that your experience and knowledge will help us considerably, mister Viskhard." Visk nodded, "I had put in for a transfer a while back, but as you said, BUPERS has only just caught up where I am concerned." "That sounds like you are in agreement to me lieutenant." The captain added. "Captain, you will not be disappointed, sir." Visk's eyes went completely bright blue, it was an interesting thing to see firsthand. "Excellent Mister Viskhard, there is a great many things to do concerning the science labs , but before all of that you'd better report in to Lieutenant Tamblyn." Visk settled for a moment. "Captain, I don't know if you are aware, but I feel I must inform you. I usually require little sleep, none in fact. However, I will require several days in which to hibernate at some point." Visk placed his cup on the desk and continued, explaining further. "I purposely hibernated just before the conference, so I don't anticipate a need for it for nearly a year. I hope this will not be an inconvenience." Ahmed shook his head. "No inconvenience at all Lieutenant. I am well aware of the unique nature of the Denobulan sleep cycle. I had a roommate in my junior year of the academy, who had bunked with a Denobulan named Kirok the previous year. He was a cultural sciences major and I learned a great deal about Denobulans by way of Osmosis." He allowed himself to smile again, "We should have lunch sometime. I always enjoy being directly exposed to new cultures and philosophies. I'd really like to learn more about Denobula and her wonderful people. But I'm afraid that I have another pressing appointment at the moment, so if you have no other questions, or concerns, I'd like to ask you to carry on with your assignment." (reply Viskhard) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - Dean of Sciences, Daystrom Institute - Dr. Bruce Maddox - 1152) "If you'd like other details, I suggest you speak with your son." Ahmed added, "He knows better than anyone what he's done and what it was that the Borg did to him. They gained his confidence, built him up into an impossible hero and then betrayed him. They used your secret to gain leverage against him." "So he knows what he is then?" Bruce paused obviously not pleased with what the Captain had told him. "I had hoped to tell him myself, when the time was right." The elder Maddox changed the subject like changing the gears in an ancient internal combustion engine. "Has he been to trial yet?" he asked sipping the very fine coffee the Captain had graciously offered him. (Reply Captain Salid) "What had you planned the punishment to be?" he asked tentatively. (Reply Captain Salid) "Well then, if Starfleet has allowed you to make it a purely administrative matter, then perhaps I could persuade you to lighten his sentence?" Bruce asked. He was unsure how the very direct request would be received even the split moments after it was proposed. Especially with the kind of man this Ahmed Salid seemed to be, he thought that a direct approach of the man himself, rather then Bruce's previous approach of having the Admiralty do it for him, would work much better if anything was to work. (Reply Captain Salid) "No, no, Captain, I do not presume to tell you your business, or think for a moment that you do not know what is best for your ship. Besides a larger grasp of science there is one thing in this universe that I know better then you do and that is my son. I know that had he had time to come to grips with who he was and how that effected him as a person, he would have never agreed to be manipulated by the Borg. That is not his mistake, but mine. It was my error, my belief that he would be ostracized by the public at large and ultimately Starfleet that urged me to make the decision to keep his heritage a secret." (Reply Captain Salid) (Posted by Todd) ======================================================= (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4 - 1502) Ahmed had just finished another report for the Bureau of Starship Design when the enunciator on his ready room door chirped a half a second before sliding open to admit a man that Ahmed could honestly say he'd never seen before. He looked the man over for a moment assessing him. "Lieutenant JG Parker Davis reporting for duty, Sir." He announced himself. "At ease Lieutenant." Ahmed stated, "Have a seat." The Captain gestured to the only open chair remaining in his office. The other, it's twin had been destroyed in the fighting and had not yet been replaced. "What can I do for you lieutenant Davis?" He asked, considering that the man before him must be one of the members of his replacement crew. There were too many of them coming aboard recently and because of the damage, it would not have been the first time that someone had managed to report in for duty without any advanced warning. Parts of the ship were still utterly destroyed and some of the communications and means of movement through the ship were still spotty at best. (reply Davis) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - Counselor Parker Davis - Day 4 - 1506) "What can I do for you lieutenant Davis?" Captain Salid asked. ~He must not have gotten the memo,~ Parker thought before responding, "I'm sorry, Sir. I assumed you were informed of my appointment as your temporary counselor, or I would have been specific." He handed the Captain a PADD with his credentials and then sat back, awaiting his reply. (reply Salid) "I spent the last two years at Starfleet Medical working as a trauma counselor and assisting Dr. Leogen in his research into holodeck therapy for patients with post traumatic stress disorder. Prior to that, I completed my secondary degree in Psychology while serving as a counselor at the Brian Hill Penitentiary on Vagosa III," he offered, referring to the Federation Penitentiary for incarcerated former Federation personnel. (reply Salid) (posted by Morgan G) ======================================================= (Starbase Geneva - Medical Holodeck 16 - CMDR Liam O'Neill - Day 5 - 0910) After talking to Security, Liam knew he had to go to the Captain. But first, he needed to let his son know what was going on before he heard it from someone else. He also wanted to know if Eian had any clue as to what was going on. His son may have pertinent information that could find Jessica. He approached the medical holodeck and entered without requesting permission. He paused the program and waved Eian over, ignoring the instantly angry expression on his son's face. "Stop. Hear me out," Liam said immediately, holding up a hand as Eian skated over. "Jessica is missing. There are signs of a struggle in her quarters and there's footage that looks genuine that suggests she's been kidnapped. I've alerted Starbase security and I plan to go to Captain Salid. But first I need to know if there's anything you're aware of that could help this investigation." His son looked dumbfounded. The once angry expression was gone, and was replaced by a look of utter disbelief. "Uh..." Eian stumbled for a moment, and then collected himself. "She gave me a PADD...I think you should look at it." Liam nodded, and followed Eian out of the holodeck. He was wearing holo skates, and when he ordered the computer to end the program he dropped in height by about three inches. Murphy trotted alongside his master, looking up occasionally but not failing to keep up. Now walking with purpose, Liam saw that Eian's gait had improved and the limp was almost gone. He had worked hard in physical therapy and if one didn't know better, one wouldn't suspect that anything more than a hockey injury had occurred. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Eian O'Neill's Temporary Quarters - CMDR Liam O'Neill - Day 5 - 0920) Eian's quarters were a mess. The puppy's toys were strewn about and his dirty clothes, mostly exercise wear, were thrown in random places. Eian was a neat freak, and the state of his quarters spoke volumes about his emotional condition. He went to the couch and tossed a t-shirt and a pair of underwear onto the floor, revealing a PADD. He then handed it to his father. "You may not believe what you see there," his son told him, "But it's true. She told me herself the night we got back. She wouldn't lie to me. That's why..." he paused, and rubbed his eyes. "That's why we haven't been talking." With a troubled expression, Liam glanced from his son to the PADD and paged through it. Section 31. An assassin...an implanted personality...years of covert work. This was the small woman he had met a few days ago. After looking into her medical history, Liam suddenly understood why Section 31 would approach her. She was the equivalent of a genetically enhanced person. The same disease that kept her looking like a teenager and halted her growth also gave her optimal strength and healing capabilities throughout her life. She essentially was 'young' forever, possessing the same extraordinary resilience that children displayed at "magic" age sixteen, the age where almost anything could happen to a human and they could survive. He remembered a case study of a young man who, at age sixteen, was involved in a hoverbike accident that resulted in a fractured skull, severe spinal cord injury, multiple broken bones, and an eight-month-long coma. The boy awoke with full mental capabilities and recovered fully in the next two years. At any other age, doctors concluded, the boy would have died at the scene or at least had retarded mental capacity for the rest of his life. Section 31, a group that was supposed to have been disbanded, had found a way to implant a personality into someone's subconscious without the use of a chip. This was the aspect of the story that was almost unbelievable, but as a physician, Liam was already picturing how one might do this. The brain was a series of electrical impulses that 'spoke' to each other. If one could mimic those electrical impulses and then broadcast them in a controlled manner, one could successfully 'convince' a brain that it was actually two personalities. It would be terrible for the patient, though, and extremely unethical. Liam looked up at his son. "We need to go to Salid with this information." Eian nodded. "I agree. I should have before...I just...I don't know." The commander placed a sympathetic hand on his son's shoulder. "We have time to fix this now. They may still be on the station. Let's go look at the security footage and take this information to Captain Salid. We'll work with Starbase Security and we'll find a solution to this." Eian nodded again, and looked down. "Come on. Let's get a move on," Liam led the way, and they left the puppy in Eian's quarters. (reply none necessary) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Captain's Ready Room - CMDR Liam O'Neill - Day 5 - 0930) Liam decided that he should be the one to bring the information forth. Eian was in no state to think clearly and objectively about an investigation involving his girlfriend's abduction, especially after what his son had just been through. He rang the doorchime, and was granted entry. The two stepped through and Liam stood at semi-attention. "Captain Salid, it's come to my attention that one of your officers, Ensign Jessica Signos, has been abducted from her temporary quarters. Eian and I have pertinent information to the investigation." He handed the Captain the PADD. "There's no evidence that the information on that PADD will lead to the motive of the abductors, but after watching the security footage, I believe there's a good chance that it will." (reply Salid) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Captain's Ready Room - ACEO Lt Eian O'Neill - Day 5 - 0936) Eian knew his own face gave away his worry. He didn't try to mask it, but he did look to see what Salid's face gave away. The answer was 'not much'. As a Captain, Eian realized he had become accustomed to not letting his emotions show through. But with Eian's training he was able to pick up some concern, and perhaps recognition after Salid skimmed through the PADD. The Captain looked up at Eian. "Do you have any idea who would want to abduct Jessica?" he asked him directly "Has she mentioned anything to you that would lead you to believe that she has any enemies that would kidnap her?" "Yes, Sir," Eian said without hesitation. He felt guilty for not having come to Salid before, and understood that he may even receive disciplinary action for the omission of information. "She gave that PADD to me four nights ago, on our first night back. I admit that I didn't read the whole thing, but she gave me the summary version of what was on it. I assumed...perhaps incorrectly...that she wasn't a threat because she had ample opportunity to sabotage our mission and harm any one of us, and no motivation for telling me about her past. We have no evidence that Section 31 kidnapped her, Sir, but I find it hard to believe it's a coincidence, so soon after she told me and broke her cover." He was worried. He had no idea where she was and what condition she was in. From what he had heard about the rogue group, when they were active they were ruthless. They got information from people no matter the cost. They had no guidelines by which they operated. They were a wild card, and that definitely worried him. Even if he didn't think he could be intimate with an assassin and he was still mad at Jessica for not coming forth with the information from the get-go, he didn't want to see her hurt. And he prayed Salid felt the same way. (reply Salid) "I haven't seen her since she gave the PADD to me four nights ago, Sir. We haven't been on speaking terms since then." (reply Salid) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1203) George Hayden, Jr. was thinking about shoes. Shoes were so interesting. Mankind discovered at a very early age that the bottoms of their feet were vulnerable to the quality and temperature of the ground they were forced to traverse, and so they had invented a clever little shield. First starting as a simple encasement of animal skin, escalating to a piece of wood tied onto the foot, and finally reaching its epitome with specially crafted leathers, poly-synthetic materials, cushions designed to relieve pressure points unique to each foot, and magnetic locks that would never come unlaced. The shoe was a metaphor, Hayden thought, for just about everything in life. "Everything is an obstacle, Lily," he thought out loud as he increased the level of pain she was experiencing as a result of the Romulan mind probes attached to her temples. He watched the small form jerk in response, nearly unconscious in the sling that suspended her from the ceiling. "Everything we ever face is just one more obstacle to overcome," he elaborated, his voice taking on a sad, almost sympathetic tone. "We must engineer solutions for our lives. We must...encase ourselves...in our solutions." He rose, and turned the mind probes off. Walking over to her, he caressed her cheek in his palm, ignoring the look he got. "You have encased yourself in Jessica. Much like a shoe, you've worn her every day. It's time to take this shoe off...she's weak to the environment around you. You must let yourself breathe, or..." he let go of her cheek, and smiled a paternal, caring smile. "You may just grow a fungus." He detached the mind probes and tossed them onto the cart in the corner of the dark room, and then rushed over to the cart as if he was in a drastic hurry. He picked up a tube and ran back over to where Jessica hung. Holding the tube with both hands and a wicked grin on his face, he thrust the thing against her face and broke it apart at the middle. When it split, something black and gooey leaped out and attached itself to her mouth and nose before it seeped itself in. Jessica, who had just experienced the sensation of choking because of the piece of equipment still attached to her throat, was now actually choking. But the black and gooey thing crawled its way down her esophagus until it rested in her stomach. Hayden stepped back, and said, "I would recommend that you let go of your weak outer layer now...it is about to get quite vulnerable to its inner elements." (reply Jessica/Lily) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - ATAC/SC Ensign (sg) Jessica Signos - Day 5 - 1210) Time passed and Jessica endured on, she wondered how long she could continue to hold. She was tired and mentally exhausted the continual mental effort required to force herself to breath past the device on her neck was taxing what was left of her reserve energy. The mind probes hurt they jumbled her thoughts making it difficult to focus on anything for to long. So Jessica hung there limply and tired not to think to let the pain go and wall herself away behind a tower of iron will. She refused to answer Hayden near constant babbling, has he seemed to never stop talking either to himself or to her. He talked to her has a father might a daughter but that he was not to her she had no father Section 31 made sure of that. "Everything is an obstacle, Lily," He started a new line of senseless conversation. Then her body was racked with pain. Jessica thrashed about in her bonds has the mind probes did there job well. "Everything we ever face is just one more obstacle to overcome," Hayden continued, the words nearly lost on Jessica has pain wracked her small body. "We must engineer solutions for our lives. We must...encase ourselves...in our solutions." He rose, and turned the mind probes off. Jessica was breathing heavily has the pain ended and the fog began to lift from her mind. Hayden walked toward her and softly caressed her cheek, Jessica turned from him wanting to hurl at being touched by such a being."You have encased yourself in Jessica. Much like a shoe, you've worn her every day. It's time to take this shoe off...she's weak to the environment around you. You must let yourself breathe, or..." he let go of her cheek, and smiled a paternal, caring smile. "You may just grow a fungus." He then removed the mind probes and threw them off to the side. Hayden then left walked away in a hurry, at which Jessica was thankful only to reappear a moment later, holding a tube that contained a black liquid. hayden thruster the tube into her face Jessica tried to move her head and hold her breath has the thick goo covered her face. Natural reflex caused Jessica to gasp, which was all the goo needed like a living organism it forced it's way into her. She gagged tried to force the nasty tasting goo out of her but it invaded her body. After several terrifying moments she could breath again. Hayden stepped back, and said, "I would recommend that you let go of your weak outer layer now...it is about to get quite vulnerable to its inner elements." "Go to Hell" Jessica coughed. (reply Hayden, iyw) "When we die, we die together." this time her voice was the layered voice of Jessica and Lily. Soon the merge would be complete and Jessica would know everything to know about Section 31, what lily was capable of everything. She would never again be the same but at least she would be able to die in peace. (reply Hayden) (posted by Matthew Locke) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1215) "Go to hell," she told him. He smiled. "I don't believe in hell," he told her condescendingly. "I do believe that when Jessica dies, she will be saved from the hell that she is experiencing now." "When we die, we die together," Jessica and Lily answered in unison, surprising and concerning him. They were running out of time. She was merging, and it was almost complete. Section 31 had moved too late, but it couldn't be helped with Signos stuck on a mission engaging the Borg. Hayden pursed his lips and folded his arms as he watched her. "You will experience something quite unique, Lily. Something you can appreciate because of the way you were made, but something that Jessica will feel is a fate worse than death. Something that will truly pull the two of you apart." He sat back down and crossed one leg over his knee, leaning back and relaxing as if he was watching his daughter put on a play instead of watching the woman in front of him writhing in agony. "Pleasure...and pain. Some of us gain pleasure from pain. Some of us gain pain from pleasure. It depends, I suppose, upon how you approach life. Living on the edge could mesh the two in both ways. Living isolated, encased in that protective shoe, could result in the two never meeting." He smiled. "An interesting concept, don't you think?" If she merged during this session, there was one other option. The Plan B that they would enact anyway, simply because of the success of their research into the Signos Thread. (reply Lily/Jessica) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - ATAC/SC Ensign (sg) Jessica Signos - Day 5 - 1222) Jessica and Lily hung the black goo sitting heavily inside her. Hayden began to talk again, and lily noticed a slight strain to his otherwise cheerful voice. It was starting to become apparent what he was after, what section 31 was afraid of happening, and has Hayden spoke Jessica looked for help from her own council. ~Jessica~ Lily spoke softly in her mind there thoughts know safe that the mind probes were removed. ~Yes, Lily~ Jessica replied weakly. ~How are you holding? ~ Lily ask concerned. Lily knew the ways and means of torture. One of the things that would make them hard to break was were Lily was weak Jessica was strong and the same was true of Jessica. ~Lily...~ Jessica called weakly before continuing. ~Is there any thing in my life that hasn't been a lie... Is there anything worth me living for.~ Lily was quite for a moment before answering. ~Yes...~ She answered after a time. ~Eian, true Section 31 wanted to see the two of you together. But the relationship that has flurished between the two of you is yours.~ Again Lily was silent. ~Jessica, I always knew this day would come, that one day were would have to come to face the sins that have I committed, and that it would be your body that would have to pay for those sins. For that I am Sorry.~ It didn't take long for the goo to start to have an effect. It started has a burning in her stomach, then spread throughout her body. Her throat became dry. Then it hit her, a feeling of steal chains being wrapped around her waist and tightened like a vise. Her body shook has if caught in cold night air. Whatever the goo was, it was playing havoc with her senses and her mind started to become cloudy, then dark. Jessica came to a few minutes after she blacked out, but she felt like the darkness that swallowed her lasted forever. She glared at Hayden who only seemed to smile back, a smile that seemed to say 'Now the real fun begins.' It hit Jessica like running into a wall every nerve, every muscle in her body constricted has the sensation of an otherworldly pain flowed though her small body. But now she noticed something was different even has her body was wracked with pain a warmth filled her. Jessica found herself becoming excited. ~Noooo~ Lily screamed inside Jessica's skull. ~You sick perverted pig, how could you do this to her.~ The pain subsided and Jessica found herself panting, her body longing to be touched. She shook from the pain, the excitement and exhilaration that embraced her. Then the next wave hit her body arched in its bonds and Jessica howled in pain and excitement. Lily knew the pleasure and pain Jessica was feeling the combined emotions were to bring Lily out and to drive Jessica away. ~Jessica, I'm sorry.~ Lily spoke to Jessica's mind before the persona burst though what remained of the mental barrier that separated the two. Lily wrapped herself around Jessica's mental self and they rode the remainder of the torture together. In pain and bliss. (reply Hayden) (Posted by Matthew Locke) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1230) "Pleasure...and pain. Pleasure...and pain," Hayden said in a sing-song voice. He stood and paced around the room, tapping his head. "The mind is an extraordinary thing. A wondrous thing, don't you think?" He grinned. "When one is young and impressionable, one's mind is *molded* to what it believes is pleasure and pain." He rushed over to her, his face within inches of hers. "Did you know," he said excitedly, "That in certain ancient African tribes, they would increase the size of their body piercings around their bodies to indicate maturity and resistance to pain? That a woman would have her lip pierced as a child and then a disk would be inserted, and they would increase the size of the disk every year...and the woman with the largest disk, or 'plug' at that point, because it would also block the mouth opening, would be considered the most beautiful?" He circled around and spoke in her ear. "Did you know that in some of the same tribes, they would insert rings on a woman's neck until it was stretched so far that it would snap if the rings were removed? But she was considered beautiful if her neck was longer. Chinese women in ancient Earth times would have their feet bound, because smaller feet were valued. A disease called anorexia ravaged some populations of women in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries...it is a disease in which the victim actually sees themselves as fat when, in fact, they are dying of starvation. All of these things, all of these *customs*," he proclaimed, and moved around to her other ear, "are *conditioned*. You have to be *taught* what pleasure is...and what pain is." He backed away and smiled at her lovingly. "And you are two people who have been taught two different things. Now torn between the same stimulation, causing one pain, and the other pleasure, and teaching each other the horrors of both." He suddenly and unexpectedly stamped his feet and waved his fisted hands like an excited child. "I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!" He burst in joy. He laughed hysterically and then doubled over, putting his hands on his knees and taking a deep breath. "Oh, I've never had quite this much fun with a subject before. They are all so *mundane*. One personality, one bit of information, and just a matter of time before I find a way to convince them to tell me. But you...you have no information I want. You need only to relent, Lily, and destroy the shell that holds you back." He threw one finger in the air and said loudly, "In both instances, though! You both need to move from a higher energy state to a LOWER energy state! An *easier* energy state! You need only to relent, in both cases, and do *less* work. Lily..." he walked over to her and spoke softly, his expression suddenly painfully sympathetic, "Please relent. The alternative is..." but as he looked closely at her in the dim lighting of the room, he noticed that her eyes had changed color, and were now a blend of purple and blue. She was changed. She was still undergoing the torture, but it had not succeeded in separating her as he thought it would. Her resolve was simply too high. He stepped back and took a medical tricorder from the tool cart in the corner. Walking back to her, he scanned her brain, and shook his head in disappointment. "Oh, Lily," he said, as if speaking to a small dying animal, "Oh, poor, poor Lily..." He took a deep breath and closed the tricorder. He put it back on the cart and walked over to her slowly. "Lily...or shall I say Jessica...you realize now that you are forever changed. You will never be what you once were. In attempting to save your shell, Lily, you condemned her to a life she was once protected from. Would it not have been better to euthanize her? To put her to rest? But no, you condemn her to know of the atrocities that you committed, to be involved in this, to involve *Eian* in this. You condemn her and him, and his precious family which you and he so ardently protect." (reply Jessica) He shook his head and ignored her as he walked away. "We must enact the next phase of the plan, then. That's all there is to it. That's what happens sometimes." Sometimes, customers came in the store with shoes that could not be repaired. They had to be thrown out. But...there was no reason why the material could not be salvaged for new shoes. That was Section 31's mentality, as well. He brought a medical instrument over to her. In her bound state, she couldn't resist as he detached the choking devices on her throat and clasped a collar around her. He then plugged it into a small container. He pressed a button, and tiny needles pricked her neck where her veins were and began collecting blood. He then placed a little dome on her cheek, and once activated, it began moving all over her body, collecting tiny skin samples. Finally, he ran his hand through her hair in a gentle caress, finely combing her long black hair and separating it until there was less and less of it in his hands. A chunk, then a few strands, then just one single hair. He closed his thumb and forefinger around that hair and then pulled, extracting it at the root. Hayden sealed that hair in a medical container, which he placed on the cart. He then sat down in the chair, waiting for the procedure to be over, more like a parent waiting for news on their sick child than anything else. (reply Jessica) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - ATAC/SC Ensign (sg) Jessica Signos - Day 5 - 1245) Hayden spoke throughout the torture, has the substance that continued to effect her body lasted. She did not listen to him she was to far gone, emotionally and physically to be able to care for such things. He continued to speak has he removed the device around her neck only to have it replaced with a collar. Lily filled Jessica in onto the device's use. The needles entered her skin and started to remove her blood. Again Jessica barley felt the needles enter her skin, she just hung there limply, has the sensation that were diving her body slowly began to fade. It took time but not long for the needed samples to be collected. Jessica felt drained by that point, and everything went dark. If this was to be her end then it would be the end of the terror of Lily. But if she lived then what would be the cost of her sacrifice, could Eian still love her, or love what she had become. Such thoughs were to much for her exhausted mind to contemplate so she gave herself over to the darkness and the fates to do has they wished of her. (reply Hayden, any) (posted by Matthew Locke) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Unknown Location - Operative Hayden - Day 5 - 1300) The samples were collected and his subject had passed out from loss of blood. Just to be on the safe side, he connected her to a transfusion machine and patted her arm affectionately before collecting his things, placing them on the cart, and leaving. He would reactivate the phasing technology after he had taken care of the items. For now, he was invisible to the world. Unfortunately, the nature of this business would require him to leave the station. One couldn't have her accidentally happening upon his shop before the Starfire left. So, still out of phase, he first went to the cargo bay where he packed the containers and had them labeled to be taken to his personal shuttle. Then, deactivating the phasing technology, he walked to his shop and closed up, posting a notice that the shoemaker was on vacation for the next two weeks. He scheduled a departure time for his shuttle and went to the Promenade to get something to eat for lunch. Later that afternoon he departed the station as scheduled, and went to the agreed upon rendezvous point. Then he went to Earth. It was about time he saw his family again. But he didn't depart empty handed. He took one of those DNA samples for himself. He had always wanted a child to experiment with... (reply none necessary) (posted by Morgan G) ======================================================= (Starbase Geneva, Gym, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 6, 1400) The sound of the speed bags helped Ahmed to focus more clearly as his opponent pounded a strong left-right combo into his body. The captain of the Rosenante, ducked and sagged, allowing his feet to slide somewhat to absorb some of the power from the impacts. Hands up, Ahmed, took a quick step back, forcing his opponent to throw his left out farther than he'd anticipated to make contact. Salid took the blow on his elbow and stepped forward, leading with a right cross to the other man's jaw. He staggered, thrown off-balance by the ferocity and speed of the blow. His right hand dipped out of position and Ahmed shifted his weight and brought his left into the man's face with enough power to stagger him. Before Ahmed could follow through, however, the man managed to get his hands back up to defend himself as he stepped back. The captain, always wary of the potential of over extending himself didn't strike again, but rather stepped in closer before firing two shots into the man's ribs with brutal efficiency. ~Two, three, four...~ He counted to himself, ~right upper cut, left cross.~ The man before his trembled and shook as the blows rained into him, before his knees suddenly buckled under the punishment. Ahmed stepped backwards as the referee rushed in to separate the two boxers. "Captain Salid!" A voice called to him from the edge of the ring. Ahmed backpedalled two more steps as the referee counted before sparing a glance to see who had called to him. He immediately recognized the Commander from the Admiral's office, and he would have put a name to the face had he ever been given one in the first place. "eight, nine, ten." The ref called out and then there was the sharp ring of the bell. Ahmed gestured for the commander to head over to his corner while he de-gloved. As he reached the corner, he held both his gloved hands out to his boxing coach, a man of about fifty years and a retired middleweight boxer from Earth named, of all things, Lou. "Good bout kiddo." Lou said as he started removing the heavy gloves from the captain's hands. "Thanks, Lou, still gotta work on the body blocks though." Ahmed replied. "Yeah, he was really murderin' ya." The couch responded and Ahmed gave him a nod. "Captain Salid, good fight sir." the Commander said as he joined the conversation. "It's a match commander, not a fight. A match is a competition between opponents, a fight is considerably much more serious." "Yes, of course. Good match then sir." "What can I do for you Commander?" the captain asked and then stretched and worked the fingers of his right hand now that they were free of the constraints of the gloves. "I have a judicial ruling from the Admiral concerning Lieutenant Trei." Ahmed nodded and reached out his hand to accept the PADD. He turned it to face him and then used his thumbprint to unlock the document contained therein. It only took him a few moments to work through the nearly twelve pages of precedence and law quoted by the admiral to substantiate his decision. "Lieutenant Trei is a member of Captain Durand's crew, commander. why are you bringing this to me?" Ahmed asked. "The Admiral felt that you had a right to know the outcome since you were the task Force Commander at the time of the transgression." he explained. "I see." Ahmed said with a sigh as he stretched the fingers of his now freed left hand. "I'll give this to Captain Durand. Is there anything else Commander?" "No sir, that was all." "Thank you." The Admiral's aide turned and strode out of the gym with a sense of purpose that Ahmed thought surely couldn't be the case. He in contrast, climbed down from the ring and almost meandered into the locker room for a quick shower and change. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva, The County Cork, CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 6, 1420) After a hot shower and a short stretch of time in the sauna to work out any kinks in his shoulders, Ahmed had dressed in his civilian attire and left the gym. He had made his way to the promenade deck and into the County Cork, an Traditional Irish Pub, that had seen its fair share of action over the years. He asked for and was granted a private table, and settled in with a tall cold glass of pomegranate and orange juice. He placed the PADD on the table before him and finally reached into his pocket to pull out his commbadge. "Captain Salid to Captain Durand." he said as he activated the device. (reply Durand) "Captain. I have a ruling back from the Admiral concerning Lieutenant Trei. Can we discuss it over lunch at the County Cork on the Promenade deck?" (reply Durand) "No nothing formal," He replied, "I'm in civvies myself, I was given the information while on leave. Don't feel as if you need to come in uniform Captain." (reply Durand) "Very good captain I'm there now and will see you soon. Salid out." (reply Durand) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - aCEO Ensign Henry Jacobs - 1600) Engineering seemed brand new. The room was spotless and everything looked immaculate. Jacobs walked around the room with the repair chief reviewing all the repair padds and reports. "So what can you tell me about the repairs and enhancements that Starfleet authorized fir the Boudicca?" The repair chief hesitated for a second and then smiled as he formed his mouth to answer. "There has been quite a few advancements since the last time the Boudicca has had an extensive visit to a repair base but lets start with the repairs. First off everything here in Engineering is brand new. She was pretty beat up when you guys arrived so we made sure to remove all of the damaged systems and consoles. New Bio-neural gel packs have been installed throughout engineering to maximize output. This padd explains the efficiency data foir this particular upgrade." Henry nodded as he grabbed the padd then looked back up when the repair chief began to speak again. "Holo-emitters have been installed as well. This is solely for the purpose of three dimensional data analysis. The same emitters were installed in all crucial areas of the ship including the bridge. I believe you have already used this technology at the beginning of your last mission." Jacobs recalled the briefing both crews had with the holo-technology at the start of the Dovek II mission and also how he had helped Ensign Gesar install it. Jacobs began to answer the man, " yes i was the one who installed the emitters in the Observation Lounge." "Remember those gel packs we talked about before?" the repair chief asked. "Well these are enhanced gel packs. The intermix ratio between he conductive gel and nano chips has been increases to allow for maximum cohesion. All systems ship wide will perform seventeen percent more efficiently." Nodding at all the chief had to say Henry spoke up to ask about the ships defenses and weapons. " What about the phaser and torpedo systems?" Shuffling through the padds in his hand the chief finally found the padd with the information that Henry asked for. "If you take a look in there you will see that we are currently adding additional phaser arcs all around the ship. All the torpedo launchers have been repaired and your torpedo allotment has been increased from this point forward. Since your last encounter with the Borg Starfleet has mandated that all ships increase weapon holdings t be prepared for any engagement." Jacobs had formed his mouth to ask one last question when the chief beat him to the punch. As he chief handed him a final padd. " This is the report for the ships state of the art Deflector dish. It seems like none of the original deflector dish was salvageable so we just gave you the best of the best. I think won't go word by word for you with this one, but there is quite a bit of new information to read here. In a few more days the Boudicca will be cleared to disembark for your next mission." Jacobs shook the repair chiefs hand and left engineering to see how the repairs turned out on the bridge. (reply any) (posted by Darryl McDaniel) ======================================================= (Starbase Geneva - Main Medical Office - Operating Room 2 - aCEO Ensign Henry Jacobs - 0800) It had been an hour since Jacobs had been escorted to the operating room and been directed to change into the medical gown. The same receptionist that was there three days before was the one who walked him into the room. The change from his civilian clothes into the robe was effortless and he propped himself up in the operating table. The echoing quietness of the room forced Henry to reflect on what had happened and what was going to happen. It was the eleventh hour and Henry's life was about to change for the better. ~you know this will be an improvement. And the implant is only going to help you from this point on. There is no turning back from this point.~ Jacobs continued to stare at the lights suspended over the operating table as he waited for the iterating team to enter and begin the surgery. (reply Macgrueger, Caskie) (posted by Darryl McDaniel) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Main Medical Office - Operating Room 2 - FO - Cmdr Jennifer (Josh) Caskie - Day 7 - 0900) Josh had already been sitting in Dr MacGregor office discussing Jacobs' operation for almost an hour. The elderly doctor had been arguing for delaying the operation until Jacobs had seen a councilor and had fully discussed all the options available to him since he thought that Jacobs had been far to ready to accept the easiest and quickest option. Josh had countered with the fact that she knew that Jacobs had indeed reviewed everything he could find regarding this operation during their trip to Geneva and had plenty time to make up his mind. Eventually they compromised. Dr MacGregor agreed to let the operation proceed and Josh agreed that whilst the Boudicca was still docked at Starbase Geneva, Jacobs would undergo as much counselling as Dr MacGregor thought necessary. So finally they both gowned up, went through deacon and entered the operating room. Josh immediately crossed to the bed where their patient was already lying. Resting her hand on his shoulder she smiled down at him. "Ok Henry, are you ready." (Reply Jacobs) To be honest this won't take long as an operation. However it will take longer from your point of view as patient. When you wake up your eye will be covered to protect it from outside infection. We will need you to stay in sickbay for up to twenty four hours to make sure that the operation has been successful and to make sure there are no complications. You will be wearing a monitor for the next few days that will be linked to me so that I can monitor your status at all times and your eye will be covered with a dressing and a patch when you wake up. That patch will stay on your eye until I tell you that you can remove it. Do you understand?" (Reply Jacobs) "I will come to your quarters every day to change your dressing, assess your situation and hopefully put a lighter patch on each day until I feel that you are able to spend some time each day using that eye without a dressing on it." (Reply Jacobs) "Very well Henry. We are ready to start. Are you willing for us to start now? (Reply Jacobs) (posted by Marilyn) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva - Main Medical Offices - Operating Room 2 - aCEO Ensign Henry Jacobs - 0904) Henry listened as heard footsteps approach him from the operating room doors. There was a warm hand that touched his shoulder which drew the attention of his eye from the light. Commander Caskie stood over him in a medical gown smiling down in his direction. "Ok Henry, are you ready?" "As ready as one could be to have something shoved into their eye socket!" Acknowledging what he said the commander began to explain to Henry the operating time and recovery estimate. Once the operation was complete Henry would be under full psychiatric watch to see how he was adjusting to the implant. She also explained how she would be closely monitoring his vitals daily and would visit to change the bandaging over his eye. "Commander i completely understand everything that you have just discussed and greatly appreciate your participation in the operation." As the time was growing nearer Commander Caskie responded and moved the conversation forward. "Very well Henry. We are ready to start. Are you willing for us to start now?" Henry nodded his head and spoke. "I am ready and willing. Let us begin." (reply Caskie, McGregor) (posted by Darryl McDaniel) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - QV - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 11.00) Detron entered QV to speak to Ariana. He thought this was a good time to tell her that her husband is dead. The downtime made it easy to take care of this kind of business and he had a warm connection to her so she can take it well. He took a seat at the bar and ordered a glass of Earl Grey with some of those tasty beetles to start. Ariana came out and placed his bowl of beetles along side the Earl Grey. She asked him why he was here. He hated to make her sad but she needed to be told the news. "I am here to inform you that Matt McClaren is no longer among the living. He died with honor fighting the Borg. I will sit and comfort you for as long as you need me to." She cried and agonized for a half hour or so then asked him to perform the Klingon Death Cry with her. He granted her request and instructed her to look up to the sky after he warns heaven of a warrior about to enter. She did as he told her to do. "Matt McClaren was a friend and warrior. I now warn those in heaven that Warrior McClaren is about to enter." Ariana knelt next to him as instructed the they both let out a savage wail necessary for the Klingon Death Cry. "GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" After the ceremony, Ariana felt much better. She thanked him for being considerate and sweet. He gave her a firm hug then finished his Earl Grey. He left QV satisfied with the outcome. (Reply None) (Posted by Edward) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starbase Geneva, Medical Waiting Area, SO, Ensign Eva Saint Jean, Day 7, 1400) Eva and Henry had hit it off fabulously on valentine's day and so they had become something of an item, that truthfully Eva didn't know would happen. Although if she were to be completely honest with herself, she supposed that she had always suspected that there had been a spark between them, ever since the first fateful kiss on New Year's Eve. She knew this because, now she was sitting in the waiting area, after being forbidden into the surgical ward despite her accolades and training, waiting for Henry to be released from his outpatient surgery which should have concluded almost an hour ago. ~Probably running diagnostics on the new cybernetic eye~ she thought to herself, although that didn't make her any less agitated with the wait. (reply Caskie, Jacobs) Daniel Greene ======================================================= (Starbase Geneva - O'Malley's Pub - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 13.00) Detron was told by other officers that the "Feed Deck" is the place to see the ship in progress of repair. He took that advice and entered O'Malley's Pub. Since they probably didn't have Gagh on the menu, he saw a nice sandwich combo platter that served his purpose. The waitress came over and asked for his drink choice. He ordered a Guinness Stout with a shot of Jameson on the side. He then placed his large sandwich combo order. He watched the Boudicca being repaired and saw that it was very near repaired. That was promising news to hear. The waitress brought his order and he dove in like the hungry warrior he was. He received looks like he was a monster with no manners. He ignored that and continued to eat the sandwich. The lunch was very enjoyable except for the nosy patrons like they never seen a Klingon eat before. He drained his Stout and ordered another. (Reply Anyone there) (Posted by Edward) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Axtis III, Axtis City, Klagth's Cabin, Lieutenant sg Sanok,1648) "Then tomorrow, I will seek an audience with the Council," said Ben, his voice filled with conviction. "You have the heart of a warrior, my friend. May Kahless be with you when you find the beast." Klagth lifted his mug in a salute to Ben. "Let's hope I'm smarter then the beast," said Ben as he looked at Sanok. "Of that, there is no doubt," said Sanok. "We must hope that you are more resourceful." Sanok knew they had no choice but to go the route of the ch'mok, but he didn't like it at all. Having once lived with his emotions, he could understand Ben's desire to risk his life to save Marah, but each phase was so dangerous, Ben could be killed at any moment. No, he didn't like it at all. (reply Soma iyw) (posted by Bob B.) ======================================================= (SB Geneva Classroom Wing - Lt. Cmdr Tom Jackson 2nd Officer / COPS Day 10 0900) Graduation day at last ! The course had been more involved than Jackson had originally imagined. The de-brief by SF counselors still left a bad taste in Tom's mouth. Still, LT. Carnak had done her job. Dahlia, his wife, pointed that out to him and hinted he might want to apologize to her. Eating crow was something Tom Jackson rarely did without great thought. Tom thought long and hard about Dahlia's 'suggestion' before realizing she was probably right. The course director, CAPT Carlisle, spoke briefly. He introduced the dignitaries and course staff as well as outlining the course for the guests of the graduates. Carlisle then gave each graduate their course diploma. As the last graduate accepted the diploma the group received a round of applause. Tom and Dahlia hugged. Tom Jackson made his way to Steve Matrix. They shook hands and chatted the way close friends do. "Nice job Steve" Tom said. (Reply: Steve) Their talk turned to their beloved Rose and her condition. Steve gave his friend and shipmate a detailed run down. (Reply: Steve) (Posted by: Bill W.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - ACSO - Personal Quarters/Temp CSO Office - LT (jg) Viskhard - 1417) “I don’t think any of us are up for that.” Tamblyn snickered, “Never the less, make sure you call it a day between 1500 and 1530 hours today. I have to get with Doctor Fisher about my physical. I keep dodging and re-schedualing my appointment with her. It’s about time I took the bull by the horns so to speak.” Visk's face split into his widest grin - which, for a denobulan, was quite wide. He chuckled, "Well, at least if we get blown into space you can be comforted be the fact that you were in good physical condition. Tamblyn shot him a look as he tapped his comm-badge “Lieutenant Tamblyn, for Doctor Fisher. I had a 1445 appointment for my physical, or should we re-schedual?” Visk just chuckled and let himself out of the CSO's office. He turned and made his way to the Science section of the ship. (reply none needed) (posted by Lori) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- CSO- Sick Bay- LT David M. Tamblyn- 1425) David walked into the sickbay and asked one of the aides to point him toward Doctor Fisher. When Tamblyn looks in the direction indicated, he couldn’t believe that Dr. Fisher was the same red head that he had been admiring from afar for the better part of a week. Tamblyn has a little laugh under his breath. All of his adult life some women seemed to make him nervous, and with others he could be as bold as the day is long. He had come close to ‘bumping’ into her, but he just couldn’t do it. Now…now he was going to be a breath’s distance away from her and he was having trouble getting his feet to move. Tamblyn would work hard not to admit it out loud to anyone except maybe to Fisher herself. It felt like minutes, but in actuallity it had only been 2 or 3 seconds. After taking one more deep breath to build up his courage, he started walking up to her. “Doctor Fisher, I presume?” David asked as he approached her, hand extended, hoping he looked and sounded more confident than he felt inside. (Reply Fisher) (Reply Fisher) (Posted Charlie Raschen) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Sickbay - CMO's Office - aCMO - Lt (sg) Katherine (Kitty) - Day 10 - 1430) To be honest Kitty, when she was Head Nurse, used to think that the CMO's, Josh included, sometimes used to use their office as somewhere to hide. Now, finally she knew the truth. It wasn't the quiet retreat that it looked. Truth be told it was a prison and one that once you entered, you never escaped from. There was always something else to do, something else to organise and something else that needed your undivided attention right that moment. Kitty had almost been sitting in this office for the last eight days non stop and it had been padd after padd after inventory after padd. ~No wonder Josh installed a replicator and a bed in here.~ she thought to herself. ~There is no escape.~ She was sitting at the desk reviewing all the padds regarding inventory, staff changes and appointments, supply updates, updates on wounded personell sent to Geneva, staff rotas and medical updates when her comm chirped. =/\= Lieutenant Tamblyn, for Doctor Fisher. I had a 1445 appointment for my physical, or should we re-schedule? =/\= Kitty literally pounced on her comm button and smiling replied all the while tapping away at the computer and finally noticing that the Lieutenant had rescheduled more than once.. "Not at all Lieutenant. I have you on my schedule for 1445 and I have kept that time free for your physical. I look forward to seeing you then. Fisher out." (Reply Tamblyn) Hitting the comm button Kitty stood up and did a little dance around the CMO's office. "I'm free, I'm free. I'm finally free. Even if it is for only an hour, I'm finally free." (Posted by Marilyn) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - ACSO - Main Science Lab - LT (jg) Viskhard - 1545) PADD in hand, Viskhard was crawling around and through yet to be installed equipment making notes. He had a tricorder in his other hand and was personally checking each exterior bulkhead. The metallurgy was checking out - for the most part - but Visk was taking no chances, his PADD had two columns, one for suspect bulkheads and one for a science department wish list. "Computer, what is the time?" [Shipboard time 1546] Visk clucked his tongue, Tamblyn had told him to quit by now - but he was almost done. ~Perhaps the Lieutenant isn't aware of my lack of need for sleep. I'll complete this and then see if I can get some holodeck time.~ Visk forged on, his lanky frame squeezing through some tight spots. (reply none needed, any IYW) (posted by Lori) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Axtis III, Axtis City, Lieutenant sg Sanok, 2143) It was the day after Ben appeared before the Council to call for the ch'mok, and Sanok had spent the day gathering supplies for the expedition. When Ben asked to speak, there had been grumblings throughout the crowd. When he announced his issue with Turok, there was nearly an uproar. Since Ben was not a residence of Axtis III, it was said that he had no right to claim ch'mok, but according to the Axtis laws, since Ben had competed in a tournament, he was permitted to make the claim. Sanok had to admit that he was amused at Turok's reaction. At first Turok was surprised, but once he learned Ben sought information from him, the Nausican became enraged. Shren had protested as well, but though the Council was surprised, they had no choice but to grant the request. Klagth had not explained it, but each hunter was allowed to have an aid go with him. The aid was similar to a squire for a Knight in ancient times. The aid could carry supplies and treat any wounds the hunter suffered, but he could give absolutely no help beyond that. In hunting the dagger beast, Ben was completely on his own. To insure fairness, two representatives from the Council went with each hunter. Sanok expected corruption, but it was agreeable to him to learn the Council was serious about this challenge being honorable and according to all the rules. Sanok had purchased what items he felt would be needed on the trek, and on his way back to the cabin, he encountered Shren. Stopping on the street, Sanok waited patiently while Shren glared at him. "You and your pink skin friend are playing a very dangerous game here." "Perhaps," said Sanok, "but it is our game to play." Shren snorted. "I don't know who you think you are, Vulcan dog. The two of you came here five years ago and interfered with what we had. You cost a lot of people a lot of money." "The Cardassian, Ekem, is the one that murdered Kavol," said Sanok. "It had nothing to do with Ben and me. Once a murder had been committed, Ben and I were obligated, as Starfleet officers, to take charge and investigate the crime. It is unfortunate that your... activities had been disrupted." Sanok tried to leave, but Shren moved to block his path. "If you think this is limited to just Turok and me, you're mistaken," said Shren, his antennae pointing towards Sanok. "You won't ruin things for us a second time." "I have no intentions of doing that. All we want is the information about Marah and we'll be gone, most likely to never return." Sanok tried to leave again, but Shren blocked him once more. "There's far more at stake here than your friend's Bajoran whore," said Shren. "I am sure there is, but none of that concerns me. Now, please stop blocking me. I wish to return to my cabin." Shren gave Sanok a hard look, his antennae twitched from side-to-side. "You've been warned, Vulcan dog." Sanok began walking away, and this time, Shren did not stop him. He wondered what that was all about. It was clear Turok wouldn't want to tell where he sent Marah, as he wanted revenge against her, but what was Shren's part in all this? Axtis III wasn't officially part of the Federation, though it was in UFP space. There was an unwritten agreement, that as long as certain rules were followed, and certain rules not broken, Starfleet left Axtis to itself. It would be easy for certain illicit activities to go unnoticed. Sanok could see why Shren would be nervous about two Starfleet officers being there. Whatever was happening, it was clear Sanok would need to watch both Ben's back and his own. He sensed, that even if Ben won the challenge, things would not go so easily. They would need to be more careful than they had ever been. (reply none) (posted by Bob B.) ======================================================= (Axtis III, Axtis City, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma - 0800) Ben had awaken that morning knowing that the next couple days could likely be his last. The Council had agreed to see him and he had invoked the ch'mok, Turok and Shren had argued that he wasn't allowed to extend the challenge but the Council elders had said his challenge was valid and Turok would have to abide by it and follow the challenge as anyone else. The time was set to leave later in the morning, this would give all a chance to gather required supplies and assemble thier respective parties. Each contestant was allowed to take one other person with them, this person would only serve as an observer and help carry the supplies, this person could not interfere no matter what happened. Ben had chosen Sanok and Turok had chosen Shren. The Elders would accompany them as well to ensure that the contest was fair and the contestants had no help in completing each phase. He couldn't help but wonder just what this dagger beast was like, Klagth had painted a rather crude picture of it a few nights ago. He got up, dressed and grabbed his duffel of supplies, then crossed to his room door opened it and stepped into the common area of the cabin. He ate a light breakfast and went out side to sit on the porch for a couple minutes. After about a minute had passed he heard movement inside the cabin. He stood and reentered the common area. "We're leaving in an hour for the highlands, now's your last chance to back out." Ben said. "I'm sure Klagth would accompany me if I asked him too." Ben knew his friend would not back out but if he was killed by the dagger beast he preferred not having Sanok watch and not being able to do anything about it. Sanok understood why he was doing this but likely didn't agree with the method. Ben didn't know any other way to get the information they required, he hoped he could triumph in the first two phases so he wouldn't have to fight Turok. The last time he faced a Nausican in unarmed combat he got the tar beaten out of him. Turok was close to Kavol's size and likely fought the same way, hopefully that would give Ben an advantage. (reply Sanok) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Axtis III, Axtis City, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma - 0855) Ben and Sanok had ensured that they had everything that they required before they left for the rendezvous with the elders. They had plenty of water and rations, Ben had his bow and arrows which he had made himself with Klagth's instruction for using the best wood for both. He had also fashioned some short spikes that he could use as daggers as well as a couple spears, he wanted a few options when facing the dagger beast. When both were satisfied they had everything they left the cabin and headed towards the city, thinking of the little settlement as a city was almost absurd. Axtis City was nothing more then an assemblage of cabins, a few shops and a tavern along with the arena. A town would have been a better description. Neither he nor Sanok said anything as they walked, neither was overtly fond of what Ben was doing but there weren't any other options. When they reached the center of the city they saw Turok and Shren standing with four others, Ben recognized two from the council chamber but the other two were new faces. Turok had taken the moniker of aide quite literally, Shren was carrying everything while he carried nothing. From what Ben could see Turok wasn't adequately prepared for the task, he saw no spears or any other weapons. Either Klagth had been exaggerating or Turok was over confident and wasn't taking the Dagger beast seriously. The group heard him and Sanok approach, Turok and Shren turned to look at them but said nothing while the council members and thier companions welcomed them. "Good morning to you both." One of the elders said. "My name is Matan, this is Ulrich and these are our honor guards." Matan turned to the honor guards one at a time. "This is Damok, he'll be joining our party while Valkar will join the others." He said indicating each. Matan must have noticed Ben sizing up the honor guards. "They are native Axtian's." He explained. "They keep to themselves most of the time but some of them help us from time to time." The Axtian's were tall and muscular, they wore simple cloaks that were sleeve less. Their skin pigmentation was fairly dark and looked tough, likely thicker then the average humanoid. They had what appeared to be mohawks, either that was natural or shaven Ben couldn't tell. Their hair was black and they also had a ridge running from their foreheads to the tip of their noses, they looked very formidable and made a fine choice to fill the role of honor guard. "Now I must insist we get moving." Matan continued. "We have a long way to go. We'll travel together until tomorrow evening when we'll split up, each group will head to separate locations for the hunt. The hunt will begin at sunrise on the second morning, we'll witness the hunt and record the time of the kills and the eating of the liver. We'll meet up again at the end of the day and compare results, if neither of you can be declared the victor we'll return to conduct the third phase of the ch'mok." Matan turned towards the honor guards and waved them on, the rest were left to follow. Ben allowed Shren and Turok to move ahead of them before turning to Sanok. "Sounds like fun. Kill a dagger beast and eat it's liver." He said. "I wonder what it'll taste like" (reply Sanok) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Axtis III, Axtis City, Lieutenant sg Sanok, 0900) Sanok and Ben left their cabin, arriving at the center of town. The representatives from the Council, their escorts, as well as Turok and Shren, were already there waiting. Turok was still fuming, and Shren, burdened with carrying all the supplies, glared at them. Sanok had decided to travel as lightly as possible, carrying everything in a backpack he had purchased. Matan, the Council representative, Introduced himself, the other Council member, and their escorts. Both Sanok and Ben were studying the escorts. "They are native Axtians," said Matan. "They keep to themselves most of the time, but some of them help us, from time to time." The tall and muscular Axtians wore simple cloaks that were sleeveless. Their skin was dark and appeared to be tougher and thicker than the average humanoid. Their hair was black and cut in a Mohawk. They had forehead ridges running to the tips of their noses. Axtis III had no truly native, sentient beings. These were the descendants of the first ones to settle the planet nearly 200 years ago. It was most agreeable that they were coming along, though they were there to protect the Council rep and not the hunter or the aid. Matan went on to explain what would be happening. The two groups would travel together the entire trip to the highlands, then the groups will go separate ways. This meant they would be spending a full night camping with Turok and Shren. Sanok was certain the Axtians would make sure nothing violent happened, but he would be wise to carefully keep watch as well. Before leaving their cabin, Ben had asked Sanok if he wanted to back out. Though Sanok no longer lived with his emotions, he had almost frowned. It was inexplicable to him that Ben would say such a thing. Oh, Ben was probably asking for the benefit of Sanok's safety, but it was almost an insult that he had. Nothing would have kept him from Ben's side, and he made sure his friend understood that. When the talking had been completed, it was time to go. The escorts led the way, followed by the Council reps, then Turok and Shren. Ben turned to Sanok. "Sounds like fun. Kill a dagger beast and eat it's liver. I wonder what it'll taste like." "I can only imagine," said Sanok. He began following the group, yet another adventure about to begin. (reply Soma iyw) (posted by Bob B.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Starfleet Academy - Shuttle Deck - Departure Bay 03, Gantry 011 - Ensign Joshua Amundsen - 1400) The newly promoted Ensign did as Admiral Jopek had so easily ordered and found his way to the Shuttle Deck of the Academy and made his way to the Departure Bay. So much had still been the same, from stories he had heard from other Academy graduates. You were flocked like a herd of cattle from station to station, given and confirmed your transfer orders and shipped on to your next destination. Just like cattle to a slaughterhouse. The shuttles departures had been like clockwork, two shuttles every ten minutes and two more on standby, and so forth, until every graduate and staff member left the deck. The shuttle had been a bumpy ride. The pilot, none too sure of himself and shaky at the helm. Ensign Amundsen, albeit a Science officer, indeed preferred the helm rather than his assigned duties. Sure, Science officers were the bread and butter of Starfleet but a helmsman gained prestige wherever he went, what maneuvers he could pull off, and new ones pulled right out of the proverbial hat. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Docking Bay - Ensign Joshua Amundsen - 1425) ~That was the roughest ride I have ever been on; no wonder why the pilot is still performing taxi duties~ he thought to himself. Amundsen proceeded post haste to the Bridge of the mammoth starship. Doors and hatches at almost every corner. This surely had to be one of the largest in the fleet. Several decks and corridors devoted entirely to Science and other fields all at one time, massive corridors and turbolifts to boot. Surely the pride of Starfleet, and he had hoped his career would serve him, the ship and the crew well. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Ensign Joshua Amundsen - 1430) As the lift doors had opened, he stumbled out of the lift and struck his nose against one of them. It was not until he had punched up the Captains ready room door chime, that he had realized the crimson river flowing from his nose. By then, he just had to hope that his new Captain, would not mind a little blood on the carpet. (Reply from Captain Durand) (Posted By Joshua) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Durand - 1432) Alan had been back on duty for some time now, and was shuffling through the never ending minutiae that command required. It *almost* made him want to ask BuPERS for the yeoman to which he was entitled as CO, but only almost. ~The day I can’t handle my own duties is the day I hang it up...~ But it would make things easier by an order of magnitude. The door chime sounded and brought him back to the here and now. He called out “Enter,” and a fresh young face stepped through the door. Average height, brown hair and blue eyes. What stood out? He gave the immediate impression that he *worked* for a living, not something you see in every newly minted Ensign. Of course, neither do you see them report to the Captain with a bloody nose, either. Durand stared openly for a moment, then yielded to the practicality of the situation. He rose quickly from his desk and retrieved a small hand towel from the vanity in the corner of the room, and handed it to the new officer. “Mister Amundsen, I presume?” (Reply Amundsen) “Hmm. I suggest, Ensign, that you pinch the fleshy part of your nose hard with that cloth, and have a seat.” (Reply Amundsen) Durand walked to the replicator and ordered a small ice pack, which he then handed to Amundsen. “Try that ice as well.” He glanced with a touch of disdain at the bloodstain on the carpet then almost smiled, instead stopping with a visible twinkle in his eye as he took his seat once again. “When you get that settled, perhaps you’d like to formally report in?” (Reply Amundsen) (Posted by Russ) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Axtis III, Wilderness, Lieutenant sg Sanok, 2100) The trip through the Axtis wilderness had not been something Sanok would have chosen to do. He wasn't much of an outdoors type, so he hadn't appreciated having to deal with everything they encountered there. It was early spring on Axtis, so the weather was cool, and colder at night. The one advantage he did have, was the local insect population wasn't interested in his green, copper-based blood. Six of the eight men were sitting around a campfire that one of the natives built. After that, he and his compatriot went to do some scouting, to make sure the area was safe. Sanok volunteered to take one of the night watch shifts, and the two Axtians, after some discussion, agreed to allow it. At camp, conversation was almost non-existent. Mostly, it consisted of growls from Turok and glares from Shren. Sanok had also marveled at how uncouth Nausicans could be, both in their eating habits, and in their displays of expelling gas after eating. It would be most agreeable to him once the ch'mok was completed and they were away from Axtis III. There was something Sanok had decided to do, and nothing would change his mind. Once his group encountered a dagger beast and Ben was dealing with it, if it was clear that Ben was going to be killed, Sanok would intervene. He fully realized this was a violation of the rules, that Ben would forfeit his challenge, and they would be banned forever from Axtis. It would also seriously hinder their chances of finding Marah, not to mention causing Ben to be angry at Sanok. However, Sanok did not care about any of that. What purpose would it serve for Ben to be killed by a local predator, even if Sanok would be able to find Marah himself one day? How could he go to Ben's parents and tell them their son was dead? They would want to know what happened. They would want to know why he hadn't stepped in and saved their son. Then there was Captain Salid. Though Ben's death would have happened while on leave and off duty, how could Sanok face their captain and tell him the story? According to Federation law, there wouldn't be anything for which Sanok could be charged, as he would have been abiding by the local laws of Axtis. Still, there would be something unspoken between them. Once the rest of the crew learned of what would have happened, how would they feel about him? Could they ever trust him as Chief of Security to do his duty and protect them and the ship? There was nothing to decide. The logic was sound. If Ben was about to die, Sanok would fight with everything in him to save his friend. A rustling in the trees brought Sanok out of his reverie. Someone, or something, was coming. Everyone looked as the two Axtians returned to the camp. Without a word, they didn't speak much, they nodded to Matan, and sat at the fire. One of them had a small animal, similar to a squirrel, that he began preparing for a meal. They would be having fresh meat, while Sanok and Ben were eating Starfleet emergency rations, which was just fine with Sanok. Minutes passed with the only sounds being the preparing of the animal, when a cry in the distance was heard. It started as a low growl, moving up the scale to a high-pitched screech, increasing in volume. It was an eerie sound, as though it was the combination of some ethereal spirit and the scratching of one's nails on an old-fashioned chalkboard. "Are you scared, pink skin?" chided Shren. "That's a dagger beast. It could be coming for you." He and Turok laughed. Matan chuckled. "The beast is far away. We will be safe, for tonight." Sanok glanced at Ben. He disliked this more now than he had before. (reply Soma iyw) (posted by Bob B.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Axtis III, Wilderness, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma, 2103) The trek through the Axtis wilderness was taxing, they had to contend with insects, various obstacles and scrapes from the foliage. Sanok seemed to be the only member of the party that was immune to the insect attacks. Ben was enjoying the outdoors just the same, it reminded him of camping trips with his parents. If it weren't for the relentless insects he'd enjoy it much more. Every so often he noticed the natives rubbing some for of salve on their exposed skin, it appeared to ward of the bugs for a while. He walked over to them and asked if he could test the repellent and Damok offered him a small leather pouch filled with the stuff. Turok and Shren seemed to ignore the insects and everyone else, they kept to themselves but every so often they would glare at him and Sanok. They didn't enjoy the trip either. When it began getting dark Matan suggested they set up camp for the night. Once they had everything set up the natives left the site, things grew quiet and Ben sat down after doing a little scouting in the immediate area. Sanok had volunteered to stand watch, Ben had also offered but it was decided that he should rest instead. He didn't argue, instead he picked out a comfortable spot and nibbled at a ration. Some time later something came rustling through the under brush and the natives stepped into the small clearing with a squirrel like animal and began to clean it. Then a cry broke through the sounds of preparation, a low growl at first and then it built in pitch and volume. It was an eerie and disturbing sound, when it reached it's climax it was almost deafening. Ben wondered what could make such a noise, was the creature dying. "Are you scared, pink skin?" chided Shren. "That's a dagger beast. It could be coming for you." He and Turok laughed. Ben expected as much from their companions. Matan chuckled. "The beast is far away. We will be safe, for tonight." Sanok glanced at Ben. "Now we know what it sounds like." Ben said. (reply any, none required) (posted by Milo Young) ======================================================= (Axtis III, Highlands, CTAC Lt. sg Ben Soma, 0600) Ben had awakened and ate a meager breakfast consisting of a ration and some local berries, he meditated for a few minutes clearing his mind and preparing himself for the task at hand. The evening before the party had split up and gone their separate ways. As they neared the highlands Ben noticed deep scratches in the trees and a fowl odor, Matan had noticed as well and described that they had entered the beasts range and this was it's way of marking it's territory. Ben couldn't help but wonder if the dagger beasts claws could do that to a tree what would they do to his skin. The marks appeared to be several inches deep. Now the time had come, the hunt was about to begin. Ben inspected his array of primitive weapons, his bow and arrows, his spears and his spikes. He slung the bow over his head and shoulder, picked up the spikes and fed them into a belt which he placed around his waste and he picked up his spears. It was still fairly dark though the horizon was beginning to glow. Matan was also preparing for the hunt, he made note of the conditions. It had rained a little during the night, droplets of water fell from the vegetation and the ground was damp, though it did appear as if it were going to be a nice day. A warm breeze seemed to follow the growing light. "Once the sun breaks over the hill we will begin the hunt." Matan said. "I wish you luck." "Thank you." Ben said. "I have a feeling I'll need it." Damok moved to stand before Ben, he placed his right had on Ben's head and spoke a few words in his own language and then placed both hands on Ben's shoulders and spoke a few more. Ben had no idea what the Axtian was doing or saying. Damok then continued to move his hands over Ben's arms and legs, chest and back. Once he was finished he bowed to Ben and then moved away. "He was blessing you." Matan explained. "He asked the gods to watch over you during your hunt, to help guide you and keep you safe." Ben turned to Damok and bowed. "Thank you." Ben said. Turning to Sanok he said. "Looks like this is it." A short time later Matan announced it was time. The sun had broken the horizon. The small party moved off with Ben in the lead, he had his bow at the ready. He made his way through the foliage, he made little noise thanks to the rain from the previous night. Eventually he came to a clearing, he crouched for a couple minutes as he visually scanned his surroundings. Then he heard it, off to the left. Something was coming towards the clearing, judging from the crunching of the underbrush it wasn't small. Sanok no doubt heard before any of them, his Vulcan hearing was a good asset and one Ben envied. He drew his bow and aimed in the direction of the sounds, moments later the beast entered the clearing. Klagth's description had been lacking in many aspects. The dagger beast was larger then any lion or tiger he'd ever seen in video, it easily stood a meter and a half and measured over three not counting the tail which was almost two meters long. It's name "Dagger Beast" was well earned. A ridge of bony spikes extended from from it's fore shoulders down it's spine to the base of it's tail, each spike just a little shorter then the previous one. The thick power full tail ended in a lump containing four spikes, two on each side. It's fur was dark gray and appeared very coarse and dense. The dagger beast stopped on the edge of the clearing and rose it's head, it's nostrils flared as it scented the air. It lowered it's head and pinned it's ears back before opening it's mouth to reveal it's dagger like teeth which reminded Ben of pics he'd seen of the extinct saber tooth cat. It let out and ear piercing shriek before turning in the parties direction. It stopped shrieking but continued to growl and Ben looked on as it extended it's razor sharp claws and watched as they cut into the ground, it pulled it's head back revealing another collar of deadly spikes around it's neck. Ben took aim once again and let the arrow fly, the slight hiss of the bow string was enough to alert the beast to danger and it turned to leap back into the under brush. Ben missed his intended target but managed to strike the beast in the right hind quarter. The dagger beast howled and dove into the brush as Ben released another arrow just before it disappeared. Another howl and the sound of crunching under brush was all that was heard. Ben removed another arrow and stepped carefully into the clearing, the dagger beast might still be nearby or it could be long gone. Either way he wasn't taking any chances. He moved to where the beast had been standing, he could see indentations in the earth where it had stood. He moved towards the under brush where the beast had disappeared, there was some blood on the ground as well as some of the foliage. He had a trail to follow. He slowly stepped into the underbrush to follow the trail of blood. (reply Sanok) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- End Compile ---------------------------------------------------------------------