<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-2ee5ea44-7fff-56ca-17f0-5a8843ef144d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Mission: The Tholian Brief</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Day:1</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Stardate: 2446.09.10</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">(Starbase Freedom - Level 11 - Main Medical Center- SFI - Lt. Michael Weston - 1257)</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The conversation was light and welcoming for Michael.  The last month had been far too full of tension, but the cause of all that tension was never far from his mind, and he seemed to drift off in thought periodically.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">“I think Michael needs rest,” Quinna suggested to the others.  “Why don’t you two step out with me.”  She turned to Michael and said.  “I will be right back.  Don’t go anywhere.”  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">“Where would I go?” he asked.  “I’ll see you two later.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Taylor put a hand on Michael’s shoulder, “I’ll be close, Cap’n.  See you soon.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Michael smiled and put his hand on top of Andy’s, “Thanks for coming.”  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">They all left, leaving Michael by himself.  He lay back and closed his eyes trying to make sense of the memories of the explosion as they came to him.  The vision Carir came back to him.  If that really was her it could not mean anything good.  And how was she involved in all of this with the brief.  It was beyond what she was capable of.  </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The door opened and Quinna returned.  “I am back and I gave the other two something to do so we can be alone.”  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Michael looked at her inquisitively, “Really?  Andy and Trei?  That should be an interesting pair up.   If he gets into trouble with her at least he can blow her up.”  He patted the side of the bed and scooted over to make room for her to sit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">“So tell me about the last month.  What have I missed?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">(Reply Solice)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">(Posted by Al Muir)</span></p><br></span></div>