Earth

===============================
Mission: Revelations
Mission Day: -4
===============================

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starfleet Academy - Shuttle Port - Shuttle Avenger - ACSO - Ensign (jg) Dr. Kyle Rin - 16:00) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The shuttlecraft seemed to have taken quite a beating from the scorch marks 
on the side. From what Admiral LoDona had told him this was the shuttle that 
would take him to his new command post onboard the USS Boudicca as Asst.

Chief Science Officer. Kyle rubbed his hand and boarded the shuttle upon

reaching the bridge he noticed there was nobody else aboard only a padd 
resting on the command console. He picked it up and read through it:

"Dear Kyle i'm sorry we didn't have time to bump into each other, but i 
pulled some strings and the admiral allowed me to give you command of the 
avenger for it's flight to the Boudicca enjoy my old friend."

Jason Vill

Tears began to run down his face as he set down the padd he wiped his face 
clean and took his seat.

"Ensign Rin to Shuttleport One requesting clearence for departure" He tapped 
the console hailing frequency.

While in turn closed the shuttle doors and prepared the shuttle's course for 
Starbase Geneva.

"Ensign Rin this is Starfleet Command you are cleared for departure proceed 
to Starbase Geneva at once we are told Captain Sevant awaits your arival. 
Starfleet Out"

Kyle powered up the shuttlecraft's engines and began to feel the 
shuttlecraft liftoff he peered through the window as the ground began to

shrink from his view. The sunlight entering the cabin also began to shrink 
from view as the shuttlecraft exited earth's atmosphere there was nothing 
much around now only the endless night of space. Kyle activated the warp

drive and entered in the final course for Starbase Geneva the last thing he 
saw was millions of stars stretch-out as he entered warp 4.4 .


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starfleet academy commencement room, Ensign (JG) Ryko Skylynx, 1200) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ryko waited anxiously for his transfer papers to be confirmed by the clerk. He was anxious to get aboard the Boudicca and begin his duties. 
"Everything seems to be in order," the clerk said as he handed the PADD back to Ryko. "You have all of your stuff?" 
"Right here," Ryko said, indicating 1 large container. 
"There is something wrong, though," the Clerk answered. 
"What?" 
"The Bouddica is currently in quarantine because of a nanite infestation." "Is it safe to beam up?" Ryko inquired, dreading the possible answer. "We can beam up your belongings, but you'll have to wait for clearance from the captain to beam up. Several places have been cleansed so it shouldn't take too long. You can wait, if you like." "Got nowhere better to go, closed up my dorm before I came out here." "Okay, the next scheduled beam-up time is 1700 hours. I'll call you in then." "Okay," Ryko said, and seated himself. He watched as his belongings were moved onto a cargo transporter and beamed up to the ship. He sat down and sighed. 
The waiting game had begun.


=============================
Mission: Revelations, Day 1
Stardate: 2406.06.30
=============================


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Boudicca, MCO's Office, Major Straton & Lt Major Drizzt, 1256) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eva cursed again as she tried to navigate the ocean of paper work that the corp  required.  There was a lot more to being a Marine CO than just directing ones  soldiers in combat.  The logistics of keeping a full company of marines out  fitted, fed, housed, and trained could be daunting at times.  Luckily, Eva had  several noncom's to help with the everyday paperwork, but there was still some  stuff that she had to do herself.  The door buzzer sounded suddenly drawing her  attention. "Come," She called out, still looking at her terminal. "Major Drizzt reporting for duty, Major Straton!" 
Eva looked up at the Andorian standing at attention in front of her desk.  She took  the PADD he offered her and looked at it briefly before tossing it down onto her  desk. "At ease Major," She said, then motioned toward the seat positioned in front of  her desk.  "Take a seat Spider. We need to talk." 

~Ah, Serious time. Figured.~

He nodded his head, and took the pro-offered seat. "Hit me with it, Boss." he  said, in deceptively light tones.

Eva deactivated her terminal before leaning back into a more comfortable position.

"I take it you've noticed the number of marines we got on this boat? Well it gets  better.  Other than your CE squad none of these marines
know any of the others.   Most of them haven't even seen any action yet.
That's a lot of green marines we  need to season and season fast or we're gonna have a lot of dead marines on our  hands, and we only have two weeks to get it done."

Spider's eyebrow, thin and white near to the point of non-existence, quirked up in  an uncontrolled gesture. He cleared his throat, "The Helldeck will be running  24/7."

He frowned, then, "We have a company, I do hope we have at least a few trained  chiefs and squad chiefs?"

Eva nodded.  "Yes it will be, and we do have a few veteran chiefs, but not enough.  Two of our platoon leaders are green.  This is there first assignment.  There is also the matter of the quasi-civil war.  I arranged to have you assigned  as my MXO.  We're gonna get some very crucial mission and I need to know I can trust my XO.  We need to find any lurkers in the ranks and weed them out.  I don't like this idea of going up against our own, but we have little choice in the matter. We'll have to train for that eventually as well.  I want your CE's ready to go in a moments notice."

"Hence we are trained," he said philosophically, "They will be on constant alert." Without waiting, he tapped his badge, "Drizzt to CE's, Standing Alert, Half the squad awake at all hours starting now."

It would get grumbles, they men hadn't slept in three days. But they were combat Engineers, and they were Marines. They had been made in the God of Combat's deadly image, to multiply and be fruitful. And they
*would* be fruitful. 

"Is the full complement aboard?"

"Yes, and it's been hell finding quarters for them all.  They're crammed in tight."  
Eva sighed before continuing. "We can't hesitate Spider.  When we finally have to go up against some of our own.  We can NOT hesitate. None of us can.  We're gonna have to be just as steady as if they were Romulans, or the Borg.  I want you t draw up training scenarios.  Half defending this ship against boarding forces.  Star Fleet and non-Star Fleet.  The other half capturing a heavily defended enemy ship.  Again half Star Fleet Half not.  You have free reign to be creative.  I'm gonna talk to the TAC\SC and see about having them train with us defending the ship, so prepare for it."

Spider nodded in approval. "Give me a day to create scenarios, but until then..." his grin was predatory, "It's time for the men to meet each other." 

He turned serious again, and cocked his head to the side. "We are in a mess, Boss. This is a master cluster-f*ck, and there is no way out." He took a breath, "With your permission, I will see about rounding up the troops. We haven't time to spare."

"One last thing," Eva said, opening a desk drawer.  She pulled out a PADD and tossed it toward Spider.  "They men might call me a cold bitch, I'm use to it, I want them prepared for every eventuality.  That PADD has a few training scenarios I drew up while enroute to Geneva.  Let them see the dead faces of those they've killed.  Dead human, Vulcan, Andorian, Tellarite, Betazed.  I want them use to idea before they have to face it for real."

The Andorian looked at the PADD, then looked back up. "I agree, the reality will have to wash into them, and the sooner the better." His face was grave, "It appears we are working together again, and it couldn't have been in more dire times."

Eva nodded agreement.  "I got your back Spider.  Make sure you got mine. We'll need each other before this mess is through."

"Without a doubt." He nodded, "You have me at my best, I will ensure the Marines operate under the same conditions."

~And, pray, that it is enough.~

Eva nodded, allowing a small smile to touch her face.  She rose from her desk.

"Let's go meet the troops," She said stepping around the desk and heading out main marine staging area.  She nodded toward the Master chief who was over seeing equipment matinence.

"Round 'em up Chief," Eva said taking her place Spider at her side as the Chief yelled for the Marines to fall in.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Boudicca - Marine Staging Center - Lt Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 1310) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spider looked over at Straton, then back at the Marines once the entire company had been assembled. His arms were crossed as his antenna were twitching, there was a lot of emotion floating around the room, one didn't have to be a telepath to feel it. And he had been given carte blanche on training them, as fast as possible, and making them a cohesive unit. 

He had been given worse assignments before, but none popped immediately to mind. He thinned his lips, looked over at the MCO, then gave a nod to the Chief of the Deck. The Master Gunny stepped forward, and bellowed, "Marines, Ateeeeeeeeenshun!"

The Andorian stepped forward, hands behind his back, and started walking the line. He did not pause, but his eyes were constantly moving as he slowly walked from one end of the assembled troopers to the other. He stopped at the opposite end, then turned on his heel and began walking back, slowly."

"I am Lt Major Drizzt, known as Spider to my friends. None of you qualify yet, so you will address me either as Major or Sir. I am the Marine Exec, and I am also the Chief Combat Engineer and CE Trainer. But as far as you are concerned, for the next several weeks I am the Angel of Death Himself... here to teach you all the necessary skills to become good and faithful servants to my cause, the defense of the Federation."

He stopped, then turned and looked at all the men assembled. "You are graduates of Paris Island, some of you have even been in the Marines for a while now. I will not baby you, I am not here to teach you your job. You know the rules by the book, but I am here to teach you one more. I have only one real rule in the Marines I command, one that I will hang you by your toe nails if you fail to abide. There will be Unit Integrity!"

He looked at the faces, his own face a mask. "Look at the men and women around you. Now."

With confusion, and growing apprehension, the Marines looked about at each other. Spider waited about ten seconds, then continued, "Get used to these faces, boys and girls. I want you to bond, I want you all to know the maiden name of each other Marines' Mothers before two weeks is up. You will train together, you will sleep together, you will eat together, and you will fight together. If you go drinking, you do it as a group. If you have to use the restroom, they will stand there and keep you company. If you happen to get in a bar-brawl down in ten-forward, gods help the Marine that isn't at his comrades back! I. Will. Have. Frellin. Unit. Integrity!"

The Andorian's passionate voice carried, and the myriad of promises and threats that his tone conveyed were not lost even on the most dense trooper. 

"We have two weeks to get our outfit together, and most of you are green. even those that aren't green know that we have 200 Marines in the same spot, most of which have never worked together before. Boys and girls, our lives are all dependent upon each other, we cannot afford to be strangers."

He took a couple steps forward, "I am directly in charge of your training, for the next couple weeks. I am going to work you, I am going to be unfair, I am going to make you hate me with every gut you have in your systems. And I will relish every moment of it. You will be drilled hard, you will wish for both your mothers and the easy times you had in hell-week during your trials at Paris." 

Spider grinned, "I am a sadist, I will take pleasure in your grumbling, I will sing with the highest joy at every groan and curse I hear. I do this because the more you bleed in training, the more you hate me for everything I am and everything I made you do during training, the more likely it is you will survive when disruptor blasts and phasers are fired at you. I will mould you all into my deadly image, and then I will set you free to burn, as you are meant to do."

He stepped back again, "And the distinction between friend and foe has become muddled, you will also have to learn how to use your heads. More will be discussed on that, at a later time, once I am convinced that you are more then pre-animate pond scum."

Spider took a breath, and looked at the squads. "In the mean time, Fall out to receive BDU and training weapons, we have training to accomplish. Move!"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Engineering -  Ensign Saim Enaj - 1420) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saim made her way to engineering where she ran into a busy Bolian. 
"Hi, you look busy.  Do you want some help?"
 
"Right now I need my tools" the Bolian said looking around, "I was ordered to work with the Marines"
 
"What do you want me to do?"
 
"I don't know, If my shuttle sensor plan is accepted I may need your help configuring the shuttles."
 
Smiling Saim engaged her fellow in friendly small talk.
"So how long were you aboard before this minor emergency started?"
 
"Not long, If you excuse me I have to get to the Marine Deck. Perhaps we can talk later?"
 
"Alright then."  The Bolian then left.  Saim thought this was a bit brupt and rude but then again he might just be busy.  Saim shrugged her shoulders and got on with some basic diagnostic work and getting to grips with engineering.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACEO Ensign Mirt Rolnn - 1429) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sevant turned his attention to the magnifier as the matter was once again described. His face was a mask, but he was not a happy man. He wrapped his arms behind him and turned his attention once again to the speaking officers, in time to notice Grailik and one officer he didn't yet recognize exit a Jeffries tube. He gestured quietly to listen, and turned his attention back. 

Once it was over, Grailik moved around the small group of officers and said,  "So, The Ensign brought his science project with him eh?"  

He then tapped his badge, "Grailik to engineering.  Erect a level 10 containment field around the warp core and cloaking device 
immediately,"


=/\=Level 10 containment field established.=/\= 

"If these buggers get into the warp core we'll all be sucking vacuum, Oh Captain Sevant, allow me to introduce Ensign Rolnn Mirt reporting aboard as ACEO," 

Sevant turned his attention briefly to the ACEO, "We will do this more officially once this issue has been resolved. In the mean time, welcome aboard."

"Glad to be here sir" Mirt responded

 "These are Star Fleet design," The FO said suddenly,  "Sigma 9 series if I'm not mistaken.  The same type used in Marine BDU armor.

Sevant looked back over, and frowned as he looked at them. He knew Marine weapons, and once pointed out, enough of the underlying technology that made it up. Security BDU's didn't have the same Nanite repair system as Marine armor, it wasn't something he had actively run across since the Academy. He peered at it, and individual characteristics became apparent. "Modified then," he finally said. 
"They
were programmed not to hop their programmed BDU's."

He turned to Mirt, "Have someone contact a Marine Armorer, or the closest thing we have aboard, they are well trained in the control of these things. At the very least, they should know how to put a stop to their own gear." He frowned, "Mr Sparek and Enaj are already at work, catch yourself up on their efforts once you have finished with the Marines."

"Yes sir" he answered. ~working with the marines, who discovered that law again, Murphy?~

"Any other problems, or concerns?"
 
"Yes sir, If you could look into my idea about getting a shuttle modified with better sensor equipment perhaps we could scan the hull for weaknesses more efficiently"
 
(reply Sevant, or anyone else)

He then stepped out into the corridor and went to the turbolift. "Computer, main engineering" He said and the computer beeped and began moving. ~Good to see this one works~
 
=/\= Ensign Rolnn to Major Drizzt =/\=
 
(reply Drizzt)
 
=/\= The nanites that are in the ship are similar to those used in your BDA armor =/\=
 
(reply Drizzt)
 
=/\= Right, BDU, sorry. Anyway if you could have someone check out the stuits to see if there is anything wrong with them. And how to possiably to disable them =/\=
 
(reply Drizzt)
 
=/\= Thank you, I will be down there shortly =/\=
 
The turbolift came to a halt and Mirt stepped outside and into main engineering. He didn't have time to stay around to explore, he grabbed a pack of tools and a tricorder and went back to the turbolift. "Computer, deck 13" He ordered and bagan to move. ~Nanites are machines and they need power just as everything else~ He thought to himself. ~The warp core has too much power flowing through it and so does most of the ships power distribution conduits. Where would be the safest source of power be?~
 
=/\= Ensign Rolnn to Major Drizzt, sorry to bother you again =/\=
 
(reply Drizzt)
 
=/\= Well, if also you could have your marines check their weapons for any problems as well, I have a feeling the power packs may be empty =/\=
 
(reply Drizzt)
 
=/\= Thank you, Ill try not to call you again. =/\=


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Marine Training Holodeck (Helldeck) - Lt Major Drizzt -
1423) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't give a flying girt if he hit your helmet!" The Andorian reached forward, grabbed the re-breather gear on the helmet, and yanked the Marine forward so they could be face to face. "If you step out of line again, if you even THINK about sacrificing a squad-member like you just did, I will eat your liver for dinner and save your eyes for a memento. Do I make myself perfectly clear, private?"

"Crystal Sir!"

Drizzt let go of the troopers helmet and looked at the squads as a whole, "I don't care WHAT excuses you might care to think up, for there are none. I have seen more coordination in a wild troop of kindergartners then I just did out of 24 trained defenders of the Federation! Perhaps I should throw you people into the ship's school so you can learn about team-work again!"

The MXO was a walking bag of blue-skinned fury as he stood before the two squads in the Helldeck. The situation wasn't as bad as he made it out, but they didn't have time to break any ice... These men and women had to start functioning as a well oiled unit within mere weeks. It typically took months to get the kind of coordination and comradery that he was looking for. 

Spider waved his hand and barked, "Bah!" as he turned to face the arch. He pushed a couple buttons, and the battlefield reverted itself, this time into the most rocky terrain he could find in the training deck without programming it himself. "We are going to do it again, and then again, until you people resemble a Starfleet Marine Unit, instead of a school for ballerinas. Take your positions, frontal assault!"

The squad sergeants and Chiefs started barking orders, and the Marines themselves couldn't have scattered faster he if he lugged a grenade into their midst. Just before they were in position, Spider yelled out "Computer begin program!"

Some of the Marines were still out of hiding when the disruptor beams started firing. One fell immediately to fire, a 'casualty'. The genius of these particular Holodeck programs was that all observers were kept invisible from the troopers. Those that were 'slain' in combat immediately went invisible, so they could stand and observe, while the Holodeck created a perfect replica of their body in all it's blasted and bloody glory for the Marines to work around. Casualties were a fact of life, and as the MCO had said, they had to get used to the look of dead bodies in a hurry.

The Andorian, invisible and mute to the troopers as they fought on, crossed his arms and watched. None of them were foolish, and they were all trained to the same exacting standard. If he had more time, he could make them into a first rate Company. In two weeks, he wasn't sure what he could accomplish. 

=/\= Ensign Rolnn to Major Drizzt =/\=
 
The Andorian kept a growl from his voice only with supreme willpower. "Marine Exec here."
 
=/\= The nanites that are in the ship are similar to those used in your BDA armor =/\=
 
The Major frowned, "BDU, Ensign. Battle-dress Uniform."

~Nanites?~
 
=/\= Right, BDU, sorry. Anyway if you could have someone check out the suits to see if there is anything wrong with them. And how to possibly to disable them =/\=
 
"Indeed I can, but I will require an explanation..."
 
=/\= Thank you, I will be down there shortly =/\=
 
The connection cut, leaving the Andorian confused. He tapped his badge, "Drizzt to Straton, are you aware of a problem with our suits, or anything involving Nanites? I just got the strangest request from an ensign I don't even know about them.

(reply: Straton)
 
=/\= Ensign Rolnn to Major Drizzt, sorry to bother you again =/\=
 
"Go ahead, Ensign" he said in quick reply.
 
=/\= Well, if also you could have your marines check their weapons for any problems as well, I have a feeling the power packs may be empty =/\=
 
"Very well, I will certainly require an explanation on this. Make your way to my office immediately."
 
=/\= Thank you, Ill try not to call you again. =/\=
 
The line was once again cut, leaving Drizzt in the middle of a mock-battle, which had progressed only a little since he left. He looked at one of the dead troopers, a Gunnery Sergeant, "Keep an eye on them, Gunny."

"Yessir."

The Andorian tapped his badge as he made his way outside the helldeck. "Drizzt to all Marine Armorer's, begin a routine check of all BDU and weapon systems. Concentrate on the Nanite repair systems, then work out."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - SickBay - OPS, Lt Yalta Schafio - 1430) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yalta listened to the Doctor explication about what was going on.  She didn't like this has much has everyone in the room.  She also gave a look at what they were dealing with.  Lucky that those little buggers weren't attacking people.  She also heard that the marines had been called, it wasn't going to be pretty.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Marine Deck - MXO's Office - 1430) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"enter" the Andorian said, his voice uncharacteristically deep. He looked up, and noted an officer He had never before seen. He looked over at the Armorer, who was looking at a PADD with some of the info downloaded very recently, and then back at his own desk. "Have a seat Ensign, we have many things to discuss."

(reply: Mirt)

Spider took another glance at the screen, and folded His hands together as his antenna twitched. "I have only gotten the most cursory examination of the information available to the Senior staff, namely I've looked at the nanites themselves, and I've had our Master Armorer look at them as well." He looked up at the ensign, "And we are both certain that these nanites were once a Marine design."

"Sigma tens, though, not nines as reported." interjected the Armorer. "Very close structurally, I'm surprised a non-marine caught on at all." He stood, and put the PADD he was holding down on the desk, "The tens are made for Ironman armor, they have more versatility even then the nines for standard EVO-C"

The Andorian took the break with grace, this was the Armorer's area of expertise after all, and Drizzt had called him in for that expertise. "They are also altered, we have noticed that much, BDU nanites are programmed with no less then ten safety protocols that make sure they don't jump from suit-to-environment. These are deconstructing local materials, like they should if repairing armor."

Spider leaned back in his chair, "So what enemies have we got, that would know how to reverse engineer Marine bugs to destroy anything in site? I don't know, I can't help you there. However, I can put a good sized portion of the Armorer's at the Engineers and Scientists disposal. Gunny Lewis here will be your liaison." He gestured to the Master Armorer, who was now looking at a second PADD, and not appearing to pay any obvious attention. However, the Gunny nodded and said, "I would be happy too help, Ensign."

(reply: Mirt, any)

"If there are any other questions, Ensign, I will be immediately available."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - MXO's Office - ACEO Ensign Mirt Rolnn - 1432) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"enter" the Andorian said, his voice uncharacteristically deep. He looked up, and noted an officer He had never before seen. He looked 
over
at the Armorer, who was looking at a PADD with some of the info downloaded very recently, and then back at his own desk. "Have a seat Ensign, we have many things to discuss."

"Yes sir" Mirt said as he sat down and looked at the two marines in the room.

Spider took another glance at the screen, and folded His hands together as his antenna twitched. "I have only gotten the most cursory examination of the information available to the Senior staff, namely I've looked at the nanites themselves, and I've had our Master Armorer look at them as well." He looked up at the ensign, "And we are both certain that these nanites were once a Marine design."

"Sigma tens, though, not nines as reported." interjected the Armorer. "Very close structurally, I'm surprised a non-marine caught on at all." He stood, and put the PADD he was holding down on the desk, "The tens are made for Ironman armor, they have more versatility even then the nines for standard EVO-C"

The Andorian took the break with grace, this was the Armorer's area of expertise after all, and Drizzt had called him in for that expertise. "They are also altered, we have noticed that much, BDU nanites are programmed with no less then ten safety protocols that make sure they don't jump from suit-to-environment. These are deconstructing local materials, like they should if repairing armor."

Spider leaned back in his chair, "So what enemies have we got, that would know how to reverse engineer Marine bugs to destroy anything in site? I don't know, I can't help you there. However, I can put a good sized portion of the Armorer's at the Engineers and Scientists 
disposal.
Gunny Lewis here will be your liaison." He gestured to the Master Armorer, who was now looking at a second PADD, and not appearing to pay any obvious attention. However, the Gunny nodded and said, "I would be happy too help, Ensign."

"Well first of all I am assuming that since these nanites were designed for use in the suit that would be where they get their power from. Since they are not in the suits they must be getting power from somewhere which is why I would like the marines to check their weapons power packs" Mirt said.
 
(reply Gunny)

"If there are any other questions, Ensign, I will be immediately available."
 
"Yes I would like a complete technical schematic of these nanites" Mirt asked.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Engineering - Ensign Saim Enaj - 1433) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saim made her way to engineering where she ran into a busy Bolian. 
"Hi, you look busy.  Do you want some help?"
(reply Rolnn)
"What do you want me to do?"
(reply Rolnn)
Smiling Saim engaged her fellow in friendly small talk.
"So how long were you aboard before this minor emergency started?" (reply Rolnn)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - MXO's Office - Gunnery Sgt Lewis - 1434) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I would be happy too help, Ensign."

"Well first of all I am assuming that since these nanites were designed for use in the suit that would be where they get their power from. Since they are not in the suits they must be getting power from somewhere which is why I would like the marines to check their weapons power packs" 

The gunny shut down the PADD and looked up. He looked over at the Major for a few moments, then looked back as the Andorian nodded his head silently. "We are gonna have to go to my office for these questions, Sir."

"If there are any other questions, Ensign, I will be immediately available."
 
"Yes I would like a complete technical schematic of these nanites" 

The Andorian nodded to the Gunny, "Very well, Dismissed."

Yarrin Lewis came to attention, "Aye Sir."

(reply Mirt)

Once they were outside the office, the Gunny looked at the Ensign for a few moments. He looked back, and started heading for the armory. "Ok, Sir, I'm going to teach you a little bit about our systems here, you will need to know them. First off, these nanites have been altered, I'm not sure our system of control will work on em."

(reply: if desired)

He turned a corner, and came to the heavy door to the main armory. Two MP's were standing guard, both came to attention immediately. Without taking any notice of them, he pushed in his access code to the door, then stepped back as it swung open.  "If they are like ours, which we will have to test, they get their power from breaking down component materials and digesting a small amount. They require so little, that a BDU can be active in the field for weeks before their small built-in supply of extra material is exhausted and they would have to start munching on the BDU itself." 

(reply: if desired)

The armory was busy, weapons and materials were being cataloged and put away by various members of the Marine staff. He pointed to an office and lead the way. The office was his, as head of the Armory. "Anyway, I might be able to help you fight them, but I doubt they will respond to anything simple like a common recall command. As I have said before, our nanites are programmed to repair only the BDU they are programmed for, they are kept in airtight storage on the BDU itself until needed. They are a system we never have to worry about, its completely self-reliant."

Once in the office, he tapped on the oversized wall monitor for several long seconds. Once he was done, he stepped back, and on the screen was a schematic of the Ironman Sigma 10 repair Nanite. "We have few Ironman suits on board, Sir. The bad news is the Sigma 10 was far more resilient then Sigma 9's, as the Ironman BDU is the strongest thing the Marines ever designed for armor."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - MXO's Office - ACEO Ensign Mirt Rolnn - 1435) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I would be happy too help, Ensign."

"Well first of all I am assuming that since these nanites were designed for use in the suit that would be where they get their power from. 
Since
they are not in the suits they must be getting power from somewhere which is why I would like the marines to check their weapons power packs" 

The gunny shut down the PADD and looked up. He looked over at the Major for a few moments, then looked back as the Andorian nodded his head silently. "We are gonna have to go to my office for these questions, Sir."

"If there are any other questions, Ensign, I will be immediately available."

"Yes I would like a complete technical schematic of these nanites" 

The Andorian nodded to the Gunny, "Very well, Dismissed."

Yarrin Lewis came to attention, "Aye Sir."

"Thank you Major" Mirt said with a nod.

Once they were outside the office, the Gunny looked at the Ensign for a few moments. He looked back, and started heading for the armory. "Ok, Sir, I'm going to teach you a little bit about our systems here, you will need to know them. First off, these nanites have been altered, I'm not sure our system of control will work on em."

"But they may be the basis for a plan that will work on them." Mirt said "I believe there is an old human proverb that says 'For every problem there is a solution.' I just hope that we find the solution becore the nanites damage something more critical than they currently have."

He turned a corner, and came to the heavy door to the main armory. Two MP's were standing guard, both came to attention immediately. Without taking any notice of them, he pushed in his access code to the door, then stepped back as it swung open.  "If they are like ours, which we will have to test, they get their power from breaking down component materials and digesting a small amount. They require so little, that a BDU can be active in the field for weeks before their small built-in supply of extra material is exhausted and they would have to start munching on the BDU itself." 

"Machines that eat? ingenious and quite efficient" Mirt said ~A characteristic of all living things, whats next?~

The armory was busy, weapons and materials were being cataloged and put away by various members of the Marine staff. He pointed to an office 
and
lead the way. The office was his, as head of the Armory. "Anyway, I might be able to help you fight them, but I doubt they will respond to anything simple like a common recall command. As I have said before, 
our
nanites are programmed to repair only the BDU they are programmed for, they are kept in airtight storage on the BDU itself until needed. They are a system we never have to worry about, its completely 
self-reliant."

Once in the office, he tapped on the oversized wall monitor for several long seconds. Once he was done, he stepped back, and on the screen was 
a
schematic of the Ironman Sigma 10 repair Nanite. "We have few Ironman suits on board, Sir. The bad news is the Sigma 10 was far more 
resilient
then Sigma 9's, as the Ironman BDU is the strongest thing the Marines ever designed for armor."
 
"Since they 'eat' are there any materials that they tend to prefer. I assume metals of course but what kind, what density, what compositions, ect." Mirt said. He was far from a nanite expert but due to the current situation he had to become one, and fast.
 
(reply Lewis)
 
"Is each nanite an independant unit or are they controlled by a central queen-like device" He said thinking of these being more like insects than machines.
 
(reply Lewis)
 
"Can these nanites self replicate?" Mirt asked. "Because we have encountered more nanites that are in a BDU, probabaly more than the capacity in all BDU's on board. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Armory Office - Gunny Lewis - 1440) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Since they 'eat' are there any materials that they tend to prefer. I assume metals of course but what kind, what density, what compositions, ect." 

"Until I dissect a few of the loose bugs, I can only run on assumptions. I can already tell you they have been reprogrammed from what I know, ours only eat and rebuild the BDU they have been created for. These are eating most anything."

He looked at the screen, "If they retain any of their original programming, then they will stick with polymer fibers and bonded metals, things that might be found in a BDU. The destruction to the ship I've seen is too extensive to be for power needs, these nanites have to be deconstructing and leaving elements behind." He looked thoughtful, "In fact, those left behind elements might be useful in tracking their progress through the ship."

(reply, if desired)
 
"Is each Nanite an independent unit or are they controlled by a central queen-like device" 

"Both, or neither." the Armorer said at once. "Ours are programmed to take commands from the central CPU in the Pallas Helmet. But nanites can act independently, or they can act on programming impulses given them. I would  have to see how they were introduced into the ship, to tell you how these are acting and how they are proceeding."

(reply: if desired)
 
"Can these nanites self replicate?" Mirt asked. "Because we have encountered more nanites that are in a BDU, probably more than the capacity in all BDU's on board. 

The Armorer sat on the desk, his smile weak. "Ours are programmed to self-replicate when their numbers get low, in combat situations. Yes, they can form more of themselves. If they are really going full bore, they could fill this ship and it's systems in hours."

He took a breath, "if you want to kill them, nanites are highly susptible to nadion bursts, and inverse subspace fields." He held up a finger, "But as you might know, a nadion burst will wipe any computer near it. So it would have to be done systematically, or we  would have to go onto external computer support."

The Marine bit his tongue, "But I would personally save that for a last resort Sir, its possible we can render them inoperative by other means. Either by reprogramming them en-masse, or sending another surge of Nanites in... Specifically programmed to hunt down and destroy the rouge nanites." He smiled evilly, "Hunter-Killers Sir. I'm not an engineer per-say, but I know as much about these buggers as the average uppity scientist."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Armory Office - ACEO Ensign Mirt Rolnn - 1441) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Since they 'eat' are there any materials that they tend to prefer. I assume metals of course but what kind, what density, what compositions, ect." 

"Until I dissect a few of the loose bugs, I can only run on 
assumptions.
I can already tell you they have been reprogrammed from what I know, ours only eat and rebuild the BDU they have been created for. These are eating most anything."

He looked at the screen, "If they retain any of their original programming, then they will stick with polymer fibers and bonded 
metals,
things that might be found in a BDU. The destruction to the ship I've seen is too extensive to be for power needs, these nanites have to be deconstructing and leaving elements behind." He looked thoughtful, "In fact, those left behind elements might be useful in tracking their progress through the ship." "Perhaps we can supply those materials as bait in an effort to draw out the nanites to where we want them" (reply Lewis IYW)
 
"Is each Nanite an independent unit or are they controlled by a central queen-like device" 

"Both, or neither." the Armorer said at once. "Ours are programmed to take commands from the central CPU in the Pallas Helmet. But nanites 
can
act independently, or they can act on programming impulses given them. 
I
would  have to see how they were introduced into the ship, to tell you how these are acting and how they are proceeding."
 
"Can these nanites self replicate?" Mirt asked. "Because we have encountered more nanites that are in a BDU, probably more than the capacity in all BDU's on board. 

The Armorer sat on the desk, his smile weak. "Ours are programmed to self-replicate when their numbers get low, in combat situations. Yes, they can form more of themselves. If they are really going full bore, they could fill this ship and it's systems in hours."

He took a breath, "if you want to kill them, nanites are highly susptible to nadion bursts, and inverse subspace fields." He held up a finger, "But as you might know, a nadion burst will wipe any computer near it. So it would have to be done systematically, or we  would have to go onto external computer support."

The Marine bit his tongue, "But I would personally save that for a last resort Sir, its possible we can render them inoperative by other means. Either by reprogramming them en-masse, or sending another surge of Nanites in... Specifically programmed to hunt down and destroy the 
rouge
nanites." He smiled evilly, "Hunter-Killers Sir. I'm not an engineer per-say, but I know as much about these buggers as the average uppity scientist."

"Then Thoeryetically all of this could have started with a single nanite. Samples of these bugs should be too hard to get, then we can run some tests." Mirt said (reply Lewis) "Is each nanite connected to the others in some kind of network? If so can we capture one and reprogram it to send a computer virus or 'kill switch' to all the other nanites?"
(reply: Lewis)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Armory Office - ACEO Ensign Mirt Rolnn - 1441)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Since they 'eat' are there any materials that they tend to prefer. I assume metals of course but what kind, what density, what compositions, ect." 

"Until I dissect a few of the loose bugs, I can only run on 
assumptions.
I can already tell you they have been reprogrammed from what I know, ours only eat and rebuild the BDU they have been created for. These are eating most anything."

He looked at the screen, "If they retain any of their original programming, then they will stick with polymer fibers and bonded 
metals,
things that might be found in a BDU. The destruction to the ship I've seen is too extensive to be for power needs, these nanites have to be deconstructing and leaving elements behind." He looked thoughtful, "In fact, those left behind elements might be useful in tracking their progress through the ship." "Perhaps we can supply those materials as bait in an effort to draw out the nanites to where we want them" (reply Lewis IYW)
 
"Is each Nanite an independent unit or are they controlled by a central queen-like device" 

"Both, or neither." the Armorer said at once. "Ours are programmed to take commands from the central CPU in the Pallas Helmet. But nanites 
can
act independently, or they can act on programming impulses given them. 
I
would  have to see how they were introduced into the ship, to tell you how these are acting and how they are proceeding."
 
"Can these nanites self replicate?" Mirt asked. "Because we have encountered more nanites that are in a BDU, probably more than the capacity in all BDU's on board. 

The Armorer sat on the desk, his smile weak. "Ours are programmed to self-replicate when their numbers get low, in combat situations. Yes, they can form more of themselves. If they are really going full bore, they could fill this ship and it's systems in hours."

He took a breath, "if you want to kill them, nanites are highly susptible to nadion bursts, and inverse subspace fields." He held up a finger, "But as you might know, a nadion burst will wipe any computer near it. So it would have to be done systematically, or we  would have to go onto external computer support."

The Marine bit his tongue, "But I would personally save that for a last resort Sir, its possible we can render them inoperative by other means. Either by reprogramming them en-masse, or sending another surge of Nanites in... Specifically programmed to hunt down and destroy the 
rouge
nanites." He smiled evilly, "Hunter-Killers Sir. I'm not an engineer per-say, but I know as much about these buggers as the average uppity scientist."

"Then Thoeryetically all of this could have started with a single nanite. Samples of these bugs should be too hard to get, then we can run some tests." Mirt said (reply Lewis) "Is each nanite connected to the others in some kind of network? If so can we capture one and reprogram it to send a computer virus or 'kill switch' to all the other nanites?"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Armory Office - Gunny Lewis - 1444) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Then Theoretically all of this could have started with a single nanite. Samples of these bugs should be too hard to get, then we can run some tests." 

The Marine nodded. 

"Is each nanite connected to the others in some kind of network? If so can we capture one and reprogram it to send a computer virus or 'kill switch' to all the other nanites?"

"Usually," he said. "But nothing can be taken for granted, when dealing with these little monsters."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Armory Office - ACEO Ensign Mirt Rolnn - 1444) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Then Theoretically all of this could have started with a single 
nanite.
Samples of these bugs should be too hard to get, then we can run some tests." 

The Marine nodded. 

"Is each nanite connected to the others in some kind of network? If so can we capture one and reprogram it to send a computer virus or 'kill switch' to all the other nanites?"

"Usually," he said. "But nothing can be taken for granted, when dealing with these little monsters."
 
"I thank you for your help. Ill take the ideas we came up with to the chief Science Officer. We can then run some tests on these 'termites' and formulate a plan based on the results." Mirt said.
 
(reply Lewis)
 
With that Mirt left the office and headed for the turbolift.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Bridge - Ops Yalta Schafio - 1445) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yalta followed the Captain to the bridge and went to work... everything else was put on stand bye until the crisis was over.  The priority was the ship, and even more the ship integrity.

At her console, Yalta could see the progression and regression of the ninites and there destruction by the crew's effort to erradicate them.

"Lt. Schafio to the eradication crew on deck 11... go to the Upper Primary Computer Core... the ninites wants to get through the force field."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Dr. Domini Alizara - 1450) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dr. Alizara to Ensign Sparek."  Domini spoke, hitting her comm badge. 
"Please come to sickbay, at your earliest convenience"

<reply Sparek>

After Sparek had arrived, Domini pointed to the metal buckets sitting 
on her floor.  "So far I've isolated 5 different kinds of nanites on 
the people that I have scanned.   I've been neutralizing the nanites 
with a low burst radiation, and isolating them according to kinds in 
these containers. "  She positioned the ensign under the radiation and 
burst him, then took a small brush and brushed him off with it, 
collecting the nanites in the hairs of the brush.

"Make that six, you've picked up a new kind, Ensign, congratulations."  
She showed him the computer print out as she separated the nanites  
into the isolation containers.

"What we need to do." She spoke quietly. "Is get everyone in one area 
that is clear, burst the area, get rid of the nanites and then do the 
ship in one quick swoop. Such a thing is tactically beyond me though."  
She spoke with a grin.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Ensign Sparek - 1452) 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starfleet design. Sparek stared at the nanites as they tried to find a way out of the containment field he had set up to study them. Maybe they were Starfleet design but it didn't mean they were Starfleet modified. Had things gotten so bad that someone in Starfleet had stooped to this? If it wasn't for the doc they might not have caught these things until too late. Hell truth be told it might be too late already.

"They are persistent buggers" he said as the nanites clambered on top of one another to form a microscopic wall right up against the forcefield. "They should be content to just sit there and wait for when they are needed. Not this lot. They have a mission and they aren't going to stop until it's done"

 (reply any in Sickbay)

 "When this is over I'm going to havee to study them more. See if whoever did this has left any clues, deliberate or otherwise."

 (reply any in sickbay)

"Maybe. maybe not" Sparek said shrugging his shoulders. "Thats the problem with the present situtaion. We are expecting an attack from within while neglecting the danger from without. There are many races out there who would love to see the Federation involve itself in a civil war. It's a good way of weakening us without too much effort on their part. The waters could be very murky on this one"

(reply any)

"True" Sparek agreed. "In the meantime we have to deal with what is happening now. Mirt was right about the shuttles. It will be a definite advantage to decontaminate at least two of them and use them as independant sensor platforms. They will certainly cut down the time to finish this. Better tell the captain." He touched his comm badge. 

"Sparek to captain Sevant'I have a request"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Ensign Sparek - 1455) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sparek was running that last scan again when the doctor's voice chirped through his comm badge. All that effort and these damn nanites were still on board. These things were clever. Or at least the mind who had programmed them was. Self replicating and with a mission to destroy the ship trying to get rid of them piecemeal had been managed to slow them down but it wasn't stopping them. As soon as an area was cleared they just moved back in. No this would have to be done in one quick surge. Just how to do that was the problem.

And now in the middle of this the doc was asking him to come down to sickbay. As if he wasn't busy enough. Still the doc had first spotted these things so best not dismiss what she had to say.

"I'm available now" he replied.

After Sparek had arrived, Domini pointed to the metal buckets sitting on her floor. 

"So far I've isolated 5 different kinds of nanites on the people that I have scanned. I've been neutralizing the nanites with a low burst radiation, and isolating them according to kinds in these containers. "


She positioned the ensign under the radiation and 
burst him, then took a small brush and brushed him off with it,collecting the nanites in the hairs of the brush.

Sparek shook his head as he saw them. He had been one of the first to be cleansed of them but that hadn't worked. Proof of his scans.

"Make that six, you've picked up a new kind, Ensign, congratulations."  

She showed him the computer print out as she separated the nanites into the isolation containers.

"And we started with one" Sparek mused. "Self replicating, smart and now able to adapt and mutate. We are in trouble"

"What we need to do." She spoke quietly. "Is get everyone in one area that is clear, burst the area, get rid of the nanites and then do the ship in one quick swoop. Such a thing is tactically beyond me though." she spoke with a grin.

"Maybe", Sparek grinned back. "Maybe not. You seem very resourseful. The one quick swoop method is the only one I can see that is going to get rid of these before they take apart the ship. The problem is by using a high enough burst to get them all at once we run the risk of frying the computers. Not good. Then again we could shut down and protect the main computer and run the entire ship from an external source for the time it would take to carry out the sweep. Let's see what the captain thinks"

Sparek tapped his comm badge. "Sparek to Sevant"

(reply Sevant)

"Captain, Doctor Alizara has come up with a way to neutralize these nanites in one fell swoop. Its got a few problems involved but since we know know these nanites are self replicating, smart and capable of adaption and mutation I think we have little choice but to go for the swift, sharp, shock"

(reply Sevant) 

Sparek quickly outlined the plan and waited for the captains reaction


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1456) 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sevant checked the reports on the Nanites, then shook his head and leaned back in the chair. Everything he could personally do, he had already done. He would have to wait for the rest. 

=^=Sparek to captain Sevant, I have a request=^=

Sevant immediately replied, "Continue."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Sickbay- Ensign Sparek - 1456) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sparek to Captain Sevant" Sparek said as he tapped his comm badge. "I have a request" 

=^=Continue=^= Sevant replied immediately.

"Sir Ensign Mirt has come up with an interesting proposal. He suggests we use two shuttles as independant scanning platforms. They can sweep the outside of the hull to pick up any damage or nanite activity there"

(reply Sevant)

"We would have to ensure the shuttles are free of nanites" Sparek agreed. "But it would cut down the time needed to clear the infestation. And from examining my shuttle it appears that the hull is one of the main areas the nanites will attack."

(reply Sevant)

"Yes sir", said Sparek "I'll get on it right away"

Sparek quickly checked the results of the ship wide scan so far. So far it was all going as planned. At least as far as he or the computer could tell. There were always the odd wild card out there, things that could turn a situation like this completely on its head. Hopefully he could find it before it came into play.

"Sparek to Mirt" he said tapping his comm badge again. "The captain has agreed to your shuttle plan. Meet me in the shuttlebay"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1456) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

=^= Sir Ensign Mirt has come up with an interesting proposal. He suggests we use two shuttles as independent scanning platforms. They can sweep the outside of the hull to pick up any damage or Nanite activity there =^=

"What of the chance of contagion, if we launch shuttles?"

=^=We would have to ensure the shuttles are free of nanites. But it would cut down the time needed to clear the infestation. And from examining my shuttle it appears that the hull is one of the main areas the nanites will attack.=^=

"Very well, ensure the shuttles are clear and inform me when you are ready to begin."

=^=Yes sir, I'll get on it right away=^=

Sevant cut the connection, then shook his head and turned to face the porthole. Things were not progressing as planned, not by any stretch of the imagination.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Sickbay - 1457) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mirt arrived in sickbay to see Ensign Sparek.
 
"Whats our status, have we made progress?" Mirt asked.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Captain Sevant - 1520) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

=^=Sparek to Sevant=^=

"Go ahead, Mr Sparek" Sevant said, as he looked over a tactical schematic of the ship. 

=^=Captain, Doctor Alizara has come up with a way to neutralize these nanites in one fell swoop. Its got a few problems involved but since we know know these nanites are self replicating, smart and capable of adoption and mutation I think we have little choice but to go for the swift, sharp, shock-=^=

Sevant leaned back in his chair, "Details, Mr Sparek?"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Bridge - OPS, Lt Yalta Schafio - 1530) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yalta was watching the readings, it seem that we were gaining more grounds, then there was a weird sound coming from somewhere.  She turn around and look at the bridge, it didn't seem to bather anyone but her.

Suddenly the intergrity alarm went off, Yalta started to scan the room and found that a group of ninites were on the ceilling and working to make a hole. 

"Everyone, evacuate the bridge now and go to engineering... NOW! Captain Sevant... evacuate your office, the bridge hull is compromised by the ninites."

(Reply from Sevant)

"In 10 minutes Sir! The bridge has been evacuated for safety to engineering... we must act now with the plan or it will be too late."

(Reply from Sevant)

"Leaving right now Sir... Yalta out!"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1531) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

=^=Captain Sevant... evacuate your office, the bridge hull is compromised by the ninites.=^=

Sevant was on his feet in an instant, "Time until full structural breach?" he said on the fly.

=^=In 10 minutes Sir! The bridge has been evacuated for safety to engineering... we must act now with the plan or it will be too late.=^=

"Go." he said, in perfect calm. Inside, however, he wasn't a happy camper. He had been Master of the ship for only a handful of hours, and already they were having major problems. Sevant stepped out onto the bridge, and stopped, The bridge was clearing quickly. 

=^=Leaving right now Sir... Yalta out!=^=

He glanced over, just in time to see the Operations officer leave. "Move it!" he said to the quickly fleeing officers. He tapped his badge, for the benefit of those already off the bridge, "All essential bridge crew to the battle-bridge, Yellow Alert."

(reply: any)

Sevant stepped up the ramp, and waited for the last of the crew to clear before getting in a lift himself. Before the door closed, however, he took one last look around. "Computer, transfer all command protocols to the Battle Bridge."

The computer beeped as he stepped into the lift, and the doors closed behind him. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Bridge - TAC/SC - Lieutenant William Bush - 1531) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

William stood on the bridge it was aggravating to be in a position where the ship was being lost and as Chief of security he could not fight some one. It would make him a lot happier to have an enemy to fight rather than these microscopic buggers. As Will looked at the tactical read outs only 60% of the ship was still habitable and his teams were working over time to attempt to control the situation. 

 

As the Captain came out he did not look a happy camper at all. William had herd the evacuation order but he was going to man his station until his Captain had left too. As the Captain tapped his badge he spoke. 

 "All essential bridge crew to the battle-bridge, Yellow Alert."

William pressed the yellow alert on his consol and then followed the captain out of the bridge and to the turbolift bound for the battle bridge. William remained silent in the turbolift, serving on a vessel previously where the Captain had to abandon a vessel he had saw the result. The Captain became a broken man, for some reason he had never been able to establish Captains always created a fragile bond with the ship. He wasn't about to let this Captain suffer the same. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - TAC/SC - LT. William Bush - 15:36) 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As William followed the Captain in he moved over to the tactical station and nodded to his replacement to move to one side. William then turned to the Captain. 

 

"Captain, What are your orders Sir?" 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - OPS, Lt Yalta Schafio - 1537) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Captain, What are your orders Sir?" 

"We hold, send damage control teams to wherever they are required."

"Working on this right now... but we are trailing thin here."

Yalta was working has fast has she could do. Once an area was clean, she would sent the team elsewhere but sometimes it wasn't enough because they would come back. We were making a little head way... there numbers was slowly getting down, but they had to keep up the fight, if they would rest, there numbers would grow and that by the second. Time was rapidly running, has for against or for it was another thing.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - CMO/COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara - 1557) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Domini arrived on the battle bridge slightly out of breath from the 
run.  Some of the turbolifts had decided that they didn't want to 
function any longer, and she had taken the long way to the battle 
bridge.

"Captain,  we have to get rid of these nanites.  Sparek and I have come 
up with a way to get rid of them. I know that he contacted you about 
it, and it wasn't implemented, but we have to do something."

Domini then quickly outlined the plan, which was for everyone to gather 
in one central location, then shock the rest of the ship, that way the 
people who were carrying them and the ship could be cleared all at 
once.

"I honestly can't think of another way to get rid of them, and if we 
don't, we won't have much of a ship left." She concluded. "They are 
already in the computer.

Domini awaited her Commander's reaction, and the reprimand, for 
speaking so plainly to him.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - OPS, Lt Yalta Schafio - 1558) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I honestly can't think of another way to get rid of them, and if we don't, we won't have much of a ship left." She concluded. "They are already in the computer."

"Captain, I signal and sent a team to the computer core to kill them off, but it seem that the team never got there."  Yalta checked her screen and showed the captain.  "I estimate at least 5 hrs before they become a problem for are survival."

(Reply from Sevant)

"I might suggest that we use shuttlecraft remotly to radiate the hull and destroy the ninites outside."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - CMO/COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara - 15:58) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Start on your plan, Counselor. Map a safe area, and
have everyone not essential moved there immediately."

Domini nodded, moving towards Yalta.

He turned to the Operations officer, "Clean two shuttlecraft and have them launched with the needed equipment. They will serve as both an external verifier that the primary plan is working, and as a backup should and ninites be missed on the hull. Have them launch in fifteen minutes."

Sevant turned back to the counselor, "Best estimated time for your plan to be operational"?

"Mhmm. give me 30-45 minutes.  We need to get people in place, get the 
area cleaned out, get the people cleaned before and after they move 
into the area and set up force fields to keep the area secure."

"Very well, Set a speed record."

Domini leaned down towards Yalta "We need a big area, one of the cargo 
holds.  Can they be set up with forcefields?"  She asked.

While Yalta was thinking, Domini tapped her comm badge "Sparek, the 
Captain has initiated our plan."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Capt Sevant - 1558) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Captain,  we have to get rid of these ninites.  Sparek and I have come 
up with a way to get rid of them. I know that he contacted you about 
it, and it wasn't implemented, but we have to do something."

Sevant turned his head, and looked at his new CMO/Couns. "Continue..." he said. 

She proceeded to outline a plan, which more or less consisted of gathering everyone together into one or two safe zones, then waging a quick war on the rest of the ship. 

"I honestly can't think of another way to get rid of them, and if we don't, we won't have much of a ship left." She concluded. "They are 
already in the computer.

Sevant turned his head as his head of Ops spoke up, "Captain, I signal and sent a team to the computer core to kill them off, but it seem that the team never got there."  Yalta checked her screen and showed the captain.  "I estimate at least 5 hrs before they become a problem for are survival."

"Either they didn't make it, or the ninites have already re-colonized it." Sevant said, "These things seem to be programmed to wage war, and that is exactly what they are doing."

"I might suggest that we use shuttlecraft remotely to radiate the hull and destroy the ninites outside." she said, a moment later.

Sevant considered, looking back and forth between the two women. He did not want to set precedence here, with having people just jump onto his bridge and start heaving words, but time *was* becoming very important. He weighed in the lesser of two evils, and decided to ignore the behavior for now.  "Start on your plan, Counselor. Map a safe area, and have everyone not essential moved there immediately."

He turned to the Operations officer, "Clean two shuttlecraft and have them launched with the needed equipment. They will serve as both an external verifier that the primary plan is working, and as a backup should and ninites be missed on the hull. Have them launch in fifteen minutes."

Sevant turned back to the counselor, "Best estimated time for your plan to be operational"?

(reply: Couns and Ops)

"Very well, Set a speed record."

He turned to Security, "I reiterate, no ships or craft come near Boudicca until this is over. If either of the shuttles have to land before the purge is complete, direct them to Geneva."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Yalta - 1558) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Captain, we have to get rid of these ninites. Sparek and I have come up with a way to get rid of them. I know that he contacted you about it, and it wasn't implemented, but we have to do something."

Sevant turned his head, and looked at his new CMO/Couns. "Continue..." he said. 

She proceeded to outline a plan, which more or less consisted of gathering everyone together into one or two safe zones, then waging a quick war on the rest of the ship. Yalta was listening quietly, anticipating the next.

"I honestly can't think of another way to get rid of them, and if we don't, we won't have much of a ship left." She concluded. "They are already in the computer.

Sevant turned his head as his head of Ops spoke up, "Captain, I signal and sent a team to the computer core to kill them off, but it seem that the team never got there." Yalta checked her screen and showed the captain. "I estimate at least 5 hrs before they become a problem for are survival."

"Either they didn't make it, or the ninites have already re-colonized it." Sevant said, "These things seem to be programmed to wage war, and that is exactly what they are doing."

"I might suggest that we use shuttlecraft remotely to radiate the hull and destroy the ninites outside." she said, a moment later.

Sevant considered, looking back and forth between the two women. He did not want to set precedence here, with having people just jump onto his bridge and start heaving words, but time *was* becoming very important. He weighed in the lesser of two evils, and decided to ignore the behavior for now. "Start on your plan, Counselor. Map a safe area, and have everyone not essential moved there immediately."

He turned to the Operations officer, "Clean two shuttlecraft and have them launched with the needed equipment. They will serve as both an external verifier that the primary plan is working, and as a backup should and ninites be missed on the hull. Have them launch in fifteen minutes."

Sevant turned back to the counselor, "Best estimated time for your plan to be operational"?

"Mhmm. give me 30-45 minutes. We need to get people in place, get the area cleaned out, get the people cleaned before and after they move into the area and set up force fields to keep the area secure."

"Very well, Set a speed record."

Domini leaned down towards Yalta "We need a big area, one of the cargo holds. Can they be set up with forcefields?" She asked.

"Give me a minute!"


While Yalta was thinking, Domini tapped her comm badge "Sparek, the Captain has initiated our plan."

"Very well, Set a speed record."

He turned to Security, "I reiterate, no ships or craft come near Boudicca until this is over. If either of the shuttles have to land before the purge is complete, direct them to Geneva."

(reply: TAC/SC)

"Hop too, Make it so."

"We can but I hate putting people there. Those ninites can make holes in the hull and you know what that could do... I would prefere a sector more inside. The original plan could be done, I'm just giving my opinion. We better go right now... time is ticking."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Shuttle bay 3 - OPS, Lt Yalta Schafio& CMO/COUNS Domini Alizara - 1600) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Alizara and herself went to engineering first, got in gear to radiat those shuttlecraft and went straight to work. With the help of a padd, Yalta was coordinating the work and this on every decks. When they reach the shuttlebay, Yalta look at Dr. Alizara.

"We better get in suit... just in case. I detect them near by and I have to shield us in the shuttlebay."

Domini gave Yalta a look. "Suits won't protect us, but maybe they can buy us some time." Domini agreed. 


"It's just precautions, the suits are overthere and we must check them first. I will start with this shuttle right now while you dress. Check them first."

Domini held her portable irradiator over the suits and zapped them. Then she turned to Yalta and zapped her, while telling her what the nanites had done to the suits. 

"You are kidding right. They destroyed the suits. Let's work... we don't have a choice. Scan the shuttlebay door and around even better, spray them if they are there. I really, really hate those things."

"Well..the original ones were designed to repair marine bdus...we should be glad to have them. I guess. they've saved many a life." Domini spoke, rezapping herself. "I wish we could just zap the entire ship and be done with it. I'm still not 100% that this WILL get rid of all of the little buggers."

"We have to try... I'm zapping those 2 shuttles and after modifying the tracktor beam to bombard the hull of the Boudicca the same way. How is it going where you are?"

"It's..well, it's going." Domini had rigged up a type of irradiator above the door. When people passed through the low level force field, the nanites would be killed and fall from the person carrying them. Once everyone was inside, the ship would be irradiated and the people inside the cargo hold protected.

If the nanites didn't catch on and kill them all first. "I'm ready." She spoke. 

"I just had an idea... let's go to the control room." Yalta stop what she was doing and just remembered that the shuttle bay was equiped with what she needed. "We will need those zap, but I have something better for the entire shuttle bay." Yalta had a crooked smile on her face.

Domini followed, a strange look on her face. 

Yalta went first inside the shuttlebay control and zap everything in there just to make sure. "We have everything we need here to radiate the room completely without exposing areselves... killing those ninites here. I just need help in modifying this to use something else then the quarantine measures. That's the plan. It will work the entire room and the shuttlecraft in one sweep."

"Tell me what to do. I'm a Counsellor and a Doctor, not an Engineering Officer." She grinned to Yalta.

"I'm not either, but I do know my way around things." Yalta push away the chair and sat on the floor. "Anything harmless that is going on here, like a flood of radiation will be stop, that has to be override, because that is what we are about to do, but the system clear this radiation have to be modify and I have to link it here. If the quarantine measures are still active, we will not be able too... so on my signal, I want you to disengage, with your access code the quarantine radiation measures, and after turn it on to clear this room. After we will be able to get people inside." Yalta had already started the modifications but it was complicated, one mistakes and they might not be able to use the shuttle bay has a shelter.

Domini took a moment to think about what Yalta had said, and nodded. "On your signal? 3..."

"Not yet... I want to make sure because on mistake and we are back to square one... working with those zappers." Yalta had finish and double checked, she had one connection to make and they were go. "Good... 1... 2... 3." She gave a look at Domini.

Domini keyed in her code. "Done." She spoke, looking down at Yalta. 

"It's frying time!" Yalta push a few keys on the control with a amused grin on her face and the room started to glow bright green for 2 seconds and after back to to normal. "It worked! Now let's turn back on the radiation measures Doctor."

Domini looked down at Yalta, then keyed in her code as Yalta did her thing. "Excellent." She spoke, stretching. "Time to bring the people down two by two?"

"But first the shuttles. I have to modify the beam and make them go on there way. There will be more room for people. If shouldn't take long, five minutes." Yalta was first out and ran toward the shuttlecraft, she didn't waist any time. Can you do the other shuttle?"

Domini looked at Yalta strangely. "Yalta, hon, I'm not an Engineering Officer." Domini smiled. "Despite the fact that today everyone is trying to turn me into one. Where the heck is that Sparek?" She asked, frowning prettily. 

"I didn't hear from him." Yalta first arrange the beam and the scan and the last steps was the autopilot. She wanted to make sure the connection was perfect with OPS. "That one is ready. Let's do the other." Yalta did the same thing. "You can call up the crew now, I will finish with this one and send those two on there way."

Domini nodded, and signaled the bridge. "Doctor Alizara to Ops, send down the crew, all the crew, slowly. I would suggest leaving the command staff to last." Ops acknowledged and Domini waited for the people to arrive. 

Yalta had finished modifying the last shuttle and close both of them. She went to the controls near the door and started to make one leave the shuttle bay and once this one was out and clear she sent the other one. Once satisfied, she closed the shuttle bay doors and lock them down. "The room is secured now, you can get the crew inside."

"Get the other one out of here, first, Yalta." Domini turned back towards the door and kept it locked until Yalta had. Then she let in the first of the crew, scanning them after they had walked through the irradiator. "You are clear, Ensign." She spoke, smiling. "Come on in. Why don't you go over to the replicator with your friends and replicate rfreshments for those that will be stuck here for a while?" She asked, motioning them over. 

"I have to go and take care of the other places make sure that the work is done in Engineering and the computer core."

Domini barred the door. "Yalta, unless you are doing it by commlink, you aren't leaving this room. You are uninfected. I can't risk letting you go out and come back in and reinfect here." 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle-Bridge, Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1605) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sevant, in an effort not to pace, sat down in the cramped little room that was the battle-bridge's Ready Room, and looked at the monitor. The chronometer showed 1605, he would know within the next hour whether or not his ship would require drastic measures, in cleaning it of the nanite infestation. He shook his head as he stood again and walked over to the small replicator. "Tea, Chamomile, hot with a trace of nutmeg."

The computer beeped, and his drink appeared a moment later. He took the small mug, and put it up to his nose for a moment... As much to savor the smell of nutmeg, as to ensure that the computer hadn't mixed up the recipe. Sevant shook his head again, and took a breath. "Computer, record an entry for the Captain's Log."

[Proceed]

"Captains Log, Stardate 2406.06.30, supplementary." he began, as he turned back to the desk. "I've officially taken command of the Boudicca, but the transition has been far from easy. It appears one of our new arrivals, Ensign Sparek, brought with him a very potent form of nanite. Those nanites have turned this ship inside out in the last few hours, including eating through the hull itself and exposing the bridge to vacuum. All command functions have been moved to the battle bridge, and two separate plans to clean the ship have been put into effect. We should know within the next hour if they are successful."

He sat down again, and placed the yet untouched mug on the desk. After a few moments of just looking at it, he folded his hands together. "Our crew is arriving a piece at a time, mostly in a rushed state of semi-secrecy as the Boudicca is being rushed through her work-up in order to depart by the time Starbase Geneva is moved. We have, in fact, several in waiting on Starbase Geneva."

With practiced grace, he reached out and picked up the mug. "Further information on the success of our cleaning operation will follow, End Log."

The Computer beeped, leaving Sevant once again in solitude. 

(reply: any)

NRPG: Here is where the magic wand comes in. Those of you working on the plan, go ahead and post it. I'm going to put us ahead though, so we don't have three people hanging out on Geneva for a couple Real weeks. I want to get this done and over with, so we can start the new mission within a week. Cheers...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - ACSO - Ensign (jg) Dr. Kyle Rin - 16:25) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle studied the read-out from the command console Starbase Geneva had been 
reached. He powered down the warp drive and the stars returned to normal up 
ahead was Geneva. Never in his entire life had he seen something so 
beautiful he then remembered why he was here and opened the hailing 
frequency.

"Geneva this is Ensign Rin i've been asigned to the USS Boudicca per Admiral 
LoDona's orders" He said softly while waiting for a response.

"Ensign you are cleared for approach, the Boudicca is undergoing clean up of 
nanites we are unsure
if you will be able to board contact Captain Sevant on your approach vector 
'Starbase Out' ."

Kyle piloted the shuttle towards the docking complex as he entered the 
endless darkness he had experianced vanished as the lighting inside the 
complex pierced into the cabin. Up ahead was the Boudicca the first thing 
that ran through Kyle's mind as the Boudicca increased in size on his 
approach.

~I'm a ACSO of that thing? she's ugly as a vigotazer beast.~

"Shuttlecraft Avenger this is the Boudicca please respond"

"USS Boudicca this is Ensign Rin i've been assigned to the Boudicca per 
Admiral LoDona's orders." He replied swollowing hard.

"Acknowledged Avenger Captain Sevant will be notified of your arival 
stand-by. Boudicca out"

Kyle powered down the shuttle's engines as he reached down into his bag and 
pulled out his father's diary he began to flip thru the pages as he waited.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Transport USS New Arizona - Bridge - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi - 2000) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The strength of the Pack is the Wolf, the strength of the wolf is the pack." That was the motto for the ship she was heading for, the USS Boudicca. It had been most interesting to a few on the Nimitz as Commander Sevant had gotten orders to leave not more than twenty-four hours before she did. It was strange that two people had gotten orders so close to one another but so far apart. If they had gotten them together they would have been able to at least shared the transport ship part of the way to their next duty station. She had not been told where he was being reassigned to or what position. She guessed that it was just none of her business or out of her security level. She wondered if she would ever see him again and how he was handling not being with his family ever again. Before leaving the Nimitz she had said good bye to her kids once more as the Boudicca did not seem to be a ship for families. Her mother was going to take the kids back to Betazed and put them in school there again. She promised them that she would come see them when she was able.

Kestra had started looking over the technical data of the ship she was being reassigned to as Chief Medical Officer. Most of Kestra's career in Starfleet had been as counselor and she felt much more comfortable there than in the medical attachment of the job. She had worked as Assistant Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Nimitz under first Doctor O'Shea then in the end Doctor Fickett. She had not really worked much with either one as things went because of missions and the fact that she had what could be considered a mental breakdown when she got word that her husband had been killed. Her mother had come to help her through the rough time and recovery. Kestra's kids had accompanied her mother and that also had helped her. After returning to duty, she never did feel right, as though she should be reassigned as the nurses was not sure if she would go off the deep end once again.

Kestra thought back as she read the History of the USS Boudicca that Susan had been its Captain not long ago. She had started on the USS Nimitz with her but she had progress through the ranks faster and attained command experience faster. Susan later came back, after a almost fatal injury, to become the captain of the USS Nimitz. Now she, Kestra, was going to the Boudicca and she wondered how it would be, the ship was of an unusual design.

The Captain of the USS New Arizona had told her that the Boudicca had been stationed outside of the starbase Geneva making repairs and updating her systems.  Kestra thought for a minute at why people give animals, objects, or ideas human qualities. In a earth writing called "Mirror" by a early 20 century author, Sylvia Plath, the "I" in the first line:

'I am silver and exact'
'I have no preconceptions'
'whatever I see I swallow immediately'
'Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.'
'I am not cruel, only truthful'

-is given the ability to speak, see, and swallow, as well as human attributes such as truthfulness. In John Keats "To Autumn" the fall season is personified as "sitting careless on a granary floor" and "drowsed with the fume of poppies". She concluded that the human species just did not like to call things as an "it".

"Lieutenant Troi?" Captain Grabo said as his speaking brought her out of her thoughts.

"Yes Captain?" she replied bringing her thoughts back to the present.

"We are nearing Starbase Geneva and have to contact them for clearance to USS Boudicca." Grabo informed her but she knew the procedures.

"May I captain?" She asked wanting to help out a bit.

"Permission granted Lieutenant." Grabo said as he smiled at her.

"Starbase Geneva this it the Transport USS New Arizona, I am Lieutenant Kestra Troi being tranfered from the USS Nimitz to the USS Boudicca. Request permission to proceed to the Boudicca." Kestra informed them.

"Transport USS New Arizona, you have been authorized to proceed to the USS Boudicca." Geneva replied.

"Ok Captain lets get there." Kestra said as she winked at Grabo.

Grabo swung the ship around the station to a heading that would take them to the Boudicca. As Grabo was accomplishing that, she opened the channel to call in.

"Transport USS New Arizona to USS Boudicca" Kestra sent out.

(Reply Boudicca)

"I am Lieutenant Kestra Troi. I have been reassigned as Chief Medical Officer on board the Boudicca, request permission to come aboard." Kestra waited for her permission and the coordinates for her to beam aboard.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Transport USS New Arizona - Bridge - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi - 2010) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kestra wondered what it the world was taking them so long to answer her when the com came to life.

"This is USS Boudicca, Lt. Schafio here... identify!"

"I am Lieutenant Kestra Troi. I have been reassigned as Chief Medical Officer on board the Boudicca, request permission to come aboard." Kestra waited for her permission and the coordinates for her to beam aboard.

"You can't right now... we have a situation and are in quarantine. Ninites infested the ship and are trying to destroy it. We are fighting them right now... I would suggest that you go to Geneva and wait until we call you back."

"Can I come aboard and possibly give some assistance?" Kestra asked.

"Negative... you just can't. If something goes wrong you might have nothing to go too. Go on Geneva! Schafio out!"

Kestra really did not like not being able to enter the Boudicca as she might have been some help, she did not know what but maybe some. Anyways, The Boudicca had ordered her to wait on Geneva, so, she had no choice in the matter. Kestra just hoped that they were successful in destroying the Nanites, if they are not she may not have a ship to go to.

"USS New Arizona to Starbase Geneva" Grabo said into the mike.

"This is Geneva New Arizona, how may we be of assistance?" Came the reply.

"We have been ordered by USS Boudicca to deliever Lt. Troi to the starbase until they are ready to receive her." He informed them

"Aye Captain, sending coordinates for you to dock at, Geneva out."

As they approached Geneva she noticed that the USS Cochrane was docked there and for some reason it perked her interest. She tried to search her memory of why it would but at first she could not come up with why it did.

"Captain, Who is the captain of the USS Cochrane there?" She asked hoping he had some information that might trigger her memory.

"I believe it is Captain Lowell, why?" Grabo informed her

"oh I believe I should see her but I don't really understand why I feel that way." Kestra replied to him still under the influence of her compulsion.

"Well, we will be docked in a few minutes and you can go see her if they will let you on board." Grabo told her returning to his docking actions.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - docking area - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi - 2110) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After docking with the station, Kestra gathered her belongings and left the ship. In the docking area she found a secure place that she might leave her belongings until she could leave for the USS Boudicca. She then proceeded to the docking area of the USS Cochrane where she was met by the security at the boarding air lock.

"Is visiting the Cochrane and her Captain allowed sir?" She asked the security person.

"Visiting the Cochrane!!" At first the security officer was a bit confused but then remember that it could be done. "Yes... You are limited in your displacement to the public section of the ship. Considering that you are an officer, the bridge might be accessible for you, with the permission of the captain off course."

"I need to see the Captain, could you ask her if she would be up to seeing me?" Kestra pressed still trying to be nice as the security person was being helpful.

"I will try... they have just been back from a meeting on Geneva and it said that they are busy in command." the security officer walk to a console and punch a few keys. "Ensign Jackson to Captain Lowell... I have someone who would like to meet you."

=/\=We are pretty busy... what is her name?=/\=

Ensign Jackson looked at Kestra questioningly so she answered quickly, "Lt. Kestra Troi, formerly from the USS Nimitz and now being assigned to the USS Boudicca."

Alexandra stay silent for a moment and said. =/\=She can come on board. Lowell out.=/\=

Kestra got a bit worried for a minute while the captain had thought it over then to her relief she was allowed on. Kestra smiled at Ensign Jackson then proceeded to enter.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - Docking Bay - ACSO - Ensign (jg) Dr. Kyle Rin - 20:10
- 21:10) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many hours had passed as Kyle looked away from his father's diary to glance 
at his
wrist watch. Something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye

Kyle glanced upward
and watched what seemed like a transport ship move away from the Boudicca.

"Geneva, this is Ensign Rin are there other personel ariving for the 
Boudicca?" he spoke into his combadge.

After a short moment there was a reply. "Yes Ensign Rin, Lt. Kestra Troi

just boarded Geneva and asked about the USS Cochrane. Would you like us to 
notify her of your arival considering your both serving aboard?"

"That won't be necessary i'll contact Lt. Troi myself thanks anyway Rin 
out."

Kyle looked up through the cockpit window and noticed the USS Cochrane 
docked a little ways from the Boudicca.

~Funny i didn't notice the Cochrane there when i arived.~

Tapping his combadge one last time he spoke into it.

"Lt. Troi if you can hear me please respond my name is Kyle Rin. I've been 
asigned to the Boudicca as ACSO so far i've been unsuccessful in getting any 
response mind shedding any light on the subject?"

Kyle sighed openning his father's diary up he continued to read while he

waited for a response.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - docking area - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi - 2112) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kestra had just exited Transport New Arizona when she received a com beep, stopping for a moment she tapped it.

=\=Lt. Troi, this is Geneva Operations.  We have an Ensign Kyle Rin trying to put a com call to you.  Would you like me to put him through?=\= Operations informed her.

"What does he want with me?"  She asked

=\=He will be stationed on the Boudicca with you and has been waiting for some time.  I guess he wants to ask you if you have heard anything since you just left the area.=\=  Operation replied

"Yes, put him through, thanks"  Kestra agreed.

=\=Lt. Troi if you can hear me respond my name is Kyle Rin.  I've been assigned to the Boudicca as ACSO so far I've been unsuccessful in getting any response mind shedding any light on the subject?=\=

"Mister Kyle Rin what is your rank?"  Kestra asked as she was not in the habit of explaining ship business with just anyone.

(reply Kyle)

"Good, Ensign I advise you to just be patient as I am not in the habit of discussing ship operational status over com channels.  Lets just say they are busy at the moment and can not accept anyone coming aboard at this time. They know you are here and will advise Geneva operations when it is time for us to board them.  I will be in the staging area after I complete a little visit.  Feel free to meet me there."  Kestra informed him hopeing he would just take the time to have a little bit of fun as they would more than likely have little of it in times to come.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - Docking Bay - Ensign(jg) Dr. Kyle Rin - 2112) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle dropped his father's diary down onto the floor as his combadge returned 
a communication.

"Mister Kyle Rin what is your rank?" The soft voice spoke Kyle figured this 
must be Lt. Troi

"My rank?" Kyle froze for a second trying to think clearly he'd never heard 
such a wonderful voice in
his entire life he began to think of his mother. At the same time tears 
rolled down his face.

"My rank is Ensign(jg) Dr. Kyle Rin i'm fresh out of the academy and was

assigned to the Boudicca."

"Good, Ensign I advise you to just be patient as I am not in the habit of 
discussing ship operational
status over com channels.  Lets just say they are busy at the moment and can 
not accept anyone
coming aboard at this time. They know you are here and will advise Geneva 
operations when it is
time for us to board them.  I will be in the staging area after I complete a 
little visit.
Feel free to meet me there."

Kestra informed him hopeing he would just take the time to have a little bit 
of fun as they would
more than likely have little of it in times to come.

"I may just take you up on that offer Rin out." He spoke as clearly as he 
could considering his eyes
were full of tears.

Powering up the shuttle's engines Kyle piloted the shuttle over to the 
docking area while requesting clearence.

=/="Geneva clearence to dock."=/= He spoke into the ships communication 
system.

=/="You are cleared Ensign Rin"=/=

With a small hum the shuttle was locked into the docking clamp. Kyle picked 
his father's diary up
tucked it under his arm gathered his belongings and headed for the shuttle 
airlock.  Geneva's waiting area wasn't too great in size but there seemed to 
be enough seating for the adverage waiting personel. Instead of taking a

seat he dropped his belongings next to a dark corner sat down with his back 
to the wall burried his head into his hands closed his eyes with his mother 
on his mind and cried himself into another flashback.

The air was cold that much he remembered taking a quick look around he found 
himself hiding behind a rock looking into a slave camp. ~This can't be no 
not again.~ Up in the distance was none other then his parents from the 
looks of things they were tied up with there hands behind there back against 
a wall two Romulan Officers stood not more then 10 paces away. Kyle began to 
bolt from his hiding spot suddenly there was disrupter fire Kyle fell back 
from the flash of the beam onto his back screeming filled his ears.

Someone grab him on the shoulder he began to fight his attacker off but then 
upon opening his
eyes he found himself back in Geneva against the wall he looked upward at 
the figure wiping his eyes he saw what seemsed like a female betazoid he

tried to say something anything to the least but was cut off as she began to 
speak.

(reply Kestra)

Kyle took to his feet and brushed himself off.

"I'm sorry i.. this..." He couldn't say a thing his voice was still frozen 
from his flashback.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Cochrane - Bridge - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi - 2155) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once aboard she asked the computer where the nearest turbolift was and was rewarded by arrows along the floor showing her the way.

"The deck that the captain is on" She said after the door closed when she entered the turbolift. She felt the slight movement as it started to rise in decks.

When the doors finally opened she found herself looking out into the Bridge of the Cochrane. She realized as she looked out over the bridge that the captain was probably in her ready room. She stepped out and stood at the entrance, "Permission to come on deck to see the captain."

"Permission granted!" Said Snider. "The Captain is in her ready room... you can have access to it by this door."

"Thanks" Kestra replied as she started to head in the direction that was indicated. Once she was at the door, she pushed the door chime still not really understanding the feeling she had to go see this captain.

Alexandra lift up her head. She had sent Tahl to get diner from Kono, he was the only one who could make the Catalina omelet the way she liked and she knew that it would take time. Alexandra took a deep breath. "Come in! It's open."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Cochrane - Ready Room -  CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi - 2200) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taking a deep breath, Kestra knew that she was about to find out why she had to come here as the door finally opened. Looking around the room intentionally not looking right at the captain at first. She wanted to see what the room looked like and who was in it before she looked at the captain. When she did finally focus in on the captain, she stopped in her tracks with a startled look on her face. "It is you" Was all that Kestra could say at first.

Alexandra look at the Lieutenant a bit amused. "I hope so that I am me! At least this morning, I was sure!" She didn't expect that reaction.

"I am sorry Captain but I need to know, is it the real Alexander or the guardian?" Kestra asked

Alexandra got up. "I was born 28 years ago, and had an accident that cut my arm 4... no 5 years ago and I have this cybernetic arm... I'm no guardian. I would like to know what is going on Lieutenant Troi. I didn't expect that line of questions."

Kestra could feel that Alex was telling the truth and relaxed, "I am sorry captain, I have a few things I need to tell you but it has to be under the tightest security. I can only tell you in generalities also no specifics. Can we sit down?" Kestra said to her as she visibly relaxed a bit.

Alexandra saw the confusion leave the face of the lieutenant. "Yes we can... I'm intrigued. I know that the Nimitz was on a secret mission with Admiral Aragorn, that's about it. But I heard through the grape vines that it's an intriguing mission with hundreds of scientists on board. That's all I know."

"I must add that we are in a secured room... I wouldn't have wanted are conversation in any other way."

Kestra was more relaxed and for some reason she knew that she could tell this captain everything she wanted not worrying about any consequence. "Yes, the Nimitz was on a secret mission and while on the mission we met a ..... guardian ...... that looks just like you." Kesta said and then continued to fill her in on a few aspects on the mission except the actual location. She also told Alex what went on with the Collins incident.

"It's incredible what you are telling me. Captain Drake found us near where the family was held. Captain Drake and me... were very close some years ago. We were the one that free the Collins family. What you said about the guardian is huge do you realize that?" Alexandra got up and walk toward the window, in her mind she was remembering what she had learn and her experience on board the T'Kon station. She turned around to look at the lieutenant. "In this case, it would mean that there's a communication link that is still active, but of a different kind. I know that I had strange experiences with T'Kon technology."

"Also, the guardian had said that she had never been to the same sector as you, and I know you have not been there. Actually, no one has until we got there." Kestra inputted. "got to thinking like you that there is some kind of link between where we were at the wherever you were that gave it the chance to get a sample of your DNA."

"How... you need live cells, but in this case they took what they had and made a copy of me. It's beyond are technology. Tell, how was she psychologically?"

"At first she seemed .... confused..... but later she seemed to be coming to herself." Kestra replied as she thought about the encounters with the guardian.

"What I will tell you is between you an me and my counsellor of course. I had two particular experiences. One of them was when I was on planet A, there was a betazoid with us, but her ability is squib. She said to me later on that she saw people running around, not us but humanoids, I think it was the T'Kon people that were living there. The T'Kon civilization was a race of empath by the way. The ensign described me a scene that I saw in my dreams. I knew that from the moment I set foot on the station that something tap into my head, from that moment I knew. And then there was the simulation that nearly destroyed the T'Kon station, it confirmed that they were empath. Of course the scientific community is still debating that one, but I know what I know. The guardian might have tap into my own experiences and life."

Kestra listened with interest as to what Alex told her, but something still did not connect which she doubted that they could come up with the answer but she voiced it anyway. "I can understand that could have been the how in getting the experiences but does not explain how they got your DNA from there to where we were at. ...... I don't think ....... we will every answer that without the guardians help."

"There might be, I have a theory but don't have any proof. I hope that I will very soon... my theory is that we might have the answer under are very noses. It came over me one day when I was working in my lab on the T'Kon staff that belong to Sinia." Alexandra push a few keys on the console and showed a picture of the T'Kon Captain. "That is her that I have lived the life of during the simulation."

Kestra still could not understand as living in a simulation is one thing but to get the very fabric of the DNA of an individual to another part of the universe is another thing. "OK and what is that theory Captain?"

"One, I think that the communication link is the space river, it served the same purpose as for us, transport, but, it would be logical. I didn't give that theory yet to my Science department. As for my duplicate, the guardian, I think where you were, they had the technology, but, it would follow the principal of one person for creating a new person. They would need the raw material of someone alive to make the clone of me. They didn't need live cell, just the map, the description of my DNA, the how the codes are linked together. This could create a new meaning in the term, penalty of death, the very murderer could be recycled to recreate the victim. As for the mind, the copy might have been done during that simulation. Wonder why they didn't use Tahl? He was there with me. That's my theory."

Kestra thought the theory was a wild one as she knew that you needed actual sample for the DNA and to clone someone perfectly like the Guardian was, from a .... map was ludicrous to her. She did not let her facial expression change as she could tell that Alex believed what she was saying. Then she thought of what the guardian could do back there and then began to think that Alex might not be so far off.

"I don't know if that is really possible captain, but, If we were looking at us we can not do such a thing. Seeing what I have seen and what I felt from the guardian, what you have said could very well be true."

"Now as for why they or it chose you, I can only speculate that maybe you were the right DNA and his wasn't."

"I know that my theory is wild, that's why I said nothing, but, I know a bit of this type of alien technology and the history. I guess time will tell. You might be right, it also mean that certain humanoid lifeform are closely related to T'Kon and Gulorian civilization, a bit more of thinking on that one... how that happen? I think we might not know the answer of that one either."

Kestra feeling herself once again after finally meeting the captain, she was much happier as this original of Alex was actually just as nice as the guardian. This Alex had more of her mind than the guardian did or was it that the guardian just would not let hers out for her to read knowing that she was a telepath. "I think that one day we will know the answer, but, maybe not in our lifetime, Captain. I think that once people get together and minds start thinking a like, we might just find out." Kestra finished and she started to think that she had taken up too much of the captains time as it was. "Well, Captain, I am sorry to have taken so much of your time. I was being reassigned from the Nimitz to the Boudicca as their new Chief of Medicine, but, at this time they are trying to defestate themselves of some kind of Nanites so they ordered me to Geneva to wait. As we were coming, I noticed that the Cochrane had been docked here and got an overpowering urge that I needed to talk to you. That is why I came here like I did. I hope I did not inconvenience you too much, but, I think we have brought some things to light we needed to."

"Yes, I must admit that I wanted to talk to someone who was part of the mission, little did I know that it got me thinking of my private research. One day, I hope to meet that guardian... Boudicca has nanites problems. I can't do nothing about that I'm afraid. I have my own set of problems here."

"I understand Captain" Kestra said as she got up, "and I thank you for meeting with me. One day I would like to explore this more thoroughly with you. It is so very interesting to say the least." Kestra extended her hand to the captain, "I hope all your problems are easily accomplished Captain. I will see you one day on the other side."

"Yes, it is interesting, and I hope we will see each other again too." Alexandra grab the Lieutenant's hand and smiled.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - starship waiting area - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi -
2230) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kestra left the Cochrane in thought as she made her way to pick up her belongings. What they had talked about was extremely important and she wondered when they might be able to finish finding the answers. She walked over to the staging area for the Starbase to wait on word when she would be able to take a shuttle over to the Boudicca.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - starship waiting area - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi -
2230) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Kestra entered the Staging area, she looked around to see if she could spot Ensign Kyle Rin that she had talked to earlier.  He was not hard to spot as there were not that many waiting for transportation out in Federation uniform.  As she focused on him she noticed that his mind was in what could be called a waking dream.  It seemed that he was reliving an early incident in his life and was fighting with it.  Kestra thought it might be good to walk over to him to ensure that he did not hurt himself or anyone else.  She especially did not want him to embarass himself or Starfleet as he was about to fall over she grabbed him by the shoulder.

Kyle started to fight and Kestra could feel that he thought it was his attacker, but, then upon opening his eyes he found himself back in Geneva against the wall he looked upward at the figure wiping his eyes he saw Kestra.  He did not at that moment knew what he was really seeing so she decided to try and talk him out of what he had been in.

"Ensign Kyle Rin, are you with me?"  She asked him, "Just take it easy Ensign, you will be alright in a minute or so.  It was just a bad memory."

Kyle took to his feet and brushed himself off.

"I'm sorry i.. this..." He couldn't say a thing his voice was still frozen from his flashback.

"Here let me help you over to the chairs"  Kestra said as she grabbed his arm to help guide him, "Here sit till it passes.  Sometimes, our memories can seem so real and they take on a life of their own.  Would you like to talk about it?"  Kestra asked as she sat down next to him.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - starship waiting area - ACSO - Ensign Dr. Kyle Rin -
2230) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle started to fight and Kestra could feel that he thought it was his attacker, but, then upon opening his eyes he found himself back in Geneva against the wall he looked upward at the figure wiping his eyes he saw Kestra.  He did not at that moment knew what he was really seeing so she decided to try and talk him out of what he had been in.

"Ensign Kyle Rin, are you with me?"  She asked him, "Just take it easy Ensign, you will be alright in a minute or so.  It was just a bad memory."

Kyle took to his feet and brushed himself off.

"I'm sorry i.. this..." He couldn't say a thing his voice was still frozen from his flashback.

"Here let me help you over to the chairs"  Kestra said as she grabbed his arm to help guide him, "Here sit till it passes.  Sometimes, our memories can seem so real and they take on a life of their own.  Would you like to talk about it?"  Kestra asked as she sat down next to him.

"Parents..." Was all he could get out as Geneva's communication system came 
online.

[Attention:  All crewmembers of the USS Boundicca can now either come to one of our transporter rooms to beam aboard or take a shuttle over.  I repeat the USS Boundicca crewmembers can now board.]

"Well, Ensign, are you ready to head over?"  Kestra asked, "how did you get here?"

"The shuttle avenger piloted it myself from the academy" Kyle replied as he 
pointed over to it's
docking area.

"that is good, mind if I catch a ride over with you?"  Kestra enquired 
knowing that he would
not mind taking a higher Officer over with him and since they had gotten a 
little friendly.

Feeling a little exhusted from his previous flashback and considering this 
time around someone
actually cared for him during his time of need. "I see no problem with it 
wouldn't mind some company." He said with a  smile.

Kyle gathered his belongings and headed towards the shuttle docking bay 
catching up to Kestra as she was already entering the airlock.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle-Bridge, Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 2350) 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sevant looked at the status report he had just been handed, and nodded with approval. "Very good, no more traces of the nanites." He put the pad aside, and looked around the bridge. They had been at this most of the day, but the situation had finally been resolved. He tapped a finger on his command chair in the battle bridge, then said "Operations, begin rotating the crew into regular shifts again, for sleep. This includes senior officers."

(reply: Ops)

He turned his head to Tactical, "Bring down the quarantine and broadcast to Geneva that we are clean. Have them begin beaming or shuttling our accumulated crew as soon as possible. Give the all-clear to those in shuttles waiting in a holding pattern."

(reply: TAC)

Sevant tapped his badge, "Best time to having the ship repaired and hull patches in place over the bridge?"

(reply: engineering)

The Captain nodded to himself, "Very well." He closed the connection and stood.  "My compliments to the Officers and Crew, you have handled yourselves adequately, as befitting Starfleet Officers, even though you are all new to your positions. Carry on." He made his way to the ready room, to finish some work. He tapped his badge, just inside the door, "XO to the Battle-bridge ready room."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Sickbay, CMO/COUNS - Dr. Domini Alizara - 2350) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Domini nearly sighed with relief when the scan came back clean. She 
leaned against the wall and rested her aching head.   Reaching over for 
a hypospray that she had already given many, she put it against her arm 
and nearly sighed with relief when the headache began to disperse.

The more tired she was, the harder it became for her to keep others out 
and herself in.  She took a moment to reinforce the barriers that kept 
her from having to deal with the telepathic  noise that infiltrated the 
very air of a starship.

She had heard that the new CMO was on board the station.  Part of her 
was glad that she wouldn't have to do this again. CMO was hard work, 
and she had been doing much, too much of it recently in her career. She 
had discounted the rumors that the woman on board the station was a 
Troi, and had had a mental breakdown. Captain Sevant would not let 
anyone unstable be in a command position.

~He himself is unstable though....~  Domini felt doubt intrude and 
firmly squashed it aside.  She looked up to see one of her nurses 
there, and tried hard to focus on the words.  The nurse thought that 
she should go get some rest.

Domini certainly agreed with that statement.  She was surprised to 
notice that one foot could still go in front of the other and made her 
way to the quarters that she had only briefly been to earlier in the 
day.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Docking bay - ACSO - Ensign Dr. Kyle Rin - 0010) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle had brought the shuttle into the docking bay with precision which impressed Kestra.  As he was shutting down the shuttle she gathered her belongings and started to disembark.

"Ensign Rin, You are a great pilot and thanks for letting me ride with you." Kestra smiled at him warmly, "please come see me in sickbay once in a while. I will be scheduling an exam for all the crew members if the current doctor has not already done that, so, I will see you then also."

His face turned red as he began to speak. "Thank you very much i'll report 
to
the sickbay asap after i've reported in to Captain Sevant" He replied.

"You take care also Ensign"  Kestra finished and turned to head toward the 
door.

Kyle watched as Kestra exited the shuttle his eyes fixed to her beauty a

feeling
of calmness covered him for once in his life he finaly felt complete. It

reminded
him of when he was tucked in for bed time back home. A single tear dropped 
down
his face as he shut down the shuttle's power picked up his belongings and 
headed toward
the door.

The shuttle-bay doors closed with a hum behind Kyle as he looked left then 
right
down the corridors not a soul was in site he wondered if Kestra had already 
reported
to Captain Sevant.

"Computer location of Captain Sevant."

[Captain Sevant is in his ready room battle bridge section]

Kyle made his way down the corridor turnning at the first intersection 
finally a turbolift
making his way inside he addressed the computer "battle bridge please" the 
turbolift
humed it began it's movement toward his destination.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - outside BB Ready Room door - ACSO - Ensign Kyle Rin -
0025) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a few seconds Kyle exited the turbolift onto the battle bridge of the 
Boudicca
there were many crew members cleanning the area up guess it was quite a 
battle he thought to himself.  He spotted Kestra over at what he guessed was 
the ready room for Captain Sevant.
He watched as she stood in front of the door, straightening her clothes to 
look decent for reporting in.  He saw her reaching for the door chime he

figured he better go report in also instead of standing here.  Tucking his 
father's diary under his arm and placing his bag over his shoulder he walked 
over to her and  greeted her once again "Hello again Lt." he said softly

while straightening his clothes. "Ensign" She replied. He watched as she

pressed the door chime.
They both waited for a reply.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Counsellor's Quarters, Day 2, 0020) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After getting briefly turned around, lost and ending up on the other 
side of the ship, Domini had, at last, found her Quarters.  They were 
the usual spartan quarters favored by those who thought they knew how a 
person should live.  Beige everything.  She sighed and saw that a trunk 
had been beamed aboard, and looked curiously at it.  It was from her 
friend Jade Reene, on Earth.  Domini opened it in curiosity and saw all 
the things that she had left in her quarters in her haste to leave.  
She smiled and looked around the room in a new light.  This wouldn't be 
such a bad place to live after all.  Domini began to take things out of 
the very large trunk, the first layer a hand-made bed quilt that Jade 
had given her for her birthday as well as two wall hangings made by 
people on earth who called themselves 'Amish' - both antiques.  They 
were lovely pieces though, and she was very glad to get them back.  
Underneath them were her  shawls made of various fabrics, all of them 
handmade, and all of them antiques - as well as some throw blankets and 
pillows that Jade had made for her out of replicated fabrics to match 
the shawls and blankets.  She smiled at the one very fancy one that 
Jade had made of purple and maroon velvet and bits of replicated lace.

Next down was  a couple of crystal pieces that were made by a betazoid 
artist out of the unique multicolored crystal that only 'grew' there. 
The crystal pulsed in the light, almost as if it had a life of it's 
own.  She took the pieces out carefully and put them on the small glass 
table that was in the equally small lounge.

Next down was her jewelry, in the hand carved box that her father had 
given her, as well as her robe of andorian spider-silk, matching 
slippers, and her lounge robes of garnet and sapphire andorian silk.  
She grabbed one up happily and ran for her bathroom, shedding her 
uniform happily and showering, then toweling off her blond curls and 
slipping the gown on.  She felt almost immediantly at peace as she hung 
up the other two and slipped her robe over it all.  She went back to 
take out her kimono, a gift from one of her students who was now 
serving on the Dutchman as Counsellor.  She laid that across her bed 
before promising herself that she would replicate another stand to hang 
it on, properly.

And then there was her gown, from when she and Jade had dressed up for 
the Academy formal Christmas masquerade  as characters from a 
3-Musketeers novel. their dates had been the three musketeers, she 
remembered laughing, and they had finally convinced Meiko to drop her 
plans to wear kimono and wear a matching gown of purple.  The half 
betazoid/half japanese girl had never looked so ridiculous, Domini 
remembered, and Meiko had certainly known it, too!  She carefully hung 
the dress up, then saw that under it, wrapped carefully in space gauze 
were the delicate hand made masks that Meiko had made for the three of 
them.  Domini sighed with pleasure as she took them out and reached the 
final row of the box to find more of her clothing and accessories, as 
well as a note from Jade that detailed that the rest of Domini's 
belongings would catch up with her after Jade had time to finish 
packing away the house that they had shared.

Domini  took  a deep breath as she got to the end of the note where 
Jade detailed that Domini's office at the Academy had been ransacked 
and burned, and that everything there had been destroyed.  The Academy 
security did not know how it had happened, or why, and Jade said that 
she hoped that Domini had taken everything she wanted from there, 
because there was nothing that had been recoverable.

Domini finished hanging up her clothing, and then walked over to her 
computer and dialed stores, where she put in the specifics of the kinds 
of hangings that she would need for the quilts, the scarves, the masks 
and her kimono.   She also put in for a set of bookshelves made of 
cherry and a new coffee table made of cherry also.   She then shifted 
the trunk to the foot of her bed, where she covered it in a long pillow 
and a scarf, and it made a rather attractive bench.

She covered the psychologically neutral couch with a lovely blanket 
made of super soft Galvarian IV  cotton, and then placed the pillows 
that went with it on them.  She turned and acknowledged the door, 
taking possession of the hangings, and sending the techs away with the 
offending glass table. They had told her that the bookcase would not be 
available for at least a day due to others making requests.  Domini 
nodded to herself and smiled...this would be fine.

She looked up again as someone arrived with a much smaller trunk, and 
opened it to find more of her belongings.  The person explained that 
they had just reached Geneva and were brought aboard immediately.   
Domini nodded and opened it to find her teddy bear, her doll and the 
trunk of clothing that Jade had given her, as well as another bright 
blue fuzzy bear that had lived in Domini's counseling office before she 
had left for earth.  She hugged the bear, and decided that since 
children would not be aboard the Boudicca, Lancelot could stay in her 
quarters.   Included in the trunk was a framed picture of Domini's 
sister performing on Earth, as well as one of the three of them  out 
for a day sightseeing.  She placed the two pictures to the side and 
reached down to take out a stasis cube, then realized that Jade had 
sent her clippings of her plants - all she had to do was go get the 
appropriate pots and soil and plant them...and in a few weeks she would 
have her plants back.

Domini leaned against the new wooden table and smiled. "Computer, 
compose message to Doctor Jade Reene, Doctor of Neuorology and 
Neuroscience, Starfleet Academy, Earth."  The computer beeped and 
Domini began to detail a message to what was, in effect, her best 
friend and sister of her soul, expressing pleasure in the 
thoughtfulness of sending on her belongings and how much she missed 
her.  Domini noticed that two discs had fallen out of between the teddy 
bears when she had finished, and popped one into the player as she 
began to hang her wall hangings and masks.  She was thrilled to hear 
her sister's strong voice come out of the speakers in what was 
undoubtedly her newest performance.

Domini blinked back tears of joy and homesickness as she looked around 
her quarters two hours later. The place looked nothing like it had 
before.  She placed the stasis cube carefully to one side, then removed 
the books from the bottom of the trunk, stacking them neatly against 
the wall. The trunk went outside her quarters where stores promised to 
come and fetch it for her.   She walked over to her now transformed 
bedroom and got into her bed, feeling the comforting weight of  her 
quilt, and looked across the room at the picture of Jade and her sister 
and realized that for all of this...Domini was glad that she had made 
the move to the Boudicca.  She curled up in her bed and was almost 
immediately asleep...it having been a longish day.  Usually when Domini 
accepted a new post, she found that it was hard for her to sleep 
because the place didn't feel like home to her. But this room aboard 
the Boudicca did...and all because of Jade's thoughtfulness.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Starbase Geneva - starship waiting area - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi -
2355) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kestra had sat in the staging area talking to Ensign Kyle Rin so he could calm down from his little daymare.  She had suggested that he should see the counselor on board the Boudicca when he could as it seemed to bother him more than it should have.  She talked very little about herself tending to let him talk more about himself.  It seemed to calm him to have someone to just sit and listen to him.  She did not want too many people knowing too much about her at this point.

She had noticed that Kyle was pretty tall and lean, but, his leanness seemed to be on the low side and Kestra thought that he might be one to put on a weight gaining program once she examines him.  She did not mention this to him as she thought it was just not the place to start something of that sort.

[Attention:  All crewmembers of the USS Boundicca can now either come to one of our transporter rooms to beam aboard or take a shuttle over.  I repeat the USS Boundicca crewmembers can now board.]

"Well, Ensign, are you ready to head over?"  Kestra asked, "how did you get here?"

(reply Kyle)

"that is good, mind if I catch a ride over with you?"  Kestra enquired knowing that he would not mind taking a higher Officer over with him and since they had gotten a little friendly.

(reply Kyle)

"Good, then lets go and get aboard so we can find our assigned quarters." Kestra said as she started heading in the direction he indicated his shuttle was.

(reply Kyle)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Docking bay - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi - 0010 ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle had brought the shuttle into the docking bay with precision which impressed Kestra.  As he was shutting down the shuttle she gathered her belongings and started to disembark.

"Ensign Rin, You are a great pilot and thanks for letting me ride with you." Kestra smiled at him warmly, "please come see me in sickbay once in a while. I will be scheduling an exam for all the crew members if the current doctor has not already done that, so, I will see you then also."

(reply Kyle)

"You take care also Ensign"  Kestra finished and turned to head toward the door.

"Computer, location of the Captain?"  Kestra asked

[Captain Sevant is in the Battle bridge Ready Room]

Kestra stopped in her tracks as she had not known that Sevant had been reassigned to the Boudicca as her captain.  She suddenly got a little nervous as she was not sure if he requested her or had starfleet.  She wondered if she had been reassigned now because of her breakdown and the nurses had not felt comfortable around her.  Had Vanyssa sent a report in to starfleet that had initiated the transfer?  Well, she thought to herself, might as well get it over with.

Kestra stopped by the docking operations to see if they could either hold or find someone to take her belongings to her quarters if they had been assigned yet.

"Excuse me chief, Is there someplace to put my belongings until I find out if I have quarters assigned?"  Kestra asked

"I can check to see if you have quarters, one moment sir." the chief responded, "yes you do sir and if you want I can have your belongings taken there."  he said after a few moments of checking.

"Pls, I have to go report in to the captain and then hopefully I will head there, thanks Chief."  Kestra said as she started heading once again to the door.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - outside BB Ready Room door - CMO - Lt.(sg) Kestra Troi
-0025) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Kestra finally arrived the Battle Bridge, she had noticed that everyone seemed to be winding down.  She took it as they were finishing up things from their battle with the Nanites.  She was glad that they had finally was able to rid the ship and everyone on it of them at least she hoped they had.

Kestra was still a bit nervous to meeting up with Sevant again, but, she had to accomplish this task as she would be under him.  As she stood in front of the door, she straightened her clothes to look decent when reporting in, then pressed the door chime.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Engineering - Ensign Saim Enaj - 0025) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saim was thankful it was all over.  It was not a pleasant feeling having the ship that you were meant to keep working, falling to pieces around you.  Everything was now starting to look like it should though there was still a lot of work to do, even with hours of work on it.  Actually thinking about it Saim was not tired even with the long hours.  Working on the ship had been just as exhilirating as she had hoped.  As she looked around she saw that Bolian who had been working before.  He was the only other on in there.  Saim had been working so hard before she had been oblivious to everything else.
 
"Hi there.  I guess we should now formerly introduce ourselves now that the panic is over.  I'm Saim Enaj."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge, Ready Room - Sevant & Troi - 0026) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was absolutely no surprised that his chime should be ringing, but it still made him frown in  irritation. He tapped the monitor off and turned to face the door. 

Sevant wiped his face, then settled back in the chair. "Come." he said, quietly.

(reply: Ensign Rin)

Kestra entered as ordered and walked right up to the desk that Captain Sevant was sitting at.  She  wanted to greet him as a member from the Nimitz but she could not as she had to remain professional.

"Lieutenant Senior Grade Kestra Troi reporting as ordered sir" Kestra said as she came to attention at  the appropriate distance and saluted.


(reply: Ensign Rin)

Sevant looked at both of them for a few moments, his fingertips tapping lightly against each other.  Finally, he looked solidly at Ensign Rin. "Ensign, wait outside for a few minutes."

(reply: Ensign Rin)

Sevant nodded as the Ensign exited the room, then he turned his attention back to Kestra. "Welcome  aboard, doctor." he said, in an even tone. He considered her for a few moments, "I'm aware of your abilities, but I will ask you the same question as I asked our Counselor. This is a ship of war,  designed to kill, does that provide you with any irresolvable issues as a Doctor?"

~I wonder why LoDona found it necessary to surround me with trained Counselors.~ he thought, tight  within his own mental shields, with a touch of unease.

"Sir, as you know I have been with the Nimitz from the day it was put into commission more or less.  I  took the bridge command test and pasted it with high marks.  Before I left the first time, I had actually attained the rank of Captain and I have been in command situations during battle.  With that in  mind sir, I have no issues to doing what I have to do.  I am a doctor/counselor by trade but I will and  have done what was needed."  Kestra replied to him in hopes that what she said answered his questions  then a thought came to her, "Sir, as I am to be a doctor, I will reframe from using my telepathic abilities as much as possible unless absolutely necessary and then only if authorized."

"Sir here is my orders also" she finished as she handed over her PADD to him.

Sevant took the PADD, and glanced over the orders. They were nearly the same as what he had in his  records, and he had already committed those to memory, now she just had to be informed as to the rest.  Sevant took a breath, then looked up. "Your orders say you are to be Chief Medical Officer, but your  orders were not complete for reasons of secrecy."

He stood, as he continued talking. "LoDona kept the command officers secret, in case they should run  into problems in-transit. The only exception to this was myself." He walked over to the small  replicator, and punished a couple commands. The replicator flashed briefly, and Sevant took the contents  into his hand. He turned on his heel to face Kestra, "You, should you choose not to decline, have also  been named as Second Officer."

Kestra almost stumbled with the announcement of her being named second officer.  She did not understand  why she was being given the position but she was not about to turn it down.

"Sir, I don't understand but I choose to accept and thank you sir." Kestra replied.

Sevant walked to the front of the desk, "Along with the position, comes this." He opened his hand, lying  on his palm was a single hollow pip. When added to the two solid ones she already possessed, she would  be a Lieutenant Commander.

"Stand, Lieutenant Commander." he said, evenly.

Lieutenant Commander, at first it did not register what he said then it
hit her, she was being promoted.   It made her very happy but confused
at the same time.  She stood at attention as he pined the rank on  her and she saluted him then he shook her hand.

"Sir, I am happy to accept the position and rank but I am a bit confused. I think you can understand  why, considering we both came from the same Starship.  May I ask what is going on?"

Sevant put his hands behind his back, and considered. "I don't know our mandate yet, but this is a  warship and we are in the midst of a civil war." He let the ramifications sink in, "We can no longer  receive officers from Starfleet, so Admiral LoDona has had to shift officers where they can be used."

He frowned, then turned and started heading for his chair again. "More immediately, we are recovering from  an offensive nanite infestation."

"Yes, I understand sir, we were briefed on the Nimitz about the incidents with Admiral Doenitz.  Also, I  was informed of the Nanite infestation earlier when I tried to come aboard.  I look forward to reading  the reports on what happened and the remedy that had been used in case it happens again.  But, lets hope  that they all were destroyed."  Kestra said thinking about what could happen if they came back.  "I know  you are busy sir, is there anything else?  If not, I will find my quarters and start fresh in the  morning, if alright with you sir."

Sevant considered that, as he sat down. "Go to sickbay and get a quick brief about the medical situation  dealing with the nanites. I believe they have it well under control, but it never hurts to be cautious. After that, the night is yours."

"Aye sir" Kestra replied already thinking of the nanites and hoping there was a report on them. "I will  also be in sickbay early in the morning to get things started. And sir, if I may speak freely?"

Sevant nodded in the affirmative, then folded his hands together on the desk.

"Sir, I just want you to know that I am glad to have come to work for you yet once again.  I think that what has happened before on the Nimitz will not happen here."  Kestra said and knew he would understand what she meant.

Sevant nodded at that, "Very well. Send the Ensign in, on your way out. Dismissed."

Kestra saluted from attention, "Aye sir" She responded as she spun on her heels then left.  At the door she informed Ensign Rin that he could enter and saw his eyes as his landed on her new rank.  All she did was shrug and smile at him.

Sevant closed his eyes as the door slid shut, and shook his head. Three counselors, one as First Officer, and two as department heads. He couldn't help but think there was no coincidence in this. He opened his eyes again, and waited for Ensign Rin. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca - Counselor's Office,  COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara - 0845) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On her way to the bridge, Domini  took a few minutes to go by her 
office, and take a look at it.  It was..spartan...to say the least.  
She sat down at the metal desk and keyed in her command code to access 
her log file.

"The new CMO has reported aboard and assumed control of sickbay.  We 
talked about her reservations of command, and of being aboard a 
warship.  She seems well able to handle the responsibilities, in spite 
of her recent loss.  I have not yet had the chance to meet all of the 
department heads, or review their files, but will make the time to meet 
them individually today or tomorrow.

"Computer record that entry into my professional log file please."

She sat for a moment and then detailed the report on the nanites and 
their subsequent removal from the Boudicca.  "I have sent  examples of 
each of the 12 different forms found to both the marine officer and the 
science department for analysis, and the rest have been disposed of, 
off of the ship.  The last scan by Ops showed the ship to be clean. My 
recommendation is to scan the ship at intervals to make sure that there 
are none in hibernation.

"Computer, send copies of that report to all senior officers."  Domini 
heard the computer cheep, then she got up. Her first  stop was the 
science department.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca, CMO Quarters, Lt. Commander, Kestra Troi, 0700) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Domini woke up early, and stretched, rising quickly to shower and dress in her uniform. She quickly tidied her bed, then hit her comm badge. "Computer is Kestra Troi on board yet?" Domini asked. The computer replied in the affirmative. "Is she awake?" The computer again replied that she was. "Dr. Alizara to Lt. Troi. Would you like to have breakfast in my quarters with me?" She asked. "I would like to meet you."

Kestra had never slept good on the first night aboard a new ship she had been assigned to, this one was no different. She even had added things that caused her to be too excited to sleep very well. The fact that Sevant was the captain was one exciting aspect, then being promoted to Lt. Commander and being given the position of Second Officer was also a reason not to be able to sleep. After her talk with Sevant, she had went to find her quarters, which, where she found her belongs had been delivered. She took a nice long shower to ease her muscles from the long trip and then had tried to sleep but her mind had been too wound up to let her.

=\=Dr. Alizara to Lt. Troi. Would you like to have breakfast in my quarters with me? I would like to meet you.=\= Came across her com. Kestra had not known that anyone on board would have known that she was assigned. She did not really know what to think on how this Dr. Alizara found out, but, she did need to eat and maybe she could find out some information on what has been going on.

"Doctor Alizara, I would be happy to. Say in fifteen minutes?" Kestra asked setting a good time frame.

Domini nodded to herself. =\=Of course.=\= She had replied, then went over to the small table that was sitting in her quarters. She hadn't seen it the night before, and shook her head over this strange neo-art deco style that the starfleet personnel who had decorated her quarters had chosen. It would have to do for now, she thought, going over to the small pile of shawls that she hadn't distributed yet, and covering the table in a soft one home-spun by a betazoid - soft pastel colors and a very soft cloth. She nodded to herself, then began to set the table with a typical betazoid breakfast, including pastries and a tea native to betazed that she kept packets of with her. She missed her home, and tried to bring as much of it as she could with her. ~I wonder if I could get Jade to ship me my tea set~ She thought to herself with a grin. Knowing how Jade thought, it was probably on it's way, marked fragile. She finished setting the table right as the door rang and she acknowledged it from across the room, turning to greet her co-worker with typical betazoid openness and a very exuberant charm.

Kestra asked the computer where the quarters was of Dr. Alizara and found that it had not been so far away from her own quarters. It was definitely not going to take her fifteen minutes to get there, so, she had a little time to make sure she had herself dressed in her new uniform. She decided that once she left, she would be heading to her new office to look things over. Before she left her quarters she replicated a box of milk chocolate candies that she had always liked and hoped that the good doctor would also. After she finished she headed over to Dr. Alizara's quarters.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca, COUNS Quarters, Lt. Commander, Kestra Troi/Lieutenant Domini Alizara, 0720) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once she arrived, she pushed the door chime and was immediately greeted with permission to enter. Kestra noticed that the person that she saw was a Betazoid as she was and was trying to greet her in the typical Betazoid manner of openness and charm. Kestra put up her firm shield but tried to return the charm as she handed her the box of candies.

"Dr. Alizara, I presume. I hope that you like my favorite chocolates." She said as she handed them over.

Domini nodded and bowed from the waist, accepting the chocolates with a smile. "Thank you, very much, Lt. Troi. My name is Domini Alizara, my mother is Alizara of the Seventh House. She is a Peace Keeper. Please, call me Domini. I don't know if you have had a chance to go over the crew listings yet, but I am the Counselor, and have been serving as the CMO for the last day. I hope that sickbay is to your liking - it is a mess, but much less than it was yesterday! Please come and share the bread of my table with me, and be welcome to my hearth and home." She spoke the traditional words of welcome at the end, and motioned for Lt. Troi to have a seat.

"I am from the Fifth House that is the keepers of the sacred challis and that my mother is LiSuini. Please call me Kestra when not on duty. I am honored to share bread from your table and to be in your home. May your hearth and home be honored by the partaking.." Kestra also bowed at the waist to what Domini had said.

Kestra then sat down where Domini gestured. "I am sorry but I have not looked over the crew listing yet, but, I am glad that we do have a counselor with us. I am a trained counselor and it is my major when coming out of the Academy. I know that it is not easy to set up sickbay in one day, so, I am thankful for anything you have done for me. I would like to read your report of the incident that happened yesterday and possibly speak to you more once I do. I know that I will have questions later and I do look forward to working closely with you."

Domini looked up and blushed. "You got promoted." She spoke, in characteristic betazoid bluntness.

Kestra had not been one to make her rank known and usually left it up to the person to notice unless she had to use it.

"Thanks yes, it was a complete surprise when Captain Sevant presented it to me." Kestra replied as she blushed a bit not knowing why.

Domini nodded, and handed Kestra the pastries. "There should be some made from uttaberries in there." She spoke, pouring them both tea. ~I've fallen out of the habit of giving thanks, and that damned gong always gave me a headache. Besides, it doesn't seem right to have a computer make the noise.~ She spoke telepathically, sipping her tea.

Kestra heard Domini in her mind but chose not to reply in kind and hoped that she would not take offense to it. "Domini, I offer you no offense but I have chosen to curb the use of my telepathic abilities until it is very needed." Kestra told her taking a bite out of the pastry then sipping the tea. "You have done this meal honor as it is very good."

Domini blinked. "That isn't very betazoid like." She spoke in kind. "But I offered no offense. Have you been so long from home?" She asked in concern.

"You are completely right, it is not Betazoid like, but, it is the way I prefer it." Kestra replied, "There is just a lot of history to go into at this time. If you feel offended I will honor you with the typical Betazoid speech at this time."

Domini shook her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to start out this way. I made some assumptions that I should not have, and I apologize. It's been a long time since I've been home too. Earth is not the same as Betazed, no matter how many Betazoids there are there. I was glad that another was posted aboard, and I wanted to be close to her, especially since I would hazard we have very similar upbringing?" Domini closed her mind off then, and made a sad little mental sigh well within her shields.

"I am sorry also as I have dishonored you." Kestra said regretfully, "I have not slept since I left the Nimitz and I guess it is showing. I am not usually this way. To tell you the truth, I don't know why I am this way." Kestra tried to smile but continued. "I can talk to you as you are the counselor, I don't understand why I was given the rank as I was promoted not long ago or why I got a command position." Kestra explained as she got up to walk into the leaving room. "I am going to presume that since you knew I was coming aboard, you looked up my file?"

Domini shook her head. "No. I was given a report on Captain Sevant that was from his former Counselor, but there was nothing on you." She spoke evenly, pouring more tea and following Kestra into the living room. Domini took a seat on the reclining chair and wished briefly for the rocking chair that Jade had. ~Something else to add to the list~ She thought to herself. "What is wrong?" Domini asked.

"I am confused" Kestra looked at Domini, "not sick confused just confused as to what has happened here so far. I came here basically knowing that I would be the CMO but not that I would be promoted and given an additional duty. Not that I am unhappy because I am, really." Kestra saw the confusion now on Domini's face. "Let me give you a quick run down. My husband recently was killed in another part of the universe and I had a hard time with it. Basically, I had a mental breakdown when the bond finally broke. I did a few things on the Nimitz during that time that I am not so proud of. It took my mother, Lisuini and my kids arriving to get me out of my depression. So, as you can see my dilemma, how did I get picked for this?"

"Well..I would say, why did they pick Sevant for Captain? His escapades on the Nimitz should have gotten him thrown out of the fleet and put on a penal colony, according to what his last Counselor wrote. But Starfleet chose him to be Captain. Why do you think?"

Kestra thought for a few minutes while looking at Domini, "I really can not answer that unless there were just no one else." Kestra smiled at the answer. "I do tell you though, I am glad and will try to live up to the expectations."

Domini shook her head and smiled. "Kestra, you served a board the Nimitz, you k now what is going on here. We are at war. When war happens, those who are ordinary are required to be extraordinary, the extraordinary are required to take a step beyond. Starfleet did not get rid of Sevant, because Sevant is too good of an officer to lose. He is loyal to the Federation, and I would a hazard a guess that you have been checked out and found to be beyond reproach. That is why you are here. This is a ship of war, Kestra, and we, all of us, have been hand picked to serve aboard her. None of us are ordinary and a lot will be asked of us...most of it will not have been taught in the Academy." She smiled as she finished.

While Kestra listened to what Domini said it all came to her in a way that made perfect sense. It seemed like a weight had just been lifted from her shoulders and she wondered why she had not come up with an answer like that as she was once a counselor. Maybe she had been away from it for too long.

"Now I know why you have been picked, doctor, you have a level head on your shoulders." ~ I am very much glad to have you here to work close by me.~ The later she put in the normal speech for Betazoids to honor her.

"I don't know why I was picked." Domini spoke softly. "I had to get off of Earth. I loved living there, but..but space calls to me. I was marooned there after back-talking to a certain Admiral that we all know and love..." Domini shook her head. "They told me it was because I had taken the training to be a Peace Keeper. I don't know if that is true, personally I thought it was because I had both degrees, medical and psychology." She grinned lopsided. "I heard last night from my house mate and best friend that the office I worked in at the Academy was burned and everything ruined." She couldn't conceal how much this disturbed her.

"I can see why the office burning would disturb you. I think it would disturb me also as it might be a sign that someone could be after me." Kestra said then she remembered what she has been through. "Actually, I do have people after me and they have already killed my father. They probably killed my husband also and have threatened to kill everyone in my family. So far they are living up to what they have said." Kestra took a deep breath before continuing, "But, I have to just put that behind me and trust people that have been given charge to look after the health and welfare of my children."

"As for you my dear, I think that your level headedness is your best attribute. In the times of war, or any battles for that matter, level heads tend to do better. You are in a good position to help the captain when everything around him is chaos to see the balance. I know that Captain Sevant is very good in times of battle, but, everyone needs help once in a while."

Domini inclined her head listening. She thought for a second, and nodded. "I see what you mean. Tell me about your children, please?" She asked, softly.

Kestra smiled when asked about her kids as their memory was brought forward and she warmed all over from it.

"I have three children, Trisha, Centrina and Sky jr. Trisha I adopted while on a mission relocating her people to another planet when I was on the nimitz. Centrina and Sky are twins that was born just before I made captain while transferring to another squadron with the nimitz." Kestra reflected to her about her kids. Kestra continued as she had not sat with someone and had the opportunity to just talk about them. Domini seemed to be truly interested in what she had to say and that also caused her to go forward. She did not know this person but she made it so easy to just tell her everything. "And so you know the loves of my heart now." She smiled as she finished.

"Well, family is very very important to Betazoids... and I don't have much - my parents were disappointed over my joining the Fleet and so they do not talk to me much anymore, and certainly not as their precious daughter. They were equally scandalized at the bad influence I had over my half-sister... who left Betazed right after I did to pursue her musical career on Earth. Kella is the only family that I really have... and she has shown no particular attachment to anyone." Domini thought for a second. "In a way, I envy you Kestra of the Fifth House for having an Imzadi. I am sorry that you lost him, but it is better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all."

Kestra had heard that phrase before from earth people and read it in some of their books. She could tell that earth had an influence on Domini and actually Kestra thought that was good. She was saddened that her family was treating her so, and decided that a little tale could help. "If it helps any, I was ostraszied from the family when I went to starfleet and then again when I would not marry the one I was betrothed to and married Sky. My mother, bless her heart, always wants me to do the things that would put me more in the lime light of the government but I buck her at every turn. We still love each other even though we still fight. I guess we both have strong emotions and are very stubborn. I got that from her and she cant stand it." At that Kestra giggled a bit. "Give them time, they will come around and I bet they still love you. In the mean time, I would be happy to consider you my sister and part of my family."

Domini gaped at what Kestra was offering. "I..I" She said to hell with words and opened her mind to Kestra again, showing her the emotions that were playing through her soul. "My mother seemed to think that I should be a Peace keeper and a mind-healer just like her, and that I should marry and bond with the docile male that she picked for me. She never got that I was so much different..." Domini then glanced at the chronometer. "It's gotten very late, Kestra."

Kestra read everything that Domini offered to her and was astounded at the fact at she had done that. "You have got to be your own person, Domini. As much and more on Betazed, do what we have or are doing, the more it will be easier for them to accept it." Kestra said as she opened her mind as she had not done in so long she almost forgot how to do it and was worried that what Domini would see would scare her. "Yes it is getting late and I need to make an appearance in sickbay to see what is going on. I thank you for this, it has made me feel loads better." Kestra got up and gave her a hug as sisters do from time to time.

Domini marveled that they had grown so close so quickly. "And I should goto the bridge and see what is going on." She spoke, savoring the feeling of being so intimate with another, who truly understood what it meant. It helped that they had such similar upbringing, it helped that all the Houses were intermarried to some extent and they were probably cousins if someone could untangle the genealogy.

"If things go well, maybe lunch might be a good thing later?" Kestra asked as she was at the door.

"Have you met Yalta? She is the Ops officer and very nice. We ladies should band together against the men...get into mischief and have some fun..on out own." She grinned.

"Once I see what Sickbay is like, maybe I can go see her or while you are up there, if she has the time, have her come down. Yes we do need to stick together. As they say on earth, call me you have my number." Kestra smiled as big as Domini grinned as she left.

Domini took a couple of seconds to clean up her quarters, then brushed her blond curls again and headed to the bridge.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(USS Boudicca, Science Department, Coun Dr.  Domini Alizara, 0915) 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Domini walked into the science department where she saw a very tall man 
bending over a console.  She privately thought that he looked quite 
handsome, if a bit shy.

"Hello, Ensign, my name is Domini Alizara, the counsellor. I'm just 
making the rounds to meet those aboard."  Her brown eyes sparkled in 
the light, and she tried to project reassurance to the young man.

(reply Kyle Rin, Sparek if you want to be there :-)


After finishing her chat with the young ensign, Domini headed over to 
the botanical gardens, where she saw a young woman kneeling in the 
flowers, with a look of intense concentration on her face.

Domini walked over to the woman and waited a few minutes before she 
looked up. "Hello?" The woman inquired.

"Good morning." Domini replied. "I'm sorry to interrupt your work, but 
I came to ask if there was any chance of my getting some  nutrient soil 
from you to plant some rare flowers that my friend sent me from Earth."

The woman nodded, and took Domini over to her office, handing her two 
bags of it. As Domini was heading out with them, the woman asked if she 
would need any help replanting the starts. Domini shook her head and 
headed back to her quarters to leave the bags till she had some time to 
take care of the transplanting.

(USS Boudicca - Engineering,  COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara - 0940)

Domini decided next to head down to Engineering to meet the  CEOs.  She 
turned the corner to see both a bolian male and a bajoran female 
discussing the best way to do some esoteric engineering practice.   She 
grinned and headed over to introduce herself.

"Good morning."  She spoke. "You must be Saim Enaj."  Domini said to 
the woman. "But I'm afraid that I don't know who you are."  She said to 
the bolian.