COMPILE_TERMINAL_VIEW
Utopia Planitia
From: Michael Drake [raspberry.jam@btopenworld.com] 2002-07-09
From: Michael Drake [raspberry.jam@btopenworld.com] Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2002 2:46 AM To: RPG Utopia Planitia Subject: [Posting] Utopia Planitia Compile - 21-02-02 ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - OPS's Office - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.17.1057) Ralth locked his gaze into his commanders eyes as he rose, seeing the shocked expression. Still, the betazoid didn't as much as project a single, telepathic exclamation. ~Well, he's taking it well so far...~ Martin stood, fixing Ralth with his intense gaze and he had to suppress a smile because it wouldn't be appreciated due to the gravity of the situation. ~He's got the eyes of a hunter. Yes, we'll work together just fine.~ "I want you to take every available member of staff, and half of the unavailable ones. I want this situation fixed, and I want it done by midnight. Otherwise I'll take the entire system offline as a safety precaution." ~And decisive, too. Well, his bio said as much.~ Nodding, Ralth started making up a preliminary plan on his PADD. "Status of Orbital Operations." The briefing moved on. "We still have three starships without functioning docking facilities, including the USS Magellan. She should be ok to hold position, but the other two are much less stable. The slightest problem onboard and their orbits could begin decaying." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Personal Quarters - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.17.1855) Ralth straightened his back and glared meanly at the PADD he was working with. ~Gotcha, you piece of binary excrement!~. He turned to the nearby replicator. "Rreplicator, I need a new PADD. Begin prrogram." A brand new, shining PADD appeared on the replicator plate. Smiling grimly, Ralth took it and tossed it to the recyckling unit. ~Well, that deals with this sector.~ Tapping his commbadge, Ralth called up for status reports. =^= Officer's quarters, all clear.=^= =^= Req Deck and lounges, all clear.=^= =^= Main Operations, all clear. =^= ~Wouldn't do to have no coffee on the bridge,~ mused Ralth to himself. =^= Main habitation areas, all teams have reported all clear. =^= =^= Replimats all clear. =^= ~That about does it. Now we only need to unscramble the main replicator and matter distribution systems and we're home free. That's what I call speed maintainance...~ Grinning a toothy predatorian smile he turned to the inhabitants of the quarters, a family of an elderly engineering crewman. "Well, ma'm, your rreplicator is fit for use now, and therre shouldn't be any more prroblems. Your husband's team has rreported all clear on their area, so I'm letting them all to rrest. He should be here soon." The elderly woman nodded and smiled thankfully. "Can I get you something, officer? Frank wouldn't like for me to let you just walk away like this..." she offered. "It's quite all rright, ma'm. I must go and rreport to my CO, and then I can go get some rrest. If therres any morre trrouble, just call me, allright?" Yawning behind his hand he turned to leave the cabin, with the thanks of the family. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Corridors - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.17.1900) ~Now, to report in.~ He tapped his commbadge. "Ensign Ra'Kir to Ltn. Black. Sir, we've finished with the perrsonal and common rreplicators, and with your perrmission, I'd like to send all the teams for some rrest. They've earned it." (Reply OPS) "All right, sir." Tapping his commbadge twice he closed the link and turned it on again. "AOPS to all engineering and volunteer teams on rreplicator duty: Thank you for an exceptional job, all. We've managed to rreach our objective. Consider yourrselves off-duty until the next shift. I'll put in a good word above for your stellar errformance. Ra'Kir out." "Computer, verify overtime pay to all engineering teams on rreplicator duty. Authorization Ra'Kir, Alpha-Vee-Rrakhta." =^= Verified. Recommendation for overtime pay forwarded to OPS. =^= ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Charlie - Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.17.1903) Where was that little Bolian? He'd disappeared a few minutes ago to make some manual adjustments to the docking struts - which was fine - but he hadn't returned - which was not. Tapping his foot idly, Martin was caught by surprise as his comm-badge chirped, =/\=Ensign Ra'Kir to Lt. Black. Sir, we've finished with the perrsonal and common rreplicators, and with your perrmission, I'd like to send all the teams for some rrest. They've earned it.=/\= "Agreed." Martin raised his eyebrows in surprise; that had been a very large task. "I'm impressed, Ensign! Please pass around my thanks." =/\=All right, sir.=/\= The comm-badge made a null sound, signalling the closure of the channel, and Martin looked around the Operations deck. Where *was* that Bolian? ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.17.2018) Ralth walked into the replimat, immediately scanning his surroundings for Lt. Black, finding him in a table with an ensign. Smiling, he made his way to the table. Martin made the introductions. "Ensign Ra'Kir, Ensign Okada, our new Yard Engineering Officer." Turning, Ralth bowed to the other ensign. "It is a pleasure to meet you." ~Definately a pleasure, always, to meet someone as beautiful...~ Ralth thought to himself. He seated himself and allowed them to get on to business. "Between the three of us, and the as yet unannounced Orbital Operations Officer, we're responsible for pretty much every aspect of Utopia Planitia." Martin began, giving a slight pause apparently to let them get used to the idea. ~And it does need some getting used to... This isn't anything like organizing hunts on Cait.~ "So that would mean between the three of us..." Ensign Okada added in quietly, "According to my job description, I am the Orbital Ops Chief as well..." ~YEO and OOPS? That's gotta be a real pain in the neck position, and she's just an ensign, like me. I know I'd be bent over backwards there...~ Ralth didn't offer any verbal comment, knowing worse was to come. "The primary role here is to be an efficient shipyard for construction, refit and repair," Martin continued, "and if we're going to manage that then the three of us are going to have to affect a few changes around here." He paused momentarily, as though listening to some far away voice, and said, "Would you care for some food?" ~So that's what the telepathy's good for, my stomach is rumbling so hard I can barely hear anything else!" As if by his mental cue, ensign Okada's stomach rumbled audibly, at least to his sensitive ears. She blushed slightly and said "I would like to eat...tonkatsu and a bowl of rice, a plate of Sushi, and some green tea would be delightful." Ralth thought about it but couldn't recognize the foods, although he did recall seeing 'Sushi' listed in the replimat database he'd skimmed through. He gave some thought to what he'd have, but decided against it. "I'd prefer to eat after this meeting, if it is all right. Food tends to make my species extremely sleepy." ~Not to mention that our eating habits tend to make humans and other omni- and herbivore species more then slightly nervous...~ Ralth thought to himself. When others had gotten their foods and eaten a moment in silence, the OPS seemingly felt that it was time to get to real business. "There is one very simple reason I have brought the three of us together: the USS Firebrande. Just by looking at the standing orders from Starfleet regarding her usage, it's obvious she needs to be made ready and accessible very quickly. Which is why I want her moved to docking bay 30." ~Docking bay 30? We don't have a docking bay 30!~ "..." was all Ralth could get out of his mouth before Martin continued. "As of my arrival at this station we have no Bay 13 - I cannot stand that number. Bay 30 is located on deck 17 here at Valhalla, and is designed to hold something more similar in size to a Captain's Yacht, or a Defiant-class ship. However it makes good practical sense to have her tethered here, and that's where the three of us come in. We need a way of making the docking connection more stable, and stand a little further out from the station in order to accomodate the size of a Galaxy-class ship. As our Yard Engineering Officer, I'm sure you can come up with some system that will extend and retract an airlock over the appropriate distances. You'll be working with Mr Ra'Kir on this project." ~Well, it seems our lieutenant has some personal quirks. Oh well, it's nothing I can't live with...~ Martin's fork twizzled as he prepared another mouthful of spaghetti, "I will be working on getting this station up and running, co-ordinating with the Admiral's needs, and attempting to get our other thirteen docking bays operational - including the currently dead husk of Dockyard Foxtrot. Any questions?" ~Hmm. According to the report of the attack, dockyard Foxtrot took a hit from the sensor array of the blown station and vented atmosphere, killing all there. It'll take some time to get it operational.~ Ensign Okada spoke before Ralth could offer his information. "Yes, what's wrong with Dockyard Foxtrot?" she asked, "I haven't had a chance to go around and look at them all. And if the others are operational, then I can concentrate on Foxtrot..." "I have no idea what is wrong on Dockyard Foxtrot," the Chief of Operations admitted, "but it is the only dockyard without any working bays. It needs looking into, but we have more pressing concerns." The new YEO did NOT look happy. "One other thing, what can you tell me about Bay 30? The more information I have about it the better." "Calm down, it's not as if I want it all done tomorrow." She calmed down a bit at this, noticed Ralth. ~She seems like she stuck between a volcano and a maxigrazer stampede... Too much stress. Perhaps I could help her in some way.~ "Put simply what we have is a standard airlock system, designed to handle a direct interface with a small ship or shuttle that can nestle quite neatly alongside the station. What I want, is a system that docks with that ship a little further out from the station as we're dealing with a much larger ship than intended. Nothing fancy, just a simple extending docking mechanism that will allow the Firebrande to have a little breathing room." ~Hmm, that shouldn't be too hard. We'll need an extender for the docking clamps, but if we get a tube umbilical in place and as long as nobody minds a little bit of zero-g walking, it should be a snap.~ "So where is the Firebrande right now?" Okada asked, starting to punch up something on her padd, her fingers rushing over it, the beeps coming so close together you'd think she was part android, especially since she wasn't watching what she was typing in. "Docked," he replied, "at Bay 30." Ralth glanced at Martin, seeing the less-then-happy look in his face. "Precariously close to the station, in such a manner that requires overly-elaborate and delicate handling to get into and out of the docking position. She's simply too big, and if we need her to disengage quickly, we run the risk of having her crash into the upper promenade or personnel quarters or whatever it is that's up there!" He took a deep breath and his face went to normal again. "I want that ship moved to a safe distance, as soon as we can possibly manage it." She nods and looks at Mr. Ra'Kir, "We'll get together tomorrow at 1330, my office to iron out what needs to be done, if that is alright with you." ~1330? Heh, not like I have a date planned or something, I didn't even get the daily schedule done today with the replicator emergency.~ "Worrks fine for me. I already have an idea with what to do with the Firrebrand, but it needs some sleeping over with. I'll get it forr you tomorrow." The meeting wa quickly dismissed, and Ralth gave Martin a quick briefing on the main replicator situation, then heading for his quarters. ~Ahh, time for some food and rest.~ ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - AOPS's Quarters - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.17.2118) Pushing his finger against the thumbprint keylock of his quarters, Ralth entered and got some maxigrazer steak and milk form the replicator, gobbling it down and then cleaning up. He dropped on his bunk. "Computer, dim the lights. Wake-up call at 0730." The lights dimmed to blackness. And he slept like a log. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - AOPS's Quarters - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.17.2130) Pushing his finger against the thumbprint keylock of his quarters, Ralth entered and headed off to get some shuteye. "Computer, dim the lights. Wake-up call at 0730." The lights dimmed to blackness. And he slept like a log. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - AOPS's Quarters - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.18.0428) Ralth woke to an incessant binging noise, coming to alerness immediately, then slumping down when there was no immediate threat. "Computer, relay message." <<Message from OPS>> =^=Operations to Ensign Ra'Kir; there has been an explosion in the research facilities. Assemble a damage control team and beam down.=^= Ralth jumped to his feet, stretching, then reached for his comm. "Ra'Kir to Lt. Black. I'm on it. Give me ten minutes to get a team ready and get planetside. I'll get you a report in the morning." ~What kind of explosion could there be on the research facilities? Sabotage?~ "Computer, location of recent explosion in Mars Research Facility." <<Explosion happened in the Oval Testing Room.>> ~Hmm... Who could have been running an experiment there at this hour?~ "Computer, play back security recording from ten minutes before the explosion." <<I'm sorry, all recordings from Mars facility are classified.>> ~Classified? Oh well..~ "AOPS to Engineering, I need a damage control team assembled immediately in transporter room 4 for beam down to Mars facility." (Reply Whoever it may concern) Without waiting for response Ralth dressed his uniform and headed to the transporter room, soothing down his frazzled mane and yawning hugely. Suddenly his commbadge chirped. =^=Attention all senior officers, please report at 10.00 to the Observation Lounge on Valhalla for a meeting and mission briefing. Thank-you.=^= ~Oh great. There goes all my chances of getting any sleep and/or work done. Sigh. A demanding job in the first two days...~ Thankfully the team was not long in assembling to the transporter room, and the sleepy-looking transporter tech had no trouble finding the right location. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Outside Oval Testing Room - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.18.0440) Ralth materialized just across the hallway from the door, and all was seemingly quiet. He strode for the door and frowned when it refused to open. "Hm. It appears ourr firrst job is to get inside." One of the engineers he had brought quickly scanned the door. "Sir, the power conduits are dead. It's stuck." "Well, then, get it unstuck. None of us is going back to bed until I can make a damage report." The man nodded and went to work with his friends, getting the door open an inch. Seeing that the door would have to be forced open, Ralth went to help, setting his arms on the door and pushing with his legs. After a few minutes of trying, they managed to budge the door open and entered. Ralth sighed in desperation at the destruction. A thick scent of smoke filled the air and panels all along the walls containing delicate sensors and test equipment were blackened and blasted by whatever it was that had initiated the fire. "Okay, lets get to worrk." ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Oval Testing Room - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.18.0540) ~Well, this'll do for starters. A new shift is starting, so I think I'll let the men to get some rest. It seems I'll not be getting any, but then again, nobody said being a Starfleet officer was easy, anyways.~ "Okay, people, good job. You mop up and go get some rest and the next shift'll take over. Thanks for another job well done." "Ra'Kir to engineering: I'm releasing this damage control team to get some rest, but there's still lots to be done. Beam down another repair team, please." (Reply CEO, Or Whoever) =^=Black to Ensign Ra'Kir; report!=^= "Yes, sir. It appears the damage was less then we feared. We need to replace most of the sensor arrays in three panels of the testing room and recalibrate all others as well as replace all power conduits. There's also significant damage to the interior, but its nothing we cant replicate replacements for. It appears that there was some kind of explosive used, but it surely wasn't near the scale a saboteur would use. Finding out who did this is mostly a security issue, though. It'll take us a while yet to get everything here working, so I'll be overseeing the repairs. I'll see you in the Admiral's briefing unless you need me for something else. Ra'Kir out." Sighing, Ralth turned to find out all the engineers had disappeared and that there was no-one incoming. Cursing in caitian, Ralth slapped his commbadge again. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Observation Lounge - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.18.0956) Shaking his head Ralth stepped into the Admirals briefing, hoping that afterwards he could get some sleep or at least be able to meditate before the meeting with ensign Okada. He also knew it not to be likely, because he still had work to do. He made his way to sit next to an empty chair for ltn. Black and waited for the briefing to begin. Then he noticed ensign Okada making her way through to the room, curiously enough looking like she had been wrestling with an old-earth gasoline engine - and lost. She looked around but remained near the doorway. Finally, two minutes after the YEO, Martin arrived. After a few moments of waiting, the admiral stepped to the front. "Thank you all for coming; sorry for the tight squeeze, we will make it better next time. Firstly, I want you all to welcome the officer to my right, Commander Richard Ian Lee, our new First Officer. I will let him introduce himself at the end of this meeting.", Jopek stood up and headed over to the large computer screen at the front of the room, next to the door. A few of the crew got themselves out the way as Jopek turned back to face the ensemble officers. "The last addition to our roster so far is the position of Second Officer; I've spoken to Starfleet Command before most of you arrived and I've made my choice. Lt. Black is going to be the Second Officer, congratulations." Ralth glanced at Martin seeing some surprise on his face. ~Logical choice, but I bet it'll not make things any easier on ltn. Black.~ "Okay, the fire in the research facilities on Mars, who would like summarise what happened and what needs to be done to prevent such events in the future?" A civilian-uniformed woman replied to the Admiral, and Ralth wondered if the accident had something personally to do with her. "Yes, I suggest that there be forcefield lining the computer panels along the walls for the time during experiments and also that no observer of any type should be outside of them during tests." ~Ah, so it was _her_ and an errant experiment that caused it. Oh well, at least we don't need to find out who was the uncapable saboteur... I just wonder how good she really is on her field to get past this kind of accidents with a nod of her head and a blush.~ "And perhaps a no food or drink sign might help." she added as an afterthought. Ralth had to restrain himself from slapping an unbelieving hand on his face. ~So that was the black stuff we scraped off the wall! I can't believe this...~ Ralth lifted a hand and, getting a look and a nod from Admiral Jopek, opened his mouth as well. "I have been conducting the rrepairs in the testing rroom, and it is again fully functional. The damage wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been, but significant nonetheless." He shut up again to let Admiral continue the briefing. "Very well; let's move on... Starfleet Intelligence has information for us about the location of a small rebel group of Dominion soldiers where we believe the raid was conducted that caused the destruction of much of Utopia Planitia, three months go." Ralth felt his mane raise in aggravation at the mention of the enemy. Admiral Jopek activated a control panel that illumaned a computer screen on the wall. "Their base is suspected to be here..." ~Goddess! Less then three hours away at warp five! If they have something significant there we are in trouble!~ "Close aren't they?" Jopek asked, rather redundantly in Ralth's mind. The gravity of the situation was now thick on them. "This planetoid has no star system, it's a rogue and while it isn't class 'M', intelligence suspects an artificial structure on the surface plus a possible shipyard and/orbital station." "Starfleet has considered hitting this base with everything we can muster, but we need to know a lot more before we go in and take them out... so we have a plan in several stages." Ralth smiled grimly ~The first step according to the book would be to confirm intelligence reports, and I recall seeing a ship for that job on the manifest...~ he mused to himself. "The first part of the plan is to see if SFI have the details right, Lt. Marsland, the USS Columbia has recently docked. She is a Defiant-class Vessel. I want you to put together a small away team and head for this planet under cloak. Captain Reliok will be waiting for you and your team, he will take you. Depart as soon as possible." ~Ah, right again. I wonder if I could get on that team... No, I have too much to do here. And besides, they'll probably get mainly security and marines there.~ "Check out the threat and get back her, then we can put into effect stage two." "Dr. Dervin," The civilian doctor who had caused the accident seemed to nearly jump out from her skin. "I've been reading the reports of your warp wave generation and dissipation technological experiments and this technology would be perfect to sneak up on a base like this, without the signature of a warp engine, we could send a larger ship, once Mr. Marsland's mission has been complete." "I want you to start field tests with the USS Firebrande, as soon as possible. The Neptune proving grounds are at your disposal. Use anyone you need to help out on running the ship anyone you need for the project." The scientist seemed like she'd just won the intergalactic Ferengi Lottery. "The entire Advanced Theoretical Technologies Unit will need to get involved, we need to get these units built and up to speed quickly. If you need anything, let me know." "What is the report on the Firebrande, is she ready? Plus, I would like a quick status report from all departments..." Ensign Okada began to speak, "I met with Lieutenant Black yesterday to discuss our current yard inhabitants... I plan to take a trip to the building sites to confirm the location and building status for each ship. My people have started an extensive inventory. Once that inventory and my tour are finished I can consider my wing locked down... I have found old orders on my desk for new ships... but until I can lock down my wing, I will not authorize any new ships..." Ralth glanced at ltn. Black who didn't seem all that well as he waved the report to him. ~Now what to say?~ "Operations is in generally good condition. We had an earlier problem with the replicators, but this has been repaired; Seems like someone plugged a malicious program into the replicator main database to bypass certain security measures. The program has been neutralized and we are investigating the matter. I will get a full report to security after this meeting." "All ships that arrived form Earth are docked and the repairs are ongoing in all operating dockyards." He sat down again, hoping he'd not made a complete fool of himself, his palms sweating and listening to the rest of the reports. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.18.1330) Ralth entered the office feeling slightly better. He'd had time to grab something to eat and to meditate for almost half an hour. "Grreetings, Ensign Okada. Before we start this meeting, if it is not too rrude for you, I'd like you to call me by my familiar, Ralth." ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - WTO Dr Tanya Dervin - 2378.08.18.1551) "Perhaps. We could incorporate *both* ideas into one practical experiment. We could alter the shield geometry of the Firebrande into a wedge shape with the point forward of the saucer section and facing into the oncoming dissipation wave. This will cause the wave to effectively *break* over the ship without altering it's trajectory. Secondly we can align the shield frequencies to match the dissipation wave just before it hits so that it passes over the ship and will, on contact, dissipate the initial carrier wave. These two efforts combined should generate the desired result!" Tanya looked at the CSO, enraptured by his idea. She could visually see exactly what he was describing, the calculations were running through her head, as she did the calculations simultaneously. ~Yes, yes, this will work~ A gigantic smile burst across her face. Tanya watched the room as she fully began to comprehend he ideas put forth by the scientist, then the TSO spoke up, "We should have no problem modulating the shield frequencies, standard Federation defence against the Borg, the difficulty will be in changing the shield frequencies to the right frequency to keep them effective." Tanya nodded, yes that was very true. Masses of numbers and concepts of every shape and size were whirling around her head, she was having to concentrate very hard on keeping herself inside the conference room, because these ideas had opened up new realms for her, and she couldn't wait to explore them. It was then that someone else spoke up, Tanya didn't really recognise him, but that was okay, there were more important matters at hand. "Certainly, I agree that whatever solution we come up with, it should involve the shields. Or at the very least, should not preclude use of the shields. The ship has to be able to defend itself if it comes under attack while on this subspace carrier wave." He sat up, and his posture electrified as he had another brainwave, "we should also study the effect that weapons discharge would have on the wave, and how susceptible to external damage it is." Tanya nodded, she could surely see the logic in that. Even though it wasn't her idea of fun, however, if people wanted to test that aspect of the technology once it had been developed or built, or even in the midst of such developments or construction, then who was she to argue. Tanya looked at all assembled. "Those are all very excellent ideas! Thank you!" She stated. "Yes, I think that..." She paused, completely lost in thought, "That will work!" she exclaimed. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - TEO's Office - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.18.1729) Anne stared at the smirking face of the Vulcan Captain, taken aback at what she was reporting to her. "Mr. Byson did WHAT?" "He suggested to me that many would not be happy with you in the position of Advanced Engineering. In fact, he suggested that he be the one to take charge. I have corrected this issue, so instead he wants to guide you into command readiness if it is your wish." Anne's anger boiled and her faced reddened with the thought of Lt Byson, her own assistant, going to the captain with such a proposal. Finally getting back her voice, she calmly stated, "Thank you for the information, Captain. I think I will handle this from here." She bowed a goodbye to the Captain before clicking off the connection and yelling at the top of her lungs, "THAT SON OF A BROVERIAN GIZZARD!!!" She stood and stormed out of her office and across the hallway to her assistant's office. She hit the doorbell, wishing that she could hit her assistant. She could hear loud music coming from the inner room so she knew he was there.. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - ATEO's Office - ATEO Lt Cornelius Byson - 2378.08.18.1730) Lt. Corny Byson sat behind his desk, feet up on the table, loud, nerve racking music blaring from the computer. His head bounced up and down with the beat of the song, his eyes never leaving the PADD in his hands. It wasn't paperwork....it wasn't notes...it wasn't even a ToDo list.... It was a game, a flight simulator. He was flying an old Boeing 747 into San Francisco International Airport. It was one of the few scenarios that he had never been able to complete successfully. The door beeped at him but he didn't hear it, either because of the music or the game in his hand...or maybe both. "WHOA!!!" he cried as the wind hit his plane, nearly sending him into the Golden Gate bridge. He worked feverishly to stabilize the plane. It seemed to skid left and then right across the headwinds and he unconscious rocked in his chair with the image of the plane in the game. The door beeped again but it continued to be ignored. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - ATEO's Office - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.18.1731) Anne hit the doorbell again but still no answer. She growled to herself, not just wanting to hit him, but seriously hurt him. Visions of pounding Byson's cocky smile into a bulkhead made her smile evilly. "Computer, locate Lt Byson." <<LT. Byson is located in his office.>> She pressed the button one more time before finally commanding, "Computer, emergency override on Lt Byson's office door. Security code: Therriault-Alpha-Lambda-Kappa-911." The door automatically opened and the horrible sounds from within exploded into the hallway. Anne closed her eyes, feeling the pain in her temples swell. When she opened them, she found Corny sitting at his desk, feet up on the desk, working intently on a PADD, his head bopping to the beat of the song. She entered the room and automatically demanded, "Computer, turn off that racket." The computer's response was barely heard over the music, <<Please restate request.>> "Turn off the music!" The computer complied and room filled with silence. Lt. Byson barely noticed, his attention completely on the PADD in front of him. "Hello, Love," he called while trying to assure that his plane didn't hit another plane. Anne's eyebrow lifted at the name he called her. The vision that played in her head suddenly changed from pounding his face into a wall a couple times to slamming the Lt's head into a bulkhead until it passed through to the other side. She stepped forward, "Lt?" "Just a minute, please," he called as he and the plane banked to the left. "No, now," she said in her most commanding voice. He ignored her, his mind completely on landing the plane on the runway safely. He took the large jet in to land, praying that he would touch down on the pier runway without hitting the water. ~What the hell is he doing?~ she asked herself as she watched him bank to the right and then scoot lower in his seat, intently working on the PADD. Anne walked around the desk and snatched the PADD from his hands as the plane was barely 5 feet above the ground, hover half over water, half over the pier runway. He bolted from his chair, "HEY!" Anne stepped back and glanced at the PADD, "A game? You're playing a blasted game???" "I was about to land, you bloody ensign," he yelled, grabbing for the PADD. She snatched it away, "That's Chief, to you, LT!" Anne's redhead anger rushed through her and she suddenly wanted to shove the PADD somewhere that would be very painful to Corny. But, instead, she tossed the PADD across the room with as much force as possible. It hit the wall with a CRACK and shattered into pieces. A huge dent glared back at them from where the PADD had impacted. Therriault glared at her underling, hoping, praying, that he would try something so she could "accidentally" kill him. Corny's eyes widened and he took a step back from the steaming redhead, almost tripping over his chair. She advanced upon him and he stumbled back, trying to stay at least an arm's reach away from her. The chair didn't even stop her. She flung it to one side as she passed. "What is this that I hear about you talking to the captain about getting my job?" she roared, her face reddening with anger. He jumped when his back hit the wall but quickly turn to get away from the angry ensign, "Um...the captain told you that?" Anne followed him closely, "Yes, she did." "Um....she was..." he tried to smile reassuringly, "Maybe she was mistaken." She could see that he was grasping at straws and called his bluff, "Oh, no. I don't think so. And don't give me the bull about lying. She's a Vulcan." He was flabbergasted as to what to say next. All he knew was that he had better stay away from the Ensign until she calmed down. He backed into the wall again but before he could move, Anne was upon him. She grabbed a handful of his shirt front and pulled him down the 3" to her level. Face-to-face, she spat, "So help me, you backstabbing ass, if you ever, ever, EVER do that again, I'm going to set you out on the surface with out a spacesuit." His eyes widened to the size of tea saucers at her threat. She continued, "You are MY assistant, not the other way around. I'm NOT going to have my subordinates go above my head nor try to sabotage my work or interfere with the goals of my department. Got it?" He quickly nodded, hoping that would be the end of the temper tantrum. But of course, it wasn't. "You, Mr. Byson," she lectured, "will be my assistant and that is it. Nothing more, nothing less. You will NOT touch any of the experiments, not matter what you think or what anyone tell you. You will NOT touch any of the vessels that are here for repairs...or even visiting, no matter what you think or what ANYONE tells you. Do you understand?" He nodded again, suddenly intimidated by the 6' redhead. "You will do the work I assign to you and ONLY the work I assign you. No more, no less. I'm going to keep you so busy that you won't have time to sabotage, spy or play any more video games. Understand?" "Yes....yes, sir." "And if you call me 'Love' ever again, I will wipe that smile right off your face, got it?" He nodded quickly. She let go of him, stepped back and smoothed out her uniform, suddenly feeling better. She smiled sweetly and stated, "I'd suggest that you attend the direct reports meeting at 1800." She turned and calmly strolled out of the office, humming a tune to herself. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.18.1759) Anne sat in one of the chairs at the middle of the long conference table, surveying the room. She had arrived early and rearranged the chairs so no one sat at the head of the table. They were all equals and she wanted this meeting to emphasis that. A stack of 6 PADDs sat in front of her, filled with notes. The door suddenly opened and her direct reports file into the room, one after the other. She had thought ahead and had the computer transferred their pictures and names to a PADD, which she now used as a cheat sheet to easily match the new faces with names. She nodded at each of them and motioned for them to take a seat. Corny was last to enter, taking the last seat in the room. Not once did he look at her. She smiled. Maybe she had finally put him in his place. "Good afternoon. It looks like we are all here so let's begin. I know that most of you know each other but I don't, so if each of you would state your names, which department you head and what your department does. I will begin." She stood and surveyed the group, "Hello, my name is Ensign Anne Therriault, but all of you can call me Anne or Chief. I am the head of the Theoretical Engineering department." She sat down and motioned for the young woman next to her to speak. She was a petite woman, around the mid-30's, with brown hair and dark green eyes: She rose, "I am Lt Commander Amy Rowan and I head the Starfleet Starship Design Bureau. My department takes all of your ideas and research and put it together into a starship. It's like putting a huge puzzle together. Half of my department is an extension of the R&D departments, working with them to develop your ideas into useable equipment for the end user and then thoroughly testing it. The other half of my team, a large staff of engineers, designers and drafters, does the actual designing, i.e. putting all the little pieces together to make a ship." She sat down but was quickly replaced by the gentleman next to her. He was an older man, in his early 40's, his hair graying around the temples. He stood with a groan and began to speak, "I am Lt. Ronald Cone, Head of Materials. My group designs and tests new materials used in the construction of new ships, inside and out." The next person was a male half human/half Vulcan who sat directly across from Anne. He rose and began to speak in an emotionless voice, "My name is Lt. Grack'l Repart, Head of Power Sources. We design and test power sources for anything that needs a power source to work successfully." He sat down quickly. The next speaker, a young human male, stood and began to speak in an animated voice, "Hi everyone. I am Lt. Michael Thomas, and am currently the head of Advanced Structural Design. My group brainstorms, creates and tests new structural designs for starships and bases." It was Corny's turn next. He remained seated and barely looked up from his PADD to state in a monotonous tone, "Hey. I'm Lt. Cornelius Byson, the TEO's assistant." Anne rolled her eyes and shook her head softly at the Lt's action but she nodded for the next person to continue. Sitting across the table from Cornelius was a Betazoid male, around mid-30's but had the charisma and prestige of an older gentleman. Anne could immediately see why he was so good at his job. "I am Lt. Rappaport Myerson, Head of TE Administration. My small group deals with the beurocracy that Starfleet loves to throw at this department sometimes. We also assure that we have funding and the resources to complete large scale research projects. You may think of us as your liaison to the bureaucrats and money people of Starfleet and the Federation." The last person to introduce themselves was Michelle Roberts, the Combat Engineering Advisor. (Reply Roberts) When Michelle finished, Anne spoke, "Thank you for your quick introductions. I have one small task to complete before we get too deep into this meeting," she turned towards her assistant, "Mr. Byson, you will not be needed for the rest of this meeting. Thank you for your time." Corny's head shot up, "What?" Anne took a PADD out of the stack in front of her and slid it across the glossy table towards her assistant, "You have plenty of work to keep you busy. You don't need to be wasting your time here. That," she pointed at the PADD, "is your To Do list for the next 24 hours. I would like you to complete those tasks and have all the completed items on my desk by the end of the day tomorrow. Thank you. You are dismissed." He gave her a look, snatched the PADD up and stormed from the room. Once the door shut, she shook her head, "Please excuse my assistant. He was not my choice. Starfleet pushed him upon us," she pointed towards the door that Byson had just exited, "Let me give everyone 1 bit of advise about Mr. Byson. He is a sneaky one and I suggest that you have nothing to do with him. I do not want him in any of your labs or offices and I do not want him involved in any of your meetings or work. Anything he has touched has failed and we can not have failure in this department. Does everyone agree?" Everyone nodded quickly. "Another point I would like to make before we begin. Everyone at this table is an equal. We are all team mates, striving towards a common goal. No idea is crazy, no ideology is lower than another. Teamwork will be the key to our success and should be our number 1 goal. This is an open forum for any of you to air your problems, ideas and comments." "Now, on to other things. I would like to brief you on the discussions I have been involved in, in the last 24 hours. Mainly, what I want to discuss is the following: 1. Firebrande - are there any outstanding items that we have for this ship? 2. Sol Defense plan 3. designing of new ships 4. Columbia and it's mission 5. Warp Subspace Carrier Waves Project w/ Warp Technology Department 6. Any outstanding issues "So, where do we want to start first?" She looks expectantly towards her coworkers, waiting for someone to speak. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - CCE Lt Michelle Roberts - 2378.08.18.1804) Michelle's eyes darted around the table, she was the last to speak up. Without standing up, she said "Lieutenant Michelle Roberts, Combat Engineer assistant to the TEO." She shut her mouth, and after a few moments, the TEO said "Thank you for your quick introductions. I have one small task to complete before we get too deep into this meeting," she turned towards her assistant, "Mr. Byson, you will not be needed for the rest of this meeting. Thank you for your time." the Lieutenants head shot up, his eyes wide. Michelle smirked at the look. "What?" Anne took a PADD out of the stack in front of her and slid it across the glossy table towards her assistant, "You have plenty of work to keep you busy. You don't need to be wasting your time here. That," she pointed at the PADD, "is your To Do list for the next 24 hours. I would like you to complete those tasks and have all the completed items on my desk by the end of the day tomorrow. Thank you. You are dismissed." The Lieutenant took the load of PADD,s and left the room in something other then dignity. "Please excuse my assistant. He was not my choice. Starfleet pushed him upon us," she pointed towards the door that Byson had just exited, "Let me give everyone 1 bit of advise about Mr. Byson. He is a sneaky one and I suggest that you have nothing to do with him. I do not want him in any of your labs or offices and I do not want him involved in any of your meetings or work. Anything he has touched has failed and we can not have failure in this department. Does everyone agree?" Michelle smirked again. "Another point I would like to make before we begin. Everyone at this table is an equal. We are all team mates, striving towards a common goal. No idea is crazy, no ideology is lower than another. Teamwork will be the key to our success and should be our number 1 goal. This is an open forum for any of you to air your problems, ideas and comments." "Now, on to other things. I would like to brief you on the discussions I have been involved in, in the last 24 hours. Mainly, what I want to discuss is the following: 1. Firebrande - are there any outstanding items that we have for this ship? 2. Sol Defense plan 3. designing of new ships 4. Columbia and it's mission 5. Warp Subspace Carrier Waves Project w/ Warp Technology Department 6. Any outstanding issues "So, where do we want to start first?" Michelle tapped her fingers for a moment, then said "The Firebrande, she is currently having... problems. What part are we going to play in her cleaning?" ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.18.1805) Michelle tapped her fingers for a moment, then said "The Firebrande, she is currently having... problems. What part are we going to play in her cleaning?" "My understand is," Anne began, "that we will be working hand-in-hand with the YEO and her department to provide any assistance that they need during the retrofitting of the ship to a scientific research and experimental vessel. Has anyone been approached to work on this project?" She looked around the room and noticed the blank faces and a couple people shaking their heads. (Reply Roberts?) She nodded, "OK. If you are, please notify me. I will follow up with the YEO to see if our assistance is needed." (Reply Roberts?) "OK, second on our list: the Sol system defense. Captain Rulestaad is adamant on improving the current system that protects the Sol system, including the little base that we are on. This is our home and workplace and it's imperative that we improve the one system that lays between us and our many enemies. Weapons, shields, sensors, intersystem warp and engine design and any other related system will need to re-evaluated and redesigned, if needed. I have a PADD full of ideas and suggestions from security that will also need to be evaluated. "I need 2 people from each department to be available to evaluate the existing technology and provide recommendations. Ms. Rowan, can you spare one of your engineers to chair this little committee and report directly to me on this issue?" Rowan checked her PADD before nodding, "Not a problem." "Excellent. I would like a list of committee members by close of day today." Anne paused to allow anyone to ask questions, if needed. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.18.1840) Anne was refereeing a deep debate between Rowan and Repart about power supplies when the red alert klaxon went off. The room suddenly filled with silence and all of the researchers around the table exchange a look. They began to rise but Anne stopped them with a raised hand. "Before we react..." she advised, "Computer, what is the red alert about?" "There is an intruder onboard the Firebrande. Suspected borg invasion. All hands to battle stations." "You heard the lady," Anne said, standing to grab her stack of PADD's, "You all know the emergency protocol. Return to your departments, batten down the hatches and stay out of security's way." People began to hurry from the room, almost at a run. Anne made sure no one was left behind when she left the room. On her way to her office a couple hundred yards down the hallway, she began to issue orders. "Computer, place the TE wing in a level 1 lockdown. No one in or out except TE staff and security." The computer beeped it's compliance. She could hear the security doors closing at certain intervals down the hallway. To get through any of these, an individual would have to enter a security code. She entered her office as she heard a voice cross the comm lines, "All Departments, Status report!" She tapped the comm line on as she rounded her desk, "TEO reporting in from Mars base. Theoretical engineering is currently under a level 1 lockdown." (Reply Rich?) Anne turned off the comm line and began to scan through the status reports that were coming in from her department heads and key personnel. She jumped when she heard the same voice, =/\= All stations, Stand down to Yellow Alert. Security maintain battle-stations, all fighters of the MDP remain in full alert. Keep open communications to the Firebrande if possible, I want five full teams ready to beam in at a moments notice.=/\= Without tearing her eyes from the reports that were streaming across her screen, she called, "Computer, stand down the TE department to a level 2 lockdown." The computer beeped again and she directed her full attention to the status reports. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - WTO's Office - WTO Dr Tanya Dervin - 2378.08.18.1842) Tanya had since changed into some other pyjamas, these being neon orange. Seeing as most people had left for the day, and she was no longer 'on duty' she was dying to get into some normal clothes, those uniforms were so stuffy and itchy, and to make things worse, they just weren't cut to suit her form, she didn't like the way they made her arms look long, and that ring of purple... it just clashed with her red hair. Or so she thought. She was pouring over her most recent notes, detailing the construction of a generator that would be used to create the subspace wave, there were several gravimetric readings that had to be incorporated into the phasing of the transmitter because of the massive scale wave it was to produce. She sighed. All of a sudden, Tanya's office was filled with red glow and a siren seemed to accompany the flashing of that glow. It was rather annoying. Tanya thought. ~hmm, I wonder if this is anything like the evacuation notice... Something like this happened last night, after the fire... I wonder if there's another fire?!? ~ Tanya looked around in her direct vicinity, there was no, fire, there, and she hadn't been eating any pie, so that was definitely not a possibility. In fact, she'd been doing nothing but pouring over the schematics for the past couple of hours. She shook her head, no this was definitely not her fault. Just then, her comm link sparked to life, =^= All Departments, Status report! =^= Tanya looked at the air, hearing the comm system. ~All departments status report, ok... well, if they insist...~ She thought, knowing full well that there was, well nothing very interesting going on in her department or at least not that she knew of. Well there had been that incident that morning, but there had been enough reports from then. Tanya turned to her personal display terminal and she tried to access a folder that would allow her to input her reports, and to review her other ones on file. However, she could not because across the top of the screen was flashing the words 'Red Alert' Tanya looked at the message in confusion. ~Red Alert?!?~ Tanya's mind was racing.. then all of a sudden, something struck her. She recalled reading something in about Red Alert in that PADD that she'd been looking at briefly, the one about Starfleet protocol. ~PROTOCOL?!?~ She thought with a start. She jumped up from her desk chair, knocking several PADD's from their stacks around her desk which clattered against the deck plating and resonating all around her. However, Tanya hardly noticed as the red alert klaxons proclaimed the status of the base loud and clearly with precise intervals of every five seconds. ~This is going to give me a headache~ Frantically, Tanya tore her office apart, throwing PADD's, designs, equipment, socks, and all sorts of other things from one corner of the room to the other, looking solely for the one PADD she sought, the one that contained the Starfleet protocols. ~Come on where the HELL ARE YOU?~ Tanya's desperation grew, faster and faster as every five seconds the red light illuminated her office, and the klaxon grated on her nerves, reminding her of what exactly she should know what was happening, yet, did not. Her heart was racing, and she couldn't think straight, she merely kept searching for the damned illusive PADD. "YES!" Tanya screamed as she managed to haul herself out of the bottom of the waist deep storage container that contained her personal items; her clothing, personal information and other things that were of little consequence to her. And so Tanya emerged, with a sock caught in her earring and a bra strewn through her hair. But she had been victorious, in her hand, she clutched the PADD that contained the information entitled, "The Civilian's Guide to Starfleet" Quickly, she scrolled through it, the klaxon's metonymic timing grating on every nerve in her being, until she found the heading. 'Red Alert, what it is and what to do when it occurs.' Quickly Tanya scanned the section. Then she remembered the voice had asked for a departmental report. Quickly, she touched her commpad, linking it to the last one who had contacted her. "Umm, this is Dr. Dervin, umm," she sounded very unsure, and relatively frightened, "there is... nothing amiss in the Warp Technologies Department, honest." she professed. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - ATEO's Office - CCE Lt Michelle Roberts - 2378.08.18.1900) Michelle looked at the office doors for a moment, and hid the smirk that had been riding her face for over an hour, and pressed the enunciator. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - ATEO's Office - ATEO Lt Cornelius Byson - 2378.08.18.1901) Lt Byson was sitting behind his desk, his chin resting on his hands, staring at the computer in front of him when the door buzzed at him. "Please don't tell me that its that damn Ensign here to beat me up again," he grumbled, "ENTER!" ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - ATEO's Office - CCE Lt Michelle Roberts - 2378.08.18.1902) =^=ENTER!=^= Michelle rubbed her chin for a moment, then walked inside the doors. At the desk, surrounded by PADDs, was the officer that had been so graciously dismissed early. "So, " She purred. "Behold the officer that is most certainly not in the TEO's good graces." She smiled, wickedly, "What did you do, or.. not do right.. to earn such displeasure?" Corny surveyed the young woman that stood before him, wondering what was up, "What's it to you?" She sat on his desk and bent down, "Perhaps more then you can know." She bent down and lightly tapped his nose. "Depending on the reason." Corny almost turned cross-eyed trying to see what the young, beautiful woman was going to do to his nose and dipped his head when she tapped it. "Well, Love," he smiled slyly, "I tried to talk my way into the TEO position with Captain Rulestaad. Didn't quite work out as well as I planned." Michelle leaned back again, and said "You talked to the wrong person, obviously." She chuckled as she looked around his office. "Now, the question is, do you deserve more then this?" She turned back to look at him, with her eyes narrowed. "I sure do," he smiled widely, finally noticing the curves under her uniform, "I sure do....." Michelle grinned ever so slightly as she watched his eyes move up and down. ~Men, so predictable. Like putty in my hands... this one will be easy to control.~ "Well then," she purred. "What can we do to get you your deserved position." She bent even further down and playfully flicked his ear. Corny thought for a moment before grinning an evil grin, "Get rid of Ms. Therriault." The thought of returning the Ensign's threats triplefold lifted his spirit. She flicked his ear a little harder, then said "Ah ah, murder does nothing more then raise uncomfortable questions, and you have already made your wishes known to a higher ranking officer." She ran her finger from his ear down his cheek, and left it to rest on his lips. "On the other hand, if she leaves on her own because she just no longer likes this place... Which I'm sure we could, arrange." She smiled as her hand left his face. ~Using others to meet one's own needs is a wonderful thing.~ He grinned ear to ear, suddenly understanding what the Lt was talking about, "Oh, I can figure out ways to make her life a living hell." ~Ah, he does have something in this head of his.~Michelle grinned ear to ear, and played with his hair a bit. "Excellent." She said in a low voice. "Then, we will continue this at a later time, in a much more... Private... setting." She stood from his desk, and turned to leave. At the door, she stopped and turned around again, "Unless, you have anything else in mind?" Michelle nodded, and said with a light tone, "Then we will pick this up again, later." She waved her fingers at him, and exited. After the Lt's departure, Corny tried to return to his work but too many things were runningthorugh his head. Finally, he gave up and decided to return to his quarters. "I need a cold, cold, cold shower," he mumbeld to himself as he left his office. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1925) "Come in.", said the Admiral, when he heard his door chime being activated. "Ensign Junior Grade Corey Moore reporting for duty, Sir.", he said, coming to attention. "Welcome aboard Ensign, I am Admiral Jopek, Commanding Officer of this station. stand at ease please.", said the CO, consulting his database for the name of the new Ensign. "ACEO? Excellent - report to your quarters, Ensign and then find the Chief Engineer of this Starbase, he'll be in charge of your duty requirements. Any questions?" (Reply Corey) "Very well. Dismissed, and good luck Ensign.", said the Admiral, returning to his computer screen. "Aye sir!", said the ACEO, heading out the door. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1950) =^= Lee to Jopek, we might have a saboteur aboard. The Columbia has been damaged. =^= "Understood Commander, follow the standard procedures and increase security, as soon as possible, get me a full damage report and an ETA for repairs. Jopek out.", he said. If anyone could take charge of the situation, Command Lee would be able to handle it. ====================/\==================== (USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.18.2230) Taz had been working virtually round the clock to get to the bottom of the incident for the last few weeks, when he wasn't actually working there his mind was on it and if he was resting he would pick up a PADD and work through some data he had collected. Finally he decided enough information had been collected to send a complete report back to Admiral Jopek. So he keyed into his PADD: Admiral Jopek, After examining the key systems and taking the engineering room to pieces (and putting it back together again) I have arrived at the conclusion that the Borg Drones that you saw were not the work of any Borg at all, I suspect it was another enemy. However I regret to inform you it appears they were put there by a saboteur. You see one of my engineering teams found 8 holo-imagers in engineering, and they were programmed into a small program that created drones. The holographic drones you saw posed no real danger, the only value they would serve would have been as a diversion at a critical moment. The program was not detected in the computers system because it was hidden, with Ensign Berrewick's code; but if the programmer was clever enough to design this he has no doubt masked his real identity too. All systems have been checked on the U.S.S Firebrande and seem to be working correctly, I would like your permission to take the Firebrande out for a quick run round the block (Pluto and back) to ensure everything is OK in flight. Thanks Taz River P.S I would like to discuss with you when I can move up from an Ensign to a Lieutenant perhaps? Taz sent the report to Admiral Jopek, he was glad that this had been wrapped up, it had been driving him crazy so he went to the holo deck to unwind. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Holodeck One - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.18.2305) "Computer, load River Program 1," ordered Taz. <<River Program 1 is loaded and is ready to enter,>> answered the computer Taz entered the program, it was his favourite a bar room brawl with 4 Ferengi's, he got so much fun from swinging them round the room and bouncing there heads off the wall, good job they are only holographic characters or else Taz would be in serious trouble! ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.19.0500) Jopek was reading a report from the CEO about the Borg, it made interesting reading. 'Admiral Jopek, After examining the key systems and taking the engineering room to pieces (and putting it back together again) I have arrived at the conclusion that the Borg Drones that you saw were not the work of any Borg at all, I suspect it was another enemy. However I regret to inform you it appears a saboteur put them there. You see one of my engineering teams found 8 holo-imagers in engineering, and they were programmed into a small program that created drones. The holographic drones you saw posed no real danger, the only value they would serve would have been as a diversion at a critical moment. The program was not detected in the computers system because it was hidden, with Ensign Berrewick's code; but if the programmer was clever enough to design this he has no doubt masked his real identity too. All systems have been checked on the U.S.S Firebrande and seem to be working correctly, I would like your permission to take the Firebrande out for a quick run round the block (Pluto and back) to ensure everything is OK in flight. Thanks Taz River P.S I would like to discuss with you when I can move up from an Ensign to a Lieutenant perhaps?' Reading the message quickly, the Admiral composed a quick reply to the computer. "Computer, send a message to Ensign River: 'Good work Ensign, permission granted. please return the ship promptly as she is at the disposal of Dr. Dervin. please inform her of your schedule. Come and see me after you have returned with the Firebrande, Jopek out.' "Send message now please Computer.", said Jopek. << Message sent at 05.10 >> ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0630) Kazuko gently sat back up and leaned against her futon, trying not to invoke seeing the doctor again that day. She watched as the ensign unpacked her boxes, "Careful.careful. Please." "Yes, Ma'am." He said with resentment in his voice. "Am I keeping you from something important, Ensign?" Kazuko asked noting the resentment. "No, Ma'am." He answered with the same resentment in his voice. "What's your name Ensign?" Kazuko asked. "Ensign Peter Wells, Ma'am." He answered, while opening the last of the boxes. "Well, Ensign Wells, it looks like you're stuck with me today. When is your shift up?" Kazuko asked. "Technically, it was up 15 minutes ago, I had these few parcels left to deliver." "Oh.well.Don't worry about the boxes in my office. I have people I can get to do that for me." Kazuko said with a small smile. "Oh no, if I don't and the Doctor finds out, I'm space dust." Ensign Wells said with a slight bit of fear in his voice. "I won't tell him if you won't." Kazuko said, "I'll let you go if you do two more things for me." "What's that?" Wells asked. "Well I need that box on the floor right here next to me and opened so I can look inside, and I need those planters watered. That's it." Kazuko answered. "Well if you're sure." He said while complying quickly hoping that she wouldn't change her mind. "Now, Ensign Wells, make sure to leave the soil in the planters.while you add water." She said with a laugh. "Yes, Ma'am." He answered with a wry grin. "Call me Chief, Ensign, No one calls me Ma'am." Kazuko said while watching him. "Yes, Chief." He finished watering the planters to her satisfaction and then grabbed the box on the floor and sat it on the futon next to her, while cutting it open. "Will there be anything else Chief?" he asked. "No, you may leave now, Ensign Wells." Kazuko bowed her head slightly while holding the box closed until he left her quarters. "Alone at last.Now what is this?" She asked herself while opening the box slowly. The first thing she pulled out of the box was a small floral arrangement; she looked at it and smiled. ~Looks like my own work.~ She took the card off of it and placed it on the little table next to her futon. Kazuko opened the card and read it aloud, "Happy Birthday, Kazuko-chan. All my love, Mitsu-chan." "Ohh Mitsu..." Kazuko said as tears started forming again, it had been four years since she'd seen or heard from her little sister. "This has to be one of the best birthday gifts I've gotten in years." She said while wiping the tears away and looking back in the box. She pulled out a photo grid and turned it on; smiling up at her was her family. She looked at each one and frowned, "You never smiled for me.I suppose I should give up this fantasy of having a family." She said slightly angered while tossing it on the futon and digging in the box, she came up with a padd. "Alright what's this?" Kazuko asked while turning it on to find a message from her brother in it. "Dearest Kazuko-chan. I know it has been a long time since I last sent word, but it couldn't be helped. I had to save my money to send this package to you without letting mother and father know I was doing so. I hope you like the ikebana that Mitsu made. I told her that I was giving it to one of my professors.she wouldn't have made it if I had told her the truth." Kazuko sighed and looked at the ikebana for a moment. ~I knew it was too good to be true.Though it is pretty. Maybe I'll send it to Doctor Cambridge.~ She thought before going back to the letter. "Mitsu is going through schooling like floral arrangement was all there is to life. I think she actually looks forward to keeping that stupid tradition. Takeru has finally come around to my way of thinking. And you'll find something from him inside this box." She stopped reading again and looked in the box and pulled out a large paper crane. ~How cute.~ She thought and continued reading, "I think you'll find more letters from Takeru in the future. I'm doing well at the University of Tokyo, but I don't seem to have a knack for science like you did when you came here. So my new goal is to be a professor, it also keeps father happy." ~Oh, Haru-chan.you should do what you want to do to keep yourself happy.~ Kazuko sighed and then finished the letter off, "Mother and father haven't changed in the last four years, and they still deny you exist. And what's worse is they expect us to deny it as well, which is why I have to stop in Osaka to send this box to you. Even though I'm of age, I can't openly face them like you did. I just don't have the same strength you do. I just pray that they will come to see what's right soon. Give my love to Uncle Terunobu and all my love to you. Your brother forever, Harunobu." Kazuko put the padd down and then reached in the box gain. In the bottom was a silk kimono, she pulled it out and smiled, it had a note attached to the front, ~You are part of this family whether they wish to acknowledge it or not, Takeru.~ "Well, I have both of my brothers.that's a start." She said aloud while making sure everything was out of the box before tossing it to the side. ====================/\==================== (Earth Station - ACEO Ens JG Lee Rough - 2378.08.19.0649) Ensign Lee Rough felt pleased with himself as he made for the exit of the office, and made his way to his quarters.He grabbed his gear and made way to the turbolift. "Shuttle bay" Lee told the computer. Lee felt butterflies in his stomach as the lift came to a halt and he stepped into the corrridor then upto the shuttle bay doors. The doors slid forward. "Hello Ensign ive been expecting you" Lee and the pilot made idle chatter. Lee followed the pilot to the shuttle, which stood tall and strong. "Well step aboard and get ready for the flight: destination Starbase Valhalla" ====================/\==================== (Otono Medical Centre - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0700) Kazuko walked slowly through the door holding the ikebana in her hands. She moved up to the front desk and smiled at the nurse. "Can I help you?" The nurse asked. "I'd like to leave this for Doctor Cambridge please..." Kazuko said while slowly putting the ikebana on the desk. "If you wait, I'm sure he'll be back soon." The nurse said. "No need, I have to get to work before my assistant report me missing. I left a little card inside for him to open. Just remind him to add water to the base every two days." Kazuko said with a smile as the hospital smell started to make her queasy again. Kazuko turned and walked slowly out of the hospital before the nurse could stop her. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0725) Kazuko walked into her office and sat on the step inside the door while slow ly changing her shoes for slippers before going to her desk. She walked slowly to her desk and sat down. "Computer, record message for Ensigns Shiva and Auron." <<Recording.>> "Rikku, Maurana, report to my office as soon as you get in, Kazuko." She said, "Send message." <<Message sent 0730,>> ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Corridors - Jason Holland - 2378.08.19.0730) The Bolian stood in the corner, watching officers going by, pretending to be Examining a power conduit, using his tricorder and punching random buttons. His eyes however were all over the place, watching security, watching civilians and others. A moment later he closed the conduit, having done nothing at all to improve its performance. He walked into the crowd, moving towards an empty wing. As he walked down the hall, he looked around, looking as if to check units, but instead watching for a trail. He found an empty room and entered. As soon as the door closed with a whish, the man tossed his satchel aside and reached for his neck. It wasn't a Bolian at all. As the mask was pulled off it revealed a human male. The mask was tossed to the ground and soon as was the Starfleet uniform. The man bent down to the bag and began to dress. He soon had on a black suit with a white shirt underneath and a black tie. Black glasses soon joined the entourage and the man stood up, slipping a small phaser gun into his inner pocket. Tugging on his suit, he straightened it out. The clothes and mask were placed in the satchel. Looking around the room, the man smiled to himself and made his way out the door. His name was Jason Holland, but he went by Holland, his short name. He was a terrorist. Or to put it more sincerely, a mercenary. And for the moment, he was a paid mercenary terrorist, sent to engage in terrorist activity on Utopia Planitia. Holland was well known around the universe for many an attack. It was him who had caused several killings of important people in all matter of governments around the galaxies. In his younger years, he had been a paid operative for the Starfleet Agency, but those years had past. Ever since his daughter and wife had been killed in a retribution attack from a former enemy, he left Starfleet and disappeared. After five years he had come back, on the other side and began his work. For the last twenty years he had been leading attacks and sabotage against Starfleet and those on her side. One thing was clear. Holland was out for blood and the Columbia was just the beginning for him. As he walked out into the main concourse, he threw the bag into a trash. Moments later it would be destroyed, the evidence lost. Holland turned a corner and headed for the docks once more. In his other inside pocket he held an identification badge. ====================/\==================== (USS Firebrande - Bridge - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.19.0745) Now the full system diagnostic and check of the Firebrande had been completed, he informed his security teams that the Firebrande was going to be taken out to Pluto and back for a short engineering test run. The teams were all at there posts, the CEO had decided this opportunity would be ideal to record the standard factory settings of all systems of the Firebrande before the boffins from the science/research departments arrived on board fiddling with everything. Taz had earlier programmed the computer to fly there automatically and he was going to do the flight back to ensure the ship was safe after the holographic Borg incident. The ship arrived at Pluto after about 5 minutes, and as programmed the Firebrande came to a full stop and Enisign Taz and the engineering teams checked the systems over and everything worked fine, "OK, prepare for the return journey home" ordered Ensign Taz as he sat down at CONN. Ensign Taz laid in the course and piloted the Firebrande back to Starbase Valhalla, everything seemed to be working OK; then he remembered to test one last thing-he went into the Captain's Ready Room, and walking up to the replicator ordered "Coffee, Black" and sampled the beverage: "Perfect" The Captain shouldn't have any complaints with this. Ensign Taz looked at the mug, it had the Firebrande's logo on it, so instead of recycling the cup he decided to keep it as a souvenir. Ensign Taz could pilot small-medium shuttles confidently but his confidence vanished when he was at the helm of this beautiful Galaxy Class Starship The USS Firebrande so he ordered the computer to perform the docking procedures, whilst he collected his tools and left the Firebrande ready for her next mission. Taz decided to send a concluding report to Admiral Jopek: Admiral Jopek After examing and testing the Firebrande I am pleased to announce that the systems are once functional again, you should not get any more holographic Borg drones again: However I have found something of interest, the holo emitters were mounted inside the panels in engineering-now these panels had there seals still on them which means these were added by someone who worked on the Firebrande being built, if it was added afterwards the seal would have been broken. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Turbolift - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0755) The turbolift hummed brightly, and Martin took a measure of personal pride in that - even though he'd never had to lay so much as a finger on the turbolift systems himself. "Computer, record a message for delivery to the office of Captain Jenna Rulestaad." The computer acknowledged the order and he continued, "Captain, following the staff meeting yesterday I thought it would be a good idea if the two of us met to find out exactly what resources you'll be needing for the Martin Defense Perimeter development. I know it's only on the drawing board at the moment, but it never hurts to be reading from the same page. "Computer, send message." ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Alpha - Bay 3, Security Checkpoint - Jason Holland - 2378.08.19.0800) As he approached the security checkpoint a security ensign looked up. "Sir, this area has been restricted..." Holland pulled out his ID card. The ensign looked up startled. Holland removed his glasses, giving the ensign one hell of a hard crusty look. "I'm sorry Rear Admiral Kevel...I didn't realize it was you.which ship were you heading for?" Jason scoffed, putting on the act he had readied. "The USS Lion you fool! That's the ship I commanded for 14 years! I left her to command the Academy! I was hoping to get one last look at her!" The ensign nodded, knowing the hole he was digging himself. He checked the ID once more. It was a match... "Aye sir, the shuttle can take you there." The "admiral" nodded and moved through the gate, a smile on his face. First test passed. A few feet in front of him was a shuttle, the USS Gallegos, pilot standing outside, having already seen what had happened. "Welcome aboard Admiral, It's..." Holland just shook his head and entered the shuttle. The pilot stopped and just stood there. So much for trying to meet famous people. He closed the door and turned around, only to face the admiral, only he didn't seem to admiral like with a phaser gun pointing at him. "Sorry, short ride you piece of ****" The shot hit the ensign full in the chest. The discharge didn't register on any systems. Holland knew what the hell was he was doing. He put the dead body inside the storage compartment and proceeded to pilot the shuttle straight towards the USS Lion. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0800) Martin strode brightly onto the command deck, and took over from the officer at his station who gave him a polite nod and a quick run-down of events since he'd left last night. "How did the departure of the Columbia go?" She looked at him, confusion cluttering her gaze momentarily, "The Columbia's still with us, sir. She's undergoing emergency repairs and they've had to put back her departure time. It's all documented in the Operations log, sir." "Let me see that!" He stepped up to the console in such a manner that if she didn't have the presence of mind to move, she would have been squashed underfoot. Still vaguely aware of her presence at his side he said, "Dismissed, crewman!" He scanned through the details, noting the exact times the damage was noted in the Operations Log at Dockyard Echo. As his eyes finished reading the details, his hands punched up a comm-channel to the surface. "Operations to Ensign Okada; report to Dockyard Echo. We two are going to take a little tour of my department, and repair whatever damage is left, and maybe whilst we're doing that you'll find it in you to explain to me why I wasn't informed of all that's been going on last night!" He slammed the palm of his hand against the console, closing the channel and venting some of his anger at the same time. ====================/\==================== (Otono Medical Centre - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.19.0801) "Can I help you Ms.?" Anne jumped at the sound, suddenly feeling like she had been caught. She turned and was surpised to face a man who was a LOT taller than her. She smiled. "Um, yes. I am Ensign Anne Therriault. I'm here to have my physical." ====================/\==================== (Otono Medical Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0802) "Um, yes. I am Ensign Anne Therriault. I'm here to have my physical." Cambridge nodded quickly and picked up a PADD. "Welcome to Otono. Follow me." He led to her a biobed in the middle of the room. Several stations with Biobeds were arranged in a outward circular way. Maxwell pointed to a bed for the officer to sit on. "There we go. Well Ms. Therriault, how has your first four or so days been here on the station?" <reply> Cambridge nodded his head simply. "I understand. I've had more surprises than I thought this station could dish out." He pulled out his medical tricorder and began to run the small round pulsing unit over her. "Any health conditions previous or family gene line?" ====================/\==================== (Otono Medical Centre - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.19.0803) "There we go. Well Ms. Therriault, how has your first four or so days been here on the station?" "Actually," Anne answered, "I've been on the station for about...." she checked the time and did a quick calculation, "38 hours and most of it is a blur right now." Cambridge nodded his head simply. "I understand. I've had more surprises than I thought this station could dish out." He pulled out his medical tricorder and began to run the small round pulsing unit over her. "Any health conditions previous or family gene line?" Therriault thought for a moment, "No, none that I can think of. My 4 brothers are healthy as horses and my parents never had any problem. Oh, wait...I did have a broken arm when I was 4. My 2 older brother decided to play football with me...and I was the football." <<reply doc>> She smiled innocently, "I have 2 older brothers and 2 younger brothers and all of them tortured me until I learned self defense." ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0805) Kazuko sat behind her desk with her head propped up on her hand watching the officers unpack her other plant boxes. Things were as they should be, workers were busy with the tasks she gave them, and her assistants were busy bees themselves. Kazuko looked up as the comm. cracked and released the message for her. ~Perfect.Things were going good until now.~ She listened to the message once but couldn't believe her ears, "Computer reply that last message." =/\="Operations to Ensign Okada; report to Dockyard Echo. We two are going to take a little tour of my department, and repair whatever damage is left, and maybe whilst we're doing that you'll find it in you to explain to me why I wasn't informed of all that's been going on last night!"=/\= ~HIS DEPARTMENT?!?! I thought Orbital Ops was MY department.~ She thought getting just as mad as he sounded before she felt Rikku's hands on her shoulders. Kazuko took a few calming breathes before patting Rikku away. "He sounds pretty steamed Kaz." Maurana said while looking up from the consol. "It sounds to me that he needs to switch to decaf." Rikku said while walking back towards her office, "You aren't going, right Kazuko?" "I don't know yet.I shouldn't. If I don't hurt myself I'll probably hurt him." Kazuko said with a wry grin, "And if I hurt myself again, Doc Cambridge will be less than pleased." "Well you have to reply..." Maurana said with a smile. "I do don't I." Kazuko sighed and hit the comm. "Orbital Ops to Lt. Black. I regret to inform you that I cannot attend your meeting on Dockyard Echo. I have been placed on Light duty by Doctor Maxwell Cambridge and attending to that would only aggravate my condition. If you would still like to confer with me, I will be in my office. Or you can take it up with Doctor Cambridge. Okada Out." She cut the comm. "He's going to like that even less, Kaz." Maurana said with a small smile. "Doctor outranks him, Maurana. Like it or not, that's the way it goes." Kazuko said while laying her head down on the desk and closing her eyes for a few moments. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0808) =/\=Orbital Ops to Lt. Black. I regret to inform you that I cannot attend your meeting on Dockyard Echo. I have been placed on Light duty by Doctor Maxwell Cambridge and attending to that would only aggravate my condition. If you would still like to confer with me, I will be in my office. Or you can take it up with Doctor Cambridge. Okada Out.=/\= Who in Hell did she think she was cuttng off a superior officer?? A head full of steam, Martin marched into the turbolift. "Transporter Room One!" ====================/\==================== (USS Lion - Main Engineering - Jason Holland - 2378.08.19.0810) He stepped into the engineering department, looking around the room. Out of his new bag, he pulled a small rectangular device. Walking deliberately and with practiced efficiency, he opened the warp core unit, placing the device directly into the outer chamber. Closing it, he took a deep breath. Picking up his bag he returned to the shuttle, which he piloted back to the dock and left with but a nod to the ensign at the dock. He had fifteen minutes to disappear. He did it with out much trouble. ====================/\==================== (Otono Medical Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0810) Therriault thought for a moment, "No, none that I can think of. My 4 brothers are healthy as horses and my parents never had any problem. Oh, wait...I did have a broken arm when I was 4. My 2 older brother decided to play football with me...and I was the football." Cambridge nodded. "That's a fun thing eh!" She smiled innocently, "I have 2 older brothers and 2 younger brothers and all of them tortured me until I learned self defense." Suddenly a call came directly to Cambridge. =/\=SIR, THE OPS CHIEF JUST BURST INTO KAZUKO'S OFFFICE...=/\= The chief needed no more information. "Excuse me. I have a patient's live to save. I should be back. Computer, emergency transport to Kazuko office...NOW!" He shouted the last sentence, his anger very clear. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Transporter Room One - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0811) Martin stormed into the small room, pushing himself up to the console, tapping into it furiously. "Transport me to these co-ordinates. NOW!" He stepped onto the transport pad, and felt the immediate tingle of the transporter field claiming his body. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0814) "It is not wise to treat your superior officers with such contempt - it could be considered insubordinate. However, let's skip that as a debate for another time; we have more important matters to discuss. Why was I not informed of the tampering with dockyard echo?" Cambridge had appeared to the back of the office, having Black not seeing him in his tirade. He stepped forward, all six foot five of him. "MR. Black!" <reply> "My name is Chief Medical Officer Maxwell Cambridge..." <reply> The CMO raised an eyebrow, his ire growing. He leaned down to the man and looked him straight into the eye. His voice was intense and filled with rage, ready to explode. "Ms. Okada is hurt. She is unable to do heavy work outside of her office. This is the diagnosis of the Medical Department of this station. You can accept that..." He almost added ~You little piece of work! ~ "Or you can take it up with the Admiral and inform HIM that YOU WISH TO INJURE AND EVEN KILL SOMEONE ON THIS STATION! NOW, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE I GET YOU OUT MYSELF!" ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0814) Lieutenant Martin Black materialised inside a room with several plants and three people. It took him a moment to work out which was which as both kinds remained in a motionless shock at his sudden arrival. "OUT!" he bellowed at the two assistants. "Don't look at her, I'm ordering you OUT!" The two of them quickly scurried out of his way as he rounded to the desk and gave the YEO a smouldering glare. "It is not wise to treat your superior officers with such contempt - it could be considered insubordinate. However, let's skip that as a debate for another time; we have more important matters to discuss. Why was I not informed of the tampering with dockyard echo?" He added silently, ~And after your little performance a moment ago, this had better be good!~ ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0815) "Doctor? Are you this protective of all your patients - which I'd hate to think otherwise we might never get anything done around here - or is it just the ones you find... cute?" The six foot five doctor raised his eyebrow. His face tightened visibly. Fortunately for the Second Officer he had moved out of the office quickly, escaping any ire the doctor could throw in his direction. For the moment, Cambridge was left with an empty room and Okada. He turned to her and tersely nodded. "If you will excuse me, I've got to finish a medical examination. Check with me at the end of the day. Good Day." The CMO moved out the door, headed for the transporter room, his mind still abuzz with anger towards the OPS chief. He quickly transported down to Otono. He walked back into the office, snatching up a PADD with a snap, spotting his patient and pointing her towards one of the rooms quickly and without words. He looked up as she entered. He took a deep breath. "Sorry about that officer, I had a raving fool to deal with. What are we here to do again?" ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - AYEO's Office - AYEO Ens JG Shiva Rikku - 2378.08.19.0816) Ensign Shiva sat behind her desk looking over schedules for next week when a slight beep alerted her to the wall unit. ~What's this? Someone working in Engineering of the Lion?~ She pulled up the list of workers and blinked, ~There is no authorized work being done in Engineering on the Lion.~ She quickly walked through the door to her Chief's office, "Chief we have a problem!" ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0816) "MR. Black!" Martin looked at the newest arrival with an odd mix of anger and delighted contempt. "Can I help you Doctor?" "My name is Chief Medical Officer Maxwell Cambridge..." "I am aware of your designation." Focussing his mind, Martin found stength in the building itself. They were on his turf now. "State your business here." "Ms. Okada is hurt. She is unable to do heavy work outside of her office. This is the diagnosis of the Medical Department of this station. You can accept that..." Martin drew himself up, even though he could never hope to match the CMO's size. The emotional rush surging from the CMO was quite... interesting. "Or you can take it up with the Admiral and inform HIM that YOU WISH TO INJURE AND EVEN KILL SOMEONE ON THIS STATION! NOW, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE I GET YOU OUT MYSELF!" The Betazoid allowed the angry words to wash over the room and dissipate before continuing. He turned to face the CMO, his smile fixed, his voice tightly gripped around 'light and friendly' mode. "Yet another piece of vital," he said, slamming his palm against the desk to emphasise his point, "information that this Ensign," he slammed it again, "has been caught witholding. In either case Doctor I was simply trying to save this officer any trouble that her attitude may cause her by informing her of the proper chain of command." Martin was aflame, there was no force on all of Mars that could stop him now, and he wasn't about to let a Doctor get in his way. "As you can see when the good Ms Okada informed me that she could not perform heavy duties - albeit in a somewhat inappropriate fashion - I relocated her work, and mine, to her office. Now that I have the information I came for - unless there's something else you're hiding, Kazuko? - I will be going. I *do* have a station to run." He swept up to the door, before turning, "Doctor? Are you this protective of all your patients - which I'd hate to think otherwise we might never get anything done around here - or is it just the ones you find... cute?" Neither of them ever got a chance to answer him, as he was already storming down the corridor in an attempt to sort out the anger in his head which belonged to him from that absorbed from both the Doctor and the Engineer. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0817) "Chief! We have a problem." Rikku said while going up to Kazuko's desk. "What is it now?" Kazuko asked. She really started to hate those words. "Unauthorized access to the engineering room on the Lion." Rikku said while showing it on a padd to Kazuko. "Orbital Ops to Security!" Kazuko called quickly, "We have a report of unauthorized access to the U.S.S. Lion, please advise." ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0818) Kazuko looked at the report from Rikku again and frowned, ~Where is Security. Something about this just doesn't seem right to me.~ Kazuko stood and walked to her transporter padd. ~I can't wait. Something happens to that ship and there will be hell to pay.~ "Kaz? Where are you going?" Rikku asked while watching her Chief move around. "Don't worry.I'm just going to go to the Lion and see to that Unauthorized movement." Kazuko answered. "That's what we have security for." Maurana said, showing equal worry that Kaz might reinjure herself. "Can't wait. Something happens to the Lion and my ass will answer for it. I'm going." She stepped onto the transporter and waited for a moment. Rikku sighed and activated the beam. ====================/\==================== (USS Lion - Bridge - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0819) Kazuko materialized and did a quick scan of the area. Her tricorder was working overtime as she moved to the turbolift. The turbolift doors opened and she took it to Engineering. ====================/\==================== (USS Lion - Main Engineering - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0820) The Chief stepped out into Engineering and looked around cautiously. Nothing looked amiss to her, so she started scanning with her tricorder, after a moment of scanning she came to a stop at the Warp Core. ~What the hell is that?~ She thought while opening the Warp Core unit and gently pulling the ticking unit out of there. Her eyes widened as she saw the countdown blinking, 5.59.5.58.5.57. "Oh god.A bomb!" She said out loud while holding it in her hands. ~Got to MOVE~ Her thought was so urgent she nearly dropped the device. She turned and nearly ran back to the turbolift. Once inside, "Transporter Room" <<Please specify.>> The computer responded. "Pick one!" Kazuko nearly yelled. The turbolift began to move towards Transporter Room 1 as Kazuko looked down on the device. Burning its look into her memory for later. ~I know nothing of bombs, but I at the very least can describe it to anyone who will care.~ ====================/\==================== (USS Lion - Transporter Room One - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0821) She ran into the transporter room and was struck dumb at what she saw. The Pad was there, but the consol to activate it wasn't., "Computer what is the status of Transporters?" <<Transporters are offline. Installation is not scheduled until Tuesday.>> "No." She whispered, and looked at the little device in her hands, ~You are not getting this ship.~ She thought as it blinked. 3.48.3.47..3.46. "Are there any shuttles aboard?" She asked. <<Shuttlecraft Redemption is docked in Shuttlebay 1.>> The computer replied. "Is it complete?" Kazuko asked. <<Affirmative.>> Kazuko ran back to the turbolift, and sighed, ~This isn't in my job description.~ "Shuttle Bay 1" She ordered. ====================/\==================== (USS Lion - Shuttlebay One - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0822) Kazuko ran into the shuttle bay towards the shuttle Redemption. "Computer activate Shuttle Redemption, Prep for flight." She called out as she ran. The door to the shuttle opened and she ran aboard. Sitting down in the pilot seat she powered it up. "Computer, scrap pre launch check list, we don't have the time. Open the bay doors." Kazuko ordered. The doors didn't budge. "Computer! Open the bay doors!" She cried again, this time punching her command codes into the shuttle turning it around. <<Bay doors not responding.>> The computer chimed. Kazuko looked over at the bomb ticking away, 2.45.2.44..2.43.."We don't have time for this, COMPUTER, Blow the Bay door off Authorization, Okada Beta Beta Charlie 005!" She screamed, getting slightly nervous. The bay doors blow off into space and Kazuko hits the power, sending the shuttle out into space. ~I should have taken more time in the simulator.~ As soon as she was far enough from the Lion, she hit the engines and pushed the shuttle up to as fast as it could go. She needed distance. ====================/\==================== (Shuttle Redemption - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0823) Kazuko flew out and away from the dockyards, putting as much space as she could between them. She had no idea how much of a punch this little device had, but she wanted to be sure her ships and her people were safe from it. She looked over at it and sighed, 1.25.1.24.1.23. "Computer record message." She said <<Recording.>> "To anyone within the sound of my voice, This is Ensign Okada Kazuko of Japan. I am the Chief of the Yard Engineering and Orbital Operations Departments of Utopia Planitia.At 0811 this morning, I had a report of Unauthorized entry to the Engineering department of the USS Lion. After calling Security and not getting a response, I myself went to the USS Lion and found a foreign device ticking away. After a failed attempt to transport it away, I took the Shuttle Redemption and am now speeding away from the dockyards. If anything, my ships are safe. What a way to spend my birthday. I hope that you catch the person or persons responsible for this." She stopped and looked at it again. 1.00..59..58. "Computer, send!" 57 seconds later.the Shuttle Redemption exploded. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Command Wing - Main Operations - OPSO Crewman Jason Stillwell - 2378.08.19.0824) In the command centre Jason Stillwell sat watching the board. Nothing much had been happening, the Mars accident was ongoing, but the station had been relatively quiet. Running his hands over the board, he checked several ongoing repairs in lower decks, small stuff really while keeping an eye on the main boards scanning the perimeter of Utopia and Mars. He sat back in the chair for but a moment when suddenly it came through, loud and very clear. =/\=To anyone within the sound of my voice, this is Ensign Okada Kazuko of Japan. I am the Chief of the Yard Engineering and Orbital Operations Departments of Utopia Planitia... At 0811 this morning; I had a report of unauthorized entry to the Engineering department of the USS Lion. After calling Security and not getting a response, I myself went to the USS Lion and found a foreign device ticking away. After a failed attempt to transport it away, I took the Shuttle Redemption and am now speeding away from the dockyards. If anything, my ships are safe. What a way to spend my birthday... I hope that you catch the person or persons responsible for this..." Stillwell sat up, his mind moving quickly. "Transporter room, we need a lock on to a ship..." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - AOPS Ens JG Ralth Ra'Kir - 2378.08.19.0825) Ralth stepped around the OPS, trying to get his mind around the idea that he was in charge of Ops alone for the watch, because ltn. Black was dealing with operational issues. Sighing, he sat at his console, just as one the operators called him. "Sir, we have a shuttle departing from the Lions shuttlebay! The Redemption, sir." ~Hm. That's odd. There isn't supposed to BE anyone on the Lion now. They should all be repairing Columbia.~ "Scan the ship for lifeforms." "One, Sir. There's a slight fluctuation, like there was something else.. Sir, incoming message from the shuttle." "On speakers." =/\=To anyone within the sound of my voice, This is Ensign Okada Kazuko of Japan. I am the Chief of the Yard Engineering and Orbital Operations Departments of Utopia Planitia. At 0811 this morning, I had a report of Unauthorized entry to the Engineering department of the USS Lion. After calling Security and not getting a response, I myself went to the USS Lion and found a foreign device ticking away. After a failed attempt to transport it away, I took the Shuttle Redemption and am now speeding away from the dockyards. If anything, my ships are safe. What a way to spend my birthday... I hope that you catch the person or persons responsible for this.=/\= Ralth could feel his hackles rising. A man operating a nearby console, sat up and slapped his commbadge, calling for transporters to lock on the ship. Ralth growled. ~I'm too slow.~ "Belay that order! Lock onto any and all lifeforms inside the Redemption and initialize emergency transport!" =^=Can't lock on, sir. There's an energy flux there that keeps interfering!=^= ~What the.. The bomb must be already going critical.~ "Lock onto that energy signature and beam it outside the shuttle!" =^=Sir, we can't get the bomb out. It's going critical and could destabilize in the pattern. It would cause much more damage!=/\= Snarling, Ralth punched his commbadge. "Lock on to my signal and beam me there and then back in three seconds! Ener-" <<Shuttle has detonated.>> "NO!" Ralth could feel the deck swinging under his feet as the shockwave hit them. "Do we have her?" Stillwell started punching at his console while Ralth waited, his tail twitching. "She's in Otono Stormcentre, they've got her now!" Ralth sighed. He had no way to know how badly she was hurt, if at all. He'd have to wait. "Computer, inform me when any entries are made onto ensign Okadas medical log." <<Acknowledged>> ~I can't access the files, but I sure as hell can find out when they put something in there, and then I can ask the doctor myself.. Now, we have to get moving.~ "Computer, initialize full-scale security lockdown. No entry or exit from and to Valhalla station and Mars base without express permission of senior officers. Ra'Kir to security: We have a saboteur on station and I have initiated lockdown as per standard procedure Alpha-one -one. Rest is yours. Get them, fast. Relaying situation information to you now. Computer, record all sensor logs from this morning 0000, encode them and send them to security and Admiral Jopek." (Reply security) "Operations to Admiral Jopek. Sir, ensign Okada was injured by an explosive device in a shuttlecraft. It destroyed the shuttle but we managed to pull her out just in time, I think. She's in Otono now, but I don't know her condition. I have initiated the lockdown procedures and informed security. What are your orders, Sir?" ====================/\==================== (Shuttlecraft Redemption - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0826) Okada screamed in shock as the timer jumped to 15 seconds. Her blood ran cold and she looked out into space as she realized what would happen next. The world would turn black; she would feel pain and then release. Death was that way, quick and easy for some, long and drawn out for others. Grimacing, she realized she would die young, a virgin and on her birthday. Her memories washed over her, her smile growing at all of life she had lived. The timer showed 10 seconds. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Command Wing - Main Operations - OPSO Crewman Jason Stillwell - 2378.08.19.0826) Stillwell was having trouble with the transporter department. They had tried to lock onto Okada, but were finding it hard to hold onto her. Frowning and expression frustration he cursed. Quickly he looked around and took a deep breath. Once more they would need to go to red alert. And fast. "RED ALERT! Ops to medical, prepare for a casualty! All hands to battle stations, we have a bomb on a shuttle..." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Corridors - Jason Holland - 2378.08.19.0826) Jason Holland walked the decks of Valhalla, his eyes moving over the crowds of officers and random people. He had changed once more into a lieutenant uniform in operations style, using his credentials to get where he needed to go. His PADD suddenly beeped and he frowned, looking down to it. The image of the USS Lion appeared and a small shuttle soon thereafter. It was moving away from its intended target. The timer was at 45 seconds. In that time something could be done to stop it. That he could not allow. Tapping a few buttons, he locked the time down to 15 seconds. He stopped at the window and soon found the errant shuttle. A smile curled on his slips as he was about to see his plan succeed in more ways than he imagined. ====================/\==================== (Otono Medical Centre - CMO's Office - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0826) Chief Medical Officer Maxwell Cambridge looked up, his eyes focusing on the blinking red light that was making its presence known to him. A casualty? What the hell did that mean? He stood up quickly. "Otono Stormcentre, go to Red Alert, incoming casualty, prepare Operation Room 3!" He quickly picked up his pace as he made his way to the operating room wing. He looked at his PADD and he stopped for just a moment as he found out who was on the shuttle. ~Okada...damnation!~ He ran all the faster. ====================/\==================== (Shipyards - - 2378.08.19.0827) The Valhalla Yards and surrounding departments were now on full alert, having the word BOMB been run to them. The klaxons were ringing true, the red lights covering the rooms in swaths as men and women alike ran to buckle down. Orders were shouted, messages sent. None of these officers had any idea their chief was in the shuttle and of the impending doom. They did their jobs as anyone would do it, without concern, without protest, but with absolution towards the goal of saving their ships, their station, and their home. ====================/\==================== (Shuttlecraft Redemption - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.19.0827) Okada slowly sat down on the bench, the bomb across from her, reading 7 seconds. Seven seconds to make for everything in the world, seven seconds to come to something of a decision, to something of a mindset. Six seconds to remember all the times she had with her family, with her friends and with Starfleet. Six seconds to look to the window, seeing Valhalla become smaller and smaller, watching her new home fly away into the wind, while she grudgingly clasped onto it, not wanting to ever let go. Five seconds to consider what would happen, five seconds to remember the world, four seconds to think about what life could have been, about who she could have been. Three seconds to want to be that person in more ways then one. Three seconds to realize her life had been fulfilled in some way. Someone would remember her, someone would think about her. Two seconds to fold her arms and take one last look at the receding vision. Two seconds to know it had been a good run. One second for it all to come rushing back to her. One second to know that life would go on, and that the future held so much for those still in it. One moment to hold onto it all, before it was ripped away. For the first time since she had stepped onto the transporter PADD in her office, she smiled. Smiled with a twinkle in her eye as the counter hit zero. And her world went white. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - - 2378.08.19.0827) The station was on full alert, the transports slowly locking in on Okada. Her signal was fading in and out, causing the personal more problems than they wanted. They wanted more than anything to save one of their own, but it seemed fate had other plans. The transporters were at 50% and would be online within 8 seconds. Little did they know of how much time they actually had, and if they did, there would have been nothing they could do. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - - 2378.08.19.0828) The explosion surprised everyone on the deck, and the fire on screen held them for a moment before they move quickly into action "Do we have her!?" The voices were filled with fear and anxiety, reaching the breaking point. There was a moment of silence as Stillwell pounded the OPS board. He shouted loudly. "She's in Otono Stormcentre, they've got her now!" The room dissolved into chaos as they went about securing from the bomb and the ensuing insanity. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Corridors - Jason Holland - 2378.08.19.0828) Holland grinned as the shuttle exploded, staying at the window for a moment, and then quickly disappeared into the crowd. ====================/\==================== (Otono Medical Centre - Operating Room 3 - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0828) Cambridge busted into the OR to find the badly burnt body of Okada Kazuko on the table, already being worked on. She was screaming in pain, trying to desperately hold it in. Maxwell came up and looked into her eyes. They were moving around the room frantically and focused on him at last. Her amber eyes held for a moment, recognizing his face. "Do...c...sor...ry..." He quickly began to work on her, shaking his head, as if to say, "Its ok, I just get to shake my head at you more." His other surgeons were quickly working on the Orbital Operations Chief, Cambridge trying to desperately repair her damaged skin. The scans were showing internal injuries all over the place. She was dead as far as the CMO could tell, but there still something in her holding on, refusing to let go, wanted to live as long as she could. "Did...I...sa...ve...th...e..." She dissolved into hacking, her body breaking into spasms, forcing several of the doctors to hold her down. Her heart was slowing and her breathing was becoming more ragged. They continued to work, desperately trying to save the young woman as her condition worsened. "Heart rate's going...we're going into RED!" Red was the name for the Last Stop. Beyond this point, anything could happen. The best they could do was to hope she could be pulled out of such a mess. "Did...I...save...the...the...Li...on...the...ship?" Her voice was once more forced, her body struggling to say the words she needed to, struggling to say one last thing before the blackness consumed her. Cambridge looked around to the other officers. One nodded. They had seen the scene on the screens. Cambridge leaned down, his voice breaking with emotion. "Yes...you did. You saved the ship and the station. Okada, you did damned well, damned well indeed." She seemed to smile as she coughed once more, blood coming to her mouth. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the doctors shaking their heads. They could do nothing; she would soon slip into the cold grasps of death. Cambridge leaned in as she began to gasp for breath, her lungs filling, her heart failing and the light inside her eyes fading. Okada struggled for a few moments, before she let out a long breath, her head slowly falling back to the table. The room fell silent as the doctor leaned his head down to the table. The fellow officers in the room bowed their heads, knowing they had just lost an officer of great caliber. A moment later Cambridge stood up, his face red from tears. He looked to the body once more, water falling down his face. "Kazuko, you will always be in my heart as a damned good officer and..." He struggled once more, the emotions inside him reaching a pinnacle. "A friend I always knew I had..." Moving quickly forward, Doctor Maxwell Alexander Cambridge reached forward and covered the body. "Computer, declare time of...death for Okada Kazuko as now. File report and send to Admiral Jopek for review." He stood for a moment and then walked slowly out of the room, his feet echoing off the empty cavern of Surgery 3. The doors swished close behind him, the lights dimming, and the silence finally reaching the room. The body of Okada Kazuko was left to an empty room. The lights turned off finally, awaiting the return of life to a now dead room. Time ends, 8:39. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - Corridors - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0829) The meeting with the YEO had been a short one. There was nothing new she could tell him, and after pressing his point to ensure that this blatant disregard for the chain of command would not happen again he wanted nothing more than to get back on top of the situation on Valhalla. "Lt Black to Valhalla." He waited for the starbase to acknowledge before continuing, "One to beam back." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Transporter Room One - TC CPO Botrell - 2378.08.19.0830) =/\=Lt Black to Valhalla; one to beam back.=/\= "Aye sir," the cheerful Bolian beamed at the disembodied voice. "Locking on... Energizing now!" His hand pushed up the console, matched by the lights indicating the transport cycle, and as they reached their peak there was a momentary hiss, before the console erupted into sparks and threw the Transporter Chief off his feet. He was dimly aware of an alert signal, and somewhere in the distance he was certain he could hear a voice... but then the blackness descended... =/\=...Botrell! Are you there?!=/\= ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - FO Cmdr Richard Ian Lee - 2378.08.19.0831) =^=Lt Black to Valhalla Operations; get a med-team down to Transporter Room One NOW!=^= Rich blinked, then tapped his padd. "Medical emergency, Med team to Transporter room one!" (reply medical) "Ops to Black, team en-route." =^=Thank you, Valhalla. I've got some business I might as well take care of whilst I'm down here, but could you ask Mr Landis if he'd mind getting a shuttle down here. I'll need to get back in orbit as soon as possible.=^= Rich looked at the CONN officer, and waved him off. "Also en-route. Report, whats going on down there?" ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - Corridors - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0831) A loud whine and crackle of static burst from his comm-badge with a force that made him instinctively reach to close the channel. Beneath it all he was certain he could hear an explosion. "Botrell? Come in Transporter Chief! Botrell! Are you there?!" Panic gripped the Betazoid. Panic and fury at being stuck on this planet when one of his people was in trouble in orbit. "Lt Black to Valhalla Operations; get a med-team down to Transporter Room One NOW!" He waited what felt like an eternity whilst the officer on deck responded, "Thank you, Valhalla," Martin's voice contained more than a measure of relief at dealing with someone reasonable. Finally the day seemed to be falling back into his grip again, "I've got some business I might as well take care of whilst I'm down here, but could you ask Mr Landis if he'd mind getting a shuttle down here. I'll need to get back in orbit as soon as possible." ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Engineering Wing - Corridors - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0834) =/\=Report, whats going on down there?=/\= "There's nothing going on down here, Commander. I came down for a status report about the Columbia as there were some unusual entries in the Operations Log, and when they tried to bring me back up there was what was very likely an explosion and now Transporter Chief Botrell isn't answering his comm-badge. "If that's all, sir, I really do have a lot to get through this morning..." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - FO Cmdr Richard Ian Lee - 2378.08.19.0834) =^=There's nothing going on down here, Commander. I came down for a status report about the Columbia as there were some unusual entries in the Operations Log, and when they tried to bring me back up there was what was very likely an explosion and now Transporter Chief Botrell isn't answering his comm-badge. "If that's all, sir, I really do have a lot to get through this morning...=^= Rich narrowed his eyes and sat back in his chair. "Very well, carry on Lieutenant." ~What is going on here?~ ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - CONN Ens Alex Landis - 2378.08.19.0835) =^= ...could you ask Mr Landis if he'd mind getting a shuttle down here. I'll need to get back in orbit as soon as possible. =^= Alex stared at the consoles in disbelief. First the cancelled away mission due to the damage to the Columbia and now this. Not that he minded doing some piloting himself. Taking the Runabout out yesterday had been fun. "I heard that, tell him I'll be right there." Landis said to the FO. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Command Wing - Strategic Operations - STRATOPS Cptn Jenna Rulestaad - 2378.08.19.0842) Jenna looked at the monitor at the man standing outside Stratops' blast doors, and frowned. "Computer, play LT Blacks comm message one more time. <<Complying>> =^=It's Lt Black. I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd stop by in case there's any chance of...of that meeting about the MDP.=^= Rulestaad leaned back in her chair, and pointed to the Officer of the watch. "Let him in, send an escort." "Aye, Sir." He pressed a few buttons, and spoke lightly into a mic. Jenna continued to watch the screen, as the triple blast doors opened and three officers met with Lt Black as he walked in. "Ill take him in my office, you have the conn." she said as she looked at her second, Lt Cmdr Dorkin. The tellarite grinned, and said "He will get there in one piece, Im sure." "Make sure that he does" she said back. She checked the monitors one more time, as Lt Black was led past the 400 ft wide Strategic Condition main screen that headed the football stadium sized room. She grinned wickedly, as he looked about himself in obvious curiosity. Not many made it into Stratops, it was something of a wonder to a newcomer. Jenna headed off to the side, and entered her office while she waited for Black to make it up to her. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Command Wing - Strategic Operations, Lobby - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0842) He pressed the enunciator and waited for the response. "It's Lt Black. I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd stop by in case there's any chance of..." the thought phased out of Martin's head and he found himself having to fight to get it back. "...of that meeting about the MDP." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Engineering - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.19.0845) After the excitement of the Borg chasing Jopek round engineering Taz had a list of Todo's growing in engineering and he had a new assistant to see to. =/\=Computer, locate Ensign Corey Moore=/\= <<Ensign Corey Moore is in his quarters>> answered the computer. ~if he's resting I'll just leave him a message~ "Ensign Corey Moore, please report to my engineering office as soon as you have the time, thanks, Ensign River" The main power grid for the station was only running at 68% efficiency, so he decided to give it some maintenance and see if he can improve efficiency to at least 90%, he removed a panel and linked up his test equipment to that to get started. The other members of engineering gathered round the table to hear what tasks they were assigned to that morning. "OK, I'd like Bruce and Lee to find out where the energy is being wasted, the main power grid is running at 68% efficiency, I want at least 80% by dinner, and 90% by this evening, if we should be attacked and the shields come up and the phasers start firing the whole station will probably shut down because of the power demand. OK-get to" ordered Ensign Taz Taz looked round at his team working, he had a good team and felt confident he was going to have a good time here on Valhalla, a great station, not far from Earth and right in the centre of Star Fleet activity. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Command Wing - STRATOP's Office - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0846) Being escorted under guard was probably the most friendly situation Martin had found himself in all morning, and he used the time between being allowed entrance to the Strategic Operations complex and arriving at the CO's Office to calm himself mentally and further purify his mind from the emotional influence of others. Luckily his companion was a well-trained solider, with a fixed, purposeful mind. Perfect company for this purifying journey. However, here he was, at the heart of UP's Strategic Operations centre, about to meet with it's head, and as the door opened he took a half step inside the room, advancing each sense in turn into the new space and feeling his way gingerly into new territory. At the centre of it all sat a Vulcanoid. He strode up to her, unsure whether to extend his hand in the human gesture of friendship, or the vulcan symbol of peace. In the end he opted for a brief salute. Keeping his mind closed, his eyes forward he said, "Operations Chief Martin Black, sir." ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Command Wing - STRATOPS's Office - STRATOPS Cptn Jenna Rulestaad - 2378.08.19.0846) Jenna tried very hard not to chuckle as Black stood at her office door, and extended his hand in traditional vulcan manner. "Operations Chief Martin Black, sir." She brought her hand up, and spread her fingers in the same manner. "Peace and long life to you as well, Lieutenant." She brought her hand sweeping down to a gesture for him to take a seat. As he was sitting, Jenna got right to the point. "What about the MDP did you wish to discuss, Lieutenant?" ====================/\==================== (Strategic Operations - STRATOPS's Office - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0846) "What about the MDP did you wish to discuss, Lieutenant?" "Several things, really, Captain. The general status of the project would be nice to start with, but after that my main interest is in the materials and parts you'd need imported from outside our own complex. As I'm sure you can appreciate, supply ships are a bit over-crowded with all the construction going on around here - it seems everytime I walk along a new corridor the list... doubles... in..." He leaned back in the chair, entirely unaware of it. His senses were only aware of a great weight pressing against his mind. Shaking his head as though trying to loose the impression he carried on: "Anyway, anything you could tell me would be greatly appreciated, sir. I'm not a fan of surprises." ====================/\==================== (Shuttle - CONN Ens Alex Landis - 2378.08.19.0900) Heading down to Mars was no joyride; Orbit Operations had every flying piece of junk in tight reins so Alex looked out at the scenery. Rounding the huge docks, crossing paths with other shuttles made him feel like flying inside a hive. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base - Shuttleport - CONN Ens Alex Landis - 2378.08.19.0920) Alex parked the shuttle and looked for his boss. One of them. He really should see the YEO. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Command Wing - Shuttleport - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0921) He walked on very shaky legs to the shuttleport, and gratefully accepted the nearest bench whilst he waited for the shuttle to land. Despite his weary state he couldn't help but examine the landing. He was going to be trusting his safety to that pilot, after all. A few minutes later the CONN Officer walked up to him, and aware of how pale and weak he must look Martin made every effort to seem twice as tall as usual. "Hi there! Ready to get back into action? Would you mind if we made a detour to Dockyard Echo before heading home?" ====================/\==================== (Mars Base - Shuttleport - CONN Ens Alex Landis - 2378.08.19.0924) He found Martin Black soon enough. "Hi there! Ready to get back into action? Would you mind if we made a detour to Dockyard Echo before heading home?" Landis hesitated for just a second; he could always see her later. "Sure, always a pleasure to fly." ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Corridors - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.19.0930) Chief Therriault was on her way back to her office from the medical center when she ran into the head of the Starship Design Bureau, Amy Rowan. "Hi yah, Chief," Amy called. "Hello, Ms. Rowan. How are you today?" "Fine. Just fine. I was just on my way to see a demonstration by one of my people. Want to come along?" Anne ran today's schedule through her head before quickly nodded, "Sure. I'm free right now." "Excellent. Follow me." On their way to a lab in the depths of the TE department, Rowan explained to her boss what the experiment was about, "One of my guys has been working on a new replicator that will run on a smaller power source. His supervisor told me that this has been his pet project, working on it when he had time, mostly after hours. This is his first test of the system and he invited me to attend." Anne nodded, trying to keep up with the Lt. Commander. They transvered the maze of hallways to a laboratory where a small group of people were grouped around a piece of machinery, talking animatedly. ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0930) The ride down in the turbolift had been tense, he felt a growing knot in his stomach as the reports of the damage to the Columbia ran through his mind An anticipatory sense of dread swept through his body as he neared the window he knew would look out over the battered starship. They'd successfully disengaged it from it's crippling grip within the docking bay, but once the arms had been reset there were repairs to be done, and upgrades to be made so that the ship could perform its mission. It couldn't just sit out there all day! "That ship has a mission, and it will be going on that mission come Hell of high water. That's the only way to deal with senseless terrorism; show them they cannot win! Lt Black to Valhalla Operations Centre, patch me through to Crewman Motabwe and Ensign Lindell..." ====================/\==================== (Shuttle Reversus - CO Cptn Remae Ktell - 2378.08.19.0930) The Bajoran Remae Ktell was at the controls of the small class 4 shuttle, all alone on the short ship to Mars he had managed to talk the shipmaster out of it when he was hanging around the shuttle port at Starfleet Headquarters. At full impulse, he wasn't going to take long in arriving at the base, by the sound of Admiral Jopek; they needed him to command the USS Firebrande urgently. ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - Theoretical Engineering Lab - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.19.0933) As they entered, the group caught sight of their commanding officer and instantly quieted. They gathered in lines and saluted. Anne sighed inwardly. She had a lot of work to do to break her staff of the habits the last TEO had taught them. "At ease," she called, "Please, continue what you were doing. I'm just an observer." The group stayed in parade formation, staring at her, some with looks of shock on their faces. "Please, continue your work," she shooed then back to the experiment, "Go on." One by one, the group slowly turned back to what they were doing, talking in hushed tones. "This way, Chief," Amy called, walking around the group. Anne followed her closely, taking in her surroundings. She could see familiar faces, people she had passed in the hallway, but most of them were strangers to her. Rowan pointed out a young man who was tinkering with the back of the replicator, "Chief Therriault, this is Ensign Ty Boriella. He's the technician that designed this module." Anne shook Ty's hand, surprised at how young he looked. He still had the glimmer of youth in his eyes that disappeared long ago from many officers in Starfleet. "Please," she pointed towards the piece of machinery, "tell me about your experiment." Ty stuttered through the explanation, pointing out different aspects of the replicator that he had changed to simplify it. She nodded through the explanation, understanding out nervous the young man was having his two commanding officers asking questions. It all looked right but a little voice in the back of her head was telling her that something was amiss. She just couldn't see it. At the end she nodded, "Very good, Ensign. Now, do you think it will work?" He smiled and nodded, "I sure hope so." ~Oh, that makes me feel all warm inside.~ She exchanged a look with Rowan who smiled reassuringly at her before turning to Ty, "Are you ready to go?" He nodded, "It's as good as it's going to get." Something deep inside of Anne cringed at the words, ~This really doesn't sound good.~ Rowan turned around and began to herd the group back, away from the machine, "Back up, people. Let's give Ty some room to work." Rowan took up position behind the control console to monitor the experiment while Anne stood along the wall behind her. Everyone else gathered around the console to watched the experiment. "OK, Ty. It's all yours." He nodded and began to push buttons, "I don't have the vocal commands set yet, so I will have to...to..." he paused while scrolling through the menu on the replicator, "to manually find the object. What shall we start with?" "Something simple, please," Rowan called, busy with the console. "Hmmmm....OK...let's see," he scanned through the menu, "Ah, here we go. How about an apple?" Rowan nodded as she busied herself with the sensors in the room. Ty programmed the replicator to dispense an apple and stood back. Anne heard the system whine and groan for a moment before an apple appeared on the tray. "IT WORKED!" Ty yelled, dancing around his new machine. He picked up the apple and help it high, his face covered with a huge grin. His coworkers began to stream towards him to help him celebrate his achievement. Over the noise of the celebration, Anne suddenly began to hear a low whining sound. She shook her head and yawned to pop her ears, hoping that she was imagining things but it didn't go away. Rowan caught her eye and the two stared at one another a moment. "You hear it too, don't you?" Rowan nodded, "It wasn't there before the experiment." The whining became louder and more high pitched. Others in the room began to hear it also and looked around, trying to find the source. The two commanding officers spoke at one. "OK, that's it. Everyone out of the room!!!" Anne called, "Clear the room." "Security to TE Lab 25. We have-" Rowan barely had the words out of her mouth before a loud blast filled the room. Everyone in the room hit the floor and those that had made it outside the lab ran screaming. Seconds after the explosion, Anne poked her head up and surveyed the damage. Most of the staff were piled around the door, having hit the ground when the explosion had gone off. The room and everyone in it were covered in a blanket of white, gooey substance, making it look like a blizzard had blown through the room. At first she thought that the fire suppression unit had gone off but the smell of burnt apple pie hit her nose and she realized that it was applesauce. She sat up, "Is everyone OK? Anyone hurt?" She stood up and helped Rowan to her feet. Rowan had a huge bump on her head where she had clipped the console on her way to the floor. Even though she was injured and small pieces of apple were stuck in her hair and all over her uniform, Rowan smiled a toothy grin, "Heck of a celebration, wasn't it?" Anne laughed and began to walk around, making sure everyone was OK. She found Ty still standing in the middle of the room, next to his invention, looking like a snowman standing next to a stump in an empty field of snow. She hurried over to check on him and found the young man staring at the hand that had been holding the apple. ~Must of blown up right in his face.~ "Ty? Are you OK?" He didn't move. "Ty?" she touched his shoulder, "Mr. Boriella? Are you OK?" His eyes strayed to hers and she could see that he was deep in thought. "Now I wonder why it did that?" he asked quietly, "Maybe it was the power converter...or...or the quality of..." his voice drifted off. She laughed, "I'll take that as an OK." Anne was about to turn away when she heard him say, "Huh?" Anne stopped and stared at him, "Can you hear me?" "Huh?" he asked, staring at her with a perplexed look, "I...I can't hear you. Talk louder." "Damn," she mumbled, "Rowan!" Rowan hurried towards her and skidded to a stop, waving her arms to keep her balance on the thin layer of slippery applesauce, "Yes, sir." "Don't wait for the med team. Take Mr. Boriella to the med center NOW. Transport if you have to. He's having some hearing problems. Stay by his side at all time, got it? " The Lt Commander nodded, "Transporter room, two for emergency transport to the Medical Center NOW!" Anne watched as two of her officers disappear in the shimmer of a transporter beam before she hurried to finish evacuating the room. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Operations Centre - OPSO Crewman Motabwe & Ensign Lindell - 2378.08.19.0935) "We're here, Chief." The call had come through a few moments ago, and now the two of them were listening avidly as their HoD relayed his new orders to them. They had expected to spend the day clearing up the promenade, fixing what they could, and noting what they couldn't so that it could be repaired later. "We'll be right over," the Bajoran ensign said. Motabwe had only met the Bajoran a few days ago, but sharing the same quarters had forced them into a rudimentary friendship that showed no signs of diminshing. She was tidy, and bursting with an intense sense of fun that made N'Geli smile twenty-four hours a day. =/\=I'll meet you at the shuttlebay when you arrive. Black out.=/\= The channel closed and the two women stood up. "I guess we'd better get going to the shuttlebay, then..." ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0938) "I'll meet you at the shuttlebay when you arrive. Black out." He closed the channel and turned back to his companion. "Well, think you can fly that thing with half the hull missing?" ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Shuttlebay - OPSO Crewman Motabwe & Ensign Lindell - 2378.08.19.0943) The two women walked into the shuttlebay to find it in a state of chaos. They knew the transporters were off-limits until further notice, but they'd had no idea there'd be this much traffic to re-route through shuttles. "Excuse me," N'Geli managed to grab the arm of a passing man in Pilot red, "We need transport to Dockyard Echo, by order of Lt Black. Who can arrange that for us?" ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Corridors - ACEO Ens JG Lee Rough - 2378.08.19.0948) Lee checked Admiral Jopeks location using his computer in his quarters, and so decided to go straight to him. Lee had sat next to a Bolian who was a civilian, Lee found out that he was going to Valhalla to install some new holodeck programs. The pilot and Lee hadn't made much conversation and they finally arrived at the starbase. Lee had thanked the pilot for his comfortable and safe flight, and then made his way out of the shuttle doors and walked down the corridor admiring the station. Lee saw a starfleet officer looking not very busy and asked him where Admiral Jopeks office was. The officer pointed to a turbolift. "Main Operations," he said. Lee thanked the officer and made his way over to the turbolift. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - ACEO Ens JG Lee Rough - 2378.08.19.0952) ~There it is~ Lee rang the doorbell. "Enter" ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - ACEO Ens JG Lee Rough - 2378.08.19.0954) Lee stepped into the office as the doors slid back, revealing Admiral Jopek starring at a PADD on his chair. "Ensign Lee Rough, reporting for duty Sir." ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Shuttlebay - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.0956) "Welcome to Hell, ladies. Your task is to provide assistance to the repair crews already at work on the Columbia. Co-ordinate with whoever's representing Yard Engineering up here, and find out where you can be of most help. I don't care if you spend the next two hours welding on hull plates, so long as this ship leaves by noon. Any questions?" "No, sir," came the resounding chorus. "Good luck. I'm going back to Valhalla to report to the Admiral." He turned to the CONN Officer. "Care to join me?" ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Shuttlebay - OPSO Crewman Motabwe & Ensign Lindell - 2378.08.19.0957) "Welcome to Hell, ladies. Your task is to provide assistance to the repair crews already at work on the Columbia. Co-ordinate with whoever's representing Yard Engineering up here, and find out where you can be of most help. I don't care if you spend the next two hours welding on hull plates, so long as this ship leaves by noon. Any questions?" "No, sir," they both said at once. "Good luck. I'm going back to Valhalla to report to the Admiral." He turned to the other officer present - one they didn't recognise - and so the two of them headed for the turbolift. "Do you think he dies his hair that dark?" The Crewman asked her question with all the gravity of a major interstellar mystery, and Cedara couldn't help but pause as she thought it over. "I doubt it... I hope not! Computer, who is the Core Structural/Engineering Officer for the USS Columbia?" <<Ensign Sarah Landrey.>> "Hmm... I wonder if she dyes *her* hair... Ensign Lindell to Ensign Landrey." ====================/\==================== (USS Columbia - Corridors - CS/EO Ens JG Sarah Landrey - 2378.08.19.1002) =/\=Ensign Lindell to Ensign Landrey=/\= her comm. badge chirped, She looked up from the consol in front of her and turned off her tool. Landrey had been trying to fix what was left of the old tractor beam array for the last hour. She had been given leave to install a new one, but she wanted to make sure there was no hope of repairing this one first. "Who is it now?!" She stepped out into the hallway away from the noise of the other workers and tapped her badge. "Ensign Landrey here." She answered while tapping her foot hastily. ~This had better be good.~ She thought. ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Shuttlebay - OPSO Crewman Motabwe & Ensign Lindell - 2378.08.19.1003) =/\=Ensign Landrey here.=/\= "Ensign, we're on loan from Valhalla's Operations department." She didn't know how much detail to go into about why they were on loan, or what Lieutenant Black's stake was in the state of the Columbia, so she just left all of that blank. "How best can we help?" ====================/\==================== (USS Columbia - Corridors - CS/EO Ens JG Sarah Landrey - 2378.08.19.1004) =/\=Ensign, we're on loan from Valhalla's Operations department. How best can we help?=/\= "I'm sorry Ensign. Chief Okada has given me specific orders that only her personnel are to touch the ship, You know, we're still waiting for the rest of this dockyard to be operational...why don't you work on that?" Sarah answered while trying to keep cool. ~I was interrupted for this?! I don't believe it!~ She started pacing the floor, ~Chief said asap, and I'm getting interrupted for this?~ ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Shuttlebay - OPSO Crewman Motabwe & Ensign Lindell - 2378.08.19.1005) =/\=You know, we're still waiting on the rest of this dockyard to be operational... Why don't you work on that?=/\= N'Geli bit back her reply, and simply said, "Motabwe out." Then with the channel closed she turned back to her confederate. "We seem to be pawns in some sort of personal war. I'll run a diagnostic on this dockyard; *you* can check in with the Chief." "Why me?" The Bajoran's eyes looked panic-stricken. "Because I had to deal with docking-queen Landrey - and I can tell you one thing," Cedara straightened her curiosity evident, "I bet *she* dyes her hair!" The two of them descended into giggles as they boarded the turbolift. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.1005) After being admitted to the Admiral's office, Martin came to attention. "Sir, my apologies for not making this report sooner, but I've spent the last two hours tracking down the data that certain people have had since last night. "Our saboteur did a pretty good job of mangling the Columbia. If it weren't for the Defiant-class' ablative armour, a ship that size would have been crushed. As it stands she's a little less battle-ready and not exactly the peak of structural stability, but with both Yard Engineering and whatever teams I can spare from Valhalla working on the project I'm pretty certain she can fly as early as 1200." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.19.1005) A visitor was outside the door. Jopek invited them in without thinking about it. "Ah, Mr. Black, what can I do for you?", said the Admiral. "Sir, my apologies for not making this report sooner, but I've spent the last two hours tracking down the data that certain people have had since last night." "Proceed." "Our saboteur did a pretty good job of mangling the Columbia. If it weren't for the Defiant-class' ablative armour, a ship that size would have been crushed. As it stands she's a little less battle-ready and not exactly the peak of structural stability, but with both Yard Engineering and whatever teams I can spare from Valhalla working on the project I'm pretty certain she can fly as early as 1200." "Good news; thanks for letting me know in person Mr. Black, please inform Mr. Marsland of the new schedule, he has a green light to proceed. One more thing, as Second Officer, I want you to get this job done as quickly as possible, assign whatever teams are required to get all the ships running as fast as possible, but the ships are the domain of the YEO, the shipyards are you responsibility." "In a crisis situation like this, I hope both teams can work together. Good luck Lieutenant, I'll hold you to the time of 12.00. Dismissed." (Reply Black) A few moments after the Operations Officer had departed; Jopek opened a communications channel to the Yard Engineering Officer. "Jopek to Ensign Okada, please come in." (Reply Okada) "Ensign, the Second Officer, Mr. Black has informed me that the USS Columbia should be up and running by 12.00 today, he's assigned extra personnel from outside your department to do that task, please use them as you see fit to get the job completed by then and keep him informed on your schedule, I need access to that ship as quickly as possible." "Please let him know if you run into any problems before then, as the Security Chief will need access to the ship to prepare her for departure." (Reply Okada) "Very well Ensign, Jopek out.", he said closing the channel =^=Admiral, Captain Remae has arrived, hes on his way to your briefing room.=^= "Understood, I am on my way.", said the Jopek heading for the door. Good news indeed, the Bajoran had arrived, when the Firebrande returned from its test run, he could start getting it ready for testing, in the meantime, the Columbia would be launched and sent out on its mission. the plans were coming together and for the first time in ages, Jopek was satisfied with the situation, even though a saboteur was still out there. ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.1010) Martin had no sooner finished his briefing with the Admiral, than his comm-badge beeped. "Black here," he said. =/\=Chief, this is Crewman Motabwe.=/\= Martin sighed, he'd been waiting for this call. =/\=We've just spoken with the Engineer in charge of the repairs to the Columbia, and she told us to stay on Dee-Y Echo and get that operational.=/\= Martin frowned and touched his console, "My reports show Dee-Y Echo to be fully operational..." =/\=Cedara's diagnostics confirm that, sir. What should we do?=/\= Martin thought about it for a moment, and then thought about the next target - thank God most of the Columbia's crew had been granted shoreleave - "Stay there," he said, "I'm gonna play Second Officer for a bit. In the meantime, see if you can find out how the docking arms were accessed by our little saboteur." =/\=Aye, sir. Motabwe out.=/\= Sighing, and trying to draw on whatever professional control he could muster, Martin opened yet another comm-channel to the YEO's Office. "Ensign Okada, why are my maintenance teams being denied access to the Columbia in order to help you meet her new departure time?" (Reply Okada) She began her reply, but Martin decided instantly that it wouldn't contain any relevant information. "Ensign, I don't want to hear it. That ship will leave at 1200 to track down a rogue Dominion base. There are no two ways about it. The Columbia is our best chance to end the Dominion threat, and catch our saboteur." He paused, considering whether that was enough of an explanation for her to get over her initial reaction to his toe-stepping, but as he did so he knew that there were words he needed to say. So he said them: "As Second Officer of Utopia Planitia it is my job to care for each and every life on this station and any of it's adjoined facilities - including yours and the 75,000 under you. I will not allow you to endanger those lives in petty squabbles with me. That ship leaves at 1200. Utopia Planitia Command out." Sighing heavily, Martin rubbed his forehead and tried to focus on the next task in hand... "Black to Motabwe; you have the Admiral's blessing, and mine. Give her another ten minutes, and then try again. Operations out. Operations to Lt Marsland; the Columbia will be ready to depart at 1200. Please notify your team and be ready by then." His body slightly stooped, Martin entered the turbolift. "Verano Sickbay." ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Operations - OPSO Crewman Motabwe & Ensign Lindell - 2378.08.19.1011) =/\=Black here,=/\= She licked her lips before beginning her report. She was not looking forward to this. "Chief, this is Crewman Motabwe. We've just spoken with the Engineer in charge of the repairs to the Columbia, and she told us to stay on Dee-Y Echo and get that operational." Silence filtered through the comm-channel and N'Geli felt a low-grade concern grip her stomach. Finally, =/\=My reports show Dee-Y Echo to be fully operational..." "Cedara's diagnostics confirm that, sir. What should we do?" =/\=Stay there. I'm gonna play Second Officer for a bit. In the meantime, see if you can find out how the docking arms were accessed by our little saboteur.=/\= "Aye, sir. Motabwe out." She tapped her comm-badge. "You heard all that?" The Bajoran nodded. "Yep - time to play detective!" The two women set off to the wall nearest Bay 21, ready to remove the panels and access the docking arms. "Yeah - like Cagney and Lacey!" "Who?" ====================/\==================== (Dockyard Echo - Operations - OPSO Crewman Motabwe & Ensign Lindell - 2378.08.19.1021) =/\=Black to Motabwe; you have the Admiral's blessing, and mine. Give her another ten minutes, and then try again. Operations out.=/\= "Whoa - who died?" Concern mingled with layers of confusion and puzzlement on both their faces, before they managed to tear themselves back to the docking arms. "As I was saying, this wasn't an amateur. Anyone who doesn't know this system wouldn't begin to know what to do, and would probably level either a phaser or even a plasma torch here," she indicated a point on the panel, "and here." "Exactly," the Bajoran nodded in appreciation for the other's tactical thinking, "The arms would then be free-floating and could just drift quite heavily into the ship, or into each other. Messy, but effective." "But whoever damaged the Columbia knew exactly how to operate the arms, and from the look of the reports knew how to do a Helluva lot of damage to one of Starfleet's sturdiest ships." They stood as one and began clipping the panel back into place, "My turn to report to the Chief, then." "Yep!" The African woman grinned. "Oh joy! Let's leave it until after we've finished on the Columbia..." "I couldn't agree with you more! Crewman Motabwe to Ensign Landrey; we're here with the Admiral's support. You can use us or tell us to go away again, but either way you'll be expected to have the Columbia ready." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Verano Sickbay Centre - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.19.1024) The Betazoid entered the room with an air of anticipation. Everytime he entered one of these places to check on someone else he always expected the worst - a fear which only seemed to get worse the older he got. "Hello? Is there anyone here who can tell me the status of one of my officers - Mr Botrell? I can't stay long, but I had to find out..." ====================/\==================== (Starbase Valhalla - Briefing Room - CO Cptn Remae Ktell - 2378.08.19.1030) The doors whooshed open and the atypical Bajoran entered and sat himself in front of the Admiral without waiting for approval. "Admiral. so, what do you need?" Jopek, with only the patience that a Vulcan could muster, explain in a little detail what Remae was required to do, take the Firebrande out to the Neptune Proving Grounds and then, initiate the tests as deemed by one Dr. Dervin. Although he was in command of the ship, the civilian doctor would be in charge of the mission and its successful completion, a test flight that would exceed warp one with the use of the new technology she had invented and been nicknamed the 'Warp Subspace Carrier Waves Project.' ====================/\==================== (Mars Base, Research Wing - WTO's Office - CO Cptn Remae Ktell - 2378.08.19.1100) "Dr Dervin? Are you in here?", said the Bajoran, sticking his nose around the corner of the open door. ====================/\==================== "I like my women like I like my coffee: covered in BEES!!" - Eddie Izzard