Utopia Planitia

From: Michael Drake [raspberry.jam@btopenworld.com]
Sent: Saturday, 16 February 2002 3:15 AM
To: RPG Utopia Planitia
Subject: [Posting] Utopia Planitia Compile 14-02-02

For anyone keeping score, this compile is 95 pages in Word - which is HUGE -
and that's largely due to the 23 posts sent out yesterday. I take it none of
us were that swamped with Valentine's cards... :o)

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - CMO's Office - ACMO Ens JG Lesley Summers -
2378.08.16.1531)

Lesley walked up to the office door and rung the bell

"Enter"

She came into the room and saw the cmo sitting behind a desk.

"ACMO Lesley Summers reporting for duty sir"

"Welcome aboard Ensign.  Welcome to Otono Medical Centre.  Have you found it
to be your liking so far?"

"Well it is certainly different sir and I can not wake to get stuck in"
Lesley said with a smile

Cambridge nodded.

"Well, if you're ready for duty I would like to start you off in Otono
Central"

"Ok sir" Lesley said

"Well, what I want you to do is to take charge of it for today.  Mostly what
I have Assistant Chief's do is to take charge of a department.  You will be
able to handle it, correct?"

"Yes sir no problem" Lesley said

"I have no doubt in your abilities.  Report there as soon as you can.  You
will find Doctor Rhea Lyoit there, you can relieve her and get reports from
here.  Any questions?"

"No sir" Lesley said

She then turned and went to the Otono central

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - ACMO Ens JG Lesley Summers - 2378.08.16.1535)

"Excuse me I am looking for Doctor Lyoit" Lesley asked

Rhea smiled warmly and nodded to the medical officer.

"I am the woman you are looking for"

"Good glad to meet you I am the ACMO Lesley summers" Lesley said

Lyoit nodded and turned back to her rounds for a moment.

"What can I do for you sir?"

"I was sent to releave you of your shift can you give me a update on the
patients"

Rhea smiled, brushing her hair away from her face.

"Good to know.  There are several patients in short term recovery, they are
dealing with a few broken bones from accidents on board UP.  We've got James
Gurrat who is currently sedated.  He came in and underwent some severe
therapy on his heart.  We've got him under watch.  Most of everyone else is
just basic care.  Thank you Ms. Summers... good luck!"

"No problem see you later" Lesley said with a smile

Rhea left the room, glad to be off duty.

Lesley had done her rounds to see how the patients were she then made her
way to her office to sort it out looking her way.

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - ACMO's Office - ACMO Ens JG Lesley Summers -
2378.08.16.1600)

She had been moving things about and sort all the paper work up-to-date. I
think it is time for a break.

<<Incoming message for ensign Lesley Summers>> the computer said

"Lets hear it computer."

=/\=Please report to Verano Medical Centre on the Starbase Valhalla and
begin work there.  I expect reports every hour on patients.  If you have
questions, get back to me.  I'm at Otono for now.  Cambridge out.=/\=

Lesley tapped her comm. Badge "ACMO to CMO Cambridge"

(Reply Cambridge)

"What's the quickest way to get there and do we know how many patients are
there?"

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.17.1355)

Maxwell Alexander Cambridge stood next to a biobed, running his medical
tricorder over the leg of the officer laying before him.

"I really didn't mean to get into that fight, I mean, he just pushed me too
far!"

Mac just shook his head and smiled lightly. The man before him had gotten
into an argument with another officer of the historical accuracy of earth
television cartoons and Bugs Bunny and something else that he had rambled on
and now was starting to do again.  Cambridge himself was a fan of the Pinky
and the Brain viewings.  Sometimes, late at night he would pull them out and
watch them to cheer himself up.  But right now he was dealing with a cartoon
freak who was still rambling about Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.  He put his
tricorder away and pulled out a hypospray.

"Ensign, I do not think that Bugs Bunny and Daffy are things to argue about.
I would advise you to watch your temper before you get thrown out the door."

Cambridge pushed the hypo spray in and pulled it quickly out.

"But any wise officer on this station would know that Bugs Bunny Daffy Duck
rock the house."

The ensign looked to him and scrunched his face for a moment and then
smiled.

"Aye aye sir."

The officer left and Cambridge shook his head.  Sometimes he wondered just
how some of the crew didn't kill each other.  Suddenly there was a commotion
outside.  Raising an eyebrow, the CMO quickly made his way into the lobby
where an officer looked as though she had collapsed.  The nurse had jumped
the desk and was examining the fallen officer.  Cambridge knelt down,
motioning for a biobed.

"What happened?"

"She was saying she was here for the physical, and then she fell over.she
has some visible injuries it looks like..."

The biobed arrived a moment later and several medical officers boosted the
limp body onto it. Maxwell quickly moved the bed into the sickbay area,
deciding to put her in medium sized room rather than in the open.  He rolled
her in and locked the biobed down, securing it against the wall. The CMO
quickly started the monitoring systems as an officer came through the door
with a PADD, containing the officer's file.  Nodding, he began to pore over
the file itself. There was nothing of note in the log itself, but that the
girl in front of him was pretty smart and knew how to hold herself. He
quickly pulled out a small hypospray and injected it. She would regain
consciousness in a few moments. While he waited, the Chief Medical Officer
pulled out a medical tricorder and began to scan the young woman. She
stirred.

"Welcome back to Otono Medical Center, I will be your examiner today..."

<reply>

"You just passed out.  Any reason you managed to hit the floor on your own
accord?"

<reply>

Cambridge looked up, faking a look of shock.

"Our hospital smells?  Good Gravy, I need to talk to maintence...course they
about as fun to talk to as a Borg on a rampage."

He continued to scan her, checking her lower stomach area and holding there
for a moment.  Frowning, he reached for her shirt to pull it up, but
stopped.

"Would you mind..er..moving the shirt up a bit."

<reply>

He waited and grimaced at what he saw.

"Just what the hell were you doing in the last three days young lady?  Hell,
I've got ensigns in here every day, but you've managed to bruise three lower
ribs!  Care to explain, Ms. Adventure."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.17.2025)

The three of them sat back down and Martin took a bite of his spaghetti
carbonara with Betazoid spice-bread. He was still mentally tallying up the
possibilities and impossibilities created by having an Engineering officer
in charge of an Operations department as well as her own, but until it could
be discussed with the Admiral he put it aside for later ponderance.

"There is one very simple reason I have brought the three of us together:
the USS Firebrande."

He took another bite before continuing, "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."

Both officer opened their mouths to query the number, "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."

His 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," he shuddered as
he realised the irony of that number, "docking bays operational - including
the currently dead husk of Dockyard Foxtrot.

"Any questions?"

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.17.2026)

The three of them sat back down and Martin took a bite of his spaghetti
carbonara with Betazoid spice-bread. He was still mentally tallying up the
possibilities and impossibilities created by having an Engineering officer
in charge of an Operations department as well as her own, but until it could
be discussed with the Admiral he put it aside for later ponderance.

"There is one very simple reason I have brought the three of us together:
the USS Firebrande."

Kazuko ate her food very slowly to make sure she didn't choke on anything as
the lieutenant was speaking, ~One simple reason? Ah right...the Admiral's
ship. I wonder if he knows I have more than just one ship to worry about...~

He took another bite before continuing, "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."

~There is no docking bay 30...~ She thought.

Both officer opened their mouths to query the number, "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.

~The Firebrande is too large for that bay...ah, but you would have thought
of that...~ Kazuko thought while taking a sip of her tea.

"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 accommodate 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."

~Oh I'm sure I have nothing better to do than to concentrate solely on the
Firebrande. I'll have to fit that in... I wouldn't be thinking these things
had I had a better day...~ Kazuko thought while making notes on her padd.

His fork twizzled as he prepared another mouthful of spaghetti, "I will be
working on getting this station up and running, coordinating with the
Admiral's needs,
and attempting to get our other thirteen," he shuddered as he realized the
irony of that number, "docking bays operational - including the currently
dead husk of
Dockyard Foxtrot.

~Calm down, Kazu-chan...it would do no good on your first day to attempt to
murder the Ops Chief...that would make this the shortest assignment in
history..."
She thought with a smile. ~After all he's not telling us to get it done
tonight, so we'll get a good nights sleep and then think about it tomorrow,
or the next day...or next week.~

"Any questions?"

"Yes, what's wrong with Dockyard Foxtrot?" Kazuko 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..."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.17.2030)

"Any questions?"

"Yes, what's wrong with Dockyard Foxtrot?" Kazuko 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..."

<Reply black, Ra'Kir>

"And what can you tell me about Docking bay 30?" Kazuko asked between
shoveling rice into her mouth with her chop sticks.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.17.2034)

He could sense the defensive wall mounting beside him, and he knew that
there was a sense of immediate rejection building in the Engineer. So when
he asked if there were any questions, he already knew the answer would be
yes.

"Yes," the Engineer confirmed his knowledge, "what's wrong with Dockyard
Foxtrot? 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."

"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." Martin noted the
drop in her defenses as he threw his reasoning in her face.

"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."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.17.2040)

He could sense the defensive wall mounting beside him, and he knew that
there was a sense of immediate rejection building in the Engineer. So when
he asked if there were any questions, he already knew the answer would be
yes.

"Yes," the Engineer confirmed his knowledge, "what's wrong with Dockyard
Foxtrot? 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."

"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." Martin noted the
drop in her defenses as he threw his reasoning in her face.

"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."

"So where is the Firebrande right now?" Kazuko asked her cold calm returned.
~Arguing with him will get me no where...He sees me as only an engineer.~
She thought as her fingers started rushing over her padd, the beeps coming
so close together you'd think she was part android, especially since she
wasn't watching what she was typing in.

(Reply Martin)

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."

(Rreply Ra'Kir)

Kazuko sipped her tea, while ideas of her more pressing concerns ran through
her head. ~ Get myself a couple of competent assistants...Get Foxtrot
operational again...Move the Columbia to the Foxtrot...Get my crews working
again.~

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.17.2045)

He had expected his views on the Firebrande's docking port to be hard to
swallow for the YEO. After all, the Firebrande was docked, so what was the
sense in fiddling with her docking structure when there were parts of the
station that were still operating without artificial gravity?

Despite the hostility in her words, Martin knew there was none in her head
as she asked, "So where is the Firebrande right now?"

"Docked," he replied, "at Bay 30." A momentary flutter of anger passed
through him as he tried to ignore the fact that she was being given a task,
and was seemingly finding excuses rather than solutions. "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 reined in his emotions. "I want that ship moved
to a safe distance, as soon as we can possibly manage it."

Something in his message seemed to settle in, and he gratefully listened to
her dishing out orders in the form of suggestions to his assistant. She was
certainly going to be a character, and a formidable force at that!

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - WTO's Office - WTO Dr Tanya Dervin -
2378.08.18.0447)

The man, from Starfleet Command, Tanya reasoned that must have been what
he'd said kept talking.  "It's not that hard to figure out, most recruits at
the academy get the rules of the game figured out in their first two weeks,"
Then he smiled at Tanya, "If you want a teacher in Starfleet 101 I just
might know someone with inside knowledge."

Tanya regarded him with interest, it wasn't the fact that he'd practically
offered to teach her the ins and outs of Starfleet that had caught her
attention, rather, that he'd said that Starfleet was a game.  This intrigued
Tanya to no end, because she'd always had a sneaking suspicion that it was a
game, and in games there was only one purpose, to win.  That must have been
what that Stratops officer had been doing earlier that day.  Tanya smiled as
revelation crept over her brain, this was indeed going to be fun.

"No thank you Li-Ensign," she corrected herself, "you have been most
informative." she stated.

"Sure thing."  The Ensign said as he turned to leave.  Tanya let her mind
wander back to where it had been earlier, but it was interrupted once again
by the Ensign in her office.  "Oh, by the way, nice pyjamas."

Tanya smiled and then looked down at her bright yellow fleece attire.
~Pyjamas?!?  I thought these were formals... they say so inside the
label...fuzzy formals....~  Tanya reasoned.  Shrugged, she'd learnt three
things that night, Lemon Meringue was very combustible, Starfleet was a
game, and Fuzzy formals were not appropriate dinner party wear, they were in
fact, pyjamas.  She shrugged.  Life on this station was going to be
interesting none the less.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Observation Lounge - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1006)

As the Admiral was preparing for his meeting; he watched the last of the
officers entered, an unknown person grabbed one of the last seats. One of
the things on his mind was the report of the Operations Officer earlier. The
fire really seemed to been caused by accident.

"Hi guys! Alex Landis, your new CONN. I just arrived, I hope you don't
mind...?", he said as he sat down.

"Welcome Ensign, will you come and see my in my office after the meeting?
Thank you.", said the Admiral as he began his meeting.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Observation Lounge - TAC/SC Lt Dario Marsland -
2378.08.18.1006)

Dario listened intently as the Admiral addressed the gathering of senior
officers and found himself shocked at just how close this 'rogue' planetoid
was to Sector 001. If SFI was correct and it was the base of operations for
the renegade Dominion faction then it was imperative that the threat was
neutralized immediately.

Of course the obvious thing to do was to simply send the fleet there, but a
good tactician always does their homework first, hence the Admiral sending
the Security Chief with a team from Valhalla to investigate the situation.

After giving his own summary of the poor security situation on the station
and surrounding facilities Dario returned to listening as his fellow
department heads gave their reports. Once the Admiral was satisfied that all
present were up-to-date on the current situations he ended the meeting.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Observation Lounge - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge -
2378.08.18.1030)

"I look forward to working with all of you on this important project and my
staff and I will help you anyway we can."

Cambridge stood after she was done and slowly looked across the sea of faces
in front of him.  It had been a flurried three days and he still hadn't seen
most of them come through sickbay.

"Good morning.  My name is Maxwell Alexander Cambridge, Chief Medical
Officer for the Utopia Planitia Yards.  I expect and still haven't seen any
of the heads of department down at Otono Medical Center for their physical
checkup with me.  One of you has, but the rest of you are required to do
that within two more days or you will face a review from me, which then goes
to the admiral.  Second, inform your crews to be safe on their duty
stations.  I want as little injuries to come through as possible.  Third,
avoid accidents.  The fire is one example of that.  And fourth, there is no
four.  You have any questions; you know where to find me.  Thank you."

Cambridge backed up against the wall, waiting.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Observation Lounge - TSO Lt Steve Newton -
2378.08.18.1040)

It was Steve's turn to give his departmental report, "We are currently
reviewing our research project and will categorise them to how urgent their
completion is, however we have already decided that our most urgent project
is to improve the effectiveness of the sensors in the Mars Defensive
parameter."

With that Steve stood up and made his way over to the main display screen
and pressed a few buttons and a map of the Sol system appeared on the
screen.

"Currently we have limited network of sensors though out the sole system,
located on Earth, Venus, Mars and Europia.  These sensors would give us
limited protection against cloaked vessels."

He took a deep breath, "What we are proposing is a completely new network of
sensors," he pressed a few more buttons on the screen, "the sensors would
all be located inside a metallic case probably no bigger then those used in
a photon torpedo.  Along with the sensors would be a tachyon emitter and
detector, which would alert us of incoming cloaked vessels."

He paused for a few moments, "We also plan to create a large virtual sensor
by combining the data from several sensors if not more, but that would be a
more long term project."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Observation Lounge - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1055)

Jopek wrapped up the meeting; he was quite satisfied with the report of the
fire, and the recommendations of the senior staff would be implemented as
soon as possible.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Outside Observation Lounge - STRATOPS Cptn Jenna
Rulestaad - 2378.08.18.1102)

Jenna watched the salute that was given impassivly, and blinked as he said.
"Lt. Cornelius Byson, sir.  I'd like to request a moment of your time to
discuss Ensign Therriault."

Jenna considred for a few moments, then gestured to the passageway and
started walking. "Continue, Lieutenant."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1103)

"Ensign Landis, have a seat Ensign. at ease.", said the Admiral, before the
Ensign had much of a chance to say anything.

"You have been assigned as our CONN officer, that means you are one of our
best pilots, so you will be in charge of a lot of the shuttle and small
traffic operations here on Valhalla. Also, I want you to work closely with
Yard Engineering Officer and the Operations Officer."

Admiral turned back to the CONN after consulting his computer.

"Ensign, unless there are any questions. you are dismissed.", said the
Admiral.

The CONN officer departed the room, to begin his duties.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Outside Observation Lounge - ATEO Lt Cornelius Byson -
2378.08.18.1103)

Jenna considered for a few moments, then gestured to the passageway and
started walking. "Continue, Lieutenant."

The lieutenant visibly relaxed and quickly caught up to the Captain's side,
hurrying to keep up with her pace.

"Thank you, sir," he waited a moment before continuing, "I know that this is
a serious matter and I will try to approach it with much delicacy, but
please excuse me if I'm frank and to the point."

<<REPLY JENNA>>

"It is my opinion that Starfleet made an oversight when placing Ensign
Therriault  in the position of TEO."

<<REPLY JENNA>>

"Now please, don't get me wrong.  I don't usually second-guess Starfleet's
decisions, but I have reservations about having an Ensign, just out of the
Academy, in a key role as TEO.  She's green, inexperienced.  She's never
been tasked with leading a group, especially a group as large as the
Theoretical Engineering Division.

He paused for a moment, "And being the lowest ranking officer in the
department, it could be very difficult for the team members to trust and
back up her decisions.  Her degree in Mechanical Systems Engineering would
make her more apt for being in Maintenance, repairing power relays and
broken replicators, not Theoretical Engineering."

<<REPLY JENNA>>

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Outside Observation Lounge - STRATOPS Cptn Jenna
Rulestaad - 2378.08.18.1103)

"Continue, Lieutenant."

Jenna turned, and began walking at a slow pace down the corridor.

"Thank you, sir, I know that this is a serious matter and I will try to
approach it with much delicacy, but please excuse me if I'm frank and to the
point."

Jenna placed her hands behind her back, and nodded half to herself.
"Continue."

"It is my opinion that Starfleet made an oversight when placing Ensign
Therriault  in the position of TEO."

"For what reasons." she said flatly.

"Now please, don't get me wrong.  I don't usually second-guess Starfleet's
decisions, but I have reservations about having an Ensign, just out of the
Academy, in a key role as TEO.  She's green, inexperienced.  She's never
been tasked with leading a group, especially a group as large as the
Theoretical Engineering Division.

He paused for a moment, "And being the lowest ranking officer in the
department, it could be very difficult for the team members to trust and
back up her decisions.  Her degree in Mechanical Systems Engineering would
make her more apt for being in Maintenance, repairing power relays and
broken replicators, not Theoretical Engineering."

Jenna stopped in her tracks, and continued looking forward for a moment,
with a thoughtful expression. She decided this was the time, and the place.
She turned on her heel, and faced him. "ATTENTION!" She bellowed.

Corny seemed momentarily stunned, then snapped to perfect paradeground
attention. Jenna considered him strait faced for a moment, then brushed some
hair off her pointed ears. ~Excellent~

She kept her hands behind her back as she said in a strong, and somewhat
loud voice. "Listen to me very closely *MR* Byson. The Theoretical
Engineering Chief is in charge of that department Specifically because she
has more intelligence then 99% of all Starfleet engineers, is more Inventive
then 99% of all other Starfleet engineers, and because Starfleet Personnel
in accordance with Starfleet Engineer felt that she was the absolute best
person for the job." She brought her arms around and crossed them in front.
"If you feel that her being a newly commissioned ensign is going to provide
problems for you, or any other officer in Advanced Technologies, you can
take those concerns up with me. *I* have the department working on a Top
Secret project, and I will book no internal disputes. In fact, I will be
letting her know of this little *concern* of yours as soon as I am done with
you. If you have problems with this, I can arrange transport back home for
you on the next incoming civilian freighter."  She let a small smile escape
her lips at the implied threat of drumming him out of the fleet.

She took a breath, then said. "Your powers of observation do intrigue me,
however. It is blazingly obvious that she is an inexperienced officer, and
strong hands would be most useful to her as she learns her command style. In
anycase, she is in charge simply because she has more brains then a good
portion of anyone else in Starfleet or the Federation. If this makes you
feel inadequate, tough. If you feel you cant live with that, I have a ticket
for you off base. She doesn't need twenty years in a Starship to command a
scientific division, where 'Combat' is done is drawing rooms and thinktanks.
Command will come to her, with or without your help."

She took a step closer to him, and said in a lower voice. "You can make
yourself useful by taking your scheming ways and abolishing them. If she is
green, she will require help. You have managed to make Lieutenant in the
fleet, so you are not an idiot yourself. If you have high political means, I
would make myself her friend if I were you. IF you have other goals in mind,
you had better keep them to yourself in regards to the operational structure
of Theoretical Engineering, Advanced Technologies and Starfleets choice of
'all of the above."

She grinned again, then her face went blank. "Do I make myself clear,
Lieutenant?"

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CONN Ens Alex Landis - 2378.08.18.1105)

"Ensign Landis, have a seat Ensign... at ease.", said the Admiral, before
Alex had the chance to spoke. Alex tried to relax and put himself in the
chair across the Admiral's table.

"You have been assigned as our CONN officer, that means you are one of our
best pilots, so you will be in charge of a lot of the shuttle and small
traffic operations here on Valhalla. Also, I want you to work closely with
Yard Engineering Officer and the Operations Officer."

"Thank you sir, yes sir, I understand sir." Landis managed, sounding lie a
babbling idiot in his own ears.

The Admiral turned back to the CONN after consulting his computer.

"Ensign, unless there are any questions... you are dismissed.", said the
Admiral.

Landis had seen space docks before, the intense traffic of smaller crafts
around the large Starship had looked like an anthill where someone had poked
around with a stick. Now they would have... 15 ships! Yeah, no big deal and
if there was *one* accident, whose hide would the Admiral have then?

Yeah, right....

"Thank you Admiral." Landis said finally, saluted and left the office.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Outside Observation Lounge - ATEO Lt Cornelius Byson -
2378.08.18.1105)

Jenna grinned again, then her face went blank. "Do I make myself clear,
Lieutenant?"

Corny, who was still in perfect attention position, answered, "Yes, sir."

His mind was reeling, trying to figure out what to say next. His plan was
backfiring and everything he had been working on was crumbling before him.
He was going to be stuck as an Ensign's assistant and no way to get out of
it.

Then it came to him.

As the captain was turning away, he called out, "One more question, sir."

<<Jenna's reply here>>

"As you stated, you also agree that the Ensign is...." he tried to remember
the exact phrase the Captain had said, "is 'green' and that she needed some
'strong hands' to help guide her while she's learning her command style.
Yes, she has the brains for the job," he tried not to gag when he said that,
"but she's missing the finesse, the leadership skills.  I believe that the
best person to be her 'strong hands' would be me."

<<Jenna's reply here>>

"I am a very experienced officer, with almost a decade of experience under
my belt, in many aspects of Starfleet Engineering.  Over that time, I've
been assigned to various ships and starbases, provided me a wide array of
knowledge to pull from in an instance.  I've also lead many teams, large an
small, solving problems and issues before they become huge.  With all this
background and on-the-job training, I believe that I would be the most
effective personnel on the base to assist Ensign Therriault with getting up
to speed.  And to assure  that the ensign is making progress and to allow
you to provide some constructive feedback to me, I could write weekly, or
even daily, report to you on the happenings in the TEO office."

Corny stopped talking, suddenly feeling like he was babbling.  He hoped that
he hadn't lost his chance to score something out of all this.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - TAC/SC's Office - TAC/SC Lt Dario Marsland -
2378.08.18.1106)

As soon as he had returned to his office, Dario contacted Captain Reliok of
the USS Columbia to arrange a departure time for the mission to investigate
the rogue Dominion group. It was set down for 0600 the next day giving the
Columbia crew time to attach the cloak-capable runabout needed for the
mission to their ship and giving Marsland time to select his away team.

"Computer!" called the TAC/SC. "Send the following message to Lieutenant
Brannigan, Ensign River, and Ensign Landis."

<<Commence message.>>

"As you are by now aware, Admiral Jopek has selected myself to lead an away
mission to investigate the nearby base of operations for the group believed
responsible for the attack on Utopia Planitia just over three months ago. I
would greatly appreciate your accompanying me on this crucial mission as I
am in need of experts in the fields of science and engineering, and of
course a skilled pilot to guide us through this hostile territory. The USS
Columbia is due to depart at 0600 tomorrow morning once our cloak-capable
runabout has been attached. Please feel free to contact me at any time
regarding this mission. End message, computer send immediately."

<<Message sent.>>

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Corridors - STRATOPS Cptn Jenna Rulestaad -
2378.08.18.1106)

"One more question, sir."

Jenna stopped, and turned back around to the 'fully at attention' Ensign.
"Continue."

"As you stated, you also agree that the Ensign is...." he tried to remember
the exact phrase the Captain had said, "is 'green' and that she needed some
'strong hands' to help guide her while she's learning her command style.
Yes, she has the brains for the job but she's missing the finesse, the
leadership skills.  I believe that the best person to be her 'strong hands'
would be me."

Jenna felt the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly. "Indeed, you
believe so hmmm..."

"I am a very experienced officer, with almost a decade of experience under
my belt, in many aspects of Starfleet Engineering.  Over that time, I've
been assigned to various ships and starbases, provided me a wide array of
knowledge to pull from in an instance.  I've also lead many teams, large an
small, solving problems and issues before they become huge.  With all this
background and on-the-job training, I believe that I would be the most
effective personnel on the base to assist Ensign Therriault with getting up
to speed.  And to assure  that the ensign is making progress and to allow
you to provide some constructive feedback to me, I could write weekly, or
even daily, report to you on the happenings in the TEO office."

Jenna paused, and crossed her arms. ~That would be espionage. Is he that
ambitious, or just stupid.~

She considered for several moments, letting him sweat under her gaze. She
took a quick breath, then said "It is not my place to decide who Ensign
Therriault chooses to guide her into command maturity." she paused for a
moment, then said "However, if she does decide that you are the best answer,
then I would take your notes in order to guide you through training her
better."

~A stupid spy is better then none, especially when they hadn't been courted
first. Plausible Deniability. Bless Starfleet and Strategic Operatons for
making me what I am today.~

She gave another lopsided grin, and said "Is there anything more?"

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Corridors - ATEO Lt Cornelius Byson - 2378.08.18.1107)

Jenna gave another lopsided grin, and said "Is there anything more?"

Corny snapped a salute, "No, sir.  Thank you for your time, sir."

He stood in full attention until the Captain rounded the corner.  When she
was out of sight, his shoulders dropped and he slumped against the wall.

"That could of gone better," he mumbled, "A LOT better."

Corny waited a couple minutes before heading towards the transporter room.
After that horrible incident, he did not want to run into the Captain.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Verano Sickbay Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge -
2378.08.18.1110)

Chief Cambridge walked into the sickbay, his eyes moving over the room.
Checking reports, he moved quickly to the office to begin his long haul of
paperwork.

====================/\====================

(Dockyard Echo - Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.18.1113)

Following the meeting, several thoughts had been running around Martin's
head. First and foremost was that the Admiral's statement that the
Firebrande would be ready and available to Doctor Dervin. That meant she had
to be space-worthy as soon as possible, and whilst his latest report on the
Firebrande left him in no doubt that she could certainly fly, that would be
no guarantee that she'd live up to the needs of the good doctor.

"Computer record a message for delivery to Dr Tanya Dervin." A small bleep
sounded in acknowledgement. "Dr Dervin, this is Lieutenant Black, Chief of
Operations. Please convey the exact condition you will need to USS
Firebrande to be in in order to make your experiments to my assistant Ensign
Ra'Kir. This will be his sole priority.

"Computer, send message."

<<Message sent at... =/\=Ensign Landis to Lieutenant Black. What is your
current location?=/\=

"I'm currently in the Operations Centre of Dockyard Echo." An instant later
a thought occurred to Martin; there was no way he'd be leaving to chat to
this Ensign. He was simply too busy. "The transport co-ordinates are in the
main computer if you'd care to join me," he added, as though to spell out
his thoughts.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - CONN Ens Alex Landis -
2378.08.18.1115)

Landis slapped his Commbadge. =^=Ensign Landis to Lieutenant Black. What is
your current position? =^=

Landis was heading for the Turbolift. Operations would be an educated guess
but he wanted to be sure.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Turbolift - CONN Ens Alex Landis - 2378.08.18.1115)

"Ensign Landis to Lieutenant Black. What is your current location?"

=^=I'm currently in the Operations Center of Dockyard Echo. The transport
co-ordinates are in the main computer if you'd care to join me. =^=

"On my way." Landis ended cheerfully before killing the commlink and
instructed the Turbolift computer to take him to Transporter Room One.

====================/\====================

(Dockyard Echo - Operations - CONN Ens Alex Landis - 2378.08.18.1120)

Landis looked around and spotted a young Lieutenant looking much like
himself with his brown hair. ~ Not the usual brat, at least. ~ Landis
thought, estimating the officer to be about 10 years younger than himself.

"Lieutenant Black? I'm Alex Landis, your new CONN." Alex wasn't sure if he
should do a formal salute or shake hands so he watched Martin Black to see
what he preferred.

====================/\====================

(Dockyard Echo - Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.18.1121)

"Lieutenant Black? I'm Alex Landis, your new CONN."

The man seemed to pause, as though someone somewhere had frozen his
program... Of course that would require that he be a hologram, and Martin
had not lost enough of his senses to believe that!

"Martin Black," the Betazoid nodded his greeting. "Stationed on Valhalla?"
It was more a statement than a question, and as Martin's brain accepted the
data of exactly who this new officer was, and his function, he eased into a
more conversational mood.

"Good... You'll need to meet our Yard Engineering Officer. She's currently
running Orbital Operations, and as your departments have strong links she's
the one you ought to see. But whilst you're here... welcome to the great...
Utopia... Planitia... shipyards!"

This last was broken up by pauses as the Betazoid reached into a wall panel
and pulled with all his strength on a lever which didn't really seem to be
enjoying the prospect. It gave way on his last tug, and anyone watching out
the windows would be able to see the port-dorsal docking arm around the USS
Columbia tightening it's grip on the tiny starship.

Standing up and looking out to view his work, Martin smiled, "Much better!
Doesn't look so small now!" Extending a greasy hand, he asked, "So, what can
I do for you?"

====================/\====================

(Dockyard Echo - Operations - TCO Ens Aleksander Stolev - 2378.08.18.1125)

The 2O looked at his new CONN. "Good... You'll need to meet our Yard
Engineering Officer. She's currently running Orbital Operations, and as your
departments have strong links she's the one you ought to see. But whilst
you're here... welcome to the great... Utopia... Planitia... shipyards!"

The lever came free and outside a huge arm seemed to squeeze a small ship to
the limit of braking its hull. Landis could read USS Columbia on the side.

Martin smiled, "Much better! Doesn't look so small now!" Extending a greasy
hand, he asked, "So, what can I do for you?"

Alex took the hand without hesitation and smiled back. "Well, I would like
to do some flying but..." he got cut short by the computer.

<<Message to Ensign Landis from Liutenant Marsland>>

"Yeah... well OK!"

The seconds passed one... by... one...

<<Message to Ensign Landis...>>

"But for crying out loud! Play it you stupid machine!" Alex rolled his eyes
towards the ceiling as the TAC/CS's voice filled the room.

=/\=As you are by now aware, Admiral Jopek has selected myself to lead an
away
mission to investigate the nearby base of operations for the group believed
responsible for the attack on Utopia Planitia just over three months ago. I
would greatly appreciate your accompanying me on this crucial mission as I
am in need of experts in the fields of science and engineering, and of
course a skilled pilot to guide us through this hostile territory. The USS
Columbia is due to depart at 0600 tomorrow morning once our cloak-capable
runabout has been attached. Please feel free to contact me at any time
regarding this mission.=/\=

<<END OF MESSAGE>>

Landis glanced out the window. "USS Columbia, eh?" He turned to Black.
"Don't scratch her, will you!" he said grinning. A Runabout? "Do we have a
Runabout available that I can use?"

====================/\====================

(Dockyard Echo - Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black - 2378.08.18.1127)

The two of them listened to the message that finally got relayed from the
Tactical Officer about the impending away mission, and as they did so they
gazed out over the USS Columbia as the docking arm continued it's ascent
into position around the small starship.

As the docking arm reached optimum distance from the ship, Martin reversed
the lever and the arm locked into place protectively around the
defiant-class ship.

"USS Columbia, eh? Don't scratch her, will you!" Martin shared a grin with
the other man, "Do we have a runabout available that I can use?"

Punching up the current status of Echo's shuttlebay, Martin read out his
findings. "We've got a type-7 shuttlecraft - the King's Cross - here, but
there should be a runabout docked at Valhalla. We'll find you one, and you
needn't worry about the Columbia - I won't let anything happen to any of my
babies..."

Martin stifled a giggle as his ears told him how that sounded, "Black to
Valhalla; two to beam back." The two of them waited momentarily for the
transporter to take a hold of them, and as their eyes locked the two of them
burst into giggles.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - SCL's Office - SCL Ens David Shannon - 2378.08.18.1130)

David Shannon was glad to get back to his office after the semi-chaos of the
Admiral's briefing, so many reports from so many different departments,
David wasn't sure if he would ever get them all straight in his head, he did
however recall one stressed ensign that he thought he might be able to help.

=^= Shannon to Ensign Therriault =^=

David waited for theoretical engineering officer to answer

<reply Therriault>

"Sorry to disturb you if you are busy Ms. Therriault but I was thinking
about the mess you have with the encryption lockouts on your databases"
David went on to explain his idea.  "I was thinking that it may do some good
if I sent a message off to starfleet command requesting the assistance of a
Klingon expert, someone who would have sufficient insite into Klingon
psychology to help you work out what the encryption algorythms might be."

<reply Therriault>

"You can chew on it for a little while, I've got about a dozen reports to
get off to starfleet command later today so I can include your request with
those if you are interested.  Shannon out"

Having offered his assistance to ensign Therriault David forced himself to
get on with the business of making sense of the multitude of PADDS layed out
on his desk.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - TEO's Office - TEO Ens Anne Therriault -
2378.08.18.1130)

=^=Shannon to Ensign Therriault.=/\=

"Therriault here."

=/\=Sorry to disturb you if you are busy Ms. Therriault but I was thinking
about the mess you have with the encryption lockouts on your databases. I
was thinking that it may do some good if I sent a message off to starfleet
command requesting the assistance of a Klingon expert, someone who would
have sufficient insite into Klingon psychology to help you work out what the
encryption algorythms might be.=/\=

"Hmmm... Well, if you think that it will work, please do so.  I have a
feeling that Lt. Prakl'in was loosing his grip on reality when he was
transfered. Or was just very apprehensive of everyone around him.  Maybe a
Klingon psycologist may be beneficial also."

=/\=You can chew on it for a little while, I've got about a dozen reports to
get off to starfleet command later today so I can include your request with
those if you are interested.  Shannon out=/\=

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1210)

Kazuko walked into her office after spending an hour with the TEO. She
dropped her padds on the desk and slumped down into the chair. "That meeting
could have gone better, Kazuko...but lunch was good, perhaps things are
looking up." She said aloud to her empty office. She stood again and moved
to her replicator and ordered, "Green tea with Ginseng, Hot."  The
replicator whined and produced her mug of tea. She sipped at it while
walking back to her desk.

~I like my own tea better.Perhaps I'll make some later.~ she looked at the
hotplate on the shelf near her replicator and nodded to herself. She picked
up one padd and looked at the top, "Yard Issues." then looked at the second
one, "Orbital Issues."

"I need an assistant.or two." she said quietly as her door chimed. "Enter."
She called. An ensign walked in with another padd. The ensign handed it to
her, "Thank you, Ensign.?" She asked while reading the padd.

"Shiva, sir."

Ensign Shiva answered while standing there waiting to be dismissed.  Kazuko
looked up at her and nodded slowly, "Thank you Ensign Shiva. Dismissed."
Kazuko answered while watching Ensign Shiva stand there for only a moment
more before turning on her heel and leaving.

Kazuko sipped her tea and reread the new message, yet another request to
build another ship. She sighed and opened her desk drawer. The drawer was
already full of padds; one more wasn't going to hurt it.

~Sorry.Denied!~ She dropped the padd into the drawer and closed it. ~Now
back to my assistant problem.~ She thought as the door chimed again. ~Damn.~

"Enter." She called again, trying to not sound annoyed. Another ensign
walked in, this one was tall. She looked up as the ensign came in with a
desk unit under her arm.

"Sorry to bother you, Chief. A maintenance worker tried leaving this while
you were in the big meeting, I took it for you."  The tall ensign said while
putting the unit on Kaz's desk.

"Thank you, Ensign.and you are?" Kazuko asked.

"Ensign Auron, Maurana Auron of Betazed, sir." She answered.

"So tell me, Ensign Auron, why didn't you just let the maintenance worker in
here to leave it?" Kazuko smiled.

"I saw the maintenance you did in here, and I didn't think you would have
appreciated someone messing with your things, sir. If I did wrong, I'm
sorry."

Ensign Auron looked truly sorry to Kazuko. "No need, I am grateful for your
intuitiveness, Ensign. I do not like people in here when I am not." Kazuko
said with a smile, "You are dismissed, ensign."

Ensign Auron nodded and walked out of Kazuko's office again. She turned on
her desk unit and started a search for her new assistants. "Computer, search
personnel records and compile list by the following parameters." Kazuko
started then paused to think about what she wanted in an assistant.
"Distinguished service, knowledgeable in the areas of starship design and
/or Orbital Operations,
high grade point average in the areas of Starship design  and / or Orbital
Operations.execute."

Kazuko sat behind her desk going over the meeting notes as the computer
whizzed through the some odd 75,000 personnel records in her department. She
was in the middle of the department status reports when the computer beeped
that it had completed the search. Kazuko paused the meeting padd, turned to
her desk unit and took a drink of tea at the same time.

When she saw that number she nearly choked on her tea. ~Dear god. 2800
people match my search?!~ Kazuko stood and put her hands on her hips
while pacing behind her desk, her socks making soft noises on the tatami
mats. ~2800 people that will take me all day to sort through.I must have the
best engineers Starfleet has to offer here...~

She scratched her head and then snapped her fingers, "Computer, search the
results for Ensigns Shiva and Auron."  She said while looking at the
miniature
starship she built in the academy.

<<Parameters located.>> The computer replied.

"Display on my wall unit." She ordered while taking her cup over to the
large wall unit used mainly for blueprint viewing. Ensign Auron came up as
number 2005 in the search results; Ensign Shiva came up as number 2799. ~Not
the top.but then these are not in any particular order now are they?~
Kazuko said while studying the records of both ensigns.

Ensign Auron's record was pristine. There were no indiscretions on her part.
No marks for insubordination, nothing. She was in that record, a model
Starfleet career woman.

Ensign Shiva's record on the other hand, was nearly pristine. She had one
mark for insubordination on it. Kazuko read through it and almost laughed.
Her last CO had decided to put a nasty remark on her permanent record, one
about the ensign 'needing to learn to keep her ridges out of others
business'. ~I wonder what she did. Only one way to find out. If not for this
one bad mark, she would have been further up on the list.~ Kazuko thought,
since there were ten other marks of commendation. ~I've seen enough.~ Kazuko
thought,

"Computer transfer these records to my desk unit." She turned off the wall
unit and walked back over to her desk, flipping the comm. on. "Ensigns Shiva
and Auron, report to Chief Okada's Office immediately." Kazuko sat behind
her desk and waited for them to arrive.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - WTO's Office - WTO Dr Tanya Dervin -
2378.08.18.1210)

Tanya sat at her desk, her thoughts were revolving entirely about what had
been said in the meeting.  They were to actually try the Warp Subspace
Carrier Wave project on a real ship.  Tanya could feel the excitement and
nervousness riveting through her.  There was so much to be done, so many
refits and adjustions... there was so much that needed to be done and
adjusted and there was no way that she was going to be able to do it alone.

"Computer, please record a message and send it to the following personnel.
Send to; TEO, TSO, YEO, and CSO.  Message to read as follows;  Attention,
all recipients of this message, it is requested that you attend a meeting
and brainstorming session on the Warp Subspace Carrier Wave project, any
insights that you could bring regarding this theory would be appreciated. We
have a short period of time to facilitate this endeavour.  Shall we say...
hmm, 16.00 hours?  Bring ideas and maybe some snacks?  By the way, I've made
all the results of my latest reports available to any of you who would like
to look at them, any other questions, you know how to reach me. Thanks,
Tanya Dervin, WTO, Utopia Planitia."

"End of message, send."

<Message sent at 12.30>

Tanya nodded.  Then she began to get her affairs in order and plans ready
for the meeting.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - AYEO Ens JG Shiva Rikku -
2378.08.18.1230)

Shiva walked towards the chief's office and mumbled the entire way. She had
already been to see the chief once today, and she wasn't impressed, she was
too busy to be impressed. The chief ordered an inventory.

Aand there was Shiva counting every bolt. ~I wonder what she wants now.
Couldn't have told me when I was in there.noooooo.had to pull me away from
my job.~ She thought as a tall blonde woman walked up to her quickly.

"Ensign Shiva I presume?" The blonde said with a warm smile.

"Ensign Auron."  Shiva answered as the blonde ensign nodded.

"I wonder why she wants to see us." Auron said, "What do you think?"

"I haven't a clue, but I'm sure she probably doesn't like to be kept
waiting." Shiva walked up to the door and hit the chime.

"Come in." Chief Okada's voice called, they walked in side by side and stood
at attention. "Ensigns Shiva and Auron reporting as ordered, sir!" They said
in unison.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CSO's Office - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan - 2378.08.18.1230)

Drew was busy in his office when the comm chirped. He played the message
that had arrived.

=/\=Attention, all recipients of this message, it is requested that you
attend a meeting and brainstorming session on the Warp Subspace Carrier Wave
project, any insights that you could bring regarding this theory would be
appreciated. We have a short period of time to facilitate this endeavour.
Shall we say... hmm, 16.00 hours?  Bring ideas and maybe some snacks?  By
the way, I've made all the results of my latest reports available to any of
you who would like to look at them, any other questions, you know how to
reach me. Thanks, Tanya Dervin, WTO, Utopia Planitia.=/\=

~ Wow! Things sure happen fast here! I was only thinking about that this
very morning! ~

Drew then set about reading up on the project. He found it very interesting
and exciting.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1231)

Kazuko sat behind her desk waiting for her two new assistants to arrive, and
noticed that there was in incoming message for her. ~Subarashii...I wonder
what it is now.~  She thought, "Computer, play message."

=/\=Attention, all recipients of this message, it is requested that you
attend a meeting and brainstorming session on the Warp Subspace Carrier Wave
project, any insights that you could bring regarding this theory would be
appreciated.
We have a short period of time to facilitate this endeavor.  Shall we say...
hmm, 16.00 hours? Bring ideas and maybe some snacks?  By the way, I've made
all the results of my latest reports available to any of you who would like
to look at them, any other questions; you know how to reach me.Thanks, Tanya
Dervin, WTO, Utopia Planitia.=/\=

~That's great and all...but I wonder if anyone will come. In her haste, she
forgot to mention where this meeting would occur...~ Kazuko thought with a
slight chuckle. "Computer, send a reply to the WTO as follows: Konnichiwa, I
would love to be at your meeting to share ideas, though you should in future
messages as well, inform your guests where you propose to hold such a
gathering. Domo, YEO Chief; Send message."

<Message sent 1232>

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1235)

"Ensigns Shiva and Auron reporting as ordered, sir!" The two ensigns said in
unison, as Kazuko stood behind her desk for a moment and regarded the two
ensigns.

"Good.come in and sit down." Kazuko said while walking around to the front
of her desk and perching on it. Her shoeless feet swinging in front of them.
Kazuko
watched as the ensigns took a seat stiffly in front of her, "At ease, you
two.I'm not going to bite."

~Sure that's what she says now.~ Ensign Shiva thought while looking at the
chief.

"I'm sure you both are wondering why I called you here, tearing you away
from the inventory work that I ordered." Kazuko said while looking at Shiva,
then to Auron, "As you both have no doubt have heard, I have a couple
openings for assistants. One for the YEO department, one for the OO
Department." Kazuko
started,

"And since you both have experience in both areas, I." She stopped trying to
see how she could say this.

"You want our opinion as to whom you should choose?" Shiva put into the
space.

"Something like that, Ensign.I want you to tell me a little about
yourselves..." Kazuko said with a smile, she reached back and grabbed her
tea.

"Sir?" Shiva asked questionably, ~What could she want to know?~

"Tell me about the Magellan, Shiva. What happened to bring you to us?"

"Oh that.As you know, sir, the Magellan was my first post out of the
academy. I was on that ship for four years.and everything was great.until I
met the most annoying person ever created!" She started, "When I was traded
to work with this guy, I prayed to the Prophets three times a day..." She
wanted to say more but she reigned in her anger. Kazuko watched quietly and
nodded that she understood, "I wished time would speed by and put me into
another Lieutenants care before this one killed me..."

"That bad, huh? What happened?" Kazuko asked, ~This one sounds an awful lot
like the TEO Assistant. How many of them could there be in the fleet?~

"Well our Chief Engineer was running diagnostics on one of the warp
acelles.while my Lieutenant, who thought he was the Prophets gift to
women.decided it would be fun to upgrade the other nacelle." Shiva said
nearly shivering with anger, "I tried to stop him, of course. But he told me
to mind my own business and that he knew what he was doing."

"I see, and after the inevitable?" Kazuko asked.

"Because of his stupidity, two good officers were seriously hurt.I went
straight to the captain and told him just exactly what that no good son of a
cardassian did!" She was not trying to hold her anger anymore.

"I see, calm down, Shiva. It's over." Kazuko said with a knowing smile.
Shiva breathed in and out a few times before getting herself under control.

"So then he found out it was I who told on him and since he was still my
'CO" he reprimanded me and threw that insubordination on my record." Shiva
said, "Along with a nasty remark about my nose."

"Do you remember his name, Shiva?" Kazuko asked praying that it wasn't the
same guy she'd heard about at lunch.

"I'll never forget it.Cornelius Byson.we called him Corny!" Shiva answered.
Kazuko put her head in her hands for a moment and sighed loudly. "Are you
ok, Chief?" Shiva asked

"Fine...Shiva. fine. Now, Auron, tell me something about yourself." Kazuko
didn't wish to tell them that Corny Byson was on their base.it wasn't
something that she wanted to have to worry about just yet. Knowing how small
this base would become to them, it'll come up later.

"I graduated Starfleet academy with honors in orbital operations and
engineering, I always wanted to work on a space station." Auron began, but
Kazuko was only half listening. She already knew she wanted these two to be
her assistants, but what was she going to do at a staff meeting when Shiva
and Byson got into a war
over the past? Kazuko looked at Shiva for a moment and nodded slowly, ~This
one would have nothing to do with Byson, if she can avoid it, but his
childish actions, will make it difficult to get along with.~

"...and then I got my wish and was stationed here!" Auron said with a smile.
Kazuko found her smile was contagious, then remembered that Auron was a
Betazoid and hoped that she was not upset that Kazuko had not listened to
her.

"Well, that sounds great, Auron.I have one question for the both of you."
Kazuko said while putting her tea down, "Shiva, how would you like being my
chief YEO Assistant?"

"Ah.are you kidding?" Shiva asked, the question had caught her off guard.

"I try not to, unless you like that sort of thing." Kazuko answered while
taking a moment to look at Auron, "Auron, how about being my chief Orbital
Ops Assistant?"

"I would be honored, chief!" Auron answered without giving it a second
thought, Kazuko looked back at Shiva and she was nodding her agreement.

"Great! First thing, when we are behind closed doors as we are right now, I
expect you both to call me Kazuko, or just Kaz, depending on your feelings
about it."  Kazuko lifts her padd and makes the necessary adjustments to
their records.

"You can call me Maurana, Chie.Kaz." Auron said with a smile as she looked
at Shiva. "Rikku.You both may call me Rikku, but no one else." Ensign Shiva
said with a smile, just now getting over the initial shock.  Kaz clapped her
hands together with a smile and jumped off the desk.

"Alright, you two have offices now, there's an empty one on my right and one
on my left, and they have adjacent doors directly to this room so you don't
have to stand in the hall like everyone else..." She picks up two padds and
gives one to each, "Once you're settled, you'll find I have something I want
you two to
do."

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - WTO's Office - WTO Dr Tanya Dervin -
2378.08.18.1245)

Dr. Dervin was sitting at her desk, there was an array of PADDs and other
display devices surrounding her.  She was entirely consumed in her work that
when the incessant beeping that proclaimed the arrival of her messages began
she jumped literally a good half metre in the air.

"What?!?"  she looked around her office the sudden stimulus making her brain
whiz and whirl.

Then, she noticed the flashing indicator light on her console.  "Oh" she
sighed, "a message."

"Computer play message"  she ordered,

=^=Konnichiwa, I would love to be at your meeting to share ideas, though you
should in future messages as well, inform your guests where you propose to
hold such a gathering. Domo, YEO Chief; Send message. =^=

Tanya slapped her forehead. "I can't believe it... I KNEW I forgot
something..."

"Computer, please send message to YEO, TSO, TEO, CSO stating: The meeting
for Subspace Carrier Wave brainstorming will be held in the conference room
in the office complex of the research centre on Mars. Thank you, hope to see
you all there."

"Computer display text."

Tanya looked it over, satisfied that there were probably more errors there,
but thankful that she could not spot any of them.

"Send message."

<Message sent at 12.59>

Tanya nodded, and then, as suddenly as her head had been jolted out of the
vast cosmos, she was intently focussed again on her work.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - TEO's Office - TEO Ens Anne Therriault -
2378.08.18.1255)

Ensign Therriault was so hard at work that when the door chime played, she
jumped.

~This had better be good,~ she thought.

"Enter!"

Ensign Auron entered her office with a padd in her hand and smiles.  The
betazoid officer stepped up to the desk and held out the Padd to her, "My
Chief asked me to come by and take a look around."

Anne took the PADD, "Thank you, Ensign."

She glanced at the PADD and noticed a note on it from Kaz: Anne, I nearly
forgot that I promised the maintenance crew an inspection. If you'd like to
come to my office while my assistants make that inspection you will be most
welcomed, Kazuko.

Therriault stood and walked towards the door, taking 2 PADDs with her, "I'm
sure that you know what to do, Ensign?"

Auron nodded, "Yes, sir. I do."

"Excellent.  I'll leave you to your work then."

Anne walked out of her office and headed towards the YEO's office.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1300)

Kazuko sat behind her desk with the stack of padds from her desk drawer out
on top. She picked up each one, wrote something on it and then and put it
into another pile.

The door bell chimed and Kazuko looked up for a moment before uttering,
"Come in."

Ensign Anne Therriault entered the room and sat down with a sigh, tossing
the PADD the ensign had handed her onto the table, "You called?"

Kazuko laughed and nodded, "I thought it would be better to inform you of
something in person, then to let my assistants tell you..."  She continued
to write on the padds and place them in a stack on her left.

"And that is?" Anne asked, hoping for good news.

"It seems that my assistant had a past encounter with yours..." Kazuko
stopped what she was doing, crossed to the front of her desk and sat down in
the chair across from Anne.

The TEO raised an eyebrow, "Oh no."

"Oh yes...She is quite bitter over it."

Kazuko started to retell the story of her assistant, Shiva Rikku, to Anne,
not leaving anything out.  By the end of her speech, Anne was shaking her
head, a smirk on her face.

"Let me guess...she hates his guts."

"With a fiery passion...Sometime soon, I will have to tell her that he is
here...but I don't know how yet."  Kazuko said.

She then went to her replicator and got another mug of tea, "Would you like
anything?"

"Another latte please.  I think I'll need it," she sighed, "I've been
working on a solution for Corny."

"Ah, and would that mean I would not have to tell her?" Kazuko asked while
walking back with the two mugs in her hands.

"You'll still have to tell her.  I have no choice but to work with him until
he makes another mistake."

"That's as I thought...But at the very least, you and I should be able to
contain the problem..." Kazuko said while handing the latte to Anne.

"I agree," she sipped the hot liquid, enjoying the sweet coffee smell, "I
liked your idea of having him do all the paperwork and such for me and keep
him away from the experiments and such.  Though I have to make sure that
what he's doing is correct.  I think, until I trust him, I'll be reviewing
his work and then submitting it."

"That is a great idea...as long as it doesn't put you behind in your other
chores..."  Kazuko said with a smile, "I have a few more denieds to write
before I start my tour..." She pointed to that stack of Padds on the right.

"It'll be good bedtime reading for me," she shrugged and looked around the
office, "I like your office."

"Thank you, I find that being in a familiar surroundings like this brings me
peace."  Kazuko said while looking around her office. It was decorated like
her quarters were, except on a table, behind her desk, was a miniature
starship, "And in my field, I need all the peace I can get..."

"Maybe I should redecorate too.  I could use some peace," she shrugged,
"Maybe with my office fixed, I'll be able to get some work done.  Which
reminds me, I should go back soon."

"Just a few more moments, Anne.  Once the inspection is over, Rikku and
Maurana will return to tell us how it went..." Kazuko said while going back
to writing on the padds, "So have you been to see the doctor yet?"

The TEO raised an eyebrow, "Don't remind me.  I hate doctors."

"I'm not to thrilled by the prospect, but between that order and my other
problems, I'd rather see the doctor and get yelled at because of my bruise."
Kaz said while looking up her padds were now all on the left side of the
desk. She stood for a moment and picked them up and moved them to the
outbox.

"Bruise?  How did you get a bruise?"

"A security team...one of them kicked me." Kazuko said  while going to her
large Viewer,  "Computer show me Docking bay 30."

The viewer lit up and Kaz looked it over.

"Kicked you?" Anne started to wonder what kind of security people they had
on the base, "They actually KICKED you?"

"They believed I was sabotaging the computer  in that corridor I was lost in
for a couple hours yesterday..."  Kazuko answered and walked back to her
desk, trying to get a new perspective on her newest problem.

"So they attacked you.  Interesting," she smiled at her new friend.

"They were trying to wake me, and it went pretty bad..." Kazuko answered as
the chime to her office went off. She looked at the door and smiled, "Come
in."

Ensigns Shiva and Auron walked into Kazuko's office and held out their
Inspection reports to Kazuko.

Anne spoke up, "Done?  Does it pass?"

"Your office is in perfect condition, Chief." Ensign Auron answered.

"Your quarters is also in perfect condition, Chief. The engineers replaced
your old replicator with a new one so you should not have any other
problems."  Shiva answered as Kazuko looked at the padds and handed them to
Anne.

"There you are, my friend."

Anne quickly reviewed them and nodded, "Thank you very much.  All of you.
Have a good day, ladies."

She rose and waved a good bye to her friend before walking out of the room,
heading towards her office.  Before the door shut, she heard the YEO issue a
couple orders to her assistants.

"Maurana, please see those padds get back to wherever they came from..."
Kazuko said while waving to Anne, "Rikku, please sit down, there is
something I need to tell you."

As Anne walked down the staircase to the bay, a loud voice came out of the
chief's office and echoed throughout the bay, halting all workers, "What do
you mean that pond scum is here?!?!"

Anne shook her head and smiled slightly, ~I think we all feel that way,
Rikku...~

====================/\====================

(Shuttlecraft Baxter - TCO Ens Aleksander Stolev - 2378.08.18.1300)

Sasha gazed with amazement as the shuttle approached the Utopia Planitia
orbital facilities.  He hadn't believed it when he was assigned, but it was
true; the new starbase had already been constructed.

He activated the comm channel.  "Shuttlecraft Baxter to Starbase Valhalla,
request permission to dock."

=^= Permission granted.  Hanger Bay 28 is ready to receive you. =^=

Sasha grinned as he piloted the shuttle around the massive structure until
he spotted the open hangar bay.  To think, he was going to be in charge of
making sure all the ships constructed here are fully equipped with the
latest weaponry and defense systems!  Such a task may never have been as
important as now, and he was the one that had been chosen for it.  It was an
exciting if not harrowing proposition, but it was the embodiment of why
Sasha had joined Starfleet in the first place.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Shuttlebay - TCO Ens Aleksander Stolev -
2378.08.18.1310)

Sasha glanced once more at his PADD as he walked down the ramp to the floor
of the hangar bay.  He approached a chief who was manning the hangar bay
controls.  "Hey chief, I've got some personal items in that shuttle.  I'm
off to report
to the CO, and then I'll be coming to get them once I know where my quarters
are.  Could you beam them to the repository until then?"

"Will do, sir," replied the chief as he tapped in the requisite commands.

"Thanks," said Sasha.  He then turned for the door and headed out into the
corridor and found the nearest wall terminal.  "Computer, locate Admiral
Jopek."

<Admiral Jopek is in Main Operations.>

"Thanks."

<You're welcome.>

Sasha did a quick double-take.  He was in the habit of saying thanks to
anyone who helped him, but he wasn't used to hearing the computer reply!
~They must have implemented some sort of politeness subroutine.  What will
they think of next?~  Shaking his head and chuckling softly, he made his way
to the nearest turbolift.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - TCO Ens Aleksander Stolev -
2378.08.18.1320)

The Main Operations center was more modern than any facility Sasha had been
in.  Of course, that only made sense, considering it was less than three
months old!  Scanning the room for the Admiral, he spotted the elder Vulcan
sitting in the command chair.  Sasha made a beeline for the Admiral, then
drew himself up to attention and offered his PADD.  "Ensign Aleksander
Stolev, reporting for duty, sir!"

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1321)

"Ensign Aleksander Stolev, reporting for duty, sir!", said a new Ensign,
heading the Admiral's way.

"Ensign, welcome aboard. Follow me, if you would.", said the Admiral,
leading Ensign Stolev to his office.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1325)

"Have a seat, Ensign.", said the Admiral, looking over the PADD he had been
given from the new arrival.

"Tactical Command Officer, well, we have quite a job for you. Although the
Valhalla's Security Chief is in charge of overall station and facility
security, its your job to make sure our ships and the base itself is up to
speed on the latest defence systems, you'll have to make a visual inspection
and examination of every ship in dock, plus all surface weapon positions.
That includes the Mars Defence Perimeter, you need to talk to Captain
Rulestaad about that project."

"As each ship is launched, you'll be in charge of assessing its tactical
configuration, Starfleet will use this information in assigning the ship to
a fleet or duty that best fits its capabilities."

"You'll be co-ordinating with Operations, Security and the new production
facilities on the surface, the construction of new weapon systems and
upgrading existing ones is going to take up a lot of your time. I suggest
you get to Mars and get to know the TEO and the TSO, you are going to be
seeing a lot of them."

Jopek stood up and continued.

"Welcome aboard, if you have any questions, just let me know."

(Reply TCO)

"Dismissed Ensign. good luck.", said the Admiral, watching the new Ensign
leave his office and out into Main Operations.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - TCO Ens Aleksander Stolev -
2378.08.18.1326)

Sasha followed his new CO into his office.  "Have a seat, Ensign...", said
the Admiral, looking over the PADD Sasha had handed him out in the OPS
center. Sasha listened intently as the Vulcan detailed his responsibilities
as TCO, nodding when appropriate, maintaining eye contact at all times, and
sitting up as straight as if he had a metal rod strapped to his back.

"You'll be co-ordinating with Operations, Security and the new production
facilities on the surface, the construction of new weapon systems and
upgrading existing ones is going to take up a lot of your time. I suggest
you get to Mars and get to know the TEO and the TSO, you are going to be
seeing a lot of them..."

Jopek stood up and continued...

"Welcome aboard, if you have any questions, just let me know..."

"No questions at this time sir," Sasha stated as he stood up quickly.  "I'll
get down to Mars ASAP."

"Dismissed Ensign... good luck," said the Admiral as Sasha turned and headed
out of the office.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - Transporter Room One - TCO Ens Aleksander
Stolev - 2378.08.18.1340)

Sasha's first trip to Mars had a rather eventful beginning as he found
himself materializing six inches above the platform, and almost lost his
balance as he dropped to the floor.  His eyes widened as he looked at the
transporter chief.

"Sorry, sir," replied the Bolian.  "The targeting scanners of the
transporters on Valhalla aren't fully aligned yet.  They occasionally will
be a little off. I imagine aligning them is not the top priority at the
moment."

"Well I imagine it will be a top priority once someone's feet materialize
inside the platform!" retorted Sasha.  He hoped this wasn't a sign of things
to come; he didn't need any mishaps on his first day!

Sasha ignored the sheepish look from the transporter chief and stepped down
from the platform, heading for the wall terminal.  He wanted to make sure he
remembered the names of the TSO and TEO correctly, as it would be an
unfortunate first impression to make if he didn't!   After a quick glance at
the manifest, he tapped his comm badge.  "Ensign Stolev to TSO Newton and
TEO Therriault.  I'm the new TCO and would like to meet with you both, as I
will be working closely with you in the future."

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.18.1400)

~I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here.I don't want to be here.~
Kazuko thought as she walked down the corridors towards the medical center.
~I'm fine.in tip top condition.well almost.~ She thought while stopping at
the doors to the medical wing. ~But if I go in there he'll notice my bruise,
and then yell at me for not coming to see him after it happened... But if I
don't go in there, he'll track me down like a dog...and that will go on my
record.~  She paced outside the doors for a few minutes and looked inside
for a moment, ~If I don't get in there, Rikku and Maurana will drag me back
here and force me inside. They are bigger than I am.and I don't think I'll
be able to fight them off...~ "Alright, Kazuko, it's time to bite the
bullet." She said aloud and walked into the medical center. The hospital
smell making her stomach queasy.  She walked up to a nurse and waited for
her attention. "Can I help you?" The nurse asked. "I am here to see Doctor
Cambridge for my 'Department Head Physical'." Kazuko answered. "Ah, Name and
Department?" The nurse asked while making notes. "Okada Kazuko, Yard
Engineering and Orbital Operations..." Kazuko answered, "How long does this
normally take?" "That depends on how much you fight." The nurse said with a
wry smile. ~Perfect.~ Kazuko thought, the smell finally getting to be too
much for her, she passed out and hit the floor.

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.18.1402)

The biobed arrived a moment later and several medical officers boosted the
limp body onto it.  Maxwell quickly moved the bed into the sickbay area,
deciding
to put her in medium sized room rather than in the open.

He rolled her in and locked the biobed down, securing it against the wall.
The CMO quickly started the monitoring systems as an officer came through
the door
with a PADD, containing the officer's file.  Nodding, he began to pore over
the file itself.  There was nothing of note in the log itself, but that the
girl in front of him was pretty smart and knew how to hold herself.  He
quickly pulled out a small hypospray and injected it.  She would regain
consciousness in a few
moments.  While he waited, the Chief Medical Officer pulled out a medical
tricorder and began to scan the young woman.  She stirred.

 "Welcome back to Otono Medical Center, I will be your examiner today..."

"I am glad to receive such fine care from you, Doctor Cambridge. Though I
only remember coming through the doors and talking to your nurse...how did I
get in
here?" Kazuko asked while reaching up to scratch her head.

"You just passed out.  Any reason you managed to hit the floor on your own
accord?"

"I have never been one for the smells of hospitals...It normally makes me a
little queasy...but I have never passed out before." Kazuko answered, ~but
then, I've never gone into one with an injury.if I could help it.~ She
thought.

Cambridge looked up, faking a look of shock.

"Our hospital smells?  Good Gravy, I need to talk to maintenance...course
they about as fun to talk to as a Borg on a rampage."

"No, not smells in a bad way, it's the clean smell that all hospitals have.
I don't like it..." Kazuko said with a frown.

He continued to scan her, checking her lower stomach area and holding there
for a moment.  Frowning, he reached for her shirt to pull it up, but
stopped.

"Would you mind..er..moving the shirt up a bit..."

Kazuko frowned, she knew what he would find there, she sighed and pulled her
shirt up to show an area the size of a size 10 boot that had black and blue
and yellow coloring. When she had first gotten it, it had been yellow, but
the black and blue now add that bit of color that would make an artist
proud.

He waited and grimaced at what he saw.

"Just what the hell were you doing in the last three days young lady? Hell,
I've got ensigns in here every day, but you've managed to bruise three lower
ribs!  Care to explain, Ms. Adventurer?"

"Well, I..." She started, then closed her mouth and tried to think of a
suitable explanation, after a few moments, she started again, "I got
lost...and then I thought if I could fix the computer terminal that I could
find my way, but a team of Security thought I was sabotaging the
system...and when they found me I had been sleeping, so one nudged me to
alertness...that was last night around 8pm...so then I found my way to my
quarters and didn't like the decoration, so I spent most of the night
tearing it up and redoing it to my liking...then when I woke this morning, I
spent hours redecorating my office to my liking...then I was nearly late for
the meeting, but you saw me there...I was the filthy one." Kazuko stopped
for a moment at the disbelief on his face, "Short story would be better huh?
Let's see.I got kicked, and then ran a lot...then tore up the carpet in my
quarters, and office, put down new floorings...ran some more...stood
throughout the meeting... Oh I give up..." She stopped speaking again.

<reply>

"I'd hate to bother you, though...how long should this take now that I've
complicated things? I have another meeting to attend at 1600 hrs. Do you
think I will make it?" She asked.

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.18.1405)

"Well, I...I got lost...and then I thought if I could fix the computer
terminal that I could find my way, but a team of Security thought I was
sabotaging the system...and when they found me I had been sleeping, so one
nudged me to alertness...that was last night around 8pm...so then I found my
way to my quarters and didn't like the decoration, so I spent most of the
night tearing it up and redoing it to my liking...then when I woke this
morning, I spent hours redecorating my office to my liking...then I was
nearly late for the meeting, but you saw me there...I was the filthy one.
Short story would be better huh? Let's see... I got kicked, and then ran a
lot...then tore up the carpet in my quarters, and office, put down new
floorings...ran some more...stood throughout the meeting... Oh I give up..."

Cambridge looked at the obviously stressed officer, feeling some sympathy
for the girl in front of him.  She hadn't started off on the right foot and
for the moment, she was still a bit off.

"Well, first of all, let me take care of these three injured ribs, and then
we'll deal with other issues..."

"I'd hate to bother you, though...how long should this take now that I've
complicated things? I have another meeting to attend at 1600 hrs. Do you
think I will make it?"

Cambridge ran the healing unit over her lower stomach area, letting it work
the magic it had.

"Well, first of all, you're going to slow down for just a moment and then we
'll see about letting you go.  Your lower three ribs on that side will be
slightly sore for the next three hours, but nothing terrible.  Second, we're
going to take a second to rest."

<reply>

Cambridge raised his eyebrow and looked into the woman's eyes.

"It won't matter if you manage to make your way into this office again in
the next six hours.  I mean, you're a cute girl, but I can only take so many
return visits."

<reply>

Maxwell laughed softly, shaking his head as he did so.

"I won't hold it against you; I just might shake my head at you more..."

He pulled his medical tricorder out and did a final check on her.

"Ok.  Here are the conditions for me releasing you.  You watch those ribs
and make sure you don't hit them again. You do and they will break and you'
ll have to deal with Otono again.  Second, take it slow, take a break or
something.  That's doctors orders.  Take some hot chocolate or hot caramel
apple cider and call me in the morning...got it?"

<reply>

He smiled, a twinkle in his eye.

"Dismissed then..."

She walked out the door, Cambridge moving to the desk.  As the officer
walked out the main doors the CMO shook his head.  Sometimes people came
through this place and amazed him, and then others came through and blew him
away.  And this was just the first physical!

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.18.1416)

Cambridge ran the healing unit over her lower stomach area, letting it work
the magic it had.

"Well, first of all, you're going to slow down for just a moment and then
we'll see about letting you go.  Your lower three ribs on that side will be
slightly sore for
the next three hours, but nothing terrible. Second, we're going to take a
second to rest."

"How long of a second? I have two major departments to run and I can't be
stuck out for too long.That is one of my main reasons for putting this off
for as long as
I have.no offense to you."  Kazuko said quietly.

Cambridge raised his eyebrow and looked into the woman's eyes.

"It won't matter if you manage to make your way into this office again in
the next six hours.  I mean, you're a cute girl, but I can only take so many
return visits."

"I can't promise I won't be back any time soon, Doctor. I'll try very hard
not to have to return, though what would you do if I did have to come back?"
Kazuko asked.

Maxwell laughed softly, shaking his head as he did so.

"I won't hold it against you; I just might shake my head at you more..."

He pulled his medical tricorder out and did a final check on her.

"Ok.  Here are the conditions for me releasing you.  You watch those ribs
and make sure you don't hit them again. You do and they will break and
you'll have to
deal with Otono again.  Second, take it slow, take a break or something.
That's doctor's orders.  Take some hot chocolate or hot caramel apple cider
and call me in the morning...got it?"

"I will do as you say then.can't avoid it I suppose." Kazuko said with a
sigh, ~Tea  and a bath sounds really good right now.and it looks as if I may
get my wish.
I'll might have to call Rikku and Maurana and make them go to the meeting in
my stead.~

He smiled, a twinkle in his eye.

"Dismissed then..."

She walked out the door, Cambridge moving to the desk.

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.18.1432)

Kazuko walked back out of the medical office and stopped for a moment
outside looking down both paths, ~One will take me to my quarters, where I
should be going to rest.the other will take me back to my office, where I
have plenty of work to do.~  She stood there for awhile contemplating which
way to go.  ~What would uncle Terunobu do?~ She asked herself and then took
the turn to her office.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1500)

Kazuko sat behind her desk and smiled at the picture on her desk, it was the
same one from her time in the university. Her mother and father were still
not smiling, but her little brothers and sisters all were. She frowned; it
had been four years since she heard from them. Her brother, Harunobu managed
to sneak letters out to her from time to time, but the other three didn't
even bother.  ~I suppose I really am dead to them.~  She looked at her desk
unit and blinked, their was an incoming message for her.  ~How long has that
been there?~  She pushed the button and the emblem was replaced with an
older Japanese face.

"My dear little niece," The message began, ~Always count on my uncle to make
me feel better about myself.~ She thought. "Where have you been? I have been
waiting for a communicaque for three days now. After all the trouble it made
for me to attend your graduation, I figured that you would have already been
in contact with me from your first post!"  She paused the feed.
~Trouble.right. You planned on being there from the day I mentioned applying
to Starfleet academy.~  She istened to the rest of the message and smiled
again. ~As I thought, leave it to my uncle to cheer me up.~ "Computer, start
recording video message for Commander Terunobu Okada, Starbase 23." Kazuko
said while straitening her hair a little.

<<Video message recording>>

"Konnichiwa, my uncle, I am sorry to not have sent a message earlier and I
am grateful that you could find time from your busy schedule to attend my
graduation. I am doing better. My arrival here at Utopia Planitia has been
fraught with pain and frustration. But as you have told me before, things
can only get better for me here.  I have met a couple of my colleagues here
and I seem to have things in common with a few of them. So I see them as my
new family, just as you told me I would.  I hope mother and father could
come around before something happens to either them or me. But I don't see
it happening just yet.  Have you heard anything from them by any chance?
Haru-chan sent me a letter half a year ago, so I have nothing new. I hope
they are alright. Well I must be getting back to work now, uncle.  You have
my love, Kazuko."

She stopped and looked at her chronometer. ~Just about time for that
meeting.~

"Computer, stop recording and send."

<<Message sent at 1535>>

Kazuko then hit her comm. while standing, "Rikku, Maurana, I'm going to the
meeting of the WTO. If you need me you know where I'll be."

"Right, Chief." They answered in unison again.

Kazuko shook her head and laughed while walking out the door and down the
hallway.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - TEO's Office - TEO Ens Anne Therriault -
2378.08.18.1500)

At the end of her staffing announcement, Anne checked her messages and noted
that there was an urgent one from the new TCO.  She had the computer play it
while she retrieved another cup of coffee.

~Anything to keep me awake.~

The message played, "Ensign Stolev to TSO Newton and TEO Therriault.  I'm
the new TCO and would like to meet with you both, as I will be working
closely with
you in the future."

She walked back to her desk.

"When was this message sent?"

<<1340>> the computer replied.

~Hmmm...well, it's an hour and a half late, but atleast it's a reply.~

"Computer, record message to be sent to Ensign Stolev."

<<Recording>>

"Ensign Stolev, this is Ensign Anne Therriault, the TEO.  I apologize for
the delay but my afternoon's been filled staffing issues that needed to be
resolved.  I would suggested attended the WTO's meeting at 1600 in the
research wing conference room and we can talk afterwards.  I've got a staff
meeting at 1800 so I hope that will be enough time for us to talk."

"Computer, end transmission and send"

<<Sent>>

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - TCO's Office - TCO Ens Aleksander Stolev -
2378.08.18.1500)

Sasha rubbed his eyes as he scanned yet another page of technical summaries.
A beep from his console perked him up and he saw that a light was flashing
down in the corner.  "Incoming Messages: 1 Pending" it read.  He tapped the
flashing square and up came a message from the TEO.

=^= Ensign Stolev, this is Ensign Anne Therriault, the TEO.  I apologize for
the delay but my afternoon's been filled staffing issues that needed to be
resolved.  I would suggested attended the WTO's meeting at 1600 in the
research wing conference room and we can talk afterwards.  I've got a staff
meeting at 1800 so I hope that will be enough time for us to talk. =^=

~Excellent,~ thought Sasha as he closed the message file.  ~A good
opportunity to meet several of my colleagues!~

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - WTO Dr Tanya Dervin -
2378.08.18.1545)

Tanya brought in a selection of snacks.  She had chosen a Strawberry Rhubarb
Pie, a platter of oskoids and a tray with small dishes of chocolate mousse.
She smiled as she put all the food in the centre of the table, and then she
began to get herself organized for the rest of the meeting that would
follow.

~The finest brains, this is going to be great!  Finally I get a chance to
work with other scientists.~  This was going to be fun.  The prospects of
her project actually becoming to be was making her more excited and nervous
by the hour.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - TEO Ens Anne Therriault -
2378.08.18.1550)

Anne walked into the conference room 10 minutes early, trying to pour all
the confusing thoughts and ideas about her department into a PADD.  Under
her arm, she carried a large bag of Tootie Rolls and another large bag
filled with small chucks of chocolate, each individually wrapped.

She plopped the two bags onto the table and answered the raised eyebrows
with a shrug, "I'm a chocoholic.  What can I say?  Anyone have any coffee?"

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan -
2378.08.18.1551)

Drew arrived and entered the Conference Room with a blank padd to make some
notes for himself during the meeting. He expected it to be a fascinating
experience. The door opened and another early-bird arrived. She plopped the
two bags onto the table and answered the raised eyebrows with a shrug, "I'm
a chocoholic. What can I say? Anyone have any coffee?"

Drew laughed.

"A woman after my own heart! I'll join you. I like it black, double-sweet,
you? ", he asked as he went to the replicator.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - TEO Ens Anne Therriault -
2378.08.18.1552)

"A woman after my own heart! I'll join you. I like it black, double-sweet,
you? ", he asked as he went to the replicator.

Anne looked over at the CSO and smiled, "A Cafe' Borgia, extra cream
please."

She sat down with a sigh and tried to review her notes for the meeting but
was distracted.  It had been a busy day and she was quickly running out of
energy.  Maybe the coffee would help her make it through the meeting.

She smiled at Drew when he set her coffee down next to her, "Thank you.  I'm
going to need that to make it through this meeting."

<<reply Drew (if any)>>

She returned to her notes, flipping to her ToDo list.  She still had a
million things to do and a Direct Report meeting that evening.  As she
stared at the PADD infront of her, she was suprised to see it because
blurry.

~Oh, I'm really tired,~ she thought, taking a sip of her coffee, ~I can't
keep pulling all nighters.~

Before the meeting came to order, she had quickly drained the cup of coffee
and ordered another one.  The caffiene finally kicked in and she was
completely awake.

She listened intently as the WTO spoke adimently about her project.  She
looked over the plans and notes from the experiments but things were just
not making sense.

~Too much caffeine and not enough sleep.~

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan -
2378.08.18.1552)

"A woman after my own heart! I'll join you. I like it black, double-sweet,
you? ", he asked as he went to the replicator.

Anne looked over at the CSO and smiled, "A Cafe' Borgia, extra cream
please."

She smiled at Drew when he set her coffee down next to her, "Thank you.  I'm
going to need that to make it through this meeting."

" Won't we all? ", he asked laughing as he took the seat next to her. A few
moments later the rest of the group had arrived and the meeting began.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - WTO Dr Tanya Dervin -
2378.08.18.1555)

Tanya had watched the TEO whom she'd met earlier that morning walk in with
two ginormus bags of chocolate products and set them down on the table.

"I'm a chocoholic.  What can I say?  Anyone have any coffee?"

Tanya laughed and smiled.

Then the CSO who was already at the meeting piped up, "A woman after my own
heart!  I'll join you.  I like it black, double-sweet, you?" he asked as he
moved to the replicator.

Tanya smiled as she listened to the conversation between the two, she for
her own part, was busy sorting out her specs and plans for the beginning of
the meeting.

Finally, the last people that were going to arrive, arrived.

Tanya sat down at the head of the table and looked at everyone around her,
smiling she began to speak.

"Thank you all for coming here, I thought that perhaps we could use this
opportunity to brainstorm possibilities for modifying the ship to
incorporate the subspace carrier wave."

Tanya touched a button on the console, "Here are the experiments of the last
round of tests that were run... the ones, that... well, came to a rather
unpleasant ending early this morning."

Tanya paused and let the scientists before her digest the material she'd
presented. "Now, the oddity that occurred in this test that never had in any
of my previous research was that when the dissipation generator began to
dissipate the carrier wave the trajectory of the ship changed, and it was
forced out of the carrier wave, and well, into the lemon meringue pie."

Tanya looked a bit embarrassed at the admission of her own failures and
saccharin explosion.

She then cleared her throat and continued.  "And so, I've spent all
afternoon trying to figure out a way to prevent this course deviation of the
flying vessel, I mean after all the last thing we want is to have the
Firebrande slamming into a sun's core, because it's trajectory got rerouted.
So, I was looking for ideas... I've come up with two possibilities, 1, we
alter the frequency and dissipation angle which perhaps might make a
difference or 2, we somehow become able to modulate the ship's shields so
that they allow for the incoming wave, any other ideas, comments,
suggestions....anything.." Tanya looked at the group before her.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1555)

After a quick stop at her quarters, Kazuko walked in with a platter of sushi
rolls and onigiri.  She placed them on the table with the rest of the food
and got herself a cup of tea before sitting down. ~What the doctor doesn't
know won't hurt me.~  She thought

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1556)

Kazuko sipped her tea and looked around at the other faces she barely
recognized from the meeting with the admiral that morning. She took a quick
glace at Anne and then did a double take as Tanya started to speak.  Kazuko
set her padd on record and reached with one of her chopsticks under the
table, poking the sleep red head. She mouthed one word, ~Focus.~

(Reply Anne)

Kazuko then looked back at Tanya and listened to her go on and on about it,
wondering why she had been called to this meeting. ~Structural integrity.
Has to be. That's all I'm good for. She wants to know if the galaxy class
ship could hold its own. ~ She thought and looked back at Anne to see her
drifting off again.

This time she used the broad side of her chopstick to smack her into
alertness.  ~She should have a cool compress on her neck, that would wake
her up enough.~ Kazuko thought as the meeting progressed.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - TCO Ens Aleksander Stolev -
2378.08.18.1558)

Sasha found the conference room not a moment too soon.  He walked in to find
several officers already there, along with a dizzying array of snacks and
beverages.  "Hello, I'm Ensign Stolev, the new TCO," he announced.  He
smiled and nodded as each officer introduced himself or herself.  "Nice to
meet you all," he replied once the rounds had been made.  Soon it was 1600,
and the WTO, Dr. Dervin, brought the meeting to order.

"Thank you all for coming here, I thought that perhaps we could use this
opportunity to brainstorm possibilities for modifying the ship to
incorporate the subspace carrier wave." Tanya touched a button on the
console, "Here are the experiments of the last round of tests that were
run... the ones, that... well, came to a rather unpleasant ending early this
morning."

Tanya paused and let the scientists before her digest the material she'd
presented. "Now, the oddity that occurred in this test that never had in any
of my previous research was that when the dissipation generator began to
dissipate the carrier wave the trajectory of the ship changed, and it was
forced out of the carrier wave, and well, into the lemon meringue pie."

Tanya looked a bit embarrassed at the admission of her own failures and
saccharin explosion as Sasha wondered why a lemon meringue pie had been in
the staging area.  If it played a critical role in the experiment, it was
beyond his understanding.  There was a reason he hadn't pursued a career in
science, and this was it.

Tanya then cleared her throat and continued.  "And so, I've spent all
afternoon trying to figure out a way to prevent this course deviation of the
flying vessel, I mean after all the last thing we want is to have the
Firebrande slamming into a sun's core, because it's trajectory got rerouted.
So, I was looking for ideas... I've come up with two possibilities, 1, we
alter the frequency and dissipation angle which perhaps might make a
difference or 2, we somehow become able to modulate the ship's shields so
that they allow for the incoming wave, any other ideas, comments,
suggestions....anything.." Tanya looked at the group before her.

"Perhaps," replied Lt. Brannigan, the CSO.  "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 its 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!"

The TSO, Lt. Newton, quickly jumped in. "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."  He paused for a few moments before he
continued. "We could use the ship sensors to check for any fluctuation in
the dissipation wave and the shields making the shields more proactive."

Ah, shields.  Something Sasha knew a thing or two about.  "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 as another idea came to him.  "We should also
study the effect that weapons discharge would have on the wave, and how
succeptible to external disruption it is."

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan -
2378.08.18.1601)

"Thank you all for coming here, I thought that perhaps we could use this
opportunity to brainstorm possibilities for modifying the ship to
incorporate the subspace carrier wave." Tanya touched a button on the
console, "Here are the experiments of the last round of tests that were
run... the ones, that... well, came to a rather unpleasant ending early this
morning."

Tanya paused and let the scientists before her digest the material she'd
presented. "Now, the oddity that occurred in this test that never had in any
of my previous research was that when the dissipation generator began to
dissipate the carrier wave the trajectory of the ship changed, and it was
forced out of the carrier wave, and well, into the lemon meringue pie."

Tanya looked a bit embarrassed at the admission of her own failures and
saccharin explosion.

She then cleared her throat and continued.  "And so, I've spent all
afternoon trying to figure out a way to prevent this course deviation of the
flying vessel, I mean after all the last thing we want is to have the
Firebrande slamming into a sun's core, because it's trajectory got rerouted.
So, I was looking for ideas... I've come up with two possibilities, 1, we
alter the frequency and dissipation angle which perhaps might make a
difference or 2, we somehow become able to modulate the ship's shields so
that they allow for the incoming wave, any other ideas, comments,
suggestions....anything.." Tanya looked at the group before her.

" 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 its 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!"

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Research Wing - Conference Room - TSO Lt Steve Newton -
2378.08.18.1604)

" 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 its 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! "

Steve quickly jumped in he had forgotten how much he enjoyed working with
other scientist on the padd, "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."

He paused for a few moments before he continued, "We could use the ship
sensors to check for any flunctionation in the dissipation wave and the
shields making the shields more proactive."

He quickly noted down his ideas as he also realised that system could help
improve Federation shields efficiency especially against the Borg.

====================/\====================

(Stabase 190 - Shuttlebay - ACEO Ens JG Corey Moore - 2378.08.18.1656)

A shttlebay officer emerged from the shuttle.

"Ensign, the shuttle is ready for your departure."  The Ensign said to the
newly assigned Ensign Junior Grade Corey Moore.

"Thank you Ensign, are you ready as well?"  The Ensign relyed that he was
ready.  "Good, we shall leave as soon as we have clearance.

The two boarded the shuttle.  In 10 mins they had Clearance and left the
Space Station for the Utopia Planitaria.

2 hours lateer they arived at the Fleet Yards and Corey made his way to the
Admiral's Office.

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - ATAC/SC Ens JG Nauen - 2378.08.18.1730)

Not aware of the mayhem he had caused, Nauen continued his work, not
disturbed by the scientists walking in and out of Engeneering. Except the
one time one of them wanted to use his companel.

"May I?"  the man asked. Probably a rhetoric question, as he put his tools
next to it, waiting for Nauen to move over. He didn`t.

"This panel is not available." Nauen replied, not even looking up.
Disapointment and disbelief struggeled for control over the man`s face.

"But.."

"Take it up with Lt Marsland, Valhalla Security, if it is a problem. For
now, I am working here."

"Oh... very well.. if you HAVE to..."

~Humans!~

 At 1800 hours ensign Halmass reported back. A red face, dust and grease on
his uniform as silent messengers telling a story of  thorough work. Nauen
had expected no less.

"The ship has been secured, sir!" he said, handing Nauen a PADD. He looked
tired and would probably be very happy tot hear the word "dismissed"
somewhere in Nauen`s next sentence. Unfortunately, as Nauen was used to do a
job until it was finished, he expected the same from anyone who worked with
him. Nauen inspected the PADD, then nodded. He handed the PADD back.

"Good. Now check on the status of the shields, weapons and the outer hull.
Report back to me at 1900." You could alsmost see the shoulders of Halmass
drop an inch.

"Very well, sir." Halmass replied straightening his shoulders, and marched
out at high speed.

~Strange, I haven`t heard of Berewick yet.~ Nauen thought, as he finalized
his work on the computer. All of the potentionally malicious codes had been
removed. A final check confirmed the computer`s clean bill of health.
~Better check on him, this is important.~

=/\= Nauen to Berewic =/\=

~No replie. Strange.~

=/\= Nauen to Valhalla Engeneering=/\=

Still no answer. He linked his terminal to Valhalla.

"Computer, locate CEO Berewick"

<Ensign Berewick is not on the station> the computer replied.

"Has CEO Berewick left the station?"

<No information available>

~That was more than strange.! It was.... very unusual. Maybe there is
something wrong here. Better check...~

=/\= Nauen to Marsland =/\=

=/\= Marsland here =/\=

=/\= The Firebeande has been secured. Minor checkups are performed as we
speak, my final report will be on your desk tomorrow morning. But something
strange is happening: I have send some codes to CEO Berewick for further
analysis, but he has not responded yet. I cannot contact him, OR
Engeneering. According to the computer, Berewick is not even on the station.
Is everything ok at Valhalla Engeneering?=/\=

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1830)

Jopek was in main Operations when the call came in from the Firebrande,
Ensign Berewick had disappeared, after completing his Academy training, and
reporting to Utopia Planitia, the new CEO had vanished.

Along with the suspicious report from the Firebrande's Engine Room, Jopek
thought it was time to go and have a look for himself.

Passing control of Operations to the senior staff member, he headed for
Docking Bay 30.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1830)

Kazuko laid on her futon with a padd in her hand studying it until her eyes
began to close on their own accord.  She drifted off to sleep but still saw
the alterations she had made on that padd.  She allocated twelve teams to
get the Dockyard Foxtrot up and running again, and eight teams for the other
non-operational docking bays.  She wanted to get them up and running, even
if she wasn't ready to start construction on anything new. She had also
reassigned Operations Personnel to be sure that once the bays were working
they would have dock bosses. The red alert startled her out of sleep. "Oh
not again." She mumbled half asleep, "What's going on computer?"

<<Admiral Jopek has issued a red alert. All crew to battle stations.>>

Kazuko quickly got out of bed. She knew that this would not be one she could
just sleep though. She ran her hands down the front of her Kimono and
sighed. ~Don't have time to change.Oh well.~  Kazuko grabbed her padd and
sprinted out of her quarters, going towards her office at her fastest
possible sprint.  ~The doctor is going to have a fit.~

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1840)

Upon arrival, Jopek was once again surprised to find no-one in Engineering,
the teams assigned to examine the message found, presumed from the Borg must
have knock off for the day.

The Admiral took out a tricorder from a nearby storage bay and began an
interface with the main computer, to see what progress had been completed.

However, automatic scan beat him to it and the small screen identified
something disturbing and unusual.

Borg nanoprobes were in abundance in Engineering, they were everywhere. But
he wasn't picking up anything else Borg-related. Tapping his commbadge, the
Admiral stated in a clear but demanding voice.

"Jopek to Operations, Red Alert, take the entire facility to Red Alert. All
available Starships prepare for immediate departure, contact Starfleet
Command get a full security team to the Engine Room of the Firebrande NOW!"

Ready to issue more orders Jopek was cut off, the commline had gone dead.
Jopek was suddenly watching two Borg materialising into the Engine Room.

~ What? ~

Somehow, his tricorder had triggered a computer subroutine, but Jopek didn't
have time to analyse the readings. He headed out of Engineering, shouting
commands to the computer.

"Computer, transfer all Engineering controls to the Bridge, erect rotating
frequency force fields and seal Main Engineering."

<< Fields in place >>

The Borg approached the fields and walked through as if they weren't there
and continued towards the Admiral.

That was enough time; the Admiral caught a glimpse of a shimmering effect on
the drones as they passed through the field, almost if they were holographic
in nature.

~ They can't be holographic, they are affecting the real world. ~

Quickly tapping his tricorder, Jopek sent out a command to the computer to
shutdown the Engineering Computer Core. At that point, the lights and all
the computer displays went out just as a Security Team entered and took
position next to Jopek.

"Set your phasers to wide dispersal and set your phasers to maximum, fire.",
said the Admiral.

Phaser beams leapt out from each weapon at a 45-degree angle, hitting the
Borg, the bulkhead and all the computer stations, melting them almost
instantly. Everything in front of the Admiral if it was technological in
nature melted and exploded.

The Borg were unaffected by the phaser beams but once the barrage was
complete; they began to flicker and then they disappeared quickly, as
quickly as they have arrived.

"Stand down, they were an advanced form of holographic illusion. Somehow,
our computers were generating these fake drones thanks to somekind of
computer program. Perhaps the collective have altered their assimilation
techniques.", said the Admiral, tapping his commbadge, he continued.

"Admiral Jopek to Ensign River and Lt. Brannigan report to Main Engineering
on the Firebrande, we have a mystery for you to solve. Jopek to OPS, stand
down from Red Alert and maintain Yellow Alert until further notice.", he
said as main power was restored to the undamaged Engineering systems of the
Firebrande.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Holodeck One - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.18.1840)

 Ensign Taz had just finished re-configuring the computers at the school,
the teacher had informed him that a 7 year old pupil had managed to listen
in on a conversation that Admiral Jopek was having with one of the top brass
at Star Fleet, fortunately the teacher deactivated the console very quickly
and nothing was heard that could pose a security risk, but Taz had told the
teacher he would have to report this to Admiral Jopek anyway, so he was just
writing the report to forward to the Admiral.

Taz looked at his watch, he had just under an hour to write the report, take
a sonic shower, grab a meal and get down to the holodeck he had booked out
for that evening. He went over to the replicator and ordered Roast Beef and
Yorkshire Pudding, it materialized in front of him and he took the hot plate
over to the table and began eating it whilst reading over what he had
written so far in the report:

For the immediate attention of Admiral Jopek

I would like to inform you of a breach in security that occurred at 9:05
this morning, a 7 year old pupil at the school on the station somehow
accessed a conversation you were having with one of your superiors at Star
Fleet.  The teacher informs me she immediately deactivated the console and I
have confirmed the console was deactivated at 9:06. The teacher is a
civilian called Erica Jerg. Ms Jerg informed me that nothing was heard that
could have compromised security. However, I have spent the entire day
checking all the school computers and have corrected the problem.

Ensign Taz River

Taz thought, that should do and sent it to the Admiral.

=/\=Admiral Jopek to Ensign River and Lt. Brannigan report to Main
Engineering on the Firebrande, we have a mystery for you to solve. Jopek to
OPS, stand down from Red Alert and maintain Yellow Alert until further
notice.=/\= came the request over the comm. Taz jumped up, putting what was
left of his tea back into the replicator for recycling. ~Don't Vulcan's ever
sleep? ~

It sounded urgent and after a hard days work, Taz thought he'd be lazy and
tapped his comm badge and requested =/\=Ensign Taz River to Transporter
Room, requesting immediate site to site transport to the U.S.S Firebrande's
main engineering room"=/\=. He materialized himself and reappeared in Main
Engineering on the U.S.S Firebrande, he walked up to Admiral Jopek.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CSO's Quarters - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan -
2378.08.18.1840)

Drew was relaxing in his quarters after the brainstorming session on the
Martian surface. The best thing he liked about the Alpha-shift in Starfleet
was that he started at 0800 and finished at 1600 hrs. He was able to relax
and do what the Irish do best - socialise. He was just about to head out to
the Officers' Club when suddenly all hell broke loose. The Red Alert klaxons
began to sound.

~ What the hell? ~

Drew then put his civilian clothing away and put his uniform back on. Then
he headed to OPS to find out what was going on.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1840)

Kazuko ran into her office to find Maurana and Rikku already studying the
wall unit.  Maurana had what looked to be a work out suit on, while Rikku
had a tank top and her uniform pants on with a large earring on her right
ear. Kazuko smiled, ~They too were pulled away from their recreational
time.~  She came to a stop
next to them, "Report."

"Reports are sketchy at best, Chief. What we have is that Admiral Jopek was
attacked on the Firebrande, and now he wants all the ships moved out to
outer marker zone." Rikku answered.

"The docking bays are trying to accommodate, but some of the ships are not
able to move themselves." Maurana added, "And there aren't enough tugs to
move them. Out of the 17 ships, ten don't have working engines."

"Alright, how many of the class 1 ships have working tractor beams?" Kazuko
asked.

"Only the Wellington and the Paris, Chief." Rikku said.

"Alright, how many tugs have we got?" Kazuko asked.

"Four at best." Rikku answered.

"Do any of the ten have working tractor beams?" Kazuko asked, hoping for a
break here.

When the comm. cracked, Kazuko looked less than thrilled. =/\=All
Departments report current status!=/\=

"We're a little busy right now, Sir. Call back later." Kazuko answered
without giving much thought to whom it was she just said that to and
returned her gaze to Rikku. Rikku blinked for a moment before looking at her
information again.

"Yes.Looks like the Columbia, Steel Talons, Custos and the Lion do." Rikku
answered, "Though it looks like the Lion and Custos hasn't been tested yet."

"No time for tests then.The Wellington will tow the Columbia, and the
Columbia will tow the Tachikaze. The Paris will tow the Steel Talons and the
Shooting Star. Then our four tugs, two of them will end up towing two ships,
and the other two will get just one." Kazuko said.

"But chief, that's not recommended. Too much strain on the Wellington, Paris
and the tugs." Rikku protested.

"I know, Rikku, and I wish we had time to do it by the books, but he wants
those ships out of those docks immediately. That means sometimes throwing
the book on to the shelf and doing it."  Kazuko answered, "Maurana get our
crews on it immediately. Rikku, I want you to monitor the movements of the
ships. I want to know if anything else gets damaged by the move." Kazuko
moved to her desk and sat down while her two assistants moved to get her
orders carried out. She
gently touched her side and winced, ~The doctor is going to be very upset.~
She thought as her comm. beeped again.

=/\=Valhalla ops to Yard/Orbital Ops, arrange for tugs to take out the
vessels unable to move under their own power.=/\=

"Already done sir." She answered and then closed the comm., ~I have a
feeling that short answers may not be what they want up there, but that's
all I have time to give them.~ She thought as she laid her head on her desk.

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.18.1842)

Admiral Jopek briefed him on what had happened, Ensign Taz was pleased he
had been chosen for the promotion but at the same time felt a little scared
with what had happened to Berrewick, it brought home the dangers of working
in space. ~I cannot believe Admiral Jopek has just been nearly assimilated
by two Borg drones and he is cool, calm and well collected~

Anyway better get working now, looks like my work schedule has just been
wiped clean for the next day or two ~no sleep too~. Looking at it, Ensign
Taz River informed the Admiral "Looking at it logically, if the drones where
images then so any nano probes they would have injected into you would also
be holographic and as with all holographic images they only work in a
certain area; however the Borg have introduced us to new technologies before
and I would not like to say for sure that this theory is correct."

Any reply from Jopek can go here

"However, I will start working on going through the Firebrande's database
straight away; however in addition to the extra personnel you have granted
me, I also request that you increase the security on the Firebrande and I
recommend we disconnect the Firebrande from Valhalla's database incase the
holographic drones work there way into that."

Any reply from Jopek can go here

Ensign Taz tapped his conn badge and called three of his engineering teams
over to begin the investigation. Over a period of 15 minutes the three teams
reported in, some teleporting in as he had done, others walking in.

After briefing them on the situation he then began giving the team tasks to
do:

"Team 1, I'd like you to go back to the station and check every computer,
every database for anything that could remotely suggest that the same could
happen on Valhalla, if you do find anything, deactivate it immediately and
then report to me.

"Team 2, I want you to check where the Firebrande has been, which ships have
come into contact with the Firebrande-either directly or indirectly and if
they are manned inform the captain on board to have there systems checked,
if they don't have a crew on board, check them yourselves."

The leader of Team 2 asked Taz: "How long should we trace the history back?"

"All contact in at least the last 3 months if not longer, try and find the
source of where this could have come from, someone or something must have
installed the holographic drones into the Firebrande's computer, find out
who, how and when."

"Team 3, your with me and we are going to find out what this holographic
Borg drone is, report any unusual findings to me. I know the computers have
been melted by ~checking Jopek cannot hear him~ the Vulcan Master Blaster
over there, but we still have a lot of data to look at."

"Get to it"

The teams then dispersed and Ensign Taz River went over to Jopek and said
"Sir, I hope to have a report on your desk by tomorrow morning as to what
the cause was, err by the way what is the situation regarding the Assistant
Chief of Engineering, will you be appointing a new one or shall I appoint
someone."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Turbolift - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan - 2378.08.18.1842)

Before the turbolift reached OPS Drew received a comm message.

=/\= Admiral Jopek to Ensign River and Lt. Brannigan report to Main
Engineering on the Firebrande, we have a mystery for you to solve. =/\=

=/\= Aye sir. On my way! =/\= he responded.

A split second later Red Alert had been cancelled but Yellow Alert status
was still in effect.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - FO Cmdr Richard Ian Lee -
2378.08.18.1842)

Rich rubbed his eyes, and yawned. It had been a hard day so far, and it
didn't look to be getting any better. Work ships had been traversing back
and forth from the parked fleet outside Utopia's doors to the station,
moving them hadn't been an easy task... they were all here for repairs. And
now the CO had insisted on going back to the Firebrande. He picked up a PADD
of the fleets status and readiness reports. ~What a day~

And the voice that had caused all the disruption earlier once again broke
from the speakers. =^=Jopek to Operations, disconnect the Firebrande from
all outside computer access, I want a full computer check for any rogue
program elements... =^=

Rich nodded, and looked to Ops "Disconnect all access to the Firebrandes
computers, now." He tapped his badge. "Lee to CSO and CEO, get your best
computer experts into the main computer cores for a level 1 decon search.
Use engineering's records of current happenings on the Firebrande as a
template for what to eradicate and report, but report all anomalies
regardless, Operations out."

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - R&D - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.18.1842)

The vials sat on the table.  Doctor Maxwell Alexander Cambridge stood
against a desk as he watched them, intently.  They had been sitting there
for nearly ten minutes and nothing had changed.  He leaned in and squinted.
Still nothing.

~Great, so we do a test and we come with nothing...~

He removed them from the holder and placed them in the recycler.  He left
the room, coming back into the main lab.  The Research and Development arm
of the Otono Medical Centre was probably the one of the best in the area.
Earth had her share of prestigious places, but Otono was up there.  The
entire half mile of the third floor held the offices.  It was almost
something out of a science fiction movie of old.  There were 12 labs sealed
inside a round room.  And there were lab stations all over, technicians and
doctors' alike working ever presently on something of extreme importance.

"Maxwell!"

The voice of Jamie Turnsil caught him as he was walking towards the office
in the center.

"Jamie, what's the latest news?"

Turnsil smiled, her eyes sparkling for a moment, almost flirtatious, but
not.

"Well, we've got some ideas for oxygen masks for non-oxygen environments.
We're doing a bit of crossover with the a few engineers on their off time
with that and we've got some more potent medicine in the works.  That's
about it, but don't worry, we've just begun Chief!"

Maxwell smiled and gave her a warning waggle of his finger.

"Don't work yourself too hard Jamie, I still need you here for a while."

He turned and began to walk away, hearing her get the last word in.

"Oh you know me Chief; I just can't stay away from new toys!"

Laughing out loud, he stepped into the Turbolift.  It quickly slipped down
to level one, where Otono Central was slowing down, the nightshift having
arrived and making the shift.  Maxwell stepped out of the office and looked
around.  A few patients were sitting or laying on biobeds, but nothing
seemed to be pressing at the moment.  Suddenly, all hell broke loose and the
demons of madness opened their mouths.

=/\=Jopek to Operations, Red Alert, take the entire facility to Red Alert.
All available Starships prepare for immediate departure, contact Starfleet
Command get a full security team to the Engine Room of the Firebrande
NOW!=/\=

Kurtz didn't panic.  He'd learned not to.  If you did, things got really
ugly very fast.  His heart skipped a few beats, but he kept his composure.

"This is Chief Maxwell Cambridge, declaring a Red Alert.  All Medical
Officers to battle stations, all stations to injury readiness."

He quickly moved to his office as klaxons began to ring all over the
facility as officers scrambled to their stations.  Cambridge patched himself
into the systems trying to figure out what was going on.  He saw one word
and his heart dropped.

BORG.

He quickly slapped his commbadge, moving quickly back to sickbay.

"Otono Medical Centre, go to lockdown condition Red.  All medical staff
please lockdown departments and go to security readiness Red-B.  Chief to
Valhalla, go to lockdown conditions, security readiness Red-B.  Reports on
the 5.  All stations, standby."

The klaxons became very loud and red lights began to flash.  The doors all
over the building to lock, while large blocks began to close over them.

<<WARNING, LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES IN PROGRESS.  STAND CLEAR OF DOORS AND BE
ADVISED TO REPORT TO THE NEAREST LOCKDOWN AREA.  THIS A CODE RED-B ALERT,
PLEASE BE ADVISED LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES ARE IN PROGRESS>>

The main doors to Otono slammed shut, followed by fifteen foot thick
security block sliding quickly over them.  The windows were quickly sealed
by ten foot wide window security blocks.  The Otono docks were soon sealed
by fifteen foot security blocks on all sides.  The alarms continued until
each and every door, window and open area was sealed shut.

<<ATTENTION, OTONO MEDICAL FACILITY AND VERANO MEDICAL FACILITY ARE UNDER
LOCKDOWN, CODE RED-B EXTERNAL WEAPONS COMING ONLINE>>

There was silence in the room as emergency lights came up. Officers began to
move around, checking on patients, all while being very silent.  The red
lights continued to flash, lighting Cambridge's face.  It was steely,
intense, eyes moving slowly over the blocked doors and windows. He turned to
Rhea Lyoit, who was sitting on a bio bed near him, looking a bit more
nervous.

"What's a code red-b Chief?"  She said it quietly, almost whispered as the
CMO looked around the room, almost waiting for a sound.  He turned to her
and in a grave voice, explained.

"It an advanced Red Alert for the medical departments.  It means Borg,
ensign, is what it basically means."

He moved to a station and began to search for a sign it was over.

"It appears something Borg was found on the USS Firebrande.  Anytime you
mention the word Borg, its never good news."

There was a moment of pause and then he heard something he didn't intend to
hear.  Crying.  He turned and found Rhea with her hands in her face.  He
moved quickly to her and moved head up to his.

"What's wrong Rhea?"  His eyes searched her face, water having flowed from
her trembling eyes.

"My parents...I lost them to the Borg..."

She collapsed her face once more into her hands and began to cry intensely.
Cambridge embraced her and held her.  She whimpered for a bit longer and
then a light came over the comm.

"Jopek to OPS, stand down from Red Alert and maintain Yellow Alert until
further notice."

Taking a deep breath, Maxwell hugged Lyoit for a second longer, and then she
moved out from him, wiping her eyes.

"Thanks Doc...it's just that, well, its still hard sir."

Cambridge took her hands in his and looked into her eyes.

"Don't worry Rhea...that's why I'm your Chief.  Take a few off.  We'll
cover."

She nodded and moved off, getting hugs from her fellow officers.

~Damned if this crew doesn't kick some major butt~

The CMO took a deep breath.

"Otono Medical Centre, disengage Lockdown procedures, reset to yellow alert,
code Cambridge Delta Alpha.  Verano Medical Centre, disengage lockdown, go
to yellow alert."

The doors began to open once more and the klaxons slowly turned off as the
yellow alert signs began to light up the displays.  Cambridge took a deep
breath and tapped his commbadge as he moved back into sickbay.

"Chief Medical Officer Maxwell Cambridge reporting both Otono and Verano
conditions yellow, awaiting further orders.  Cambridge out."

He pulled his chair up to a patient laying on a table.  Her nervous eyes
looked to him.  She was only 9, and doctors were freakish things.

"Evening lady, what's your name?"

She looked him over, deciding he was one she could trust...maybe...

"Marcy..."

"Well, Marcy, your mom tells me..."

Cambridge began to work with her, and showing her what she was going to have
to do to keep healthy.  He always had a soft spot for kids.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - OPS Lt Martin Black -
2378.08.18.1843)

=/\=Jopek to Operations, Red Alert, take the entire facility to Red Alert.
All available Starships prepare for immediate departure, contact Starfleet
Command get a full security team to the Engine Room of the Firebrande
NOW!=/\=

The call came through and Martin didn't really acknowledge it for what it
was at first. It was so unusual for a Vulcan voice to be that forceful, that
he spent a second in shock before realising the words being delivered by
that force.

"Red Alert! Operations to Security," whilst filling out one order from the
admiral with his voice, his hands manipulated his console to co-ordinate his
next step, "arm a full security team and report to the Admiral in Main
Engineering aboard the Firebrande."

There was a momentary acknowledgement before Martin closed that channel and
opened the next. "Valhalla to dockyards Alpha, Charlie, Echo and Gamma; prep
all available ships for launch. Have them hold just inside firing range on
the Firebrande." A though occurred to him, and he changed channels a second
time, "Black to Ra'Kir; get down to docking bay 30 and prepare to blow the
airlock. I want to be able to cut the Firebrande lose as soon as I give the
signal."

"Mr Shannon, contact Starfleet Command and get someone ready to talk to the
Admiral about whatever's going on in there." Again Martin waited just long
enough to hear the beginnings of a confirmation before closing the channel,
and looking up at the viewscreen.

A group of six starships were holding a respectful distance from the
Firebrande. The universe seemed to hold it's breath. Everything hinged on
the next few seconds and the Admiral's next move.

=/\=Jopek to OPS, stand down from Red Alert and maintain Yellow Alert until
further notice.=/\=

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1843)

The Admiral was talking to the new Chief Engineer of Starbase Valhalla.

"Looking at it logically, if the drones were images then so any nanoprobes
they would have injected into you would also be holographic and as with all
holographic images they only work in a certain area; however the Borg have
introduced us to new technologies before and I would not like to say for
sure that this theory is correct."

"Logical reasoning, Ensign, however, we don't have all the facts, they could
have beamed nanoprobes or replicated them into the real world. we need to
find out all the answers."

Continuing, the Ensign said.

"However, I will start working on going through the Firebrande's database
straight away; however in addition to the extra personnel you have granted
me, I also request that you increase the security on the Firebrande and I
recommend we disconnect the Firebrande from Valhalla's database in case the
holographic drones work there way into that."

"Very well Ensign, I'll do that.", said the Admiral as the CEO went on with
his duties, impressing the Admiral with his logical manner in organising his
work teams. When he was down, he once again turned to the Admiral.

 "Sir, I hope to have a report on your desk by tomorrow morning as to what
the cause was, err by the way what is the situation regarding the Assistant
Chief of Engineering, will you be appointing a new one or shall I appoint
someone."

"Starfleet have sent a new ACEO to us and he arrived earlier on today, I
will make sure he is sent to you as soon as he has settled in. carry on, Mr.
River.", said the Admiral, heading out the door.

"Jopek to Operations, disconnect the Firebrande from all outside computer
access, I want a full computer check for any rogue program elements... Jopek
to Security, I want doubled security teams on the Firebrande...", he paused
for a moment, "In fact, I want doubled security teams on every ship until
further notice, Jopek out."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - TAC/SC's Office - TAC/SC Lt Dario Marsland -
2378.08.18.1843)

Dario was busy reviewing the various reports that had been sent to him by
his assistant, Ensign Nauen, when suddenly the red alert klaxon sounded.
Jumping full out of his chair, the Security Chief didn't have to wait long
before he was hailed by Operations.

=/\= Red Alert! Operations to Security. Arm a full security team and report
to the Admiral in Main Engineering aboard the Firebrande. =/\=

"Acknowledged!" called Marsland as he threw open a weapons locker and
grabbed a phaser rifle. "Marsland to Security teams Delta and Gamma! Proceed
to USS Firebrande Engineering department immediately! All other security
personnel remain at your stations."

With his orders in place the TAC/SC made his way to the Firebrande.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - FO Cmdr Richard Ian Lee -
2378.08.18.1845)

Rich rubbed his forehead. The logistics of this base were enormous! It would
take him weeks to get it all strait! He sighed and took a sip of replicated
coffee, keeping a loose eye on Operations while he read and the CO was out.
This was, after all, his command when the CO was not in immediate range. He
had just put his cup down when a communication came through to Ops.

=^=Jopek to Operations, Red Alert, take the entire facility to Red Alert.
All available Starships prepare for immediate departure, contact Starfleet
Command get a full security team to the Engine Room of the Firebrande
NOW!=^=

Rich dropped the PADD he was holding with battle-honed reflexes and jumped
out of his seat. "Base Wide Red Alert! Security to battle-stations!"

The officer at Operations, Black,  repeated his red alert order, and ordered
Security to the Firebrande, and prepped the fleet for departure. Rich
crossed his arms and let him do his work, he seemed to be good at what he
did. After a few moments, he half turned to the Ops console and said
"Scramble the Mars Defence Perimeter fighters, Confirm all Starfleet vessels
ready for departure."

(reply Ops)

Rich cracked his neck, and blinked.

"All Departments, Status report!"

(reply, ALL)

A few minutes passed, and Rich started getting restless. Being security at
heart, he hated this part of command. He was just about to call for a
security report from the Firebrande when Jopeks voice once again entered
Ops... =^= Jopek to OPS, stand down from Red Alert and maintain Yellow Alert
until further notice."

Rich was once again, all motion. "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." He considered for a moment
more, then said "Open secure channels to all Starfleet vessels."

He heard a beep, then said "Valhalla Command to all Starfleet vessels. The
station is on Yellow Alert for an internal matter. You are hereby ordered to
withdraw to the Outer marker until otherwise ordered. Maintain
Communication. All vessels unable to relocate will maintain full yellow
alert and maintain all navigational shields while tugs are scrambled to tow
you away, Valhalla out." He tapped his badge "Valhalla ops to Yard/Orbital
Ops, arrange for tugs to take out the vessels unable to move under thier own
power."

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - TAC/SC Lt Dario Marsland -
2378.08.18.1845)

Dario flew down the corridor towards Engineering and with a flick of his
head ordered the assembled security teams, being lead by Ensign Nauen, to
follow him in. Just as they entered the Engineering Computer Core was shut
down by the Admiral and power was cut immediately. The security personnel
took up their positions on either side of Jopek.

"Set your phasers to wide dispersal and set your phasers to maximum, fire!"
said the Admiral with Vulcan calmness.

Phaser beams leapt out from each weapon at a 45-degree angle, hitting the
Borg, the bulkhead and all the computer stations, melting them almost
instantly. Everything in front of the Admiral if it was technological in
nature melted and exploded.

The Borg were unaffected by the phaser beams but once the barrage was
complete; they began to flicker and then they disappeared quickly, as
quickly as they have arrived.

"Stand down, they were an advanced form of holographic illusion. Somehow,
our computers were generating these fake drones thanks to somekind of
computer program. Perhaps the collective have altered their assimilation
techniques," said the Admiral, tapping his commbadge, he continued.

"Admiral Jopek to Ensign River and Lt. Brannigan report to Main Engineering
on the Firebrande, we have a mystery for you to solve. Jopek to OPS, stand
down from Red Alert and maintain Yellow Alert until further notice," he said
as main power was restored to the undamaged Engineering systems of the
Firebrande.

The TAC/SC turned to his officers who were all patiently waiting for further
instructions, although some were visibly shaken by their run-in with the
Borg drones.

"Delta Team, secure Engineering immediately. Ensign Nauen take Gamma Team
and conduct a ship-wide sweep for any more drones, report your findings to
both the Admiral and myself."

"Aye sir," replied Nauen as his team exited Engineering.

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1900)

The teams had located the final moments of the CEO, it seems he was
assimilated and taken to the collective using somekind of subspace
transporter. A very long-range device and one that Starfleet had been unable
to perfect with any reliability.

Once the CSO and the ACEO had arrived, Jopek brought them up to speed and
asked them to investigate what had happened in more detail and to restore
the Engineering systems of the Firebrande.

Soon after, Jopek brought Ensign River to one side and said.

"Ensign, it looks like the CEO is lost to us, we will attempt to track the
transporter beam and see what we can find, but from now on, you are the
Chief Engineer of Valhalla, come and see me tomorrow."

(Reply Taz)

"Carry on Chief, give me a full report on the Firebrande tomorrow and make
sure you keep Operations informed and use what personnel you need, we need
this ship operational before the warp experiments we are conducting over the
week, carry on!", he said, leaving the Engineering and Scientific teams to
their work.

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan -
2378.08.18.1900)

Once the CSO and the ACEO had arrived, Jopek brought them up to speed and
asked them to investigate what had happened in more detail and to restore
the Engineering systems of the Firebrande.

" Ok, lets get to work! "

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Command Wing - YEO's Office - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1915)

Kazuko sat there at her desk, entering data from her padd to the computer,
making her choices for Deck Managers official. As she is putting in this
information, her assistant, Maurana Auron comes into the room.

"Kaz, we have a problem with the Columbia." Maurana Auron said.

"What kind of problem?" Kazuko asked while turning her computer off for a
moment.

"Well.we didn't' notice it until we released the docking clamps, but..."

"Well out with it." Kazuko said, her cold calm fading.

"It seems that someone over tightened the docking clamps on it. I'm trying
to get a damage report on it, but it looks bad."  Maurana started, "We know
there's significant structural damage to it. The Captain of the Wellington
wants to know what to do."

Kazuko sighs and holds her head for a moment, "Tell the Captain of the
Wellington to forget the Columbia and go get the Tachikaze. Meanwhile. I'm
going to Dockyard Echo to see it for myself."  Kazuko stood and walked to
her lone transporter padd. "Computer initiate transport to Dockyard Echo
Operations."

<<Transport in progress>>

====================/\====================

(Dockyard Echo - Operations - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko - 2378.08.18.1920)

Kazuko stepped off the transporter padd on deck 6 and ran to the turbolift.
"Deck 4." Kazuko said as the door closed. She emerged in the operations and
went up to the senior officer on duty.

"Report." She ordered.

"It's not good chief." The officer said with a withered expression, "We just
got the damage report back."

"And.?" She prompted. The officer merely shook his head and handed her the
padd.  She quickly read it and took a deep breath trying to keep from
exploding.
After a few moments, "Can you release the ship?"

He thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, I think so. It'll take a little
time, but it can be done."

Kazuko nodded, "Very well, get on it.  I'll have one of the tugs make a
second trip to get it out beyond safe distance after all the other ships are
taken care of."

"Yes sir."  He said as they started working again. Kazuko took another deep
breath and then turned on her heal and went back to the turbolift. As the
doors closed, she could be heard screaming Japanese words.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - ACEO Ens JG Corey Moore -
2378.08.18.1925)

Corey went to the CO's Office and heard the door chime.

<Admiral>

Corey marched in, and stopped 3 feet in fron of the Admiral's Desk.  "Ensing
Junior Grade Corey Moore reporting for duty, Sir"

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1930)

The Vulcan walked into main Operations, they were still at Yellow Alert and
Jopek had no intention of lowering their current alert status until they
have confirmation of the Borg's threat to the base and to Utopia Planitia.

"Admiral, Admiral Olovea is calling for you, from headquarters.", someone
said as he walked across the command centre.

"Very well, put her through to my office.", he said.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - FO Cmdr Richard Ian Lee -
2378.08.18.1930)

Rich blinked as he saw Fleet Admiral Jopek enter Operations, apparently
untouched. He bellowed out over the noise, "Admiral, Admiral Olovea is
calling for you, from headquarters."

"Very well, put her through to my office.",

"Aye, Sir." he replied.

Report of a casualty had come in, something about the Borg. The thought made
Rich's blood run cold, and his first thought had been to destroy the
Firebrande, it was something he intended to take up with the Admiral.

He waited a couple minutes, then walked over to the Admirals office, and
pressed the enunciator.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.18.1930)

After a quick transport from Echo to Valhalla, Kazuko made short work of
getting to Ops. She had a report to give and she was giving this one in
person.

She walked in and up to Commander Richard Lee. "Sir, if I could have a
moment of your time." Kazuko said.

(Reply Trout)

After going into the observation lounge, Kazuko started pacing the floor,
her anger was apparent no matter how she tried to hide it. "Sir, I have good
news, and bad news.Which would you like first?"

(Reply Trout)

"We can't get the Columbia out right away. Someone.I don't know who yet, but
someone over tightened the docking clamps on her and did considerable
damage."

(Reply Trout)

"Structural integrity is down fifty percent; the ablative armor has badly
damaged and needs to be replaced. But worst of all, is that the tractor beam
has been completely destroyed, so we can't use it to tow another ship since
we don't have enough tugs to move them all."

(Reply Trout)

"At best, sir, it'll take 12 hours to repair the damage enough just to move
it out."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Replimat - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.18.1930)

Taz decided to send a response immediately to the invitation he had received
from Dario.

"Dario, before I agree to join you on the away mission I would like to ask
how long you expect it to take, you see I am in the middle of investigating
the incident on the U.S.S Firebrande, and the most of the engineering
personnel are tied up with this, I may be able to leave the Assistant CEO in
charge until I get back, if it isn't expected to be a long mission."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CSO's Quarters - CSO Lt Drew Brannigan -
2378.08.18.1930)

Drew had returned to his quarters after assigning personnel to help in the
repair efforts on the USS Firebrande's computers and also to Commander Lee's
request for assistance in the 'level 1 decon search' of the main computer
cores. When he got there he found a message waiting for him on his console.
He accessed it and found that it was from the TAC/SC - Lt Dario Marsland.

"As you are by now aware, Admiral Jopek has selected myself to lead an away
mission to investigate the nearby base of operations for the group believed
responsible for the attack on Utopia Planitia just over three months ago. I
would greatly appreciate your accompanying me on this crucial mission as I
am in need of experts in the fields of science and engineering, and of
course a skilled pilot to guide us through this hostile territory. The USS
Columbia is due to depart at 0600 tomorrow morning once our cloak-capable
runabout has been attached. Please feel free to contact me at any time
regarding this mission. "

He immediately sent an acknowledgement.

=/\= Brannigan to Marsland. Message received. Is there anything we need to
know about for this mission? =/\=

He felt that with the current security alert it might be morning before he
got a reply to his message. He thought about going out for a while to the
Officers Club but then he thought better of it. Instead he decided that it
would be best to get some sleep since it was an early start!

With that he got out of his uniform and dressed for bed. Knowing it would
take him a while to actually fall asleep Drew opened the book he was
currently reading and set out to read at least a chapter before sleep.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - Main Operations - FO Cmdr Richard Ian Lee -
2378.08.18.1931)

"Sir, if I could have a moment of your time."

Rich turned his head, and looked down. Standing before him was a little
oriental woman wearing Engineering yellow. He grinned for a moment, then let
it fade as he saw the look on her face. He narrowed his eyes for a moment,
trying to bring the roster to mind.

~Oh yeah, the YEO~

He nodded, and said "Certainly." He gestured to the Observation lounge, and
followed her in.

Once the doors closed, Rich eased himself into a chair, while the lady
Kazuko began pacing the floor. Something had either made her angry or
stressed, and Rich wasn't sure he liked that coming from the Orbital ops
officer. After a few moments, she calmed down and turned to him. "Sir, I
have good news, and bad news.Which would you like first?"

~Defiantly not going to like this.~

"As always, the bad."

"We can't get the Columbia out right away. Someone.I don't know who yet, but
someone over tightened the docking clamps on her and did considerable
damage."

Rich's eyes widened momentarily, then narrowed down again. "Damage?"

"Structural integrity is down fifty percent; the ablative armor has badly
damaged and needs to be replaced. But worst of all, is that the tractor beam
has been completely destroyed, so we can't use it to tow another ship since
we don't have enough tugs to move them all."

"Rich narrowed his eyes even more, and tapped his badge. "Lee to security,
we might have a saboteur or terrorist aboard. Confer with Orbital Operations
and send a team to the Columbia and begin an investigation while the ship is
repaired. I want a report ASAP."

(reply Security)

"Very Well, Lee out." He cut the line and looked at the YEO. "Time to
repair, best guess?"

"At best, sir, it'll take 12 hours to repair the damage enough just to move
it out."

"And we are taking her to combat..." he muttered. He sat back, and rubbed
his temples. "This is over my head." He tapped his badge again, "Lee to
Jopek, we might have a saboteur aboard. The Columbia has been damaged."

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.1935)

Walking to his desk, his activated the communication panel on his computer
terminal.

=^= Admiral Jopek, what is the situation? I am ready to divert all ships in
the local area to protect Sector 001 from a Borg invasion. what can you tell
us? =^=

"Admiral, I will let Ensign Shannon handle the full details but for now, it
looks like this is somekind of new Borg assimilation technology, my initial
readings show an advanced form of holographic transmission technology. The
flaw seems to be the need to use local computer hardware to make it work,
the engine room of the Firebrande was quite damage, but it seems my theory
was correct.", he said, commenting on the sparse information he had been
able to put together.

"My teams are working on it, Admiral. we will have more answers for soon."

=^= Very well, I'll keep the fleet at Yellow Alert for now and bring in some
of the fleet to a more defensive position. I don't suppose you know if the
Borg could send more than two drones, say, a few million at once? =^=

"No Admiral, I couldn't say. but I agree with keeping the fleet on alert
until further notice."

=^= Very well, Olovea out =^=

"Jopek to Ensign Shannon, Ensign, sorry to add to your workload but
Starfleet command needs a full detailed report on what just happened on the
USS Firebrande, please make your way over there, talk to Ensign River and
Lt. Brannigan, any problems, let me know.", said the Admiral.

(Reply SCL)

"Jopek out.", he said closing the channel but leaving the computer switched
on, he made another enquiry.

"Computer, scan Starfleet records and find Captain Remae Ktell."

<< Searching >>

The Firebrande needed a Captain for the warp tests and for the protection of
the interests of Utopia Planitia. If anyone could do the job, it was the
Bajoran, Remae.

====================/\====================

(Starbase Valhalla - CO's Office - CO FltAdm Jopek - 2378.08.18.2000)

=^= I'm still waiting my new ship, as you know, my last ship met with, erm,
and a slight accident. =^=

Jopek looked at the familiar Bajoran face on his computer terminal.

"Oh no, not again Remae."

=^= What do you mean, again? This is only the second time! =^=

"You crashed the ship into a planet, why? What happened? No, forget I asked.
Just get yourself back to Sector 001, I have new orders for you.", he said
as the Vulcan transmitted the orders to assume command of the USS Firebrande
for warp testing at the Neptune Proving Grounds.

=^= Got it Vulcey, I am leaving now. Dr. Dervin? She's in charge of the warp
development at Utopia Planitia. she must be good. =^=

Jopek let the informal nickname pass, he was getting used to hearing it from
the Bajoran.

"Dr. Dervin is also a civilian but she's in the charge of the new warp
technology research, and Starfleet is watching this one. She is calling it
the 'Warp Subspace Carrier Waves Project', warp speed without warp drive,
this could mean a new class of starships, no warp engines, no need for warp
cores or anti-matter, even the smallest shuttle pod could be sent to other
systems or even other parts of the Quadrant at warp."

"Anyway, report here as soon as you can, the Firebrande is waiting for you."

=^=Very well, I'll be there tomorrow.=^=

"I'll see you them and don't call me Vulcey. Valhalla out.", he said cutting
the channel before the Bajoran could reply.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - TEO's Quarters - TEO Ens Anne Therriault -
2378.08.18.2000)

Anne walked into her quarters, walked immediately into the bedroom  and
collapsed onto the bed, totally exhausted from the day.  She glanced at the
clock that sat next to the bed and groaned.

~I haven't slept in almost 40 hours.~

Not getting undressed or even getting under the covers, she pulled a pillow
down to where her head was and burrowed her face in it.

~It feels so good to lay down....~

Instantly, her mind began to drift and she could feel sleep overtake her.

Suddenly, her computer beeped.  Anne didn't move, didn't respond.  She hoped
that it would go away.  The computer beeped again, this time a little more
presistant.

She spoke into the pillow, "What?"

<<Incoming communications from Paris, Earth>>

She looked up, her mind suddenly awake.  Her computer desk unit was coming
to life, slowly opening, the screen blinking.

~That's probably Mama,~ she thought, rising, ~I should of written her back
earlier.~

"Ok, Computer, open the channel."

She sat down in front of the computer as her mother's face flashed onto the
screen.

"ANNE DEAR!"

Anne smiled, "Hi, Mama."

A concerned look crossed her mother's face, "My god, you look beat.  What
are they doing to you up there?"

She rubbed her face, "Oh, it's been a long day, Mama, a VERY long day.  I
just need some sleep and I'll be just fine."

"Where are you, anyway, Anne dear.  I've been transfered from one side of
the universe to another while they looked for you."

"I've been assigned to my post, Mama.  I'm the new TEO at Utopia Planita."

"TEO?  What's that?  Don't tell me that they have you outside the base,
doing work.  My god, Anne, dear, please be careful-"

"Mama...." she tried to interrupt her mother but it was almost useless.

"-I worry about you so, Anne.  I really want you to be safe.  You know the
old safety motto, 'Don't be haste, think good safety'.  Double...no, triple
check your
suit-"

She tried again, "Mama....Mama, please...."

The older Therriault didn't even skip a beat as she continued her speech,
"-and always, always, ALWAYS stay tethered to the station.  My god, Anne,
you could
go drifting off into space without anyone to save you.  Oh my...and that's
where the terrorist attacks were 3 months ago.  Make sure to report anyone
suspicious
and....."

Anne slumped in her seat and buried her face in her hands.  Her mother, the
worrywart.

Finally, her mother realized that Anne had stopped paying attention.

"Anne, Dear, are you listening?"

She looked up, "Yes, Mama, I am.  Now, please...listen to me for a moment."

She waited to make sure that her mother would be listening.

"Mama, please don't worry about me.  I'm not actually on the space station.
I'm on the Mar's surface, in the research facility."

"The research facility?" her mother's face filled with confusion, "You left
home to join Starfleet and went through another 4 years of schooling at the
academy to
do research?  Anne, Dear, you could of stayed here and done research in your
father's lab."

"It's not the same."

"I think it is."

"Mama, Papa is a scientist.  He's a biologist.  He's researching
science-like stuff.  I'm researching engineering stuff."

Her mother nodded that she understood but Anne could tell that she didn't.

"What is this TEO thing then?"

"That's my title.  I'm a Theoretical  Engineering Officer.  I'm the head of
the Theoretical Engineering Department here."

Her mother's face filled with more confusion, "An ensign heading a
department?"

The young woman sighed, ~Why does everyone ask me that!~

"Yes, Mama."

"Well, I know that you will do just fine, Anne, Dear. I'm just glad to know
that you're OK.  I was getting worried when I didn't hear from you for the
last 4
days."

"Yes, I'm fine."

Her mother looked away from the computer console and then back, her face
filled with worry, "You're father just came home.  I better go.  Bye, Anne
Dear.  Make
sure to write."

"I will.  I promise.  Bye, Mama."

The screen went blank and she immediately dived for the bed, ready to try to
go back to sleep again.

====================/\====================

(Romulus - Fleet Command HQ - Sub-Cmdr Serek - 2378.08.18.2000)

It was the end of another long that a Fleet Headquarters of the Romulan Star
Empire. Sub-Commander Serek looked at the current batch of status reports
from their operatives within the Federation. The best news was that coming
from the operative inside Starfleet. The damage and destruction that had
been caused to their Utopia Planitia fleet construction yards by the
Dominion assault was worse than they were letting on publicly. He read aloud
the report again just to amuse himself.

" Three months ago, on stardate: 2378.05.12, a rebel or splinter group of
the Dominion managed to attack and destroy the controlling starbase and
several of the orbital docks of Mars, rendering the Utopia Planitia
shipyards useless. "

That was indeed good news for the Empire. Unfortunately, that was not the
entirety of the message. The rest of the message informed the Sub-Commander
that the new Jupiter-class station's construction had been completed. And
worse yet, the station was under the command of a Vulcan, one Admiral Jopek.
A moment later Serek's console beeped again. Another message had just
arrived from their Starfleet operative.

~ So, 15 starships have recently departed from Earth orbit to the newly
finished yards at Utopia Planitia. We must know more! ~

With that decision made he then sent a message to the operative to attempt
to infiltrate the Utopia Planitia station, this Starbase Valhalla, and
report back on the status of the fleet construction, technology and anything
else that might be of importance to the Empire! Serek was pleased with
himself. It was he who had recruited this particular operative and *only* he
had access to his data or communications. He then passed them on to his
superiors as he deemed necessary. Some things he held in reserve to increase
his chances of promotion. He took a long pull on the glass of Romulan Ale
that he had poured for himself.

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0559)

Maxwell Alexander Cambridge stood at the reception desk, checking each
report and filing them where they were supposed to go.  Rhea Lyoit had taken
the night off and he had meant to get a hold of her later today, just to see
if she was ok.  He knew the pain of the Borg can bring, having seen much of
it in his career.

"Hey Mac, I got one more for you.  Marcy, the nine year old was admitted to
Otono Care last night.  She was having pains in her stomach and I guess
after you talked to her it came back.  They rushed her into surgery and
managed to figure out what was going on.  Her mom wanted to you know, cause
you had helped to calm her down."

Cambridge nodded quietly, his mind on several things at once.  Marcy was not
his chief worry, but she was a concern.  His other worry was the officers
who had not come to see him for the physical and whatnot.  He sighed,
rubbing his palms against his face. He was tired and it was only the fourth
day.  He had slept, but not enough.

"Okada to Otono Medical Center."

Cambridge raised an eyebrow.  It was only a day later and already he was
getting a call from her.

"Otono Medical Centre here, Chief Cambridge."

(Reply Okada)

Catching the tone in her voice, Maxwell began to move quickly towards the
circular office in the middle of the centre.

"What did you do ensign?"

(Reply Okada)

The turbolift went quickly as Cambridge listened to the woman.  He reached
the docks and quickly jumped into the USS Seahawk, his personal medical
shuttle, fitted with lights and sirens to boot.  He closed the rear door and
started the ambulance up.

"Ok, then you need to sit down for a moment and not move, it might make
things worse.  I'm there in five minutes maximum.  Cambridge out."

The shuttle screamed into the sky, flying straight the research center,
pushing the shuttle to the limits, already hearing the dampers begin to
squeek a bit off and on.  He clicked on the lights and sirens, letting
shuttles and people in the area to move and move quickly.  The shuttle
glided to a halt in front of the Centre, for the second time in a matter of
days.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.19.0600)

Kazuko woke with a red hot pain in her side. ~Running to my office last
night was a bad idea.~  She rolled off her futon and slowly stood up. Her
side didn't like her any better standing than it did her lying down. ~I'm
going to have to go back to see the doctor.He's going to have my head on a
platter.~ She thought while walking into her bathing room. Kazuko stepped
into the sonic shower and leaned
against the tile, ~ A Japanese style bath would be better for my side.but we
don't have those here. Oh.what a wonderful start to my birthday.~ She
thought while getting out of the shower, and getting dressed for work.

She walked over to her replicator and made breakfast. Taking the plate back
to her table she begins to kneel when her door chime rings. ~Who would be at
my door right now?~ She walked over to the door and opened it to find a
cargo mover standing there with a box in his arms.

"Ensign Kazuko?" He asked. She sighed slightly and nodded.

"Close enough, what have you got for me?" Kazuko asked.

"Well, this one said deliver directly into your arms so." The cargo mover
said while pushing the box into her arms, "If you could sign here."

The weight of the box caused her side to hurt even more; it looked like she
was folding in on herself. Through gritted teeth she said, "Take this
box.and put it there."

"Well my orders state to put it." The cargo mover started.

"I SAID TO TAKE THE DAMN THING AND PUT IT ON THE FLOOR!" She screamed as
tears rolled down her face from the pain.

The cargo mover did a double take and quickly grabbed the box back, placing
it on the floor by her feet. "I still need your signature." The cargo mover
said.

She took the padd and with a shaky hand drew the characters that made her
name. "Is.this all you. have for me?" She asked while sitting down on the
step by her door.

"Um. no, we have eight other boxes, but they had no standing order attached
to them." The cargo mover said.

"Let me see the manifest." She held out her shaky hand again for it, he
handed it to her a moment later and she studied it for a couple minutes, "I
want boxes 1, 3, 4, and 8 to be brought to my quarters, and 2, 5, 6, and 7
taken to my office. And be careful with them.they are fragile!" She said
while handing the manifest back to him.

"Yes sir." The cargo mover said while taking this moment to leave.

Kazuko sighs from her seat but can't seem to get the energy to get up again,
so she hits her comm., "Okada to Otono Medical Center."

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.19.0601)

=/\=Otono Medical Centre here, Chief Cambridge.=/\=

"Well, you told me to call you in the morning, Doctor. So.I'm calling."
Kazuko answered while holding her side in pain.

=/\=What did you do ensign?=/\=

"I think I broke a rib or two, it hurts...and I can't get up to come to
you." Kazuko answered as the boxes arrived.

=/\=Ok, then you need to sit down for a moment and not move, it might make
things worse.  I'm there in five minutes maximum.  Cambridge out.=/\=

Kazuko watched as the boxes were delivered to her room and she sat quietly
waiting for the doctor to arrive. ~Well at the very least, I won't have to
smell that hospital smell again.~ She rested her head in her hands and
waited for the doctor.  Her door chimed, "Come in." She called and the door
opened to admit the tall doctor.

"Now, you took one of these boxes in your hands?"

"One was forced into my arms this morning...I made him take it back but it
was too late." Kazuko said with her eyes cast down.

Cambridge shook his head. She had aggravated her condition and managed also
to pull several muscles in her stomach and lower chest.

"What are you feeling right now?  Where is the pain?"

"My side, mostly. I haven't moved from this spot since it happened." She
answered and sighed deeply, ~Perfect start to a perfect day.~ She thought.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.19.0605)

"What are you feeling right now?  Where is the pain?"

"My side, mostly. I haven't moved from this spot since it happened."

Cambridge took a deep breath and looked around her room.  The boxes were
scattered around, causing more havoc than really was needed.  He quickly
pulled open his med kit, slipping the medical tricorder into his right hand.
He slipped out the small device and scanned near her lower stomach.  What he
saw wasn't good.  What he didn't see was a bit better. He checked a few more
things.  Her stress levels were increasing and that posed a problem,
especially for an officer under her conditions and the responsibility she
faced day to day.  He looked to her eyes, the most telling place of a
person.  They were glancing about the room.

Taking a deep breath, Maxwell sighed.  He had a lot of work to do and little
time to do it in.

"All right Ensign Kazuko, I need to do some work on you, but before I do
that, I need to move you to that couch over there.  Now, you don't need to
do a thing, I'll just pick you up and move you.  Just hold on, ok?"

"Ensign Okada, Doctor Cambridge. Okada is my family name, Kazuko my given
name...but don't feel bad, people get it wrong all the time because the
Japanese always put their family name first..." She answered half-heartedly.

<reply Mac>

He reached his large arms and lifted her slowly, doing his best not to shift
her in her current state.  He slowly moved her to the couch and hovered her
down to where she was sitting once more.  Cambridge pulled his med kit over
to where she was sitting and pulled up a chair.  He began to pull out
several tools.

"Ever done this kind of damage to yourself in two days?"

"Oh yeah...every time I have a major change in my life things like this
happen. But I think this might be the first time I've seen a doctor twice in
two days in my life." She smiled, half heartedly.

The CMO nodded as he moved the scanner over her wound, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, this run around you managed to break two of your ribs and impact
a third..."

He looked up from his PADD as she dropped her eyes. Something was seriously
up with this young officer.  He took a deep breath and closed up his
tricorder, looking directly into her eyes, giving her the most compassion he
could when he spoke next.

"Kazuko...what's wrong?"

"What's right would be an easier question. I have the largest department in
all Utopia.did you know that? I spend all my time getting it to run
smoothly, even when I'm asleep...I see images of what needs to be done the
next day. I haven't had a moments peace since I arrived...My plants have
arrived, but I'm in no condition to move them around and get them growing
again. And.to top it all.I'm 26 years old.today." The last word was mumbled
out, Kazuko didn't need pity but
she just couldn't find her resolve anymore. "So how long will this keep me
down?

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge -
2378.08.19.0605)

"What are you feeling right now?  Where is the pain?"

"My side, mostly. I haven't moved from this spot since it happened."

Cambridge took a deep breath and looked around her room.  The boxes were
scattered around, causing more havoc than really was needed.  He quickly
pulled open his med kit, slipping the medical tricorder into his right hand.
He slipped out the small device and scanned near her lower stomach.  What he
saw wasn't good.  What he didn't see was a bit better. He checked a few more
things.  Her stress levels were increasing and that posed a problem,
especially for an officer under her conditions and the responsibility she
faced day to day.  He looked to her eyes, the most telling place of a
person.  They were glancing about the room.
Taking a deep breath, Maxwell sighed.  He had a lot of work to do and little
time to do it in.

"All right Ensign Kazuko, I need to do some work on you, but before I do
that, I need to move you to that couch over there.  Now, you don't need to
do a thing, I'll just pick you up and move you.  Just hold on, ok?"

He reached his large arms and lifted her slowly, doing his best not to shift
her in her current state.  He slowly moved her to the couch and hovered her
down to where she was sitting once more.  Cambridge pulled his med kit over
to where she was sitting and pulled up a chair.  He began to pull out
several tools.

"Ever done this kind of damage to yourself in two days?"

(Reply Okada)

The CMO nodded as he moved the scanner over her wound, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, this run around you managed to break two of your ribs and impact a
third..."

He looked up from his PADD as she dropped her eyes.  Something was seriously
up with this young officer.  He took a deep breath and closed up his
tricorder, looking directly into her eyes, giving her the most compassion he
could when he spoke next.

"Kazuko...what's wrong?"

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Office - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge -
2378.08.19.0608)

He found her room down a hallway and up turblifts and filled with boxes.
She herself was sitting on once, looking pitiful and in pain.  She looked
up, almost as if fearing her life.  He gave her a truthfully concerned look.

"Now, you took one of these boxes in your hands?"

(Reply Okada)

Cambridge shook his head. She had aggravated her condition and managed also
to pull several muscles in her stomach and lower chest.

"What are you feeling right now?  Where is the pain?"

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - YEO Ens Okada Kazuko -
2378.08.19.0608)

"That will help your pain.  Now I need you to lie back, and do it slowly..."

Kazuko slowly laid down on her futon and got ready to pull her shirt up.
~He's going to ask me to do it.sooner or later.~ She thought while looking
up at a giant hole in her ceiling, ~How did that get there? I'll have to get
that repaired.~ She then realized that her side wasn't throbbing as badly as
before, "Wow, that's some good stuff you have there."

Maxwell nodded.

"The hypospray I gave you will help dull the pain, but not take it out
completely.  I'm going to have to have you move your shirt up again."

~I knew it!~ She thought as she pulled on her shirt, getting it up far
enough for him to see her midsection and part of her purple lace bra. ~He's
a doctor, Kazuko.they've seen such things before...~ She thought keeping her
face from blushing red.

The CMO moved quickly and efficiently, slipping the hypospray back into the
bag and pulling out a small round unit.  He activated it and began to run it
over her lower stomach.

"You did break two of your ribs, but this will set them and get them
healing.  The third one you only injured slightly. That will heal within a
day."

Slowly, he ran the pulsing unit, watching the readings closely. The two ribs
were setting, albeit a bit slowly.

"You will need to slow down for about two days at least.  No heavy lifting,
no moving around quickly or heavily, no sudden moves, just slow and
deliberate."

"Hai." Kazuko said with a little nod of her head.

An ensign appeared at the door, carrying a PADD with him.  He looked in, saw
the doctor and almost ran, if Cambridge hadn't yelled with his loud and
booming voice.

"OFFICER!"

The young man stopped in mid step and turned ever so  slowly.

"Come in here please..."

He turned to his patient and winked.  The young man approached, looking once
to Kazuko, and wincing, knowing full well who had done that to her.

"Ensign Okada is somewhat disabled right now, are you doing anything?"

The officer shook his head slowly, wondering what the tall and very strong
looking Doctor wanted with him.  Maxwell smiled.

"Good.  If you could please begin by unpacking all these plants and
arranging them around the room in the corners..."

He looked to Okada for a nod, which he got.

"...and the ones in her office, if you could do that as well..."

The ensign looked ready to protest, but took a deep breath and nodded
quietly.  He moved to the first box and began to do his work.  Cambridge
turned his attention back to Kazuko.  He had finished running the healing
unit over her stomach, leaving her bare midsection exposed.  He pulled out
his dermal regenerator out and ran it over the skin, turning it from the
bruised brown and blue to the normal skin color.

"Ok Ms. Okada, that's all there is to it.  Those ribs are going to need a
lot of rest and not much work.  So, if anyone and I repeat anyone asks you
to do something and you do so according to my orders to move without further
injuring yourself and they try to go against that, give them my name and my
position and tell them to contact me.  If anyone and I mean anyone gives you
trouble, give me a call.  I will not have officers on board this station
endangering their life for a job that can wait a few days.  Is this
understood?"

"Hai, I mean, Yes, sir. Crystal clear." Kazuko said while pulling her shirt
back down slowly.

"You take as much rest as you need.  You can do your job, just take it
slow."

Standing up, he began to pack his items.  He looked around and then to
the officer on the couch.

"You're doing a damned good job officer, I've only heard good things about
your command.  Just keep telling yourself your doing your best and nothing
can go wrong...and for the love of Mongolia, don't injure yourself in the
next 48 hours.  You're cute, but not cute enough."

~I'm going to have to make something special for him. Once my flowers are
growing again...~ She thought while watching him leave.

Cambridge moved out the door and looked back the ensign now putting the
plants up.

"When you're finished with that, if she needs anything you do it.
Understood?"

The young man nodded, knowing he was getting off easily.  Cambridge was
big and muscle.  The CMO moved out into the hallway and headed for his
shuttle.

====================/\====================

(Mars Base, Habitat Wing - YEO's Quarters - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge -
2378.08.19.0608)

"What's right would be an easier question. I have the largest department in
all Utopia Planitia - did you know that? I spend all my time getting it to
run smoothly, even when I'm asleep...I see images of what needs to be done
the next day. I haven't had a moments peace since I arrived...My plants have
arrived, but I'm in no condition to move them around and get them growing
again. And... to top it all... I'm 26 years old... today.  So how long will
this keep me down?"

Cambridge nodded.  He knew how she felt.  He had those days, but he was used
to them.  He was 38, having been through the wringer more times than he
could count.  He quickly pulled a hypospray out and inputted what he needed.
He quickly put it against her neck and engaged it.

"That will help your pain.  Now I need you to lie back, and do it slowly..."

The ensign slowly lay down on the couch.

(Reply Okada)

Maxwell nodded.

"The hypospray I gave you will help dull the pain, but not take it out
completely.  I'm going to have to have you move your shirt up again..."

The CMO moved quickly and efficiently, slipping the hypospray back into the
bag and pulling out a small round unit.  He activated it and began to run it
over her lower stomach.

"You did break two of your ribs, but this will set them and get them
healing.  The third one you only injured slightly.  That will heal within a
day."

Slowly, he ran the pulsing unit, watching the readings closely.  The two
ribs were setting, albeit a bit slowly.

"You will need to slow down for about two days at least.  No heavy lifting,
no moving around quickly or heavily, no sudden moves, just slow and
deliberate."

An ensign appeared at the door, carrying a PADD with him.  He looked in, saw
the doctor and almost ran, if Cambridge hadn't yelled with his loud and
booming voice.

"OFFICER!"

The young man stopped in mid step and turned ever so slowly.

"Come in here please..."

He turned to his patient and winked.  The young man approached, looking once
to Kazuko, and wincing, knowing full well who had done that to her.

"Ensign Okada is somewhat disabled right now, are you doing anything?"

The officer shook his head slowly, wondering what the tall and very strong
looking Doctor wanted with him.  Maxwell smiled.

"Good.  If you could please begin by unpacking all these plants and
arranging them around the room in the corners..."

He looked to Okada for a nod, which he got.

"...and the ones in her office, if you could do that as well..."

The ensign looked ready to protest, but took a deep breath and nodded
quietly.  He moved to the first box and began to do his work.  Cambridge
turned his attention back to Kazuko.  He had finished running the healing
unit over her stomach, leaving her bare midsection exposed.  He pulled out
his dermal regenerator out and ran it over the skin, turning it from the
bruised brown and blue to the normal skin color.

"Ok Ms. Okada, that's all there is to it.  Those ribs are going to need a
lot of rest and not much work.  So, if anyone and I repeat anyone asks you
to do something and you do so according to my orders to move without further
injuring yourself and they try to go against that, give them my name and my
position and tell them to contact me.  If anyone and I mean anyone gives you
trouble, give me a call.  I will not have officers on board this station
endangering their life for a job that can wait a few days.  Is this
understood?"

(Reply Okada)

"You take as much rest as you need.  You can do your job, just take it
slow."

Standing up, he began to pack his items.  He looked around and then to the
officer on the couch.

"You're doing a damned good job officer, I've only heard good things about
your command.  Just keep telling yourself your doing your best and nothing
can go wrong...and for the love of Mongolia, don't injure yourself in the
next 48 hours.  You're cute, but not cute enough."

Cambridge moved out the door and looked back the ensign now putting the
plants up.

"When you're finished with that, if she needs anything you do it.
Understood?"

The young man nodded, knowing he was getting off easily.  Cambridge was big
and muscle.  The CMO moved out into the hallway and headed for his shuttle.

====================/\====================

(USS Firebrande - Main Engineering - CEO Ens JG Taz River - 2378.08.19.0700)

Ensign Taz had been up all night and it showed, the bags were dark under his
yes, his uniform was dirty and so was his face, he had been working on
trying to find any information on the previous evenings happenings.

He was trying to remove a large grey cylinder shaped device from an opening
under one of the damaged consoles, when he heard a voice from behind him say
"Maybe decoupling it first may help" and a thermo decoupler was handed to
him, he looked over his shoulder and a new face was there.

"And who the hell are you supposed to be?" asked Taz River

(Reply ACEO)

"The new Assistant Chief of Engineering heh ? This time yesterday that job
belonged to me, but the Chief of Engineering went missing-presumed
assimilated."

Taz then stood up, and wiping his brow then preceded to fill the new
assistant in on what had happened the night before: "Last night at about
19:00 hours Admiral Jopek called a Red Alert after he somehow triggered some
sort of program in the computer that projected what is believed to be
holographic drones right here into this room, we do not know at this moment
who put them there, why they did and whether the holographic drones posed
any real serious danger. I have been up all night and all we have find is
that the program used makes Star Fleet's EMH program look like a 19th
Century Surgical Instrument."

"What I would like you to do, is find Team 2, they have looked at the
Firebrande's log and drawn up a list of all ships that have come into
contact with the Firebrande either directly or indirectly and if they are
manned to inform the captain on board to have there systems checked, if they
don't have a crew on board, check them themselves, a large number of ships
are unmanned in the bay and they have there work cut out, go and find
Engineering Team 2, and I want a full report on the status of all ships on
my desk by 15:00. If you find any other useful information out, don't leave
it out of the report." Ordered Taz

Corey turned to walk away, then Taz remembered "Hey". Corey turned round to
be greeted by a smiling Taz and an outstretched hand "Welcome aboard,
congratulations on making it, if you need any help or have any questions let
me know, okay?" Corey shook his hand and Taz smiled ~I wonder if he's any
good, I'm gonna have to get to know all the people in engineering~

Taz went back to work, but he was fumbling about and making stupid mistakes,
so he decided to go and take a sonic shower and then have a nice power nap
to freshen him up and give him a clear more focused mind on the job.

He packed his tools away and retired into his quarters for a short rest

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0730)

"Your killing me... you mean you gotta operate!?"

The man on the table was wide eyed and having trouble staying on the biobed
without several medical officers holding him there.  Chief Medical Officer
Cambridge nodded.

"You're appendix is going to explode and we need to get it out.  If we don'
t, you will be in pain and have to go through more complex sugery!"

The man again bucked on the bio bed, fear filling his face.

"But I don't want to go into surgery!  I don't wanna, you can't make me, I
WON'T GO!"

The man was acting very irrational and was attracting attention in the room.
People were looking at him as more and more eyes centered on the debacle in
Otono Central.

"Sir, you cannot go without this, if you do..."

It was then that the man went into convulsions, buckling up and down,
sending two orderlies to the ground.

"Otono Storm Centre, prepare for patient in avalalble room."

The two orderlies on the ground got and quickly pulled out medical
tricorders.

"Blood Pressure going up!  Heart Beat is going irregular!"

Cambridge nodded.  They had to move him and fast.

"We gotta get him to Surgery.  Let's go!

The group of mass medical personnel began to run, pushing the Biobed through
sickbay.  They arrived at the Emergency Transports.  The Otono Medical
Centre was 1 mile by 1 mile.  You had to have horizontal elevators.
Cambridge breathed deeply as the door shut and the unit shot off towards
their destination.

"We need Melorazine.get me 30 cc's, now!"

"Heart rate increasing... blood pressure reaching extremely high!"

The hiss of the hypospray sounded, and the body on the bed continued to
convulse.

"Brain activity increasing to high levels... Chief!"

The man's eyes had rolled back in his head and gurgling sounds could be
heard now from the man's throat.  The door opened and the team ran out,
towing the bio bed.  The operating staff was ready, pulling the man directly
into operating room 2.  Cambridge followed as they began to hook him up to
the machines.  The Melorazine had begun to take effect as the convulsing
slowed.  They moved him over to the surgery biobed and attached several
units to him.  His eyes were still in the back of his head.

"We're losing a heart rate... it's dropping!"

The staff began to work double time, trying desperately to find out what was
wrong.  His breathing suddenly became very labored.

"We're losing him.  Brain is shutting down!"

Klaxons began to ring as the heart dropped to almost nothing.

"Dammed, he's going despite everything we're doing..."

A loud klaxon rang as the man's heart stopped completely.  There was a
second of pause as the doctors in the room watched the readings.  The brain
was losing activity.  Cambridge looked up from the man.

"Get me a Defibrillator, STAT!"

Two small round units were handed into the CMO's hands and he placed them to
the chest of the dying man.

"CLEAR!"

There was a pause and then the shock hit, sending the body bouncing.  They
all looked to the monitors.  Still nothing.

"CLEAR!"

Once more the charge went through.  Once more they looked and nothing.
Cambridge moved to charge again when the heart monitor picked up.  The color
began to return to the man's skin.  The officers cheered, but Mac put a hand
up.

"Get his damned appendix out and find out why the hell he almost became my
first casualty.  Get to it."

Doctor Maxwell Cambridge made his way back to the front desk of sickbay

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - TEO Ens Anne Therriault - 2378.08.19.0800)

Ensign Anne Therriault strolled into the medical center, humming to herself.
She was in a chipper mood and a smile was on her face.  A full night's
sleep, a warm shower and a hot cup of java at 7 that morning improved her
outlook on life and her new assignment.  The perfect time to have her
physical done.

She stepped into the lobby area, not sure where to go or what to do next.

====================/\====================

(Otono Medical Centre - CMO Lt 'Mac' Cambridge - 2378.08.19.0801)

He spotted a officer waiting in the lobby, looking about.

"Can I help you Ms.?"

====================/\====================

"I like my women like I like my coffee: covered in BEES!!" - Eddie Izzard