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. <> 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..." "You just passed out. Any reason you managed to hit the floor on your own accord?" 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." 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..." "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." <> "It is my opinion that Starfleet made an oversight when placing Ensign Therriault in the position of TEO." <> "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." <> ====================/\==================== (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." <> "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." <> "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." <> "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." <> ====================/\==================== (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." <> "Yeah... well OK!" The seconds passed one... by... one... <> "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.=/\= <> 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 "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." "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. <> 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." 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." ====================/\==================== (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." 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." "Thanks." 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. "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." 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." 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?" 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. <