Compile summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.24 (USS Hades, Ten forward, aCTAC/CSEC - Lieutenant Baylon Trinin- 2120) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.25 (USS Hades-Observation Lounge-CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere-2033 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.26 (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam- 05:16) (USS Hades - Physics Lab - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 06:13) (USS Hades - Physics Lab - Engineer Ensign (jg) Arysha Tethlin - 06:14) (USS Hades - Physics Lab - CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 06:25) (USS Hades - Holodeck 3 - ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh - 0729) (USS Hades, Holodeck 3, FO Commander Eva Straton, 0730) (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0743) (USS Hades- Holodeck- CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere- 0744) (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0745) (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0746) (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt, (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0747) (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0748) (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0749) (USS Hades-sickbay- CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere-0750) (USS Hades - Mindscape - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - Time unknown) (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACOUNS, Ensign Anamitra Ripley- 0750.5) (USS Hades - Sickbay - CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere- 0755) (USS Hades - Mindscape/Sickbay - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0804) (USS Hades - Mindscape/Sickbay - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 0808) (USS Hades - Sickbay - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0810) (USS Hades - Sickbay - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 0815) (USS Hades - Sickbay - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0817) (USS Hades, Holodeck 3, ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh, 1300) (USS Hades - Deck Six - Science Lab One - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 20:25) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.27 (USS Hades - Personal Quarters - aCTAC/CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin - 0300) (USS Hades –Deck 3, Personal Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0359) (USS Hades –Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0400) (USS Hades –Deck 9, Personal Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0401) (USS Hades –Deck 3, Personal Quarters –CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0407) (USS Hades - dreamscape - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0617) (USS Hades –Sick Bay –ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0618) (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh - 0630) (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0631) (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh - 0632) (USS Hades – Deck 3, Personal Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0726) (USS Hades – Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0727) (USS Hades – Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0750) (USS Hades - Bridge - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0845) (Tch'Kair, Waagoshin Security headquarters- Hallway, Technician Klk'Shis - 1735) (Tch'Kair, Waagoshin Security headquarters-Comm nook, Technician Klk'Shis - 1740) (Tch'Kair, Mountain Fortress- Undisclosed location, Resistance Leader K'thartek - 1745) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- begin compile Stardate: 2408.07.24 (USS Hades, Ten forward, aCTAC/CSEC - Lieutenant Baylon Trinin- 2120) Lo'ren smiled, "No, I've not been to Mt. Cathos or seen it. But Jack showed me another area of Andoria that he's got a program of. It was rather...invigorating." "I can't say I've ever been to Andoria at all," Haywood admitted, "I'm assuming bundling up will be in order." Baylon started to reply, but was cut off by Lo'ren's unbridled amusement at working out a plan of action. Haywood seemed to be feeding her enthusiasm as well. "Perhaps a tweak or two to the temperature without melting the snow would work. The entry to the new program could be at a plateau. That way it wouldn't be a climb for anyone. Or perhaps a Tram-like conveyance so that people could get a good sense of the view." Lo'ren suggested. "Stadium seating?" Haywood raised an eyebrow as the corners of his lips curved into a wider smile. "I'll take a look at some still images of the area. I'd like to tailor any songs to the surroundings. Once I've got a better idea of that I'll contact a couple of other artists I know and see if we can come together." "This is getting to be quite an adventure." Haywood chuckled. "When should we do this?" She sat on the edge of her seat, her eyes sparkling. Haywood bit his lower lip. "I'm usually off-duty by twenty after the twentieth hour. I can't say I have too much planned outside of work and sleep. I'm good anytime you are." He reached out for his mug, emptied it and slid it back onto the table. Baylon found it interesting the way the two fed off of each other's vitality. Planning and plotting and seeming to completely forget he was even present. There was an obvious chemistry between them, although Baylon was quite certain it was a different type of chemistry than what Lo'ren shared with Haynes. "So, what about the boat trip I promised. Do you get sea-sick, or should I leave the twenty-foot waves in the program?" Haywood questioned with a mischievous smile. "I'm sorry but you'll have to count me out on that one. Large bodies of water and I don't get along." Baylon said as he stood. "It was a pleasure meeting you Haywood. Ensign T'Vof thank you for allowing me to keep you company this evening, but I am afraid I must retire for the evening. I have a very early start on an advanced training simulation in the morning. Having bid his good evenings, Baylon returned his bottle of Whiskey to the bartender's care and headed for his quarters. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.25 (USS Hades-Observation Lounge-CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere-2033 "Well congratulations to the new parents," Angeni listened to Commander Straton, her face showing nothing more than a tight lipped smile, but she was kicking herself inside. She had bought into every one of the rumors she had heard about her, but Angeni had failed to remember that she herself hadn't walked two moons in the commanders moccasins. She tried hard to not believe the things people could say about each other, but she had assumed that they were right. Angeni couldn't even remember ever seeing the woman smile, let alone do anything that seemed friendly, but that didn't mean she wasn't. Everyone had their own style of running and doing things, hell, people criticized her methods on a regular basis. They could be rather archaeic sometimes, but they got the job done. When Straton asked about the other doctor, Angeni just smiled at her. "I don't believe that to be necessary, ma'am. I reminded him that, while I could understand the importance of...extra-curricular activites...duty comes first. Besides, this is the first time he's dropped the ball as it were in such a dramatic fashion, but believe me, if he does it again....". Angeni smiled, breaking every rule in the book on how to converse with ones superior as she lowered her voice to a conspiriatorial whisper, "I will be quite sure to send him your way...ma'am" Angeni sat up straight, a smile on her face. "Is there anything else I can do for you, ma'an?" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.26 (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam- 05:16) "Oh, don't worry. Believe me, you're very fit. Besides, running around all day will keep you fit." He replied. Darla looked at him for a moment, then allowed a smile to cross her face. "Well Mister Mac Liam, I do believe that was the most pleasant thing you've ever said to me." she cooed. She pushed her plate of a half-eaten stack of pancakes to the rear of the table and picked up her coffee cup, and let it warm her hands. "What do you say that if neither of us are too tired that we go dancing in the holodeck tonight. I know this quaint little 1920's jazz club set during America's prohibition period where we can go dancing and get an illegal drink and some pretty good food too." she offered. Eoin considered it for a minute or so, but then frowned. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't. With T'Sar ill, I have to work on the sensors tonight. But it sounds wonderful. Can I take a rain check?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Physics Lab - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 06:13) Eoin had fortunately been able to get right to work, and had found a monitor that he could be useful with. He got under it, opened up some paneling, and then opened up his tool kit, yawning as he began work. He felt a tap at his knee. {{Hey-hey E-red, want you help-me please. Questions answer.}} He sat up a bit too quickly, and hit his head on the paneling above his head. Rubbing it, he made a very annoyed face, at Tethlin. "Arysha, you have to be careful when getting attention. That's going to definitely leave a mark." He sighed. "What do you need my help on?" She signed a mile a minute, the Vox barely keeping up with her excitement. {{Am thinking try re-loop cascade energy for shield make stronger. Lt. Haynes want also monitor for other uses my idea.}} Eoin tried to follow the signs as much as he could. His rudimentary knowledge of sign language and the bump on his head got the better of him, though. And he was lost. That is, he would've been if it weren't for the Vox. "I see. Just walk me through the plan and what you need me to do, and it'll get done." Arysha screwed up her face, displaying clearly her loss of ideas. {{Don't know myself what kind other things to monitor. Can better write code for-for program to monitor if have focus for-for program.}} "Well, when it comes to code-writing, you know I'm your man. Tell me what you want to do, what proramming language you want it in, and then point me to a PADD or console where I can get to work." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Physics Lab - Engineer Ensign (jg) Arysha Tethlin - 06:14) As he rubbed his head, Eoin responded to Arysha's query, "Well, when it comes to code-writing, you know I'm your man. Tell me what you want to do,what proramming language you want it in, and then point me to a PADD orconsole where I can get to work." Arysha blew air up the side of her face in exasperation and rolled her eyes,{{Ha Ha Ha E-Red, tease not.}} (reply Eoin) She slowed down a smidge because she could tell that either Eoin wasn't understanding her or the Vox wasn't keeping up - which amounted to the same thing. ~Stupid thing too slow!~ {{Only need help finding out what need extrapower. Can write code easy-easy.}} (reply Eoin) Reading the display before her eyes, Arysha absorbed the information and had a clear enough view of Eoin's face to not appear rude by not looking directly at him. {{OK, so deflector-dish possible, ship-protect-shields and what-else?}} (reply Eoin) She nodded, {{Ok good-good. Do-do that can. Sorry for-for again scare-you.Try hard future give-headache again not.}} She grinned at that and got up.{{Thanks E-Red, can check code with you after?}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Physics Lab - CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 06:25) Jack noticed Arysha moving to where her engineering cohort was seated and talking with him excitedly for a few moments before going back to her programming. Since Zzt and Harry were now getting along amiably (If you considered getting a real tongue lashing amiable, at least from the Betazed's perspective) he moved over to check on Ensign McLiam's progress. Harry's revulsion at the Ursinoid's attempt to make up for past wrongdoings had been equally tragic and laughable and his green tint had gone white before he left in a great hurry. Upon returning he was sporting a bright, nearly glowing appendage to show for his adventures. Since having a bloody bone in his lab wasn't completely palatable and the leftovers weren't enough for a decent snack for the Gerratlian he had placed a call for maintenance and directed them to the nook where Zzt had placed the bone. Using a folding stepladder the man had retrieved the offending object and stepping warily around the Gerratlian with ladder in tow removed himself and the offending object from the premises. The engineer's shoulders were slumped wearily as Jack walked up. "Good morning Eoin, how is it going over here?" He asked as he walked up. (Reply: Eoin) The mans eyes were a bit puffy around the edges from lack of sleep, Jack cocked his head as he looked at him. "How long has been since you slept my friend?" He asked. (Reply: Eoin) "Another project after this one?" He gave a start. "And you with no sleep last night? I thought I and Harry were borderline workaholics, you need some sleep mister." (Reply: Eoin) Jack nodded. "I'm going to ask Lieutenant Wright to kick you back one shift to give you a chance at some extra rest before you resume your duties tomorrow, two days with little to no sleep is not healthy nor is it good policy. I'm sure had she known you were this heavily scheduled she would have made other arrangements." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades - Holodeck 3 - ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh - 0729) "What ideas might you suggest to improve the simulation?" Robert was shocked for a moment. He had expected a much harder ass-chewing by Straton. He thought for a moment, and prepared to justify his simulation. "Sir, I decided to use the jungle setting so the trainees could get used to creatively thinking about their environment in a combat situation. Using a ship corridor, which would have been a more likely scenario for combat with the Waagoshin, may have been more realistic, but it also restricts from the get-go. If we get an opportunity for more training, I was planning on changing the parameters, making it a much more difficult situation. But in this new simulation, my hope would be that the crew member's resourcefulness would be greatly improved due to the one I just ran." (reply Straton) Walsh snapped to attention. "Very good sir." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades, Holodeck 3, FO Commander Eva Straton, 0730) "...But in this new simulation, my hope would be that the crewmember's resourcefulness would be greatly improved due to the one I just ran," Ensign Walsh explained. "Very well," Eva said, with a nod. "I want you to set up the second stage of the program for this afternoon. We will run the security teams and a few others through some boarding simulations. I want out security teams ready in case the Waagoshin get the idea to storm the Hades.I want you to specifically include hand to hand combat in your simulation.The security teams will need to be ready for any contingency. I will inform Lt. Trinin as I will want him present for this training as well. Walsh snapped to attention. "Very good sir." "I'll have Lt. Trinin get with you on setting up the training for this afternoon. Carry on." Eva turned and headed back toward the door. She took one final look around the holodeck. "Computer exit." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0743) Upon stepping into the holodeck, only one thing rang through the corridors of Haywood's thoughts. ~Who the hell turned the safety so low!?~ The sounds of growls and grunts, and well as... were those disruptor sounds... rang through the dense trees, and crewmembers, decorated with various cuts and bruises slipped in and out through the gaps in the tree trunks. "Jack, what happened?" Angeni broke the strained silence just as Haywood almost lost himself in the depth of the simulation. He wasn't sure he had ever been scared of a holosimulation before, and he wasn't about to admit to anyone that he was now. He took a deep breath to completely fill his lungs and looked toward where Angeni was looking. The Jack Angeni had referred to was Lieutenant Jericho Haynes, wearing the expression of a man who had just fought off hell. ~He probably did,~ Haywood allowed. And on the ground, somewhere between conscious and completely knocked out was Lo'ren. "I didn't actually see her get wounded, she was behind me and I was in the middle of a fight when it happened but she took down her opponents before collapsing." Lt. Haynes explained. Angeni nodded and imediately began to get to work. Haywood watched the Lieutenant set to a guarding positioin and then he crouched down beside his superior. She worked quick and without question. A sign of an experienced feild doctor. "Haywood, scan that arm for me, and run the sterilizer over it..." Haywood nodded and obeyed, his voice caught on the knot tied in his throat. He was trained to do this. He'd even tied up a Femoral Artery with minimal instruments back home once. But there, the danger had been in the water and he had been on deck. It had been equippment and distressed animals that had caused the injuries. There weren't sentient and malicious beings jumping out from all sides, ready to kill both him and his patients... even if this was just a simulation. "Sterilized, Ma'am." Haywood managed with a steady voice. "Alright, we're going to get her down to the bay. I think for right now she's stable, enough. Are there any more injuries?" "Is the simulation still active?' Angeni asked, her voice low. "You bet." Jack growled, "I recommend you either go to observer status if you're not already or get the hell out of here with the wounded." "If so, I want Lo'ren out in the hallway, now..." If Angeni was feeling the same was Haywood was, she was doing a good job of it. "Lets get her moving...now..." Haywood nodded and fell into step beside the biostretcher. ~Maybe,~ He began to himself, ~ I should-~ "No one is leaving federation. I will kill all if you resist." A voice, harsh and rough like the sound of an angry dog broke the flow of his thoughts. Haywood could feel his heart beating in his throat as a Waagoshin interrupted the path, waving a ...a disruptor... in both his and Angeni's face. A curse work or two escaped past Haywoods lips as he tried to recall the little self-defense that he knew. "Hey doggie breath." Lt. Haynes' voice called from behind, drawing all of the attention away from the biostretcher. Haywood watched the Lieutenant over his shoulder for a moment, before looking back to Angeni. "We need to get her outta here." Haywood said flatly. (Reply Angeni) Half-watching Haynes, half concentrating on the job at hand, Haywood was a bit unnerved when the Waagoshin threw its weapon to the floor with the command, "Destroy him." ~How many crewmen are we going to have to evacuate!?~ Haywood nearly spat aloud. He turned to Angeni again as a team of Waagoshins spilled onto the scene. "We need to get her to sick bay, but we can't just leave anybody else needing immediate help." He paused, swallowed hard against the lump in his throat and continued. "I think I should stay behind, just to make sure." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere- 0744) Angeni stood, all the hair standing up on the back of her neck as the Waag approached her. She stepped in front of the litter holding Lo'ren, her arms outn her fingers curled as if she had claws. She swallowed, keeping her mannerisms to one of being a predator, not prey. Before she could call upon the holodeck to give her a hickory bow, Jack jumped into action. She stood in awe, just for a moment, watching him work, then she turned to hear Haywood speak. "We need to get her outta here." Haywood said flatly. "Really? I thought we'd leave her there to get eaten. At the moment, she's nothing more than dog kibble..." She had just barely gotten Lo'ren out the door, ordering the medics to start with high gram Solu-Medrol when the area filled with more puppies. Once again, before she could start to play, Haywood suggested that he stay behind. Unfortunately, with Lo'rens possible head injury, she had to relinquish control of the scene, so with a curt nod, she ran off to sickbay. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0745) Two Waagoshin came in hard while the other three circled around the outside looking for an opening. Waagoshin number one leaped at the human who made a spin and duck so that the fox/man hurtled over him clutching air. The spin carried Jack into the line of attack of Waagoshin number two for all the good it did him as the man's right fist came up in an uppercut from hell. The impact was so hard it jarred Jack's fist but the fox/man couldn't have cared less, the hard blow had turned off his conciousness like flipping a light switch. As number two fell he winked out of existence. Like it or not this now put Jack back in a similar position that he had held in the first four on one battle as foxy number one was now at his back, this pack wasn't as well coordinated though and number one was just turning as the two Waagoshin on his sides leapt to the attack. The one on his right made it to him first and was amazed to see the human drop to the ground, ~Is he giving up?~ That question was answered as booted feet were planted hard into his stomach and the Waag found himself airborne with terrific hang time. He flipped not once but twice as he flew through the ether before landing awkwardly on the back of his neck, the impact shattering its spine. Jack wasn't quick enough to escape the clutches of Waag number four, as he slid to his feet he was grabbed from behind, the fox/man pinning his arms to his sides with its own arms circling his stomach. Foxy was proud of himself for an instant but before he could bite down on the back of the man's neck his snout exploded with pain as the back of the CSO's cranium violently intersected the space where its tender nose had been. Pain turned its visual world a washed out red as it yelped although it managed to maintain its grip somehow which worked against it, as foxy number one reentered the fray he was met by the soles of both of Jack's boots as he used the fox/man pinning him as a platform from which to launch the attack. The breath whooshed painfully from #1's lungs and it found itself deposited unceremoniously on its tail while trying valiantly to pull in a breath, while it struggled the back of Jack's head crashed once again into the muzzle of #4, that was enough! The Waag relaxed its grip and it staggered back bringing its hands up to protect its ravaged snout. The leader of this pack wasn't about to let this upstart human get the best of him and his boys, he found the opening he wanted as the man broke the grip of number four, his right hand lashed out and slashed Jack across the left cheek, if he hadn't seen it coming and moved at the last instant the claws would have cut deep. The cuts were shallow and though they would bleed freely they would also heal naturally if necessary without leaving a mark. Waag Prime was not happy with the dodging human, the man with his size should have been slow, instead he moved only slightly less quickly than the Waagoshin themselves and always seemed to be one step ahead tactically. The leader was cagy though, he circled just beyond arms length while #1 was regaining its feet behind Jack, he would distract the human while his ally savaged him from behind. The plan would have worked too had Jack been a dummy which he was not, since old Rover wouldn't come to him he decided to come over himself. Right foot planted he drove forward onto his left which was flexed beneath him, when the leg whiplashed straight it launched him into the air using his forward momentum. The right leg was drawn back then a vicious "Hai!" erupted from Jack's throat as he snapped the leg forward and planted the toe of his boot into the pack leader's throat. The world of conciousness became a nightmare of pain for the pack leader, its eyes opened wide as his weight and momentum carried it on its back to the ground. There was a moment as the eyes of the two made contact, Jack's and the Waag's before it too winked out of sight. Even though it was a simulation Jack seemed to see the fear of death which was unnerving, these sims shouldn't have any conscious knowledge of such things, the computer that controlled them was perhaps becoming too advanced, too perfect. The growl behind him snapped his attention back to the present, he dropped down but couldn't completely escape the slash of one paw which raked across the back of his right shoiulder, spinning around from a crouch he whipped the Waag's legs out from under it then launched himself on top of it, he would have to be quick as he could see number four beginning to move in his direction again so he drew back his right hand with the two center fingers braced and the other fingers cupped around them and stabbed his hand into the Waag's throat. It gasped and gurgled as it died but his right arm was slahed again above the elbow, it didn't hurt much though as he turned his body and kicked out with a left heel kick to the groin of the last Waag who was a day late and a dollar short. It went down in agony and as it disappeared he laid back on the grass of the holodeck watching the doctor approach. "I'm tired." He said, sitting up as Haywood walked up. "Computer put myself and the medical team in observer mode." (Reply: Haywood) "After this I'm calling it a day." Jack shook his head. I'm not in the shape I need to be in to go at this for too long. I'd better add more distance running to my training regimen... after today." he added and winked at the doctor. "I get the feeling I'm going to be sore tomorrow." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0746) There was suddenly a sea of Waagoshins spilling from what seemed to be every crevice in the holodeck. And, as absolutely useless as he was at fighting, Haywood had no choice but the stand back and watch Lt. Haynes take on the dirty-work. After quite a few insults, and some down-right impressive offensive moves, the Lieutenant finally put the wave of offenders in check, and with a bloody arm, remained on the grass. Haywood bit his lower lip and slowly approached the Lieutenant. "I'm tired." Haynes said, sitting up, "Computer put myself and the medical team in observer mode." "I bet." Haywood smiled and reached out for the bloody arm. "After this I'm calling it a day." Jack shook his head as Haywood ran his peripheral over the injuries. "I'm not in the shape I need to be in to go at this for too long. I'd better add more distance running to my training regimen... after today." he added and winked. "I get the feeling I'm going to be sore tomorrow." "I should hope so," Haywood said, with a slight edge of seriousness in his voice, "It'll teach you to put your body through so much punishment." He smiled, and tucked his peripheral back in the slot behind his tricorder and traded for a sterilizer. He had been on this ship for five days, and already he could tell that he had his work cut out for him. This had to be the most reckless ship in the fleet... Not that he really minded... "I knew they'd turned the safety down to get you guys used to the strength of these Waagoshin people, but I didn't know they were this low." He reached in his kit for a rag to wipe away the blood from the Lieutenant's arm. (reply Haynes iyw) "By the way," Haywood said, finally looking up, "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Haywood, your body's new taylor." He grinned. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt, (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0747) "I knew they'd turned the safety down to get you guys used to the strength of these Waagoshin people, but I didn't know they were this low." Haywood reached into his kit and withdrew a rag which he used to wipe away the blood from Jack's arm. "Kinda surprised me too." Jack agreed. "If this is the worst they get though we shouldn't do too badly in a fight." "By the way," Haywood said, after looking up from his work. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Haywood, your body's new taylor." He grinned at the CSO. Jack chuckled in return. "Nice to meet you Haywood, I'm Jack Haynes." He then extended his hand. (Reply: Haywood) "So who sent you to do the tailoring, Armani?" Jack smiled as he looked at the arm the medic was working on. "You do good work." (Reply: Haywood) Jack laughed. "You haven't been on the ship long have you? Must be quite a departure from what you're normally used to." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0748) Jack chuckled. "Nice to meet you Haywood, I'm Jack Haynes." He then extended his hand and Haywood shook it. "So who sent you to do the tailoring, Armani?" Jack smiled as he looked at the arm the medic was working on. "You do good work." "Armani?", the Lieutenant's arm had knitted well, so Haywood tossed his equipment back in his kit and leaned back until he, too, was sitting on the grass. "Straton sent us orders to get a med team down here pronot." He bit his lower lip, "Angeni's really done an excellent job phasing me into the speed of things." He smiled. Jack laughed. "You haven't been on the ship long have you? Must be quite a departure from what you're normally used to." "Well, I've never had to work on so big a scale before. Back home, I had grown up with every one of the men and women I had to patch up. It's different all right, but still, I'd say it's the same. There I was under pressure to help somebody I loved. Here I'm responsible for helping Angeni make sure the crew is up to standards with the ship." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0749) "Well, I've never had to work on so big a scale before. Back home, I had grown up with every one of the men and women I had to patch up. It's different all right, but still, I'd say it's the same. There I was under pressure to help somebody I loved. Here I'm responsible for helping Angeni make sure the crew is up to standards with the ship." "You'll do fine." Jack nodded at the ACMO. "You've got he talent and the mindset." He looked past Haywood to see Counselor Ripley moving into the holodeck, after looking around with a bemused expression she saw the two and headed their way. "Look out." The CSO's eyes narrowed and he lowered his voice as she approached. "It's the local head shrink." As Haywood was still busy on the wounds about his arm and shoulder he felt as though it would be rude not to mention counter-productive to get up and walk away. "Are you badly hurt?" She called out to Jack as she closed in on the two. His reply was guarded. "Not too badly, Haywood here is nearly finished patching me up." She nodded in reply, if she noticed his manner she didn't show it. "Who's in charge of this simulation?" That could be construed to mean one of two things, either she was just interested or looking for someone to psychoanalyze. "The assistant security chief Robert Walsh I believe. Why?" He asked as he watched her reaction closely. (Reply: Ana) "I'm not sure where you might find him, he's no doubt somewhere about." He said vaguely. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades-sickbay- CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere-0750) Angeni, still hopped up on adrenalin and everything else. Because they were of the medical sort, there were no weapons of any kind in the bay. Angeni walked to Lo'ren, putting the EEG halo around her head, and she traced the signals back and forth before she let out a breathy, "Woah...". Angeni was afraid to touch her due to the power of the psychic blast. As she woke up out of her haze, the last thing she would remember was being attacked, and she had the ability to launch another such attack that could incapacitate her. Angeni removed the neural stimulator, and replaced it with one that in theory was supposed to cause all the neural pathways to shut down for 3-5 seconds, then start back up slowly, almost like a hard reset. She would have all memory of all events, she just wouldn't have the energy stocked up to kill her mentally. As she placed the stimulatorn she pulled up a stoodm sitting next to Lo'ren's head, whispering softly as she watched the brain waves cease, then restart one by one. "Lo'ren, its Dr. Trommashere. You are in sickbay. You are not fighting anymore. You are okay. Just listen to my voice. You may feel anxious, but I promise...you are fine." Angeni took Lo'rens hand, watching the brain waves, wondering how soon it would be before she woke up. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Mindscape - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - Time unknown) She remembered the fighting, the blast of energy that she'd put out by instinct. ~Not the greatest move, Mutt, especially against a hologram.~ The rush of the whole morning was near a blur and yet each second stood out in relief against the next. Every ounce of her being ached and she groaned inwardly, unable to connect to her body. She was trying to make sense of it all when a new spark came into her mindscape vision. The soft voice broke through the darkness where Lo'ren was floating. "Lo'ren.... You ... sickbay.... not fighting ... are okay. ... listen ... my voice. ...anxious,...I promise...you are fine." Lo'ren was puzzled, who was anxious? Why was she in sickbay? She reached out towards the pinprick, understanding the danger now but feeling completely exhausted of any ability to defend herself. She did the only thing she could. That pinprick meant someone was in physical contact and Lo'ren didn't feel that this being was a danger. She went for contact. ::Who?:: (reply Angeni) Lo'ren's emotional state of confusion would be apparent to all but the most naive of telepaths. ::Angeni? What's wrong with me? I feel so drained.:: (reply Angeni) She absorbed the information and let herself let go of the danger she'd thought she was in. ::How Long?:: (reply Angeni) As her awareness grew more, Lo'ren remembered her last spoken words before she'd fainted. ::Where's Jack?:: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACOUNS, Ensign Anamitra Ripley- 0750.5) Ana stepped through the doors of the Holodeck hoping to find a much more pleasant scene than she encountered. Where she had expected some sort of regimented sparing program with Waagoshin holographic constructs was instead a virtual forest filled with the sounds of battle. Her eyes swept across the open area immediately in front of her as the Holographic arch disappeared, completing the illusion of the forest scene. She raised an eyebrow at the sound of barking, recalling that the Waagoshin were somewhat at least aesthetically related to Terran canines. She was hoping to observe the simulations psychological affects upon the crew. After all, most species that were encountered were fundamentally humanoid, morphological variations on the basic human-like template and therefore, atleast to the mind, similar enough to not evoke immediate terror. The Waagoshin were more predatory and appeared to be as such, and therefore carried a higher psychological impact on those that encountered it. This simulation was supposed to be one that would reinforce the abilities of the participant while also reducing the levels of psychological trauma might be entailed. This Simulation was doing none of that. Instead, the number of apparent injuries, although not life-threatening might in fact be mentally damaging. ~how many people might be waking up with nightmares after this simulationwas complete?~ She wondered. Her eyes came to rest on Haywood Parker, one of the new additions to the ship's crew, and Jack Haynes, the Chief Science Officer. She strode towards them. "Are you badly hurt?" she asked Jack when she got close enough. (reply Haynes) Ana nodded. "Who's in charge of this simulation?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Sickbay - CMO Angeni O Windsong-Trommashere- 0755) Angeni watched with bated breath, watching the waveforms ebb and flow like the oceans waves. She was worried how Lo'ren was going to reach when she heard a voice in her head that wasn't her own. ::Who?:: Angeni took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Not being telepathic in any way hindered her only slightly. She went back to what she would do with Riven and Harry. She just thought in sentances...really hard. ::It's me, Angeni.:: For a moment, Angeni tried to push the mental intrusion away. She didn't like how easily it was for Lo'ren to climb into her mind like that, but if it was the only way to communicate, she'd have to deal with it. ::Angeni? What's wrong with me? I feel so drained.:: Angeni winced as she could feel some of the stronger brain waves trying to reactivate themselves. It physically hurt. ::Don't...don't fight it. I reset your brain...like you'd reset a computer. The last thing you did would be the first thing you'd try to do when you regained conciousness, and we didn't need you blowing half of sickbay into unconciousness, but I need you to relax and let it work...:: Angeni let out a small gasp. The mental blast the Waag experienced made what she was going through seem like a pin prick. Her mind was still in fight mode, and even a hard restart wasn't enough to kill off the building power long enough for the woman to regain conciousness. As the tension in her head mounted, she had half a mind to restart the whole process, but as quickly as the pain started, it was gone. She just felt....Lo'ren. It was an odd feeling. She didn't have to look at her monitor to know she had calmed down and everything was resetting the way it was supposed to. ::How Long?:: ::Not too much longer. All of your voluntarry systems should be reactivating here shortly:: ::where's Jack?:: ::With Haywood Parker, the new ACMO. They provided cover for us to get out. I'm sure he will be down here shortly to check on you...:: Angeni leaned back still holding her hand. She figured with all that was going on, all she needed was just someone there to hold her hand until everythin started to work again. She suddenly longed for Harry, but she pushed the thought out her mind. She was getting emotional transfer from Lo'ren, and it didn't do well for her to try and keep her composure in such a drastic situation. ::Come on, Lo'ren...you can do it, start trying to use your voice, that's usually the first to come back...:: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Mindscape/Sickbay - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0804) ::Come on, Lo'ren...you can do it, start trying to use your voice, that'susually the first to come back...:: Lo'ren was grateful that Angeni stayed with her despite the pain that this primal link could provide non-telepaths. Having all she needed, she withdrew from the contact and tried her voice as suggested. The words had to be short, it was almost like re-learning to speak in seconds but each moment more flooded back as she reached closer to the surface. "Don't let go." (reply Angeni) Lo'ren used Angeni's physical contact to guide herself back, a beacon to reality. She opened her eyes but remained in the blackness. "Can't see yet." (reply Angeni) She continued to test in little ways her control. When she tried to flex her hands in turn, she squeezed Angeni's hand then flexed the fingers on her injured side. She grunted. (Reply Angeni) "This shouldn't have been so hard." She grimaced as she blinked and looked at the dark blotch beside her. Her vision was slowly returning and she dared not try to move much more than her fingertips and toes but things were coming. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Mindscape/Sickbay - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 0808) Angeni watched as Lo'rens' muscled quivered around her body. She tried not to think too hard' lest it would cause her mind to reactivate once more. She could still feel the steely pinpricks jabbing her own mind, infusing the sensations Lo'ren was feeling with that of her own. She felt overwhelmed. Like a suction cup removed from a wall, the link was ended as quickly as it started, and Angeni gasped aloud. Sure, she had shared a similar link with other telepaths, but she couldn't figure out why this one hurt as badly as it did. "Don't let go" were Lo'rens first words. Angeni stood up, moving to the head of the bed, and she leaned down, whispering encouragingly to Lo'ren. "That's it. You got it. Come on now,open your eyes for me..." "Can't see..." "I know, but we're working on the muscles and stuff. The eyes will come back along with everything else. You are doing a great job, hon..." As she started to move around, she realized that she hadn't numbed up the arm that was injured. As she grunted in pain, Ang was more happy that she could even feel it, so she sprayed a bit of lidocaine on the arm to numb it up. "This shouldn't have been so hard." "Its a whole system restart. I turned off the light switch in your brain and flipped it back on. Try to move around, its like an infant. The more you use them, the pathways will restart and become more functional as you go. Don't be afraid, I'm here for you." (Reply Lo'ren) She helped Lo'ren to a sitting position, and she whipped out a pen light, examining her eyes. She watched with a skillful gaze, watching for the slightest flicker of movement. As she watched, the pupillary constriction, which was once sluggish, picked up quickly, and she smiled happily. "Everything looks like it's coming back. I'm going to take the restrictor off of you now. Everything may come rushing back, but try to fight the urge to react to everything at once....now, can you explain what happened to me?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Sickbay - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0810) "Its a whole system restart. I turned off the light switch in your brain and flipped it back on. Try to move around, its like an infant. The more you use them, the pathways will restart and become more functional as you go. Don't be afraid, I'm here for you." Lo'ren's ears finally worked properly and she heard every word that Angeni spoke, the woman sounded excited and relieved that Lo'ren was able to speak.She was grateful when Angeni numbed the arm, as it was a distraction from the massive task at hand. 47 years of innate movement to be relearned in minutes was herculean to say the least. Lo'ren rolled her head back and forth slowly, arched her back and flexed each leg, testing that they were steady enough before making a move to sit. Angeni held her and made sure she was steady while Lo'ren used her good arm to hold onto the bed, letting her legs swing down. The sensation was very much like jell-o, wobbly and yet solid enough - though shaking oneself too hard could be problematic. Angeni came in front of her, the fuzzy details coming into sharper focus each second. The light she shone into Lo'ren's eyes was slightly painful,but miniscule in the grander scheme. She endured until Angeni smiled her satisfaction, then blinked rapidly, clearing the discomfort. Satisfied, Angeni made for the cuff at her wrist and the inhibitor behind her ear. "Everything looks like it's coming back. I'm going to take the restrictor off of you now. Everything may come rushing back, but try to fight the urge to react to everything at once....now, can you explain what happened to me?" Lo'ren grimaced slightly as she sat there in front of those probing grey eyes. "Sorry you were the recipient of that. I needed an anchor to bring me close enough to the surface to get out of the trance. I didn't know who you were but I had enough sense still that I could grasp that you were not an enemy, or at least weren't actively harming me." (reply Angeni) Lo'ren nodded, "Sorry for being so forward, I know it's not a nice thing to be so suddenly invaded like that. My trance made my abilities be the most primitive and therefore abrupt entries and exits. I left your mind to concentrate once I had what I needed - knowledge and safety." (reply Angeni) Lo'ren rubbed her neck with her good arm and frowned, "That is what I'm now trying to sort out." (reply Angeni iyw) Lo'ren though closing her eyes against some of the brighter colours that were now whirling into focus. "I'm sure you saw the power spike I tried against that Waagoshin?" (reply Angeni) Lo'ren shook her head as she realized at least one thing, feeling very stupid, "Telepathic abilities don't generally work on holograms and... Oh dear Prophets!" Lo'ren's eyes widened to saucers as she understood what she might have done and how it hade barely been averted. (reply Angeni) "I could have killed a crew member... I could have killed Jack." She whispered as she stared at Angeni. "The only thing that saved Jack was the defense link I set up. The only thing that saved anyone else was distance." (reply Angeni) Lo'ren took in a slow cleansing breath but was unable to stop a single tear from tracing her cheek. Her voice wobbled as she outlined what she thought happened. "Jack and I teamed up once things started getting too much for solo work and I established an ancient defense link that let us work more closely in tandem without verbal communication. When I let off that blast, the defense link must have protected Jack and rebounded the strike to me when there was no one else close enough. Because it was my own mental energy and because there was another still active in the link, my instinct was to go into trance." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Sickbay - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 0815) Angeni watched in amazement as Lo'ren began reusing and relearning how to use her various muscles. What took years, she was doing in mere minutes. She helped her flex her neck and arms, and she sat before her, rubbing her legs, trying to get the muscles to stop quivering. The muscles wanted to do what they had been doing for years, but her mind wasn't ready for it. The young doctor pulled a steel instrument tray over to her, loaded with various hypos. If anything went awry, she was going to be ready. "Sorry you were the recipient of that. I needed an anchor to bring me close enough to the surface to get out of the trance. I sisn't know who you were but I had enough sense still that I could grasp that you were not an enemy, or at least weren't actively harming me." Angeni waved a hand, a slight smile on her face. "It's quite alright. I had a bad experience several years ago with something similar, and I still haven't been quite right, but I understand enough that you had to do what you had to do. I've always been...what's the word...sensitive to things like that. I am not a telepath by any stretch of the imagination, but I can certainly feel the vibes." Lo'ren nodded, "Sorry for being so forward, I know it's not a nice thing to be so suddenly invaded like that. My trance made my abilities be the most primitive and therefore abrupt entries and exits. I left your mind to concentrate once I had what I needed - knowledge and safety." "As I said, there's no harm done. I would rather you have done it, than try and fight through it on your own. That's what I'm here for." She offered Lo'ren a reassuring smile. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and she was sure it wasn't going to be the last time. "But the intent of my original question was what happened up there? I'm trying to understand how you went from functioning to...well...non functioning" Lo'ren rubbed her neck with her good arm and frowned, "That is what I'm now trying to sort out." Angeni nodded and sat back, giving the woman time to think. She jotted some things down on a padd, and she began to clean up the injured arm, debriding some of the dirt and grass that had infiltrated the wound. Lo'ren though closing her eyes against some of the brighter colours that were now whirling into focus. "I'm sure you saw the power spike I tried against that Waagoshin?" Angeni nodded eagerly, "From a Neurology stand point, it was absolutely amazing. I had only seen stuff like that in textbooks, so to see it first hand was amazing. I couldn't even see the peaks and valleys on the print out, and I had it shrunken down to the smallest size possible. It must've been one hell of a mental blast..." "Telepathic abilities don't generally work on holograms and... Oh dear Prophets!" Angeni noted the distress immediately, and she stood up, taking the womans' hands in hers, rubbing the backs with her thumbs. "What's wrong?" "I could have killed a crew member... I could have killed Jack." Lo'ren said with the smallest of voices as she gazed at Angeni. Suddenly, Angeni felt the sadness well up in her own heart, and Angeni fought to maintain composure. "The only thing that saved Jack was the defense link I set up. The only thing that saved anyone else was distance." "If it makes you feel any better, Jack is fine...Dr. Parker is with him right now still in the holodeck..." Angeni listened to the woman inhale deeply, and she winced at the tear falling down her cheek. Instinctively, she reached up, wiping the tear away with a tissue she had on the instrument tray, and she listened as the poor woman poured her heart out. "Jack and I teamed up once things started getting too much for solo work and I established an ancient defense link that let us work more closely in tandem without verbal communication. When I let off that blast, the defense link must have protected Jack and rebounded the strike to me when there was no one else close enough. Because it was my own mental energy and because there was another still active in the link, my instinct was to go into trance." "That would explain the spike. Normally, if it wouldn't have rebounded, you would've come right out from your trance within minutes, without any help, but whatever power you forced into that strike hit you with the same force. It stopped you in your tracks. You are a lucky lady, Lo'ren. This could've been much worse." (Reply Lo'Ren) "I'm going to suggest a day of rest for you. I don't want you running back to work so soon after this catastrophy. Your ultra fine motor skills may take several hours coming back. If you are needed, then by all means, go, but I want you to have as much down time as possible..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades - Sickbay - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0817) The physical contact Angeni was providing did more for Lo'ren than the young doctor probably realized. The conflicted emotions were free to be sorted without reproof and the situation and memories sat into Lo'ren's mind that much more quickly. "That would explain the spike. Normally, if it wouldn't have rebounded, you would've come right out from your trance within minutes, without any help, but whatever power you forced into that strike hit you with the same force. It stopped you in your tracks. You are a lucky lady, Lo'ren. This could've been much worse." Lo'ren let herself be calmed by the younger woman's words, yet she couldn'tlet herself off the hook that quickly. "Yes, much worse. Someone could be dead, I would be at fault and facing a court martial." (reply Angeni iyw) She gritted her teeth and made herself move closer to the edge of the biobed, each move feeling like she was fighting through an upstream current as her muscles tried to work together, misfiring and making her feel like she was a tottering two-year-old again. Despite this, Lo'ren wanted to get on with the day. "Angeni, am I cleared to leave? I wanted to be present at the experiments in the lab." "I'm going to suggest a day of rest for you. I don't want you running back to work so soon after this catastrophy. Your ultra fine motor skills may take several hours coming back. If you are needed, then by all means, go,but I want you to have as much down time as possible..." Lo'ren sighed, letting go of her denial and recognizing how much she still needed to recover, "Those experiments are important, but I suppose I can read the reports, plus I would likely be the bull in the china shop as they say." She let a wry grin cross her lips as she spoke, "I don't think Jack would want me to be the cause of the lab blowing up again." (reply Angeni) Lo'ren looked down at the shredded uniform and back at Angeni. She raised aneyebrow and quipped, "I'll certainly need to change no matter what I do."She couldn't help but laugh and let the sensation bubble up. Despite the rather dire implications of what could have happened, Lo'ren was relieved to have survived and was more than relieved that Jack was fine. (reply Angeni) She shuffled back onto the bed, each move a test that slowly she began passing. "I think I'll stay here until Jack comes, then perhaps he can escort me to my quarters. I'll meditate there for a while and then," Lo'ren yawned a mighty yawn as her exertion caught up with her, "And then I supposea long sleep would do well." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades, Holodeck 3, ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh, 1300) Walsh breathed a deep, calming breath, centering his focus. He nestled the Type-3 phaser's stock into a better position on his shoulder. The corridors of the Hades were dark, as main power had been disabled. He signaled to the two security team members on his left to cover him. They moved into position as Walsh crept towards a corner that turned sharply to the right. He quickly swung around the corner, preparing to engage the Waagoshin that he knew were on the other side. There was nothing there. Something was wrong. "Fireteam, Firing pattern sigma!" He shouted. The team circled up, preparing for the inevitable assault. Things were very quiet. "Sir, I'm picking up lifesigns, Waagoshin. Something must be wrong with my tricorder, it says that they're right on top of us!" Walsh looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, sh--" Before he could finish, a ceiling tile crashed to the floor, and a Waagoshin was on top of him. These opponents were much different than the ones he had faced before, they were smaller and faster. Walsh allowed himself to be "killed" by the Waagoshin, and put himself into observer mode. He now watched his security team be picked apart by the Waagoshin. Ensign Channing did well, attempting to marshal the remaining security team members together, but eventually they were overcome. "Computer, end simulation." He surveyed his team, who were picking themselves up off the ground. "What did we learn?" he asked them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Deck Six - Science Lab One - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 20:25) Eoin came off the lift, and walked in the direction of the science lab, still wearing his Engineering jumpsuit he put on about twenty-four hours prior, his tool bag still slung over his shoulder, and a cup of tea in his hand. At this point, this was the only thing keeping him awake. ~Only this left, Eoin. You can do it. Then you can go to bed.~ He entered the science lab, and looked around. "Good evening, Mr. McKenzie." (reply McKenzie) "Alright. Now, have you started any work on the sensors yet? Just bring me up to speed on what's happened, and then I can run my ideas by you, and we'll get started." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.27 (USS Hades - Personal Quarters - aCTAC/CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin - 0300) Baylon awoke with a start. Recently he'd been picking up too much psychic bleed through from other crew members who seemed to be suffering nightmares. It had begun to take a toll on him and now he was beginning to have issues of his own. His issues were of a nature different, in a lot of ways than those bits of pieces he had been picking up recently. His issues were centered around Ranae. It had been months since she had transferred off the Hades, and still there was no word from her. He had sent letters, messages and none of which had been returned. It seemed that she had moved on and that was a very painful thing for the otherwise seemingly impervious Security Chief to handle. ~You let her get too close Baylon.~ He told himself as he threw aside the blanket and shifted to sit on the edge of the bed. ~thought you'd learned your lesson on Andoria. ~ He sat and cradled his head in his hands for a moment before standing and walking across the room to his wet bar. He took out a bottle of Andorian whiskey and moved over to the replicator to order a tumbler with three cubes of ice. Once his order was filled Baylon took the glass and carried it, along with the whiskey over to his favorite chair. He filled it, quaffed the blue alcohol and refilled his glass. The chair faced the Alderossan statue that he had purchased for Ranae from the antiquities dealer on Geneva during the war. She had left it with him as a reminder that they would be reunited someday. But instead it served as a reminder to never get involved with a woman ever again. In the statue's outstretched hand, which in eons past had served as a sacrificial altar to the ancient gods, there was a small jagged stone. It was the physical reminder of his time on Mount Cathos. Just looking at it brought back a flood of memories. He had climbed the mountain for the first time only a couple of days after arriving on Andoria. He had a weeks leave and had planned the trip to the smallest detail. He had originally planned to go with a classmate, a William McManus, but Bill had been called back to Earth unexpectedly. With a large number of credits already spent and non-refundable. He had set out on the trip alone, confident in his skills and the ability of his communicator should there be any problems. The climb had been excruciatingly difficult, and twice he had nearly been killed by avalanches. It had taken him the entire week to make the summit alone. It had been a test of strength and endurance. He had picked up the stone from the mountain's summit and had later impressed his memory into the fabric of the stone as a reminder of his triumph. Whenever Baylon began to doubt himself, or when ever he wondered how he could carry on, that stone and the memory it contain had seen him through. Drained the tumbler of it's whiskey, placed the glass on the small table next to his chair and rose to cross the distance between the chair and the statue. Baylon took the stone from the rigid grasp of the effigy and returned to his chair, there, he prepared himself to relive the memory embedded in the stone. Once prepared he began his deep immersive meditation. In a moment the warm comforts of the room seemed to freeze over with a thick layer of frost, ice and snow. The furniture and trappings of the room transmogrified into boulders and snow banks. A few scattered thick skinned plants whipped about violently in the cold winter wind, as the room completed it's transformation into Cathos. The memory was just a few meters short of the summit, and already Trinin's muscles ached with fatigue and oxygen deprivation. The wind was howling and the bitter coldness of it turned his skin red and froze the moisture in his breathe to his face. A few jagged boulders stood out to his left, offering some minor protection from the wind. Over the Howl of the wind, Trinin could make out the tremendous roar as millions of tons of snow broke away from the mountainside below him, rushing down into the valley below. He knew that he was only a short distance to the top of the cloud formations that were driving the blizzard. He knew that if he could just endure for just a few minutes, he'd see everything and all his efforts here would be worthwhile. Carefully, slowly, he wound his way up the side of the mountain. There was ice and a few jagged stones, and he had slipped here several times during the actual ascent. Before long the burning pain of scrapped shins was added to his other discomforts, which he didn't try to dull in the slightest. Knowing that he had survived this mountain in the real world, allowed Trinin to overcome it in his memory with impunity. Soon he would reach the upper edge of the cloud cover and the wind would stop and the snow would almost cease to fall on him. After that it was only a few more meters to the summit and the most incredible sight in his life. He knew that by this point in the memory he had already spent seven days on this mountain, with this moment being at the end of the last day. In two hours, He'd receive a report that the weather will be so bad that he knew he couldn't possibly survive the descent. He had been forced to call and be transported off the mountain. But before all of that he saw this: As he broke through the clouds he looked out at the sky, where the sun was rapidly setting. Already the clouds were beginning to reflect a wide array of colors. He knew that the moment was coming, having experienced it before. "Watch" he told himself as the moment was upon him. Suddenly the entire sea of clouds bloomed into wild colors. Vibrant oranges and violets danced alongside pale patches of pink and yellows. A few scattered streaks of indigo and gray complimented the colors as the sun suddenly flared as it crossed under the edge of the atmosphere, almost as if crowned with a series of rays shooting from her warm center. As she flickered in the thickening clouds, engulfed by them, the Aurora began to appear and the stars began to become visible. At this altitude the stars were almost as clear as they were from the depths of space. There was so little atmosphere between him and the stars the he felt as if he could reach out and touch them. The Aurora moved snakelike across the sky, in an undulating back-and-forth movement. The only significant discernable light in the night sky, save the distant twinkling of the stars. He pointed up at the sky, by instinct, finding the first star that he waslooking for. ~There is Sol, the heart of the Federation~ He pointed to a different star next. ~And that one is Vulcan, another founding member of the UFP, Andoria is obvious...~ Continuing to point to each in turn as he made the mental exercise to name those that were important. ~Betazed is there and there... the bright pretty one just above the horizon,is Bajor~ ~with a powerful enough optical telescope he wondered if he could see the Temple of the Prophets from here , knowing full well that it was roughly 560 light-years from Andoria. He had once been so conservative. So careful in everything that he did. It was this defining moment that had galvanized him into the man that he would become. This crowing victory over adversity that had forced him to tap hidden reserves of spiritual strength that he had not known existed. After this however, his confidence had grown, and this mountain was as much responsible for his fighting on Andoria as was the situation there. It had taught him the importance of self-reliance, strength of tenacity and most importantly the stubbornness to see a difficult situation through to the bitter end. The small weather alert radio on his belt chimed angrily for attention. It advised him of a massive blizzard that was scheduled to arrive at the mountain within the next couple of hours and stay there for the next seven to ten days. It was the news that had prevented him from climbing down the mountainside on that very first trip. Baylon stood and shook the accumulating ice crystals from his clothing and wiped them from his face. He searched the snow covered ground for a souvenir. Then he spotted the jagged stone peeking up through the snow and ice on the mountain's summit. He walked over to it and picked it up. He knew that this was the stone that he was holding in his hand back at his quarters. The Foci of his meditation. Smiling as he regarded it, he allowed the memory to fade and to allow his consciousness to return to the Hades once again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades –Deck 3, Personal Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0359) She was curled as tightly as she could, trying to ward away any morepunishment from the Cardassian. Her eyes squeezed shut against anything and everything didn't hinder the visions of Joser and every other child in that lineup. The group had held its own little rebellion over time, but being children couldn't bring much defiance; a small act of kindness here, a lost tool there - they tried and failed to stop the abuse they all experienced. Lo'ren suffered very little physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually she was drained again and again over the years. This was just one of many times but it was the first time she'd experienced death like that. A voice entered her frame of being, imposing itself where none other could. ~Who?~ "Lo'ren, what's wrong? Where are you hurting?" Her body was wracked by the sobbing as the voice pulled her into a position of safety. "It hurts! My knees hurt! Mama!" She continued sobbing, stuck within the childhood memory but able to respond, she answered as she'd done her father those many years ago. The shocked face of Joser floated before her again, his eyes wide as her face was sprinkled with blood. "Joser's dead, Daddy. All my fault! Stupid, worthless half-breed mongrel." She repeated the old words that had been drilled into her and smacked her hand. "I felt your dream just like you felt mine." Jack spoke with a tenderness of understanding that came from personal loss. "I'm sorry you awoke from your healing trance to this. I came as soon as my feet hit the floor. What's wrong with your knees?" "The big, new snakey man pushed me, I fell, it's all my fault. Joser died because I am bad. My Fault. My Fault." She rocked a bit, loosening her tension with the motion. She whimpered. The calm centre between them was growing and she finally broke through the haze, realizing where she was. Her sobs came anew, but this time with the anguish of experience and age, not the simple wails of a child. They were filled with understanding of a history that nearly destroyed her race and her mind. The loss of many bright futures at the hands of madmen. As she wept for all those poor, unfortunate paghs, Jack slipped his arms around her waist trying to absorb some of the pain while he sent soft healing to search it out and rout it. "I was four years old, they were 6, we had a new supervisor. He was a bitter, mean, twisted man. He wanted to break me so badly, the first day he made the other kids spit in my face because Vulcan's are superior and arrogant. Joser..." She choked on her sobs as she took a wobbly breath in."Joser showed me kindness and Hesth killed him." (reply Jack) "I'm a mongrel, a half-breed. I'm neither here nor there. I'm no good at logic or controlling my emotions. I left my home. I'm no good." (reply Jack) She sobbed again, letting go of decades of loneliness and fear of rejection. Her body convulsed with her sobbing as Jack continued. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades –Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0400) "The big, new snakey man pushed me, I fell, it's all my fault. Joser died because I am bad. My Fault. My Fault." She said as she rocked a bit and whimpered. ~Remembered pain.~ Jack grit his teeth in anger at what some sadistic bas**** had done to a defenseless child. He had never had reason to hate Cardassians before but the possibility was beginning to grow on him. ~No Jack don't go there she needs you now, your sympathy without a loss of control, you can hate that *** **** later when you get a spare moment.~ That was agreeable. ~Deal~ He thought to himself. This triggered a bout of humor which welled up in him as he was having a mental conversation with himself, that seemed to help a bit as well as she began to weep with the understanding of where and when she was. His arms were wrapped tenderly around her waist as she cried out the pain, after a moment she began to speak rationally. "I was four years old, they were 6, we had a new supervisor. He was a bitter, mean, twisted man. He wanted to break me so badly, the first day he made the other kids spit in my face because Vulcan's are superior and arrogant. Joser..." She choked on her sobs as she took a wobbly breath in. "Joser showed me kindness and Hesth killed him." If Hesth had been standing before him today the skin of the Cardassian would no doubt have crawled with fear just by being in the vicinity of Jack, the hate that welled up in him though he bottled up in the knot in his stomach and kept from her. That hate was strong enough to poison him as well so he took a deep breath and let it melt away. ~Later Jack, remember your promise.~ Better to accentuate the good. "That boy was a peach and his death was a tragedy but he left you with something very few people manage to leave behind, a memory of honor, kindness and bravery." "I'm a mongrel, a half-breed. I'm neither here nor there. I'm no good at logic or controlling my emotions. I left my home. I'm no good." He didn't shush her, just let her pour out her uncounted bitterness at a young life full of pain. After she had unloaded her thoughts he spoke. "I would expect that kind of talk from a child but not from a grown woman who has struck out into a new life full of wonder and exploration. A member of starfleet and an officer on a great fighting ship with a storied past." She began to sob brokenly as he continued to speak, it would do her good to cry out the hurt, Jack knew it because he had internalized so much pain, grief and hate inside himself that had poisoned him in the past. Had he allowed himself to grieve properly rather than bottling it up and directing it at Doenitz and his cronies perhaps he could have let go sooner because now there was no more Doenitz and his twisted federation and he was still trying to let go of what had festered inside him. "You have so much value, so much to live for." He spoke softly to her as the left side of his face nestled against the right side of her scalp. "You music and languages, a father still on Bajor, a mother who adored you and the memories you've made since you arrived on Earth to begin your Academy and you're not a mongrel, a mongrel has an uncertain and tainted ancestry but you have the talents and strengths of your vulcan heritage along with the fire and steel of your Bajoran heritage forged in the fire of oppression. You are a strong woman with an awesome future. Oh and did I mention me?" He chuckled which rustled her hair and tickled her ear. "You've got a man who adores you as well, what more could you possibly want out of life than me?" (Reply: Lo'ren) "Seriously." He said. "Like it or not I need you more than I can possibly say and I need you close to me." He cupped her chin in his right hand. "My quarters are too roomy in every way with more closet space than I could possibly use. How do you feel about a change of quarters?" He sucked in a deep breath hoping desperately she wouldn't say no. "Why don't we move your stuff to my room?" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades –Deck 9, Personal Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0401) She slowly calmed down as he spoke, reminding her of those successes in her life that had helped to forge her as she was today. His laughter resonated in her chest as he reminded her of the connection they shared and his feelings for her. She laughed with him, letting the moment wick away some of the worst bottled and shoved down emotional scars. Far from a final healing,it allowed her to refocus and remind herself how precious life was and how important it was to grow beyond those horrible events. She twisted so she could speak to him and look into his eyes. Even with their link, she always preferred that face to face communication. She blinked at the tears which, while they slowed, still flowed down her cheeks."What more could I want?" She searched his face, "Nothing more than what you can give me, Jack." Her mind whirled through the possibilities, but she left it open for him to make his own thoughts of that statement. His arms were still about her waist and she liked them there. She curled her own around his chest, her right shoulder ending up snuggled under his arm. she closed her eyes for a moment, grateful that he was there. "Seriously." He said. "Like it or not I need you more than I can possibly say and I need you close to me." He cupped her chin in his right hand. "The senior officers quarters are much roomier than these are in every way with more closet space than I could possibly use. How do you feel about a change of quarters?" His breath faltered slightly as he came to his actual request."Why don't we move your stuff to my room?" Her own breath caught and her eyes grew wide. Her heart sang out joyfully. All her emotions tumbled across their link and she didn't care if he was overwhelmed by the deluge. She uttered only two words before drawing him into a lengthy, wanton embrace. "Oh, Jack!" (reply Jack) She laughed more openly than she could remember laughing in a long time."Yes, I do believe that's a yes." Her eyes glinted with renewed fire as she laced her hands behind his head. (reply Jack) She tilted her head to the side, growing serious and thoughtful as she gazed at him, "Thank you, Jack." (reply Jack) "For coming into my life, for being willing to be vunerable, for being you, for loving me." She leaned forward a bit to release her hands as she spoke and ran them down his shoulders and arms. Pulling herself to her knees, Lo'ren moved a little bit closer to him and gently met his lips again, this time savouring the sweetness there, the roughness of his unshaven cheeks and the shapes of his muscles as her fingers ran over his shoulders. (reply Jack) She had no other words to say, so she laced these with every ounce ofemotion she had for him. "I love you, Jericho Haynes." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades –Deck 3, Personal Quarters –CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0407) She gave him a pleasantly shocked look as her emotional reaction rumbled through their link making him giddy, as if her answer hadn't made him joyful enough already. He knew he must have looked like a dork with a smile a mile wide as she leaned into him and wriggled against him in a delightfully provocative manner. ~Wow! Things are looking up for you Jack old boy.~ "Oh, Jack!" She squealed in a school-girlish manner. He laughed as he pulled her back in for some more of that, breathlessly then he teased her. "That sounded like a yes." She dissolved into helpless laughter for a moment, the kind you get when your defenses are completely down and something happens upon you that's so funny you can't hold back and blows a refreshing wind through your soul. "Yes, I do believe that's a yes." She continued to lean into him, reaching around his neck with her hands and lacing them together, their faces were so close and her lusciously exotic, full lips. His own eyes got a bit fiery as he returned her look. "Be careful there girl, it's early and you're making it difficult for me to concentrate on anything but you, I probably won't get a thing done today." She got a bit serious as she gave him a bit of a sideways look. "Thank you, Jack." "Huh? For what?" He asked sincerely. "For coming into my life, for being willing to be vulnerable, for being you, for loving me." She leaned forward a bit to release her hands as she spoke and ran them down his shoulders and arms. Pulling herself to her knees, she moved a little bit closer to him and gently kissed him again. His every sense was at full, heightened alert at her response, when she finally pulled back he drew in a deep breath to calm himself. "You're welcome and your thanks are very much appreciated." He couldn't help the quip, that was completely Jack, always the jokester when the opportunity presented itself. Once it had been a defense mechanism but now seemed to be becoming more and more natural. ~Hey she likes that about me I think, as much as I appreciate her humor.~ "And yes I do, very much, I still don't know why you chose me but I'm thankful for it. We're going to have some good times together." . "I love you, Jericho Haynes." The depth of her emotion resounded in him as he pulled her close and held her tightly. He grinned like a fool as they lost themselves in the moment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - dreamscape - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0617) Teeth. Haywood's heart was pounding uncomfortably in his throat and he couldn't manage to drag his eyes away from the gaping mouth that hovered inches from his face. It's breath was noxious and hot and it's teeth dripped with saliva and blood. The nameless, faceless mouth laughed silently, daring Haywood to cry out, to beg for his life. Throwing his pride to the wind, Haywood obeyed. Falling to his knees, his legs no longer able to hold the weight of his body, he begged. No words escaped his lips, only soft whimpering accompanied by a stream of terrified tears. Here he was, presented with his own death and he couldn't even find the dignity to face it. The toothy mouth molded into a gaping grin and moved with an unreal speed, taking Haywood's body easily between it's massive jaws... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades –Sick Bay –ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0618) Haywood's eyes sprang open, but instincts would not allow his body to move. His pulse roaring in his ears and his eyes not-yet focused, he tried desperately to figure out where, exactly, he was. As his heart rate slowed and the familiar thrumming of sickbay replaced the sound of his rushing blood, he realized that, for the third night since he had arrived on the Hades, he had fallen asleep on one of the biobeds. At last, his muscles relaxed and he brought himself to a sitting position, dragging his knees to his chest and resting his chin in the space between them. It was his first day off-duty, and he couldn't think of anything to do with himself. He was certain that the friends he had made during the past five days were probably working today. "It was just a dream," he muttered to himself, returning to the subject most prominent in his mind. The image of the mouth... the image of himself dying... It had been one of those moments during a dream when a person left his body and was watching from the outside. He had been watching himself die. ~It was because of yesterday,~ he told himself, ~that dumb simulation has you all worked up.~ Haywood had never been one to fear animals. After all, they worked on instinct. The instinct of self-preservation, the need to eat, reproduce and survive. But these weren't animals... Well, they were, of course, members of the kindom animalia, but they weren't working on instinct. The Waagoshins were free-thinkers, and malicious free-thinkers at that. He shuttered and swung his legs around to the side of the biobed. "Maybe you should just get some breakfast, old boy, and try not to think about it." He hopped to his feet, took a deep breath and headed toward the sickbay doors. After a quick visit to his quarters to wash up and get on some fresh clothes, he was going to make a trip to ten forward for something to eat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh - 0630) Robert yawned, as he reclined backwards in his chair. He was very sore from yesterday's rigorous holodeck exercise. His half eaten breakfast, which was scrambled eggs with meat, cheese, and veggies (food aesthetic was not his top priority) sat next to a PADD with a play by the noted Andorian playwright Gareb th'Zarath. He was enjoying it quite a bit. ~Very, very bloody.~ He continued to read, enjoying the low hum of the room. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0631) Having confirmed the dark circles under his eyes and now wearing fresh clothes, Haywood stepped through the doors of ten forward. Not in the mood to wait to be served, he walked directly over and ordered the largest fruit salad available. The server, a light haired young woman with a bright smile, promptly provided his food and with a nod turned to the next patron. His stomach growling, Haywood walked into the sea of early-morning conversations in search of a table with a vacant seat. Sitting alone at a table with a PADD and a half-eaten breakfast, sat a tactical officer. Haywood made his way over to the table. "You must be Walsh," he said with a smile. Balancing his tray in his left hand, he extended his right to his crewmate, "Haywood Parker," he offered, "the new ACMO." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ASEC Ensign (jg) Robert Walsh - 0632) "You must be Walsh," Walsh was startled by the sudden appearance of an Ensign, who stood above him, smiling, hand outstretched. "Haywood Parker, the new ACMO." said Parker. Walsh stretched out his hand, shaking Haywood's. "Robert Walsh, but call me Rob, or Bob or something, Robert is a bit formal." As the Ensign situated himself, Robert asked, "So I figure you got to experience the aftermath of my simulation yesterday." (reply Parker) "Well, I was kind of busy running around screaming and hitting things," he chuckled in response. (reply Parker) Walsh finished his eggs as he carried on the conversation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades – Deck 3, Personal Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0726) Lo'ren hated to move. Despite the hard floor, she hated to move because to move would be to wake Jack and she wanted to stay right where she was. Nestled in his arms. She'd made sure that - no matter what - today Jack would think of her first. She was going to have trouble concentrating on the days' tasks herself. They'd fallen asleep on the floor where he'd brought her out of the memories brought on by the mental stress of yesterday's activities and where he'd managed to make her forget everything in an instant. Lo'ren smiled as she watched Jack sleep. She felt whole again - at least until the next time one of them fell vulnerable to something. Reluctantly she eased herself up and leaned over her lover. She gently kissed his lips to wake him, smiling as he began to react to her. (reply Jack) She looked into his eyes, "Good morning Love. Did you sleep well?" She and he were both filled with sacasm and wry humour, so she knew he would chime right in. (reply Jack) She sighed, "I'd call in sick, but with the Graelridge escorting us and being so close to the Tch'kairn homeworld... Not to mention that darn quantum weapon... Maybe we should both call in sick tomorrow." She made a face and rolled her eyes, pointing out her thoughts of doubt on that being possible and stood up. She leaned down and pulled Jack off the floor,belying the strength of her Vulcan heritage and several years of multi-disciplinary training. She eyed him up and down, "I think you'd better order a spare uniform and then come have a shower, I need some help with my back and I'm sure the captain would call this," Lo'ren tugged at his open housecoat, "Out of uniform." She raised an eyebrow as she turned towards the bathroom and sashayed away. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades – Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0727) It had been early in the morning when he'd gotten to her room after an interrupted sleep and the hardened plates of deck floors don't make for good romantic interludes, having said that the kisses he had received had made for a pleasant end to a bad situation and he'd gotten so relaxed lying on the floor with her in his arms that despite the waning eve and approaching dawn sleep had crept in unawares and snatched him up whole hog. It was with a start then that he realized that her tender lips were pressed against his once again and her breasts against his left arm which brought him back to blissful wakefulness quickly. Opening his eyes slowly as she withdrew from the impromptu embrace he grinned up at her then wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her soft body close. "Mmmmm." He said with a soft chuckle. She was looking into his eyes as she spoke, "Good morning Love. Did you sleep well?" As if on cue those hardened deck plates chose that moment to intrude upon his beautiful moment and remind him of their presence. He moved a bit while trying to find a more comfortable spot which eluded him, the feel of her body against his though made it more than almost bearable. "Absolutely delightful my dear." He quipped. "Goose down and feather pillows couldn't have been more comfortable, unfortunately this kink in my back doesn't appear to agree with my choice of bedding." She got a wry smile on her face at his reply before sighing fatalistically. "I'd call in sick, but with the Graelridge escorting us and being so close to the Tch'kairn home world... Not to mention that darn quantum weapon... Maybe we should both call in sick tomorrow." She made a face and rolled her eyes at the possibility before pulling from his embrace and standing to her feet then reached down with one hand. He took the hand and was more than a bit amazed when she pulled him to his feet. ~It's those Vulcan muscles old boy, never ever make her mad. She's probably got a rocket arm.~ He winced for a second as he worked out that da**ed knot in his lower back before lifting an eyebrow in mock imitation of vulcan expressions as she eyed him. She seemed to like what she saw. "That's the trouble with working on a starship." He noted. "Always some da** galactic emergency going on or a violent alien species to counter ... and then you have your really bad days on top of that." "I think you'd better order a spare uniform and then come have a shower, I need some help with my back and I'm sure the captain would call this," She tugged at his open housecoat, "Out of uniform." She raised an eyebrow of her own back at him before turning towards the bathroom, her hips swayed tantalizingly as she walked away. "Help with your back eh?" Jack grinned as he fell in behind her. "I like the sound of that and the uniform can wait for a couple of minutes, I think I'd rather join you first. You aren't squeamish at the sight of naked men running around your pad are you?" He caught her and spun her around as she got to the door. "Besides I've got a sweet tooth for another kiss followed by some eye candy." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades – Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes - 0750) The shower had to be quick but it had been thorough and he'd gotten her to scrub his back as well, tit for tat. He was pulling on the boots of his freshly minted uniform as she was walking out of the bathroom after having changed into her own uniform and coiffed her hair. "I've got to pop into our room for my communicator badge and then I'll walk you to the bridge, when should I report your change of address to take effect?" He asked with a smile. (Reply: Lo'ren) "The sooner the better." He replied. "I like taking communal showers." ~Among other things.~ (Reply: Lo'ren) "Here we go then." He offered her his arm as they walked through the door then headed for his ... their room. "I've got a feeling this is going to be a good day." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Bridge - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0845) ~Stretch did a good job on those sensors.~ Lo'ren watched her tactical readouts as she memorized what appeared to be weak spots on the Waagoshin ship. They were getting close to the Tch'Kairn homeworld and Lo'ren was at the main tactical station. She had originally slated Master Chief Gorges to beat the main station but had changed her mind, seeing as how they were almost there. She'd informed Baylon of the switch and sent the extra body down to the Holodeck to run the combat simulation again - with the safeties a little higher. ~We don't need any more injuries right now.~ She keyed in the sequence that would activate the T.I.H.S. in passive mode and stepped into the circle that designated the system's field. Before her and all around her the starfield came into being, making her feel like she was floating in space, even as she could feel her feet solidly connected to the decking. She could still see the ghosted images that came with the defensive link she'd kept on with Jack. ~It might come in handy if we're both on the bridge in a firefight.~ She vowed to talk to Jack about keeping it and hoped it wouldn't disturb him over much. Lo'ren reached out and pulled the Graelridge closer, looking at the real timevisual data and corrolating her current knowledge with this. She turned the ship around slowly, imagining the Waagoshin holding on for dear life as their ship's gravitational arrays - or whatever passed for them - went haywire trying to stop the shaking they were getting from the giant Federation Officer. Chuckling and satisfied for the moment, Lo'ren stepped back and deactivated the T.I.H.S. She made a few notes before settling down in her seat and giving her arm some gentle excercise as the shift seemed to be going smoothly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Tch'Kair, Waagoshin Security headquarters- Hallway, Technician Klk'Shis - 1735) The Tch'kairn female had checked in with the garrison commander after arriving via shuttle and was now en-route to the communications node she routinely used for surreptitious messages to K'thartek who was the leader of the Tch'kairn freedom forces. Today she had in her possession some possibly monumental news, news that could aid in freeing her people from the grip of slavery. If another race had indeed heard their call and sent a ship or ships then their interest or at least curiosity had been piqued, perhaps enough that terms could be settled on for them to send military aid. While Klk'Shis herself had never killed and hoped to not have to she was willing to do all in her power to make that dream a reality, even to sacrificing herself if necessary. She slipped into the node and settled into the chair ergonomically designed for their conquerors and it was not comfortable at all, her lower carapace was perched atop it precariously. Switching it on she tapped in the commands to reroute and shield the transmission, when it was done she noted a blinking tell in the lower left corner of the screen and immediately deactivated the unit, rose to her feet and left the nook. Once more in the hallway she forced herself to walk at a measured pace once again, the half square that had appeared was a security code denoting an unauthorized transmission, there had been some changes already in the system it appeared since her last transmission. The tipping point was if the Waagoshin were actively suspecting or merely being proactive, if the latter this might possibly be overlooked as an anomaly. Making a left turn she passed two armed Waagoshin heading the direction she had vacated. Her codes were designed to be untraceable and wiped from the databases memory banks within minutes of the end of communications and she hoped it would help her now, surely they wouldn't be quick enough to discover it before it was gone. That nook had been along the way to the security center control room but there were others she could use and she altered her course to make for one, the next time she would not be caught hibernating. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair, Waagoshin Security headquarters-Comm nook, Technician Klk'Shis - 1740) There was no general alert and no alarms as she finally slipped into it so she stopped for a moment to compose herself after sitting down, her hearts were still thumping madly. It took a few minutes but it was time well spent, her nimble fingers tapped in a command to deactivate the security alarms followed by the rerouting of the signal beam and hidden transmission, this would not be noticed by the communications tech as the readings would remain the same though there might be some slight distortion in the feed which would clear up as soon as she was done. As soon as the preparations were made she activated the signal which was audio only. "This is an important message which should be relayed to K'thartek immediately. An alien vessel entered the system approximately one hour ago, it was escorted in by the Graelridge. The configuration is unknown and sources claim they were intercepted while on a course for the Hiverun Ignatius system. I repeat aliens headed for Tch'kair have been escorted into the system by the Graelridge, there exists a possibility they were attracted by the message. Acknowledge." =^= Your message gas been received, K'Thartek will be notified immediately. Lopo Dal out.=^= She flipped off the signal immediately and restored the defaults before settling back in the uncomfortable chair, after the stress she had undergone in the last hour she felt as though all her strength had fled. The comm nook she had chosen was closer to the nerve center of the garrison which was the reason she had not used it before, when the door slid open behind her she nearly jumped from the chair in fear. The metal collar she was wearing also seemed to be constricting her throat, her breathing was affected very little as most of her air was drawn in through spicules on her sides. She forced herself to remain still as the Waagoshin who had opened the door looked her over. "What are you doing in a communications nook slave?" It's voice was low and growly, its suspicions had been aroused. She turned her head to see a flunky rather than an armed guard but danger still existed. "I am Klk'shis, Alpha 1 sent me to the garrison to upgrade the security systems and I have been checking the communications nooks for hacker holes in the system. After I am satisfied they are secure I will be working on the upgrades... Master." The last she added so as not to arouse more suspicion. The Waagoshin looked at her for a moment, she was very recognizable among the Tch'kairn because of the mottling at the rear and top of her mid thorax. "I recognize you Klk'shis." He spat the name out with venom. "I know you consider yourself highly among your people and mine, I also know you think yourself above threats and punishments because of who your master happens to be." His head lowered till his muzzle was near her throat and the collar that gleamed on it. He opened his jaws slightly but she held her submissive position though she wanted to scream and run from this sadist. He forced her to sweat it out for a long moment before once again resuming an erect posture. "The next time that I see you you had best say master before anything else or I will kill you, do you understand slave?" "Yes master." "Much better." He half-turned then looked back at her. "Finish your work here quickly and begin the upgrades. I want them done before you take a rest period." "Yes master." She held the posture though it was painful and she knew he was aware of it which was why he was prolonging this conversation. He waited for another thirty seconds before turning completely and walking out the door, calling back as he did so. "Hurry slave." After it slid shut she slumped in mental and emotional exhaustion before standing before the door to leave, she was still trembling from it as she left the room to begin her duties but regained her strength quickly, the thought of the possible liberation of her people overriding her fear. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair, Mountain Fortress- Undisclosed location, Resistance Leader K'thartek - 1745) "...And then the second group will attack here at the perimeter of the factory to draw away the guards so that the second team can breach the perimeter and destroy the power cell manufacturing facility." K'thartek explained. "But how will we know that all the guards will move to attack the distraction team?" K'noth asked. "Because..." K'thartek replied with a swivel of his head, " the Waagoshin believe that we are weak and they relish the idea of killing us. The chance to kill rebelling slaves will be too great a temptation for them to resist. They'll be driven by their blood lust." "And what about the prisoners?" V'kloma asked then. The leader of the underground turned and regarded her. It was a very good question. "We can not save them all. But for those that wish to join us, I will have a surface transport waiting nearby to take them to a safe house. As the Waagoshin's orbiting star base will be on the other side of the planet at the time that the attack takes place, they will be delayed in their ability to bring excessive force to bear." He turned his head to regard each of the others clustered around the table. " Doctor B'kel's signal jammer should make it difficult for the Waagoshin to communicate to their ships, their bases or other security units. The only resistance that we face here at the factory are the 30 Waagoshin security troops." "They outnumber us. And they are born killers." V'kloma stated then. "Yes this is true. But they are overconfident in their abilities to conquer us with little fight. they also will not expect us to be as well armed as we are. The last raid on the supply convoy netted us some very effective weaponry. The phase pulse mortar should shift the odds considerably in our favor." "But is it worth all the death that is going to come of this?" V'kloma asked again. "Is slavery?" K'thartek snapped back a little irritated. "More of our people will die everyday at the whim of the Waagoshin as long as they control our world. At least any deaths that come from this will be for a purpose other than satisfying the bloodlust of an aggressive species who just want nothing more than prey." "K'thartek." A voice called. "I am not finished." K'thartek said still angry, "The waagoshin are a plague. They kill our young. They destroy our culture, they enslave our scientists and workers, and reduce our poets to manual laborers. They are the crude unwanted spawn of cruelty and oppression intermingled!" "K'thartek." again the voice. "What?" the resistance leader asked angrily as he spun around to face the Tch'Kairn calling his name. Lopo Dal was small, even for a male. He was of a frail constitution, ever since the Waagoshin had used him in the labor camps. He had proven to be a valuable member of the resistance cell since his escape had been affected. His counsel was such that K'thartek immediately regretted the tone that he had used with the smaller male. "I am sorry Lopo Dal. I was becoming passionate again in my desire to explain why we fight the Waagoshin slavers." Lopo regarded him for a moment, working his mandibles. "It is the nature of things I think. The passionate must, however always be reminded of the price that their passion brings. Your passion brings death and freedom eventually. We do not doubt that, but we must remind you of the cost, or you are no better than the Waagoshin slave master." They were harsh words. But they were true words. But most importantly they were words that needed to be said. Of all the members of the resistance only Lopo Dal could remind him of his moral obligations. It was strange that a philosopher could become a slave laborer, and then a member of the resistance, but never forget the soul of the Tch'Kairn through all the experiences of his life. "You of course are correct, Lopo Dal. I owe you all an apology. It is right that we question the value of our actions in the terms of lives lost. It is difficult to see a path and not know where the trail ends. it is my opinion as your leader that this is a very necessary action. There will be some that will die, but no more than will eventually die under Waagoshin rule. It is only with the hope of liberation that we can hope to save some of our people who would most likely perish under an extended Waagoshin oppression. We sacrifice our people now, for the hope of gaining an independent future." K'thartek replied, taking the time to address those assembled. "Speaking of our liberation." Lopo Dal said after a moment. "we may be closer than we originally thought. I have news from our agent within the Waagoshin Fleet." K'thartek spicule's took in a sudden rush of air. "And what does our agent say to us today?" he asked, knowing that the intelligence that was provided was always valuable and accurate." Lopo seemed to relish the moment of being once again the center of attention. He seemed to be transported back to his time in the central forums, speaking to the masses on Moral obligations and the pursuit of worthy endeavors in science, art and philosophy. He seemed for a moment not the weakened husk of agony that he had become over the recent years. "Our agent says that an alien vessel entered the system approximately one hour ago, it was escorted in by the Graelridge. The configuration is unknown and sources claim they were intercepted while on a course for the Hiverun Ignatius system. There exists a possibility they were attracted by the message." The room became immediately silent as every Tch'Kairn seemed to refrain from breathing. "It seems, K'thartek," Lopo continued, "that your plan to draw in aid has succeeded. The leader of the resistance allowed himself to relax as the airflow continued into his body. Someone began rubbing the exoskeleton of their forearms together in a makeshift moment of applause. The sound swelled as the noise was picked up by the others in the room and then he heard the sound spreading through the complex. ~I have succeeded. In drawing them here, but now, how do I convince them to join us in throwing off the Waagoshin?~ K'thartek wondered. "We will continue this briefing in a few hours. I have much to consider and to plan." K'thartek, the leader of the Tch'Kairn underground resistance movement, needed to consider his next move carefully. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- end compile