Compile summary --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.25 (USS Hades, Deck Six, Science Lab One, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 20:53) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate:2408.07.26 (USS Hades - Physics Lab - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 06:15) (USS Hades - Physics Lab - CSO, Jericho Haynes- 0628) (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACOUNS, Ensign Anamitra Ripley- 0752) (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO, Ensign Haywood Parker- 0753) (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0754) (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0755) (USS Hades, Holodeck 3, aCTAC/CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin, 1310) (USS Hades - Holodeck 3 - ASEC Ensign Robert Walsh, 1317) (USS Hades - Holodeck - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 1630) (USS Hades, Deck Six, Science Lab One, ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam, 20:54) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.27 (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0633) (USS Hades – Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0751) (USS Hades - Bridge - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0915) (USS Hades - Bridge - aCTAC/CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin - 0920) (USS Hades - Bridge - COUNS Ensign Anamitra Ripley - 0930) (USS Hades - Turbo lift - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0931) (USS Hades - bridge - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0932) (USS Hades - Bridge - CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0935) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- begin compile Stardate: 2408.07.25 (USS Hades, Deck Six, Science Lab One, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 20:53) "Good evening, Mr. McKenzie." Kenny spun around from looking at the computer screen which showed the diagrams that he showed his people not long ago about the "Occasional Sensor Bombardment" as it had been dubbed, mostly by the Human crewpersons, since he knew his race had a habit of doing that. He saw Ensign MacLiam standing before him. Kenny smiled. "Ah, Ensign. Glad you made it. We could do with a person from Engineering here." he said, placing a hand on the mans shoulders. "We have a bit of a re-working to do." "Alright." Eoin nodded. "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." Kenny motioned for them to walk and talk and they headed towards the other end of the room which held this decks sensor pallets, which were concealed behind a removable wall, which was exposed, showing the pallets. There were people, mostly from Science and Engineering around the place. "We have already come up with one idea. I'll give you the short version and you can pick the rest up from the teams. We plan to link the sensors to the power output of the optical sensors, so we can emit a low power outage when we scan the Wagoshiin. Now, we only send out a scan for a short period of time, meaning we collect a small amount of data. Then we keep doing this for however long it takes, overtime, we get difference pieces of data and we just then link them all, like a jigsaw puzzle. But the sensors have to be linked to the optical sensors because of their low engey output, or the Wagoshiin will detect us. Its' your job, and your teams, to link the two together. So far, we have been unable to, so that's the job for your department. If you understand me?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate:2408.07.26 (USS Hades - Physics Lab - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 06:15) Arysha blew air up the side of her face in exasperation and rolled her eyes, {{Ha Ha Ha E-Red, tease not.}} "Sorry, Arysha. Feeble attempt at a joke. I need some more caffeine. A nice cup of tea, I think." She slowed down a smidge. {{Only need help finding out what need extra power. Can write code easy-easy.}} "Of course. But with all the projects going on, we have to be very careful where we take the extra power from. 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?}} Eoin frowned. "I don't think that we should take that much power from the deflector. We'll need some of that power for a sensor project that I have to work on later today. Maybe some from the secondary systems. The holodecks, maybe? And some from life support. Feel like having a little extra spring in your step for a day or so?" 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?}} "Of course." Eoin sat back up. "Well, I'm done with this console. Have fun coding. I know I would." (reply Tethlin IYW) Eoin smiled, and leaned on his knees. ~A moment to myself,~ he thought. He rubbed his eyes. When he looked up, he saw Mr. Haynes approaching him. "Good morning Eoin, how is it going over here?" He asked as he walked up. "Ah, God be with you this morning, sir. This console is all taken care of. I was just taking a short break before moving on. What do you need me to do?" The scientist cocked his head as he looked at him. "How long has been since you slept my friend?" He asked. "Ah, about twenty-four hours now. But don't worry, I'll be fine. Just another cup of tea between now and my sensor project, and I'll be fine. Just like when we were in the Academy, eh?" "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." "Oh no, no worries, mate. I'll be fine. I've done twice as long at the Academy. Besides, we're short-handed in Engineering today as it is." 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." "Please, sir don't worry about me. Once I get to bed tonight, I'll be fine. Ensign T'Sar is ill right now, so we're all pulling extra shifts. I just spoke to Lt. Wright at breakfast this morning. She knows that I have several projects to attend to, but I assured her as I assure you now, I'm fine. Just tell me what you need me to do." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Physics Lab - CSO, Jericho Haynes- 0628) "Please, sir don't worry about me. Once I get to bed tonight, I'll be fine. Ensign T'Sar is ill right now, so we're all pulling extra shifts. I just spoke to Lt. Wright at breakfast this morning. She knows that I have several projects to attend to, but I assured her as I assure you now, I'm fine. Just tell me what you need me to do." Jack nodded warily, the man seemed sure of himself but needed a bit of watching. "Ms. Tethlin is writing the code for the project and Commander Zzt is overseeing the experiments so what I really need you to concentrate on is monitoring the results with me, after we're satisfied we know everything we can wring from this quantum displacement weapon Harry and I are going to pull it all together then turn it over to you so that you can replicate the machinery needed to create it." (Reply: Eoin) Jack grinned. "We're not even to the fun part yet, after we recreate the technology to make it work we're going to work on measures to counteract it. I want to make sure the idea Maraht and I have enacted to use the ships structural integrity field is going to be effective and if not what better way there might be. You're our resident expert on machinery and so you get the job." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACOUNS, Ensign Anamitra Ripley- 0752) "The assistant security chief Robert Walsh I believe. Why?" He asked as he watched her reaction closely. ~Was that a hint of suspicion I heard in his voice just now?~ Ana wondered."I was just wondering which of the aggression templates I sent for the simulation was being used, that's all. I was hoping to get a good look at the simulations actions and responses and try to tweak them a bit to be as close to the observed behavior of the Waagoshin as possible." She replied, which was for the most part true. "I just wasn't sure if Walsh were running the Sim or if Trinin was, that's all. Any idea where I might find him?" "I'm not sure where you might find him, he's no doubt somewhere about." He said vaguely. ~Evasive~ Ana's clinical instincts were telling her. ~Perhaps I should take a good look at his jacket. Goodness knows I need to evaluate several members of the ship's senior crew, anyway. T'Vof, Trinin, Walsh, Parker,Trommashere, Straton. The list goes on. ~ Ana nodded and smiled. "Thank you." She started to turn to leave but stopped after only a couple of steps. She turned back around to take a look at the two officers. ~Let's test a theory, shall we?~ She thought to herself. "That reminds me, I need to schedule a standard duty readiness evaluation for both Yourself Mister Haynes and for you as well Mister Parker. I'll be sending you a session request schedule soon. I just thought you might want to know before it suddenly showed up in your mailbox." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO, Ensign Haywood Parker- 0753) Haywood furrowed his brow at Haynes' strange introduction of the counselor. He had heard the term "head shrink" before, but he had been under the impression that it was... well, not exactly respectful. His Uncle Ferg had been in love with the term, but Uncle Ferg had also been notoriously mentally unsound, and wasn't exactly someone of whom Haywood had fond memories. He looked up at the counselor upon her arrival and smiled, concentrating on completing his work quickly and sufficiently. Jack's answer to her question was strained and stiff. Haywood bit his lower lip and lifted an eyebrow, though he was sure the lieutenant didn't notice. "I'm not sure where you might find him, he's no doubt somewhere about." Jack said vaguely in reply to Ensign Ripley's request of the location of Walsh. "Thank you," Ripley said simply before starting on her way. Uncomfortable with the way things had played out, Haywood opened his mouth to say something before she left, but she quickly turned around and added, "That reminds me, I need to schedule a standard duty readiness evaluation for both Yourself Mister Haynes and for you as well Mister Parker. I'll be sending you a session request schedule soon. I just thought you might want to know before it suddenly showed up in your mailbox." Haywood smiled up at her, "Thanks for the heads-up counselor." He searched frantically for something slightly more friendly to say, but the awkwardness of the situation was heavy on his thought process. "Only if there're drinks involved." ~Geez, Hay,~ He thought cynically, ~sometimes you are a real moron. It sounds like your making a pass at her!~ He tried to hold his grin, but could feel his expression betraying him. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0754) "Thank you." The Counselor gave a smile and a nod, after a couple of steps she hesitated and turned. "That reminds me, I need to schedule a standard duty readiness evaluation for both Yourself Mister Haynes and for you as well Mister Parker. I'll be sending you a session request schedule soon. I just thought you might want to know before it suddenly showed up in your mailbox." Haywood gave her a smile Jack didn't notice as he bristled. "Thanks for the heads-up counselor." There was an instant's pause. "Only if there're drinks involved." He didn't want to be rude but there was a reply to be made. "I beg your pardon Counselor..." The title had an added emphasis. "But I've only been on the ship for six months and my profile is quite up to date for the rest of the year. At the end of that time feel free to pull me from my important and pressing duties if you must." (Reply: Ana, Haywood) Thank you Haywood for your tender ministrations." Jack said to the surprised medical officer. "I have some pressing business to attend to, if you'll excuse me Counselor." Jack got to his feet and strode to the arch without looking back, keying it up and stepping through with dispatch then turned his feet toward sickbay to check on Lo'ren. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Holodeck- ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0755) "I beg your pardon Counselor..." Jack spat her title, "But I've only been on the ship for six months and my profile is quite up to date for the rest of the year. At the end of that time feel free to pull me from my important and pressing duties if you must." Haywood's eyebrow was bordering on jumping over his hairline. The sudden change in Jack's demenour was -well- quite a bit odd, and Haywood was having trouble identifying the offense the counselor had commited. He had always been cursed when it came to finding the exact words he needed, but now he was at a complete loss. "Thank you, Haywood, for your tender ministrations." Jack said, suddenly turning his attention in Haywood's direction. "I have some pressing business to attend to, if you'll excuse me Counselor." And without so much as a good-bye, Jack was striding briskly away. Haywood stared after him, oblivious to the fact that his jaw was gaping until he too fumbled to get to his feet. He swallowed the excess saliva in his mouth and turned to the counselor, a pained expression written across his face. "I - eh - I'm not sure what just happened there." He tried to explain. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades, Holodeck 3, aCTAC/CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin, 1310) The Corridors of the Hades were darker than he would have liked. With the majority of the ship on reserve power after the exchange of fire between the ship, the Corridors took on a very eerie pulsing red glow. Of course, this was not the first time that Baylon had been aboard a ship running on limited power during a red alert. Some of the security officers behind him though, replacements after the civil war had ended were not as fortunate. The Waagoshin had managed to board the ship, and things had devolved into sporadic counter boarding actions as entire sections of the ship lost contact as the Waagoshin advanced. He was leading the security team down the corridor in a diamond formation. He formed the most forward point of the diamond with the rest of his squad of eight trailing behind him. They had learned the hard way that the Waagoshin were adept at adjusting their tactics to meet the Federation counter actions. So Baylon had adapted the tactics for the Hades crew as well. In the event that any element of the diamond formation made contact the three forward most personnel would drop to a crouch so that the remainder of the formation could shoot over those in the lead. This would have the benefit of allowing all eight of the security personnel to concentrate their fire in the direction of the contact. Should the contact happen to take place at the rear. The same tactic could be used after simply executing a simply about face. If the contact came from both directions simultaneously, the back portion of the diamond would turn to the rear and the two screening personnel would split their fire in each direction, as the situation dictated. Normally, Baylon would have been probing forward, using his Betazoid empathy to look for any advance signs of danger. Such an exercise was however pointless against holographs. Although they simulated a living creature well enough, they were not alive. They had no thoughts or emotions to read, and so they were beyond his ability to detect in that manner ahead of time. There was a stale smell of burnt insulation in the air as they approached the scene of a prior firefight. One of Baylon's security squad had fallen out of contact and he had decided that it was best to investigate. The team came to a three way junction, with the conjoining corridor bearing off to the port side. Baylon raised his left hand in an indication that the squad should stop. As they did so, their training took over and they immediately crouched. Directly across the opening of the gap were the bodies of two Starfleet officers. They looked as if they had been fired upon while trying to withdraw. There was the slight flashing of light off to his side as one of the squad used his tricorder to run a scan. The device was set on silent, so it made no sounds. A moment later the display was shifted so that Baylon could see the results without words being used. The display was not helpful in the slightest. There was some sort ofdampening field in place along the corridor to the left that seemed to be spilling over into their immediate area. It looked like they'd have to do this the hard way. With a nod from Baylon, the security officer dropped his tricorder back around his neck and resumed his position. The Chief of Security turned to look back at his squad. Using hand signals, he ordered two of the squad to cross the corridor and take up position on the opposite side of the hall. Each member watching one of the directions of approach. Once they were in place and they had give the all clear signal, Baylon ordered their Medic to cross the hall to check on the crew that were still lying face down on the deck. The Medic moved forward and Baylon led three of the squad around the corner at a quick pace to deal with possible enemy contact. The last two members of his team remained at the corner watching the two possible approaches. Baylon had just barely crossed the threshold into the adjacent corridor when there was a sudden hum and bright flash of light from the direction where he had sent his Medic. This was followed by a sudden flurry of weapon's fire, which seemed to have suddenly appeared to fill the corridor. Baylon threw himself prone only a second fast enough to avoid being cut down in the corridor in the initial onslaught. Sanders, just to his right reacted too slowly and fell as the stun beam hit her in the center of the chest. Sanik also took a discharge from a Waagoshin weapon before collapsing on the deck. Baylon started crawling backwards as quickly as he could while putting down a few suppressive bursts with his phaser rifle. As he reached the corridor he came to a sick realization. The Waagoshin had taken up positions in compartments adjacent to the corridor, using the dampening field to hide their true position. When the Medic had turned over the body to assess their health, since he could not use his tricorder to do so, he had set off a stun grenade of some sort. That had signaled the attack. The Waagoshin had opened the doors to their compartments and put a blistering fire down on the relief squad. To make matters worse, the compartments they occupied were down all three of the corridors, leaving Baylon's squad no real defensible position. The Security Chief rose slightly and took a quick bound across the corridor. He immediately accessed the Jefferies tube access point, and turned to put covering fire down the corridor that he had just crawled from. "Jones, Rozall, Cameron, through here, now!" he bellowed as he spotted his first Waagoshin target and dropped him at range. The three remaining members of his squad started to move, Jones, who was furthest from the hatch made three steps before being picked off by aWaagoshin advancing along the squad's starboard flank. Rozall made the hatch, but was hit before she could get through it, and that cause Cameron to pause long enough to take three hit's as he tried to move Rozall. Baylon spun and fired on two more Waagoshin, dropping one. With the hatchway now effectively blocked, he knew there was only one way to escape. Three deep breaths later, he sprung forward, rifle at the hip firing as rapidly as possible in an attempt to charge through the Waagoshin line. The first blast hit him in the abdomen, causing his legs to go numb. He took two more hits on his way to the deck. The simulation continued as the security team recovered from the short term stun affects of the simulation. Baylon raised himself into a seated position against one wall. He shook his head as he realized that he and his entire squad were now out of the simulation and in observer mode. After a few moments, when it was apparent that his team had recovered, he called out. "Okay everybody on me." The squad gathered up surrounding the Security Chief. Baylon smiled and gestured for his small security team to follow along. In a few moments they were coming up on Ensign Walsh's squad, which did not seem to have fared any better. "what did we learn?" Baylon heard Walsh ask his squad. Before anyone could answer, Baylon spoke up. "Ensign Walsh, mind if my squad and I join in on your discussion?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Holodeck 3 - ASEC Ensign Robert Walsh, 1317) Walsh's query was interrupted by Lieutenant Trinin. "Ensign Walsh, mind if my squad and I join in on your discussion?" ~Ooh, good, backup.~ Walsh thought as Trinin approached. "Of course Lieutenant. The voice of someone who has experienced real combat is invaluable." (reply Trinin) Walsh nodded, agreeing with what Baylon had said, adding, "You must always assume that the enemy will be better trained, stronger, faster, and smarter than you are. Even though Lieutenant Trinin and I seem invincible," He allowed the chuckles from the trainees. "I assure you, we are not." He stated flatly, showing the trainees the scars on his hands. The group became silent. (reply Trinin, iyw) All right, let's run it again. Lieutenant, would you like to combine our fireteams, or split up?" (reply Trinin) "Aye, sir." (reply Trinin) Robert chuckled, looking down at his hands. "You can read my file, it wasn't anything too exciting. I figured it would inspire them a bit more if I left it up to their imagination." He smiled impishly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Holodeck - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 1630) Angeni stood quietly in the steely grey holodeck. She had a black cloak draped around her shoulders, hiding the outfit she was wearing underneith. She had come to the holodeck on a mission, and she didn't want anyone to stop her. She hadn't even told Harry where she was going to be. This was something that needed not to be interrupted. "Computer, Play Program Olathe Alpha Two." Angeni took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Suddenly, the scent of thick smoke lined with lavender filled the air. She opened her eyes. It was night in a starry field, the grass lined with teepee's, proud structures standing in a ring around a large fire pit. Each house had its' own markings. She was still standing well off to the side, no one noticing her yet. She let the cloak fall from her shoulders, revealing a long, tawny buckskin dress with fringes adorned with red, white, blue, and green beads. She pulled her hair down from its tightly wrapped bun, and it cascaded down her back in a raven colored wave. Taking a leather strap from around her ankle, she tied a lock of her hair with the thong and an eagles' feather. She shook her hair out, and it fell wildly around her shoulders. Starfleet was the last thing on her mind. To her, it was the time of the Nv-da ga-no-ha-li-do-ha (Hunting Moon). She proudly stepped into the circle, her bare feet making small prints in the soft grass and dirt. She walked straight to the Hunting Preist, a gentle smile on her face. "O-si-yo, di-da-nv-wi-s-gi" (Hello Medicine Man...could not find the proper translation for Hunting Preist) The preist smiled up at her, patting her hand, speaking to her in english. "Hello Wind Dancer..." He moved a wooden bowl that was next to him that was filled with bright red berries. She proudly sat next to him. Sitting with him was sitting in a seat of honor. "Have you blessed the berries?" He nodded, sticking one long, tawny finger into the bowl. He plucked out a berry and smooshed it between his fingers. He stared at the blotches on his forefinger and thumb, and he smiled proudly. "The Great Hunter will bless us this year." He passed her the bowl, and she reached beside her, grabbing a wooden pestle, adorned with bright ribbons and fledgling hawks feathers. She began to slowly grind the berries, every so often adding in bits of clay that were handed to her by the preist. Soon, a thick paste was formed in the bowl. She handed it back to the preist for inspection. He took the bowl, and he dipped two fingers into it, and he gently spread the paste across her face and forehead. "Will you sing with us, sing the song of the wind?" Angeni shook her head sullenly, "I have not practiced..." "But the song is in your heart, Angeni. You are the spirit angel who sings and dances to the song of the wind. (NRPG: That's what Angeni Olathe Windsong means)" "I will help to sing the Bear Song...that is the least I can do..." As she spoke, she was cut off by a murrmur running through the camp. The new hunters were emerging from the sweating hut. They had been waiting for this moment for the past four years, going through trials of spirit and mental determination. They had that day just been immersed in the river for their last purification, and they now emerged from the hut, waiting to be blessed by the preist, then the sacred song would be sung, and the hunt would begin. Angeni busied herself with making sure the paint still maintained the correct consistancy as each man walked over to receive his blessing from the preist, then he painted their faces. While they were being blessed, Angeni made sure that the fletchings on the ends of the arrows were tightly wound, and she even ran a sharpening stone over the ends of the arrows to make sure they would find their target and stay. As the last hunter received his blessing, they all went and stood around the fire circle. The drums began to play softly, and the tempo escalated to a fevered pitch. The men began to dance around the circle, everyone chanting in unison: "He +! Hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä'. Tsistuyi' nehandu'yanû, Tsistuyi' nehandu'yanû--Yoho' +! He +! Hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä'. Kuwâhi' nehandu'yanû', Kuwâhi nehandu'yanû--Yoho' +! He +! Hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä, hayuya'haniwä'. Uyâ`ye' nehandu'yanû', Uyâ`ye' nehandu'yanû'--Yoho' +! He +! Hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä', hayuya'haniwä, hayuya'haniwä'. Gâtekwâ'(hï) nehandu'yanû', Gâtekwâ'(hï) nehandu'yanû'--Yoho' +! Ûlë-`nû' asëhï' tadeya'statakûnï' gûnnage astû'tsïkï'." Angeni rejoiced in the moment, feeling more balanced and centered than she had in months. All her cares vanished in the background, she was happy and content. As the drums died down, the men slowly and silently dissapeared off into the woods, searching for their prey. Angeni sat quietly, gazing into the glowing embers. A lone tear slid down her cheek, her thoughts turning to those that she wished this were real, that she were back home, participating in such events in real time, not trying to make time between doctoring and whatnot. At the same time, from birth, she had been blessed with the fortune of being a 'Medicine Woman' as it were, providing succor for all those who needed it. She had remained true to her path, walking her moons in her moccasins, and now was not the time to quit. She stood up, brushing herself off, and she walked to the edge of the encampment, looking over her shoulder one last time before calling out in a restored, happy voice. "Computer, end simulation..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades, Deck Six, Science Lab One, ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam, 20:54) "Good evening, Mr. McKenzie." "Ah, Ensign. Glad you made it. We could do with a person from Engineering here." he said, placing a hand on the mans shoulders. "We have a bit of a re-working to do." "Alright." Eoin nodded. "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." Kenny motioned for them to walk and talk and they headed towards the other end of the room which held this decks sensor pallets, which were concealed behind a removable wall which was exposed, showing the pallets. There were people, mostly from Science and Engineering around the place. "We have already come up with one idea. I'll give you the short version and you can pick the rest up from the teams. We plan to link the sensors to the power output of the optical sensors, so we can emit a low power outage when we scan the Wagoshiin. Now, we only send out a scan for a short period of time, meaning we collect a small amount of data. Then we keep doing this for however long it takes, over time, we get difference pieces of data and we just then link them all, like a jigsaw puzzle. But the sensors have to be linked to the optical sensors because of their low energy output, or the Wagoshiin will detect us. Its' your job, and your teams, to link the two together. So far, we have been unable to, so that's the job for your department. If you understand me?" "Yes, I understand, sir. However, I think we might be able to go about it another way, if you don't mind hearing a second opinion." (reply McKenzie, assuming a yes) "Well, back in the 21st century, Earth scientists developed a way to send information via laser beam. My idea is based off that. I know that this has not bee attempted with infared before, but if we can somehow embed a scanning field in the heat escaping from the Hades, the heat bouncing back from the Waagoshin ship would give us the information we need. It won't give us a full scan on the first go-around, but it won't take as long to build up than the scanning bursts would take. Plus, it has the extra advantage that it will be amplified when it comes in contact with the Waagoshin ship and also when we recieve the signal back." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.27 (USS Hades - Ten Forward - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0633) As Haywood sat, Walsh began conversation. "So I figure you got to experience the aftermath of my simulation yesterday." Haywood stuffed a small piece of pineapple in his mouth, quickly chewed and swallowed, "Just a bit," He smiled, "A few cuts and scrapes. It's nice to have work to do, though. It was a bit nerve-wracking when I was in there, though. You sure do know how to program a work-out." He began to chase a grape around the inside of his bowl with his spoon. "We didn't see much of you, yesterday, though." "Well, I was kind of busy running around screaming and hitting things," Walsh replied with a chuckle. "You can do that without so much blood," Haywood said, "You know, hit a teddy bear or two. The most you can do it scratch yourself on a loose eye." It was Haywood's turn to laugh, though he was sure he was much less funny than he thought. "So, tell me Rob, what do you do when you aren't killing holographic Waagoshins." Haywood said with a soft smile before he finally managed to scoop his grape onto the spoon. "Shoulda got a fork," he mumbled. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades – Deck 3, Lo'ren's Quarters – ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof -0751) Lo'ren was doing up the last of her hair. No sense in starting a day looking like a slob, even if she felt like falling back into bed with Jack and staying there until time immemorial or her aches went away - whichever came first. She walked over towards Jack as he spoke. "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. ~Yesterday would be about right.~ Lo'ren considered saying that out loud,but decided on a bit more tact. "Well, I can send a message to the Quartermaster for a couple of boxes for the smaller items and we can call it..." Jack chimed in, "The sooner the better. I like taking communal showers." Lo'ren raised an eyebrow as she smiled a tight-lipped smmile, looking like nothing so much as a mischeivious imp. "That works for me. I think we will be revelling in the ship's gossip very shortly - so why not give them good reason?" "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." Lo'ren laughed and nodded her head, "It already is." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Bridge - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 0915) She floated in space with the Graelridge in front of her, and the planet nearing orbital distance. ~Such a beautiful place.~ Standing on nothing, Lo'ren reached out and tapped the Waagoshin ship with a forefinger, sending two pulsating stars towards their designated target. The impact set off a chain reaction, blowing up the enemy ship. Lo'ren frowned, ~That's not right.~ Watching as the little ship rematerialized, Lo'ren thought about the target she'd chosen. ~Too vulnerable, perhaps... here.~ She reached out again, this time tapping with her middle finger at another spot on the hull. Twin beams shot out from the Hades - scarring the opposing ship and causing it to lose lights and momentum. ~Ah, that should do it.~ Lo'ren spoke in a low voice, ordering a change in her simulation, "Computer, change T.I.H.S parameters. Display effect of quantum weapon on Hades without safeties in place." Her view switched around so that she was looking at both ships as they flew through the heavens. The Waagoshin vessel turned on the Hades and fired a rainbow flare of light from its bow. The glorious bloom moved through space like a jelly-fish and engulfed the Hades. The Hades, for a moment, did nothing. Within seconds of the hit she began to waver. ~Not unlike the hull debris that nearly blew up the lab...~ Lo'ren mused. Lo'ren blinked as the Hades blew up into a million sparkles and quickly faded to nothing but dust. She spoke again in hushed tones, "Computer, display effects with safeties in place and transfer T.I.H.S to passive combat simulation." The simulation reset and Lo'ren was switched to the normal view of the T.I.H.S. operator. She watched the kaleidescope as it bore down on her and waited as it faded behind her. Counting off the seconds it had taken for the explosion to have occured occupied her for only a very short time, then she reached out and again tapped the Graelridge with her middle finger, lancing the enemy vessel again with the twin phasers. The ship powered down as it had before and Lo'ren nodded. "Computer end simulation." The Bridge re-materialized around Lo'ren and she grinned a cheeky grin as she sat back down at her console. ~If it is the Waagoshin that have that weapon and they fire on us... They're in for a nasty surprise.~ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Bridge - aCTAC/CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin - 0920) When word had reached him that the Hades was getting close to the Tch'Kairn planet, Baylon had at first wanted to rush to the bridge and be ready and at his station. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized how that would look to T'Vof. The Half-Vulcan, Half-Bajoran was a capable officer and Baylon did not wish to give her the impression that he thought her less than capable. So rather than rush to the bridge Baylon took the time to finish up some paperwork until finally he couldn't justify his absence any longer. The doors to the turbo lift slid open with a barely audible hiss and Baylon stepped onto the deck, just far enough to clear the lift before taking a good look around. Every station was manned, with Sciences continuing to collect raw data on the Waagoshin ships. The Graelridge was still on the main view screen and they were still moving ahead at warp speed, as evidenced by the Doppler shifted stars. Lo'ren was at the Tac I station, monitoring the Waagoshin vessel and perhaps running a few simulations, since she was moving and the ship wasn't obviously firing it's weapons. It appeared that Walsh was also on the bridge, manning the Security station. For the first time in a very long time, Baylon actually felt that he wasn't really needed on the bridge. So Far both T'Vof and Walsh had proven themselves capable, although a little green, officers. They would make even better Starfleet officers once they were seasoned veterans, but if their current abilities were only the beginning, they would go far with the fleet. Baylon finally shifted his position to one of the Auxiliary stations near the back of the main bridge. There he used the console to pull up and monitor the activities of both the tactical I and the security console. It wasn't because he didn't trust them to do their job correctly. It was a fall back in case something suddenly happened and they were unable to respond. As he stood there, he considered the simulated boarding actions that they had trained under the day before. The first simulation had portrayed the Waagoshin as larger more brutish and most assuredly vicious. This simulation although maybe not a valid representation of the Waagoshin, easily helped prepare the crew for the possibility that they were a brutish species. The second simulation, the one that was a series of true counter boarding simulations, had painted the Waagoshin in a completely different light. These simulations had shown them in a more cunning and organized pack mentality. There was still the instinctual side of things, but these latter Waagoshin were smart, problem solvers who used advanced techniques to hunt their prey. They set traps, they used small group tactics and they were not beyond deception. It was this representation of the canine humanoids that Baylon had been the most worried about. Inevitably a brutish foe could be overcome with the application of greater brute force. With a clever and cunning foe, that was not always the case. One had to out think them, and that, as Baylon's experience had told him, was the hardest type of opponent to beat. Those thoughts of the Waagoshin reminded him of an Andorian proverb, ~The only way to get smarter is to fight a smarter opponent.~ It was a tenant that always seemed to be true, no matter the situation. The trick was of course to stay alive when doing so in a military manner. This was the key to real military skill. After all, it made little difference how wise or smart you were if you were killed in the initial contact with your opponent. In that vein it was understanding the nature of your opponent that held the key to victory. ~To understand your opponent is to understand yourself.~ he remembered. And self awareness and understanding was a vital key to any undertaking. He turned his attention away from the console, and turned once again to face the Graelridge. So little had changed since the last time that he had seen her. Certainly, he now had a much better understanding of the ship's tactical abilities, as well as her sub systems. but there was something about her demeanor, if a ship could be said to have a demeanor that is, that twisted at the back of Baylon's brain. It was almost the same sort of feeling that he had gotten just before the Myenru had tried to use a Genesis torpedo against the Hades at Beta Seranis. It was a sort of pending primeval sense of dread. The sort of feeling that said, 'nothing good can come from this.' Of course, Baylon had to constantly remind himself, that although there were signs that the Waagoshin were aggressive, they had not displayed any actions that were truly war-like. There was no doubt that they were warlike, but they had not fired on the Hades despite their claim that the Federation starship had entered their territory without invitation. They could be waiting for a numerical force, or they could be more diplomatic than anyone really believed was possible. But regardless of the truth, the Hades and her crew would have to wait and see what they would do. they would not have the option of doing more than preparing to react to whatever actions the Waagoshin chose to pursue. Baylon turned once again back to his console to await the inevitable events that would determine the course of the rest of their mission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades - Bridge - COUNS Ensign Anamitra Ripley - 0930) Ana found herself humming as the doors to the turbo lift opened allowing her access to the bridge. The petite woman stepped out of the lift, cradling a cup of fresh ground and brewed Jamaican coffee. It was one of the few things in this world that always brought a smile to her face and she made it a habit to try to smile a lot. All the usual suspects were on the bridge, the science stations were fully manned, as were both the tactical and security stations. Lieutenant Trinin was even manning one of the secondary stations on the bridge, which she found an interesting psychological point to remember. Ana traversed the bridge in a somewhat circuitous movement which ended at the foot of her assigned chair on the bridge, or more accurately the position for the chief counselor. As the Hades currently had no chief to fill that position and as she was the only counselor aboard ship, the position, i.e. seat, became hers by default. She settled into the chair nicely with a smile to the watch officer in command and prepared herself to sip her coffee and watch to see what would happen when they finally reached the Tch'Kairn home world. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Turbo lift - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker- 0931) Before joining starfleet, Haywood had never experienced the concept of a "day off" outside of the days he had spent onshore with his father while formal reports were made. Haywood had lived on the sea and every day had had the potential for an overload of work. Now, with no stores to invade, and no beach to lounge on, Haywood found himself feeling a little more than idle. Everyone else was busy, reading themselves for the arrival at the Tch'Kairn planet. He stood in the turbo lift, wondering if he really should be making his way to the bridge after all. He would probably just be in the way... but he needed to be put to use. Sitting around in his quarters staring at the bulkhead was not at the top of his list of priorities. The lift moved excruciatingly slowly. Haywood drummed his fingers on the hand rail and tried to be patient. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades - bridge - ACMO Ensign Haywood Parker - 0932) The lift came to a halt and Haywood stepped through the doors quickly. He was unused to the set-up on the bridge, and as he looked around, everyone seemed to be completely absorbed in work or simulations. He bit his lower lip and walked over to the FO. "Can I be useful?" He asked, as he walked up next to her. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Bridge - CSO, Lt. (jg) Jericho Haynes- 0935) Jack was at science 1 monitoring the readings from the Graelridge as Ken compiled them at one of the alternate bridge stations that was more accurately referred to as Science 2. The Waagoshin ship was finally giving up its secrets courtesy of ACSO McKenzie and ACEO MacLiam. He tapped the com on the board so that he wouldn't have to shout across the bridge. "Mr. McKenzie adjust the sensitivity on the short range sensors to .351 millicycles." . (Reply: Ken) The passive scan of the ship solidified and the data stream began accelerating slightly as he watched, a little more tweaking and they should be literally swimming in data. "Go to .353 millicycles." (Reply: Ken) Jack grunted as the readouts changed then settled down after a few seconds, he had gone as far as he could without crossing the line, to change the sensor suites further would run the risk of alerting the Waagoshin to their spying. "Very good Ken, leave the settings there and save them, we should be good to go in just a few seconds." (Reply: Ken) And then they struck the gold mine as the interference from the alien ships shielding was bypassed and the Graelridge's power source lay naked before them. Jack whistled in surprise and opened the com again. "Great work Ken, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" The engines operated on a very different principle from the Hades' warp drive matter/anti-matter reaction. "An ion drive that is as advanced as anything we've seen." Unlike the primitive ion drives of early earth history this ship used an exotic mix of radioactive isotopes to accelerate the ionization of its fuel mix, the resultant massive energy surge provided could then power the ships systems and the ionized particles (he theorized) could also be expelled through its thrusters for maneuvering. The shielding of the ships power source then was in order to hide their true capabilities which exposed their weakness. "This ship looks nasty but she's slightly underpowered which could be her achilles heel." (Reply: Ken) The forward weapons pod was also giving up its secrets such as they were, at this time it was unpowered except for a small flow of energy that was utilized by the command/control systems of the Graelridge. Still that was enough to confirm their hypothesis that it contained the quantum displacement weapon as the material comprising the weapon fell well within Harry's theorized construction. ~Way to go Harry! Watch out Graffna we've got our eyes on you.~ Tapping the com again he spoke into it. "Lo'ren we've got data coming your way on the Graelridge's main weapon and her ion drive, have fun with it." (Reply: Lo'ren) Jack settled back with a sigh and turned to grin at Ken which was muted a bit as he saw Counselor Ripley seated alongside the command crew, in his mind it had been in bad taste and at a bad time for her to blurt out an announcement of psych evaluations when the officers were involved in a very stressful and physically demanding exercise as well as showing a lack of tact which in his mind had to be expected from that sort. Until their meetings with the Waagoshin had been concluded successfully everyone was on edge. ~You think she should have known better.~ He shook his head as he turned back to the board, after all the information was complete he would have Ken deliver it to the Captain. ~He deserves the recognition.~ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- end compile