Mission: Phoenix, Day 2 Stardare: 2379.01.11 <
> Jopek: "Captain, Admiral Jopek on Utopia Planitia, I understand you are heading our way for repairs and we are making the arrangements to receive you, can you give me an idea of your specific ETA, casualties, damage and requirements when you get here?" Tom relaxed a bit in his command chair as he thought about what to say to the Vulcan Admiral. Winthorpe: "I'll save all the details of the actual causes for my report, but a preliminary report by the Assistant Engineering Officer is that We have major hull breaches on decks three, seven, eight, twelve and nineteen that have all been contained but need yard repair work. Shields are maxed out at 70%. We've lost two thirds of our fighter compliment. All told, over a hundred casualties. Sensors, several phaser arrays, and miscellaneous systems are heavily damaged. Photon, quantum and transphasic torpedo supplies are depleted as well." Jopek: "That is quite a list, I will forward the list to my Yard Engineering Officer and Chief Medical Officer." Winthorpe: "My Exec will be forwarding a list of personnel requierments. Unfortunately it is almost as extensive as our wounded list." Jopek: "I will be most interested to hear a detailed report on your mission." Winthorpe: "I am sure of it. I have forwarded an official report to Starfleet Command." Jopek: "Yes, Commander Trask of Starfleet Judge Advocate General's Officer will be arriving shortly before you to make an official investigation into your mission." Winthorpe sighed deeply and the bridge crew grew even more silent at hearing there would be an official inquiry. Winthorpe: "Our ETA is two days, will you be ready to receive us Admiral?" Jopek: "Of course. Jopek out." The transmission terminated, Winthorpe stood and headed to his ready room. Winthorpe: "Lieutenant Lathak, you have the Conn. Number One, please come with me. =/\= General Greyston, please come to my ready room.=/\=" (Starbase Valhalla, Ready Room - STRATOPS Cptn Jenna Rulestaad / FO Cmdr Richard Ian Lee - 0927) "Interesting analysis, I understand that the USS Merrimac is in dock for minor repairs and she has a phase cloak, I also understand that the ship will be completely repaired soon. Captain, I suggest that you personally arrange her shake down voyage, especially play close attention to her flight plan. If there's nothing else, you are dismissed." Jenna grinned ever so slightly, "As you say, Admiral." She looked at Lee and nodded, his face remained neutral but she could see a little spark of something behind his eyes that almost betrayed something akin to enthusiasm. She turned on her heel, gestured to the door, and headed out the door. While walking through Operations, she decided she needed to get moving fast, the meeting with SFI was soon and everything had to be arranged in quiet. She tapped her badge, "Rulestaad to Dorkin, meet me on Valhalla in ten minutes, Airlock five. I have a bit of intrigue for you." A couple moments passed, and the very rough voice of the Tellarite came back with =^=Understood Captain, Dorkin Out.=^= She smiled once again, her mind very quickly spinning. Lee walked up beside her, his hands behind his back. "Needing just a little help, with a flight plan perhaps, Captain?" She crossed her own arms behind her back, and continued to walk. "We are going to play a little game, one full of intrigue and not a few surprises. Having someone, emmm, acquainted with the game might make for an interesting team. To bad you are busy, I might have been able to use you as well." She might not like the man, but she *was* well acquainted with his record. She had also read up on Admiral Kevel, Lee had spoken very lightly about his particular interests in the areas of Blackops. The two of them had worked together, during the Dominion War, Lee knew better what Kevel could do then his own record would show. Lee considered his words for a moment, then said "Ill send out a message, I have the perfect Mod Zero player for you." He turned, and grinned suddenly, "And he always plays with a stacked deck." Jenna nodded, "Then I will meet him on the Merrimac, I have a bit of business there." Lee nodded, and watched the Captain leave. He tapped his badge, "Lee to Valhalla, patch me into Admiral Kevel." =^=Aye Sir, patched in now.=^= "Kevel, this is Lee. I've got a game for you, if you are interested. Home team advantage, very dark game, and it starts very soon on the Merrimac here at Valhalla. Your team-mate is Captain Rulestaad and Commander Dorkin, talk to them for the house rules. Lee out." <> Winthorpe sat back in his chair and sipped his coffee. Winthorpe: "Phil, there's just something that gets me about K'Var that I don't like. Computer, replay security tapes for corridor 824 section 12 time index 12:43." The screen lit up to show K'Var and Harris staring each other down. Harris: Let's get this over with, K'Var. Why the hell are you on this ship? K'Var: I came to kill you. Harris: Why? K'Var: You dishonored by family name, James Harris. Winthorpe: "End tape. He came to kill one of the best people I have, one of the best Marines you have. That leads me to beleive that he somehow maneuvered his way onto my ship. And when it comes to Klingon Honor, there's nothing to convince them that they may be wrong. We can't keep the two apart forever and I'm not loosing Harris." Greystone: "Se get rid of K'Var." Winthorpe: "Transfer him with a minimum of comment on the matter." Greystone: "Consider it done. Now, what are your feelings on the mission Tom." Winthorpe: "Have you looked at the outside of the ship. She's only ten months old but she looks like she's been through ten years of combat." Greystone: "When the odds are stacked that high against you, you don't come out unscathed." Winthorpe: "Phil, I know I made the right decisions. Of course a better course of action would have been for the Reprisal to bug out after most of the Contact Team had been rescued." Greystone: "No one on this ship would agree. And the loyalty you have developed in this crew in the short time you've had her is outstanding. The price for the intelligence we gathered may have been too high, but that is something that you can't really see until all is said and done." Winthorpe: "I know, and beleive me, I above all am grateful to have been rescued. But the inquiry..." Greystone: "Yes, the inquiry. Tell them what they want to know and then let the pieces fall where they may." (Starbase Valhalla, Main Operations - OPS/2O Lt. Martin Black - 0929) Things had remained relatively quiet all morning, even with the departure of the USS Firebrande on it's research mission. If anything the place now seemed even more quiet with the removal of his assistant Jortiane and hish constant need to appraise the Betazoid of hish actions. Then it happened. One small light on his console began to flash, and Martin knew instantly that the peaceful day he'd been enjoying was irretrievably gone. He tapped his commbadge. "Admiral, you are getting a message from Starfleet Command." =/\=Thank you Mr. Black, pipe it in.=/\= The lieutenant complied, and waiting with a semblence of patience as his CO dealt with the call. A few times he tried concentrating his mind on the ready room, but the Admiral's Vulcan heredity made it impossible for Martin to sense anything more than his presence. The nature of the call remained a mystery, until... =/\=Admiral Jopek to Black, Aldreck and Cambridge, gentleman, we have a heavily damaged starship coming in for repairs, she has wounded, so Doctor, prepare yourself for an influx of about a hundred. Starfleet wants her bumped up for immediate attention. As soon as I get more information, I'll let you know.=/\= By the time the other two officer finished sending their acknowledgements, there seemed no reason for Black to give more of the same. Instead he directed his attention to bringing up all information on the USS Reprisal that the Starfleet database held. The Doctor would prepare for the wounded crew, and the Yard Engineer would see to the battered ship - and Martin Black would be ready to aid either in what was sure to be an overwhelming test of the newly-proclaimed fully-operational Utopia Planitia shipyards. He was drawn out of his research by the sound of his commbadge and a voice saying, =/\=Ensign Aldreck to Lieutenant Black, I think it best that we put off out little meeting until another time. The sudden arrival of the Reprisal will be keeping both of us busy I presume.=/\= Martin gave a wry smile, and replied, "Agreed. For now let's say that if there's anything you would like me to do - or to help you do - just ask. That's what I'm here for!" =/\=Very well, Aldreck out.=/\= He scrolled down the information on the Reprisal once more, and something caught his eye... ~Transphasic torpedoes?!? You'll be lucky! There can't be more than twelve this side of Andor! Then again, twelve's more than enough...~ A smile quickly removed by a blipping sound half-distracting him, and he reached out to acknowledge the arrival of the latest shuttle before counting to ten and reminding himself, ~Not my problem, not my problem, not my problem...~ (USS Lion, Bridge - Commodore Richard Kevel - 0930) Newly demoted Commodore Richard Talbot Kevel stood on the bridge of the USS Lion, the flagship of the first fleet. She was built like a mother. A warship, a battleship and something Kevel himself wouldn’t tangle with in a dark alley. She exuded power, strength and intensity. She was the third in the lines of Lion. The NCC-7765-B as it was. Kevel sat down in the chair, his mind drifting to the memories of the previous crews and of the history of the ship he now commanded once more. She was his and he would never let her go again. “Sir, we’ve got reports of a injured starship coming through Utopia Planitia. Heavily damaged and heavy casualties.” Richard stood and moved forward to the CONN officer in the front. Jeremy Hamill was his name and he was new. One of the few new transfers to come in. “She’s coming in, unsure of the time yet sir, but Otono just went to alert and started sending patrol shuttles and medical transports...” Kevel furrowed his brow and looked down to Hamill. “Get me an open channel to the...” There was an intruption as a patch came through. "Kevel, this is Lee. I've got a game for you, if you are interested. Home team advantage, very dark game, and it starts very soon on the Merrimac here at Valhalla. Your team-mate is Captain Rulestaad and Commander Dorkin, talk to them for the house rules. Lee out." The channel closed and Kevel was left with an open ended order. He turned to the Captain on the deck, Gary Kurtz, who had taken a seat in the FO position. As a Commodore, Kevel had his choice of his crew and for now, he had a Captain as his FO. Kurtz stood and moved towards Richard. “What can I do?” The former admiral turned to the screen and grinned. He needed to check out this game and he knew Kurtz knew his game. After all, he had been a Chief Medical Officer, a Chief Engineering Officer and a First Officer. Fitting it was to captain a ship while he was waiting for the first fleet to sort out. “Take command of the Lion. I want you to contact Jopek and advise him you’ re moving to intercept and assist with medical. I’ve got some business with the First Officer on the station. You have command Gary.” And with that, the Commodore moved to the turbolift and was gone. Kurtz turned to the screen, his youngish looks bringing some energy to the bridge. He was 32 and freshly appointed to the level of Captain. “All hands, set us to Yellow Alert. Sensors, reports on the five. Open a channel to Jopek.” The comm. board beeped. “Captain Gary Kurtz to Jopek. I’m moving to intercept the ship incoming. We’ve got support of medical patrol ships and medical transports. What is the ship we are going to be meeting sir?” (USS Merrimac, Bridge – Commodore Kevel - 0944) "Lee suggested you might want to play a little game, let’s go talk about it." She turned, and strode right into the ready room. Kevel nodded thoughtfully, watching each move of Jenna and Dorkin. He already had decided they were a dangerous pair to cross or even be mildly involved with, but he had let that go for the moment, keeping it in the back of his mind, just in case. He walked into the ready room and stood near the door, his eyes watching all those around him. "I am to go to a secret meeting with an SFI operative in a few hours. Admiral Jopek, suggested, that if a ship with phase cloak happens to be ready for a trial run, that it would be an interesting coincidence if she should take the same path as the shuttle, under cloak of course." "Lee suggested that this game might be right up your alley. My Second here has working knowledge of both SFI, and Stratops, and will be of great use should the Merrimac leave soon, cloak, and happen to follow the same vector as that shuttle." The Commodore nodded thoughtfully. It was an idea and it sounded ready, almost as if it was planned this way by someone. He wasn’t sure who, but could put his finger on two or three names. A spying mission was standard fare and something Kevel was used to. It was also exciting because the element of surprise played largely into your mind and how it operated. Dorkin spoke up next "And it would be such a wonderful coincidence if we should radio into Valhalla under every Stratops encrypt we have, when we had stopped at the shuttle had arrived." The Encrypt caught the attention of the former admiral, but he didn’t show his reaction. As first fleet commander, he had access to things, many things and the encrypts was something he had limited access to. Something he also unofficially had a little more access to. Richard Kevel was a kindly old officer, but he was also shrewd and smart. Nothing tended to fly by him on the grapevine. "An interesting game indeed.” Nodding, the high ranking officer thought for a moment. It would be an interesting diversion. “What is the plan of operation? I’m game for something interesting. Besides, it’s something I enjoy terribly.” He smiled thinly and turned to Dorkin and Rulstead, his eyebrow raised. The game was afoot. (Starbase Valhalla, Main Operations - CO RADM Jopek - 0950) =^= Captain Gary Kurtz to Jopek. I'm moving to intercept the ship incoming. We've got support of medical patrol ships and medical transports. What is the ship we are going to be meeting sir? =^= "Captain, it's the USS Reprisal, NCC-80035. She's a carrier, so you may expect more than your fair share of injured pilots as well as other injuries. Good luck, Valhalla out." The USS Lion closed her channel and she was off, Jopek put the Reprisal at about 4 hours away that means they would be back shortly. Otono was on full alert and it wouldn't be long before they have a spare docking bay available. (Starbase Valhalla, Verano Medical Centre - CMO Cambridge - 0935) Chief Medical Officer Maxwell Cambridge was looking over PADD’s in his office in the Verano Medical Centre on Valhalla. He had managed to save the leg on the man who had come in earlier, if only be a miracle. Someone had found the leg near a conduit and had beamed it directly to the Sickbay. Thankfully, they had managed to keep the officer stable. Now, he was looking over the reports from Otono and Verano and the outlying outposts in the yards. They’d managed to pick up the pieces. The medical department was getting better. Rhea Lyoit had taken command of the Verano Medical area, after nearly losing herself in grief after the attack. His other three Assistant Chief Medical Officers had taken the work upon them at their respective departments with renewed vigor. Now, they were working to get things more smoothly operating and in some respects faster. With all the injuries they faced with the fast moving officers in Utopia Planitia, it was becoming a bit of a problem. But a problem the CMO was ready to face. He finished the report and stood, making his way out of the office towards his shuttle when his comm. badge beeped. "Admiral Jopek to Black, Aldreck and Cambridge, gentleman, we have a heavily damaged starship coming in for repairs, she has wounded, so Doctor, prepare yourself for an influx of about a hundred. Starfleet wants her bumped up for immediate attention. As soon as I get more information, I'll let you know." Mac stopped for but a moment before picking up his speed once more, not breaking a stride set so many years ago. “Understood Admiral. We’ll have the Otono Medical Center ready to receive. Have them route through the Otono Alert Centre, at least we’ll be able to send them to the right place. I’ll begin dispatching medical patrol shuttles to just outside Utopia. Cambridge out!” The quickly moving officer slammed the shuttle door shut behind him. ”Computer, red alert. Set course for Otono! Emergency breakout procedures, engage!” The shuttle ripped itself from the portal, the impulse engines screaming. Cambridge sat down in the chair and began to set his communications in motion. “Cambridge to Otono Alert Centre, I need four Medical Patrol shuttles dispatched to wait for a ship coming into port under heavy damage and casualties. I need ten medical transport shuttles warmed and ready. Put Otono on Alert, we have 100 cases of injuries coming in and possible more in the next day or so. Get all officers on duty. Cambridge out!” The shuttle swerved into the atmosphere, the compensators screaming and a few lights blinking incessantly. The CMO ignored them, instead, focusing on the Otono Centre below him. It was a sprawling complex, but also contained nicely. Cambridge aimed straight for the Otono Stormcentre, sending his shuttle straight onto the landing pad, jumping out as the shuttle stopped nearly on a dime. Klaxons were ringing loud across the pad and medical officer were scrambling. This would be ground zero for all the incoming injured. Mac tapped his comm. badge. “Medical to security, I need guards and crowd control at Otono, we’ve got incoming injuries and I need coverage for security.” With that, the CMO entered Stormcentre. (USS Merrimac, Bridge - Commodore Kevel - 0940) Kevel transported himself directly to the Merrimac, seeing it was the fastest way to get there. He had picked up his standard armament. Ten knives strapped to various places on his body. It was that old feeling of war, that old spark of danger that had brought him back to days of fighting. He had taken up training in Holodecks as of late, trying to get back in shape. As of late, it hard worked. Stepping onto the bridge, he found Rulstead and Dorkin standing there. A slightly raised eyebrow was his only reaction. He had read both of their records, unofficial and official. They were of intruige to him, and this meeting dared to make it more interesting, as it were. “What is afoot this day?” (USS Merrimac, Bridge - STRATOPS Captain Rulestaad - 0940) “What is afoot this day?” Jenna looked at the Admiral, and crossed her arms as Dorkin grunted. She looked at the Captain of the Merrimac for a moment, then smiled slightly as she shifted her attention back to the Admiral. "Lee suggested you might want to play a little game, lets go talk about it." She turned, and strode right into the ready room. Dorkin looked at the Admiral for a moment, then shrugged and followed close behind. (reply Admiral, Captain) Jenna sat down in a chair, across from the Captains desk, and crossed her arms. Dorkin took position just inside the door, and waited. After a few moments, Jenna said "I am to go to a secret meeting with an SFI operative in a few hours. Admiral Jopek, suggested, that if a ship with phase cloak happens to be ready for a trial run, that it would be an interesting coincidence if she should take the same path as the shuttle, under cloak of course." She looked over at Admiral Kevel, and smiled slightly. "Lee suggested that this game might be right up your alley. My Second here has working knowledge of both SFI, and Stratops, and will be of great use should the Merrimac leave soon, cloak, and happen to follow the same vector as that shuttle." Dorkin grunted again. He was a loud mouthed arse, but he had a very keen mind, which is why Jenna had pulled him with her wherever she had gone. "And it would be such a wonderful coincidence if we should radio into Valhalla under every Stratops encrypt we have, when we had stopped at the shuttle had arrived." He grinned his shaggy grin, "An interesting game indeed." One by one, the marines Greystone had called to his office filed in - Sgts Harris, Riso, and Gomez. There was only one missing from the senior cadre. Riso: "Where's K'Var, sir?" Greystone: "He won't be joining us. He's been relieved of duty aboard the Reprisal, and he'll be catching a transport when we arrive at Mars. Seems he's been reassigned to a unit in Klingon space." Harris: "I'd like to see him once more before he leaves, sir." Greystone: "Yes, Sgt Gomez told me the story behind his challenge. Provided there's a guard present, I'll allow it. But you understand that we can't let you two kill each other." Harris: "Yes, of course, sir." Greystone: "I don't know how you are going to fix this situation for yourself. I've contacted Ambassador Worf. He's agreed to offer you advice on this matter. But you'll have to talk to him on your own time. As of the end of this meeting you're back on active duty." Harris: "Yes sir!" Greystone: "Now then, we have a lot of work to do. Reprisal will be recieving some replacement crew over the next couple of weeks. The remainder of Bravo Company will be arriving from Earth, along with replacements for the marines we lost during the mission, bringing our number up to 301 marines total. The 32nd TAC Squadron is going to be restaffed with marine pilots, but they still fall under CAG jursidiction. I don't know where new fighters are going to be coming from, but I do know we're on the list for a Blackhawk runabout. Hopefully that should arrive before we leave the system. Anyway, since twenty percent of the battalion is going to be new arrivals, that's going to mean more training. We lucked out this time, though. Nearly all of the new guys have at least seen some action since they left bootcamp. The basic stuff has already been handled for us. I want to see some work on riot control. We're not always going to be fighting soldiers and I'd like the men to be ready to subdue armed civilians with a minimum of casualties on both sides. First, however, let's give the men a few days to reccuperate from the last mission. It may be a little while until we're back near Earth again. Sgt Gomez, make the announcement. Two days leave for Alpha company followed by two days for Bravo." Gomez: "Yes sir." Gomez got up and left the room. She had known the General for years, and could tell he was looking for an excuse to be alone with Riso and Harris. Greystone: "I'm very impressed with you two. Riso, your situation was tough but you handled it. And Harris, I haven't seen such an effective extraction since I left Force Recon." Harris: "Thank you sir." Greystone: "As for your incident with K'Var, I still think you should have called me or security rather than accept his challenge, regardless of his motives for issuing the challenge or your motives for accepting. But in the end, you both survived, and I don't think you're the kind of man to make the same mistake twice." The General reached into his desk and produced a pair of PADDs. "Gentlemen, your rewards for a job well done." The PADD he handed Riso described a promotion to Staff Sergeant. Harris' was an acceptance letter to the Warrant Officer program. "The promotion ceremony will be tommorow. Congratulations." (Mars, Otono Medical Centre, Stormcentre - CMO Cambridge - 0955) The klaxons were screaming, officers were moving all over and the system was working. Things were moving and working. Thank the good Lord. “Cambridge to Admiral Kevel. Stormcentre will be ground zero for all injured. Ten medical transport shuttles are launching now and four medical patrol ship are awaiting the arrival of the ship. Is there anything more?” <> Riso could not believe it when the General had handed him a PADD that told him that he was getting promoted. If anything he thought that after his little run in down on the planet they would court martial him for his actions. The General dismissed Riso and Harris from the meeting. He also gave Harris some reading to catch up on for the course so that he could become a W.O. Riso congradulated Harris on the newly won rank and the two parted ways. Riso headed back into his quarters to pack for his trip to Earth to see his parents graves. (Starbase Valhalla, Docking Pad Bravo - NPC Bylene - 0957) The shuttle had been late - the result of some localised alert - or so it seemed to her from her viewport on the transport from Earth. Still, it felt good to finally be here. She walked through the crowds of people milling about, and felt almost at one with the Gods themselves. She could feel their eyes watching over her, and she knew that this was the place. This is where they would arrive to claim her soul to spend forever basking in their love. The Starfleet crew were a significant presence, and she tried not to reveal her disdain for them to much. However, even they failed to take any notice of the two of them - despite the bright blue of their Bolian skin - as she and her brother strolled their way toward the central core of the starbase. Meelop was barely thirteen, and with the loss of their parents it had fallen to her to raise her brother, but there were some things even the best of intentions could not overcome - and so it came as little surprise that as she neared the turbolift doors, there was no small blue child beside her. Sighing heavily she entered the lift and said, "Deck 24." <> Riso sat down infront of his own personal desk for the first time in days. He had not bothered to read any of his mail or anything as he was too busy trying to sort out the mess from the mission. The first thing that caught his eye was that he had recieved mail from Earth. He wonder who it could be from since his parents were the only one who had written on a regular basis. Riso: Computer play messages. The message started to play on the screen and Riso knew who it was right away. His mothers family had written him but it was not a condolences letter at all. They wrote him to tell him that they had now taken control legally of the family affairs and estate. They did not wish him to return to Earth for the funeral and if he did so they would have him arrested. Riso could not believe what he was seeing. His own family was not allowing him to come to his own parents funeral not to mention that they had just taken every part of his life that was not in his quarters. Riso knew that they were envious of what the Riso's had managed to gain but to take it this far. Suddenly Riso was overcome with a sense of rage and smashed his fist off of the table top. He stood quickly and started to pace trying to think of ways that he could get even with his so called family. The more he thought about it the more angry he got. Riso lost control of him self and started to smash the chair that was beside of him off the wall and whatever else he could hit. The chair snapped in two and Riso dropped the half he was holding. He suddenly knew what he was going to do and left the room heading in the direction of the armories. Once there he punched his command code and opened the door going in with a bag. He set it down and started to remove items from the selves such as energy packs and hand phasers. He picked up a phaser rifle and looked down the scope it was going to be perfect. He would spend the rest of his life in the stockade for what he was about to do but all was fair in love and war. Riso looked up because he heard a noise in the hallway and quickly put the rifle plus enough energy packs to fight a small war. Whoever was in the hall was coming closer and Riso could see that it was Harris.... Sgt Harris, soon to be WO Harris, walked into his quarters, and stood there in shock. The smashed up room was the last thing Harris exspected. Harris:+tap+ Harris to security. I think there's been a break in inside by room. Security: We have a team on route. Harris rumiged threw the smashed room. The computer screen caught his eye. Harris moved forwar. The screen had stopped after the third message of a dozen belonging to Sgt. Riso. Harris: Computer, play message three. The message played, and Harris began to piece to gather what had happened. Riso. The security team arrived. Harris' old friend Ensign Marik was one of them. Marik: What happend here Harris? Harris didn't respond. Instead, he asked the computer where Sgt. Riso was. Computer: Sgt. Riso is in the armory. Marik: Harris, what in the world is going on? This room is trashed! Harris: Marik, I need you and your men to come with me. I have a hunch. Stay a couple of steps behind me. Marik: All right. Lets go. Harris and the four man security team ran toward the armory. When they got close, Harris told Marik and his men to stay behind. Marik: I don't like this Sgt. Harris. Why are we going after Sgt. Riso? Harris: I think the man's gone over the edge. Just trust me. If things sound like all hell is breaking loose, I suggest you stun Riso. Understand sir? Marik: All right. Go ahead. Harris walked forward. Soon he was withing sight of the armory, and he spotted Sgt. Riso with the phaser and extra energy clips. Harris: How you doing Riso. Every thing all right? Riso didn't respond at first. He only walked out of the armory. Then he turned to Sgt. Harris. Riso: Don't try to stop me. If you do... Harris: Yanik, this isn't the way, man. Put down the phaser rifle. Riso: NO! Damn it, they wouldn't even let me see them! They were my parents! Harris: I know. I know. Riso, If you go down there, I'm going to have to tell them your intentions. There will be a security team on you before any thing can happen. Riso: Let them try. Harris was silent. The man had snapped. The loss of men, the death of his parents, and the selfishness of his remaining family. All of it was enough to make any man go where Riso was about to. Harris: Don't do this, Yanik. You still have a chance. Nothing will happen to you if you just drop the phaser now. Counsiler Siahsta can help you deal with this. Riso: No. No, I'm doing this. Get out of my way, Harris. I don't have a problem with you. Harris: Your going to have to kill me. Riso growled and rose his phaser. He pointed it right at Harris' head. Riso: Don't test me! Harris: Yanik, this is no way to honor your parents. Riso: What the hell would you know about my parents. Harris: I know that you loved them. And they loved you. I also know that they wouldn't want you to do this. Yanik, this is not the way. Riso stood there for a moment, breathing deeply. He then broke down in tears, and dropped the phaser rifle. Harris embraced him. Harris: Don't worry, brother. We'll get threw this together. Riso: How the hell am I supposed to...to survive? Harris: One day at a time, man. C'mon, I have to take you in, for your safety. Riso nodded, and Harris walked him to the brig. They passed Ens.Marik and the other security officers who walked behind them. (Starbase Valhalla, Deck 11, Corridors - NPC Meelop - 1003) ~This is a stupid space station! Full of stupid people who can't keep the place together for more than five minutes!~ The boy kicked at the floor as he ran along the deck, ~Because they oppose the Gods! I'll show them!~ He stopped by a door at random, and pulled a can of spray paint from the recesses of one of his pockets, shook it well, and proceeded to paint. It wasn't the mindless, careless vandalism people would look and him and think him capable of. If you took the time to look closely you could see the boy's brow was furrowed in deep concentration as he traced the complex curves of a pattern that burned on the inside of his eyelids. The sign of the Dominion. <> Riso sat on the Bio bed and stared at the wall not listening to what the doctor was telling him. Even the Councillor was not able to get a response out of him. He had just shut up to everyone that was there except for Harris of course. Riso knew that Harris was the only person in the room that would understand any of the torment that he was under. Riso also knew that the General would be here soon to give him a swift butt chewing for what he had done. Not only was it illegal but so stupid to think hat he would even manage to pull it off. There was no way that Riso was going to get those weapons off of the Reprisal. Doctor Chase: Listen Sgt. I know that you are under a lot of pressure right now but you have to open up to us. Let us know what is bothering you and why it is that way. We are only here to help you. Riso turned and looked at the doctor who took a step back as he saw the look of uncaring in his eyes. If she had to say so it looked like the Marine Sgt. was no longer alive. At least he was no longer morally alive within his mind. His eyes were cold and uncaring which made her afraid because it seemed that he had nothing left to live for. She turned and looked at W.O. Harris and shook her head while exiting the examination room. Harris stepped over to Riso and looked at him even though Riso said nothing to him Harris knew that his roommate was not the same person that had came aboard this ship anymore. Harris: Riso are you alright? I mean you look like you want to talk. Riso: Harris, right now talking is not what I want to be doing. I am no longer a person like you would know me. Everything that made me who I am is now gone and all that is left is what the Marines have given me. I am no longer anything but a Marine with no other ambitions but to live and die for what they believe in and I have nothing to fear but fear itself. At that Riso turned and laid down on the on the bio bed staring at the ceiling. Riso: Harris, I think that right now all I really want is to be left alone for a bit. Could you do that for me. Harris: Sure I think that I could do that for you buddy I will stay here in Sickbay incase you might want to talk. (Starbase Valhalla, Deck 24 - NPC Bylene - 1016) She waited by the door to Main Engineering. There seemed to be very little to-ing and fro-ing today, but eventually someone would have to go in or come out, and then she would be able to make her move. The quickest way to a station's heart, is via it's power core... (Starbase Valhalla, Main Shuttlebay, SFI Operative - Captain Jonathan Kimmell - 1100) Jonathon had the controls of the runabout; he and Captain Rulestaad had boarded a few moments before. "Captain Kimmell to Valhalla Operations, request permission to depart?", asked the SFI operative in his normal tone. =^= Cleared runabout, have a good trip =^= "Acknowledged, engaging thrusters, ahead one third.", said the Captain, to no one in particular, even if Rulestaad was listening, he had to keep a log of the journey. As soon as the runabout was clear, without any ceremony, Kimmell engaged the warp drive and he let the runabout accelerate to her maximum safe warp before throttling back. "Computer, time to the coordinates specified?", he asked. << Two days, fifteen minutes >> "Well Captain Rulestaad, we are going to be alone for a few days, but now we are clear of the station, I want to give you your orders in more detail.", said Kimmell turning around from the controls to face towards the back of the runabout, and towards the Strategic Operations Officer. "We are meeting three other Captains from various fleets and ships in the Alpha Quadrant, all of them have noticed the same strange readings from this sector of the Quadrant, we believe these emissions are being generated by the rogue dominion group we've all been looking for. The SFI operative pointed to a computer screen that had a map of that area displayed. "As you can see, those coordinates are very close to the Romulan border." Kimmell finished the report, or at least as much of it as he was going to say at this time. (USS Lion, Bridge - Captain Gary Kurtz - 1325) Captain Gary Kurtz stood on the bridge of the USS Lion, his hands clasped behind his back. The Reprisal was in bad shape and he hadn’t even seen the sensor reports from the CONN. Right now, he was concerned with the ship getting into dock safely and to get the wounded off the ship. “Captain, we’ve got clearance to begin evacuating the wounded. Medical shuttles are loading as we speak...” Kurtz spun on his heel to his tactical officer. “Begin transport of wounded to the sickbay and interim areas. Helm, set a course for Otono Medical Centre and standby. CONN, status?” The officer turned and nodded. “All shuttles have capacity sir. 50 patients on board and en route to Otono Medical. We’ve got the other 50 secured in sickbay and interim. We are clear.” Nodding quickly, the Captain pointed to the helm as the Sovereign class vessel turned and maneuvered her way to Mars. Her impulse engines thundered as the sleek ship pushed towards Otono, a new home for many on board. (USS Lion, Bridge - Captain Gary Kurtz - 1730) “Captain, entering orbit now...transporting casualties to the planet as ordered...” Kurtz nodded silently, his eyes carefully watching the sensor readings in front of him. He knew that one false step or a forgotten move could send war back into the heart of the station. And he was at the center of the firestorm, cautiously holding it steady. “Good. Signal Otono Alert and we are clear. Reset to yellow alert, helm, get a patrol course and report to general stations.” The USS Lion once more banked into the sun and slid softly back into the blackness of space, a silent predator in the so called night. Mission: Phoenix, Day 2 Stardate: 2379.01.11 (USS Lion, Bridge, Captain Gary Kurtz - 1730) Captain Gary Kurtz sat in the center chair of the USS Lion, his gaze forward as Mars was coming into focus on the main screen. They had taken on the 50 injured and right now the Chief Medical Officer was screaming for crew to help keep those in the sickbay and interim rooms stable. They had made it as fast as they could to Mars, now they just needed to get there. He stood as the helm turned and reported they were within range of the planet. He ordered orbit immediately focused his attention back on the screen to his right. He was paranoid, but that’s what you learned at Utopia. If you weren’t, things happened and it wasn’t a pleasant outcome. “Captain, Medical reports the injured are going unstable. We can’t use the transporters to transport them. We’ve got nearly 30 going critical!” There was a measurable silence on the bridge as the former Chief Medical Officer grimaced slightly. The shuttles were occupied and any trip through the atmosphere was dangerous as it was for a small shuttle. His helm officer turned to him, his hands resting on the commands in front of him. It was then that Kurtz had an idea. One that would work. One that would test the Lion. “All hands go to atmospheric entry condition red! Helm, begin enabling the atmospheric systems. Engineering, shut down the core, switch to impulse and maneuvering thrusters. Communications get Otono Alert Centre and inform them we intend to approach in atmosphere and they will need to dispatch shuttles to retrieve the wounded. Give them the conditions. Helm, engage when ready!” The bridge changed to a dark yellow, blue lights flashing on the bridge. The crew shifted places as klaxons rang true throughout the Sovereign class vessel. Kurtz himself sat down in his chair. The Lion began to move forward, touching the atmosphere. There was a bit of turbulence, but engineering quickly moved to compensate as the starship broke into the sky above the Otono Medical Centre, sending a large boom over the facility. (Mars, Otono Medical Centre, Stormcentre, CMO Cambridge - 1740) “Yes, the USS Lion has just entered the space. She’s got patients. No, I do not care who there says to move her. They are lives in danger, now get MY shuttles to MY patients or risk a personal visit from me! Cambridge OUT” The Chief Medical Officer stood in the midst of the Otono Stormcentre as the shuttles had begun to touch down outside. Men and women medical officers ran in and out the door with gravity beds and equipment. The USS Lion had been a surprise, but at this point, the CMO was counting the blessings he had. A sea of blue uniforms ran the steps as Mac quickly made his way out, his eyes drawn to the massive shape of the sovereign class ship dwarfing the sky above him. Ripping his eyes away from the ship, he made his way to Nathan Dutsya, the Russian doctor who was working to make order out of intense chaos. So far he was succeeding, getting 30 patients of the shuttles and into the Stormcentre. Now the Lion was calling and there were still 20 criticals coming off the transports. “Chief! We’ve got the Lion being offloaded by transports. I’ve got the 20 coming from the ground transports cleared and sorted, but I think Rhea is having some serious trouble with the Lion problem.” Cambridge nodded and moved across the courtyard, spotting more shuttles leaving from the Alert Centre, their sirens screaming into the sky. He reached Lyoit, who was surrounded by several officers handing her more PADDs then she knew what to do with. He quickly moved in. “Look out! Lyoit! Report!” She looked frustrated and nearly let it loose, but held her tongue. “We’ve got 50 criticals, up from 30. Otono Alert is getting ‘em down here. I’ve got trouble getting doctors out here…” Cambridge silenced her with his hand and tapped his commbadge. “Chief to Stormcentre, I need 30 doctors and gravity beds and exam crew to the Lion landing area…NOW!” There was a ‘aye’ from the other end as several doctors began to pour out of the entrance. Lyoit smiled at him, brushing her hair away from her face as wind began to pick up. She growled and turned to the officers coming in. “Get in here! I need patients moved! Two to sector 33, take these to go, move!” She began shouting orders and men began to listen. Cambridge himself moved back to the main entrance of Stormcentre, his mind already moving ahead. They had one hundred injuries, all severe. He hoped to keep them all alive. The doctor always pledged to save as many as he could. This time was no different. Quickly reaching the center of the chaos, he picked up a PADD at the center command desk. “Chief to Reprisal Medical Chief, I’m here at Otono Medical...I’ve got your wounded here, numbering 100. I’d like to see you and meet with you, perhaps get some helping hands from you if possible. We’re in the Stormcentre…Cambridge out.” “AHHHHHH! NOOO MORRRRREEE!” With that, the CMO ran to assist with a patient, the intensity in the building already heading past heightened situation. Mission: Phoenix, Day 4 Stardate: 2379.01.13 (USS Firebrande, Bridge - CO Captain Remae Ktell - 0900) The Firebrande had arrived at the site of the wormhole, at least, where it was the last time this Galaxy class ship had left it. "Impulse power, please Mr. Landis, start a full scan of the area.", ordered the Bajoran. "Aye Sir.", reported the CONN. "Bridge to Engineering, prepare a class 8 probe, as soon as we find what we are looking for, we'll launch; Dr. Dervin, can you help us try to find this mysterious wormhole?" As Remae waited for replies from his science and medical team, he couldn't help wonder if the wormhole was going to play hard to find, just for the hell of it. <> Ops: "Sir, ETA to Planitia is one hour." Winthorpe: "Thank you, steady as she goes." <
> Captain Winthorpe looked around the battle-scarred bridge and waited. They were just a short time from arriving at Utopia Planitia and he was anxious to get his ship some much deserved rest. He had a crew that was tired, people hurt and Command was ready to deliver him up as a sacrifice if he should fail to prove his actions. Ops: "Sir, Utopia is hailing." Winthorpe: "On screen." The screen lit up to reveal Admiral Jopek. Jopek: "Welcome to Utopia. Medical shuttles have been dispatched and we are ready for you stay. We are transmitting docking procedures now." Ops: "Got them sir." Winthorpe: "Thank you Admiral." Jopek: "Please report to me as soon as you dock. Commander Trask will be with me." Winthorpe: "Understood Admiral, Reprisal out." The screen went blank and Tom turned to his Exec. Winthorpe: "Initiate docking procedures. I want a two day liberty rotation set up." Smith: "Yes sir." as he turned to give orders Captain Winthorpe left the bridge, picked up a stack of padds from his office and made his way to the transporter room. (Starbase Valhalla, Main Operations - CO RADM Jopek - 1330) "Admiral, The Reprisal has arrived. She's entering within the Mars Defence Permitter's Visual range.", reported the First Officer. "On screen, Commander.", reported the Vulcan. There she was, the ship was obviously without her warp drive, the nacelles were dark and cold looking, and other systems appeared to be operating on low power. "Hail them please.", ordered the Rear Admiral. "Welcome to Utopia Planitia. Medical shuttles have been dispatched and we are ready for you stay. We've recovered the most serious and they are being treated on Mars now. We are transmitting docking procedures now." =^= Thank you Admiral. =^= "Please report to me as soon as you dock.", said Admiral Jopek. =^= Understood Admiral, Reprisal out. =^= "Mr. Black, route her to the docking bay and contact the YEO, you two need to get started, perhaps even to talk to their First Officer, Commander Smith for a full report.", said the Admiral to the Operations Officer. A few moments later, the Reprisal lined up on approach to her docking bay and slid in without incident. As she did, the viewscreen clearly showed the docking bay spring to life. Lights shown onto the hull and small pods began making visual examinations of the damage, as more than one gantry swung into place; allow turbolift systems to be interchangeable. =^= Transporter Room to Admiral Jopek, Captain Winthorpe is aboard and enroute to Operations. =^= "Very well, Commander Lee, you have OPS, I'll be in the Ready Room." Admiral Jopek turned on his heal and headed for his office. <> The Reprisal approached Utopia. He sleek surface was pitted with damage and scarred with burn marks and hastily patched holes in. Her nacelles, once alive with a rich cobalt blue, now were burned and scarred like the rest of the ship, but stiff exuding a sense of power and purpose. She looked terrible and as the yard engineers watched her slip into the bay, they knew their work was cut out for them. *Scene Main Bridge* Smith: Yes sir * The Captain exits the bridge and heads for the Transporter Room* Smith: Helm do you have docking instructions? Helm : Yes sir. Smith: Then by all means....take us in. Helm: Aye aye sir. *The battle worn Reprisal slid into is docking berth* Almost immediately work bees began swarming all over the ship repairing it.* Smith: Secure all systems. Switch in starbase power. *Various "Aye Sir" 's are spoken* Smith: *taps* Engineering you can bridge the warp core off line at your disgression we are now on external power. =/\= Engineering: Aye sir. Smith: *taps* all department head submit crew members for a 2 day liberty rotation. <> Tom entered the transporter room and nodded to the Chief. Winthorpe: Beam me over to the station." Chief: "Aye sir. =/\= Reprisal to Utopia, requesting permission to beam Captain Winthorpe over."=/\= Voice: "Proceed." Tom stepped onto the platform and dissappeared in the transporter effect and found himself on Utopia Planitia. Winthorpe: "Request permission to come aboard." Transporter Chief: "Granted Captain." (Starbase Valhalla, Ready Room - CO RADM Jopek - 1400) The door chime activated and the Admiral called in the new arrival. "Captain Winthorpe, welcome aboard.", said the Vulcan standing up to meet the Commanding Officer of the Reprisal. He indicated to a large couch that was always present in the Admiral's Office and they sat down together. "We should have a preliminary repair schedule for you soon, Captain, is there anything else I can do for you while you are here? I am also interested in your battle damage, we've encountered remains of the Dominion here in the Alpha Quadrant and we are still looking for them, I hope you didn't encounter them?", said Jopek As usual, three things were going on at once, the Firebrande was off out, the STRATOPS was off on a secret mission and a newly damaged ship had arrived. <> It looked to be a beginning of a busy day new personnel coming over, not to mention all the repair teams coming to start the long task of fixing the ship. Word of the engagement with the Dokie had came out and the crew of the Reprisal had become local hero’s to some of the younger officers but the brass were tight lipped when asked at all about the Reprisal. The small personnel shuttle was quit snug Eli thought to himself , but he couldn’t wait for all the transporter traffic to slowed down he wanted to get to his ship. Yeah he new it’s wasn't his per say but the parts that matter was his and the thought of that made him as almost excited as when he join Starfleet. He new it wouldn’t be all fun and games the Reprisal had took a punishment and he could tell that through the view port, the usual federation grey was covered in black scorch marks. Station personnel were onboard helping with the fix up and also as many if not more doing zero gravity repairs on the huge hull plates they looked like little specks in the view port as Eli felt the final decent begin for the shuttle bay. The doors open and Eli stepped in to the turbo lift. Eli: “Bridge” he said in an excited tone. The doors open to the commanding view of the bridge, the familiar sounds of personnel using the consoles and small ones only a engineer would hear flooded Eli’s ears and just as a childish grin came on his face a voice from behind startled him. Smith: “Excuse me are you lost” asked the stern looking officer getting from out of the command chair. Reet: “Umm… UHH, No Sir” as he walked out of turbo lift he just realized how stupid he must have looked standing in the lift with that dumb grin on his face. Reet: “No Sir, just came to report in” Smith: “Let me guess, with that accent you must be Lieutenant Eli Reet are new Chief Engineering Officer, greetings I’m Commander James Smith welcome aboard” Reet: “Yes Sir, thank you sir sorry for coming here with all my belongings but I thought I could get started as soon as possible, it’s sure looks like she…. I mean The Reprisal needs it” Eli couldn’t believe he was so nervous it’s not like he hadn’t served on a ship before but for some reason it was like being a brand new ensign. Smith: “Yes I can’t argue with that, She has been through a lot but first lets get you some condors, please Lieutenant follow me” and he motion towards the ready room. Eli graved some of his belonging’s that he placed on the ground and followed the EXO to the ready room. <> Tom sighed and launched into his report. Winthorpe: "Do you remember the alien incursion into the asteriod belt here in the Sol System?" Jopek: "I read a report on that. Your ship's fighters aided several cadet fighters battling a swarm of robot fighters." Winthorpe: "Yes, the Swarm Fighters were searching for something. It turns out it was some sort of control cube, we still don't know exactly what it was." Jopek: "But you had possession of it?" Winthorpe: "Yes, and when we learned that this is what the Swarm was looking for we beamed it to them and they left the solar system via some sort of temporal portal. But not, before we intercepted a transmission that Intel determined contained a set of coordinates." Jopek: "To where?" Winthorpe: "That's what we were dispatched to find out. We left Federation Territory, and that's when the problem's started. As we passed through the outskirts of a system, a temporal anomoly appeared, threatening the existence of the system. It expanded so rapidly that we were struck by the edges of it several times, causing a good amount of damage as well as causing the dissappearance of several crewmembers." Jopek: "How many did you lose?" Winthorpe: "At least twenty, including my Chief Engineer, Marine XO, and former XO." Jopek: "Go on." Winthorpe: "We desperately wanted to find a way to get our people back, but the anomoly was expanding so rapidly that it threatened to destroy the entire system, and the 100 million natives on one of the planet. So we fired ten transphasic torpedoes into the heart of the anomoly, which acted as a counter to the anomoly and they cancelled each other out." Jopek: "Why didn't you return to starbase?" Winthorpe: "Our damage was not critical, we had enough personnel to cover the loss, I decided that we were more than capable of finishing our mission. We continued on and encounted the Doloki Empire." Jopek: "Are the Doloki, Dominion allies?" Winthorpe: "No, sir. The Doloki are not from what we were able to discover, Dominion allies. The Doloki Empire seems to cover from preliminary sensor and intel readings covers and area about 8 parsecs by 10 parsecs, or 26 light years by 32 light years." Jopek: "Continue." Winthorpe: "We had direct contact with one world, an outpost world. This world was a completely water covered world. We detected only one major city which was on the surface as well as several unerwater outposts. It seemed to be a research or warning station outpost with a total population of about 1000." Jopek: "And the Doloki themselves?" Winthorpe: "We made contact with an individual named Tech Orilon. They appear to be human in appearance with the exception of completely white eyes. Orilon said that his title, that of Teck, was equivalent to what we would call a governor, or manager and that it was a strictly civilian title. We didn't gather any information on their rank structure other than that." Jopek: "Technology?" Winthorpe: "Here is the interesting part. They have sophisticated scanning and sensor technology. It was able to scan and identify the capabilities of the Reprisal without our knowing. The Swarm Fighters are definately under their control and are robot fightercraft. Whether they are artificially intelligent, are piloted by androids or are controlled remotely we are not sure. My best guess would be that they are artificial intelligence of some sort. The Swarm travel via a temporal device that allows them to deploy seemingly instantaneously to any location. What the limits of this technology are is beyond any of our observation, but we also think that they are developing this technology into some sort of remote weapon." Jopek: "That poses some serious complications for Federation security." WInthorpe: "I agree sir. Myself and three of my officers met with Orilon on the surface. The Doloki captured us and showed us footage of several of my missing crewmembers committing atrocities on several Doloki worlds. I however think it was fabricated to justify hostilies against the Federation and the Reprisal. At this time, Swarm Fighters attacked the Reprisal. Marine squads deployed in an attempt to rescue us. We lost a good number of fighters as well as sustained a large amount of our damage from Swarm plasma torpedoes." Jopek: "Am I to understand that this was on your prior orders." Winthorpe: "Yes sir. It was decided that the possibility of capture of the Contact Team was an iminent possibility and that rescure would be attempted." Jopek: "Did the Swarm attack the Reprisal before or after the Marines began rescue operations." Winthorpe: "Before." Jopek: "Continue." Winthorpe: "We managed to escape once, but were recaptured. Marines landed in the city to rescue a downed fighter pilot and were caught in a confrontation with Doloki military as well as civilians. Civilian casaulties were at a minimum as you can see by the Marine reports. (hands Jopek a padd). During a second escape attempt, my Chief Intelligence Officer was killed. We made it to the outside of the city where the Marines were holed up. A rescue runabout landed and I ordered everyone to evac and tried to buy some time for them to escape and was recaptured. However, the surviving members of the Contact Team were rescued. Orilon attempted to get me to order the Reprisal to leave, but I refused. He also attempted to get information on Federation defenses and capabilities. I withstood his questioning but they used a brain probe device of some sort to start extracting information from me. (he rubbed his temples) Holes were drilled in my skull and probes inserted." Jopek: "Did they use any sort of anesthetic?" Winthorpe: "No sir. I am surprised that I didn't pass out from the pain, but somehow I was awake for it all. I can only assume that they used some sort of drug to keep me awake. But once the probes were in, I lost conciousness. I awoke later when a Marine rescue team managed to capture Orilon and order him to stop. Orilon managed to escape but not before declaring that if another Federation starship entered Doloki territory, war would be declared." Jopek: "So the Marines got you back to the Reprisal." Winthorpe: "Yes but there was one small problem. A large portion of my fighters were caught in one of those temporal gates that the Swarm uses and dissapeared. We determined their location and attempted to leave the system. However, a large group of swarm fighters appeared and attacked the Reprisal. I maneuvered the Reprisal into orbit and gave Orilon and ultimatum, withdraw the Swarm or we would obliterate the city from orbit. I fired a warning shot a kilometer from the city with the ventral phaser cannon and that was enough to reinforce my bluff and get the swarm to withdraw. I then made it clear to him that any further aggresive acts on us as we left the system would result in the Reprisal razing the planet." Jopek: "Would you have really done it?" Winthorpe: "No sir. I understand that Starfleet Command may not approve of the way I handled it but it seemed to me to be the only way to avoid more casualies. We left the system, cloaked and headed deeper into Doloki space to rescue our missing fighters. We avoided all aggressive action, moved into the system, recovered the fighters and warped out. We did however enounter a large number of Doloki starships, all of which appeared to be very advanced, perhaps on equal offensive and defensive capacity of Federation ships. They do however lack in warp development and we easily outran them at warp seven. We returned to Federation space and were ordered here." <> Marine Captain Christopher Blair stepped out of the Danube-class runabout and looked around. Task Force 44's new headquarters, Utopia Planitia, was looking good as new, after what had happened to her previously. He shifted his shoulder, trying to get his pack to not dig into his shoulder. After briefly consulting a computer terminal for directions, he walked through a good quarter of the station before finding a general personnel transporter. He walked in and glanced at the operator, a rather cute-looking ensign. BLAIR: Beam me to the Reprisal. ENSIGN (NPC): Aye, sir. *taps buttons, the waits expectantly* BLAIR: Energize. (Starbase Valhalla, Ready Room - CO RADM Jopek - 1500) Admiral Jopek was listening to the overview from Captain Winthorpe of the Reprisal, an amazing tale was unfolding, even the Vulcan was surprised to hear of what they had found. "We avoided all aggressive action, moved into the system, recovered the fighters and warped out. We did however encounter a large number of Doloki starships, all of which appeared to be very advanced, perhaps on equal offensive and defensive capacity of Federation ships. They do however lack in warp development and we easily outran them at warp seven. We returned to Federation space and were ordered here." The CO leant back in his chair for a moment and considered the entire report. "I think it would be advisable for Starfleet to send a few ships to the border, the last thing the Federation needs is another unknown species in our space. Thank you for the report, Captain, I may have more for you later, but I am sure you want to check on your ship. Feel free for you and your crew to enjoy our facilities and of course, Earth is only a few hours away. Thank you." (Starbase Valhalla, Main Operations - CO RADM Jopek - 1510) Once the Captain had left the Ready Room, Jopek did the same and he walked over to the Operations Officer. "Commander Lee, can you pull any information that Starfleet has on a race known as the Doloki, and then send that information to Starfleet Security with my report.", the Admiral passed over a PADD which contained a quick summary of the Captain's report plus recommendations of his own. "What's our status?", he asked the Operations Officer while he waited for an answer from Commander Lee. <> To Blair's vision, the transporter room, the cute operator, and pretty much everything else dissolved into a sparkling, swirling quantum mist. A second later, and everything reformed into a different transporter room and a different operator. Bair stepped off the pad and glanced at the operator, this one a haggard-looking male lieutenant jay-gee. BLAIR: Permission to come aboard? LIEUTENANT JG: Permission granted, sir. Blair left the room and headed for a turbolift, which whisked him to the hangar deck. The bay itself was an empty shambles, but the locker room was intact, which was what Blair wanted. He left his small bag in an open locker, then left for another turbolift. BLAIR: Computer, locate Captain Winthorpe. COMPUTER +Captain Winthorpe is not aboard the Reprisal.+ BLAIR: Locate Commander Smith. COMPUTER: +Commander Smith is on the bridge.+ BLAIR: *steps into turbolift* Bridge. The turbolift lurched into motion, stopping a couple times to let on and off other personell, mostly engineers and medics. Eventually, he reaced the bridge, where he left the lift and walked down the ramp twoards the command area. Commander Smith was in the captain's chair. BLAIR: Commander Smith? SMITH: Yes, Captain? BLAIR: *goes to attention and salutes* Marine Captain Christopher Blair reporting for duty. <> Tom left the Admiral's office with a sense of trepidation and knew that his meeting with JAG was inevitable. He made his way through the station, without a real destination but simply exploring and collecting his thoughts. Voice: =/\= "Captain Winthorpe, please come to briefing room 4." Winthorpe: =/\="On my way."=/\= <> Tom entered the briefing room to find a Starfleet officer with commander's pips on his collar, he had a stack of padds on the table and several monitors displayed starship schematics and stellar charts. He looked up at Tom and smiled warmly and made his way to greet him. Trask: "Captain Winthorpe, thank you for coming on such short notice." Tom shook the man's hand trying to gauge whether or not the smile was genuine or not. Winthorpe: "No problem at all Commander, I figured that you would contact me as soon as was possible." Trask: "Of course, I would have been in touch sooner but I didn't want to interrupt your meeting with the Admiral." Winthorpe: "Well, shall we get started?" Trask: "Of course, of course, please have a seat. Can I offer you something?" Winthorpe: "Cranberry Iced Tea, with a slice of orange, cold with two sugars." Trask went to the nearby replicator and ordered the drinks, returned with them and sat down. Trask: "Computer start recording JAG interview session into the mission of the USS Reprisal. Commander Trask and Captain Winthorpe present." Computer: "Recording." Trask: "Captain, I should ask now if you would like any sort of representation during this interview. There have been no formal charges of any sort, this is simply an interview between yourself and the JAG office to determine whether or not any formal proceedings should be held." Winthorpe: "I don't think that will be necessary." Trask: "Computer, please note that Captain Winthorpe has declined representation." Trask: "Captain, please start at the beginning of your mission." <> Trask: "Thank you Captain for your honesty and cooperation. JAG will review all the data and have a decision regarding this shortly." Winthorpe nodded and left the briefing room, he rubbed his temples and made his way to the transporter room. <> Winthorpe: "Reprisal please." Transporter Chief: "Yes sir." Tom transported over, made his way to his quarters, laid down and fell asleep, certain that he wasn't through with JAG or Commander Trask. Mission: Phoenix, Day 5 Stardate: 2379.01.14 (Starbase Valhalla, Yard Engineering Office - YEO Ensign JG T'Veyn Aldreck - 0800) The Merrimac had left space dock only a couple hours before the Reprisal arrived the night before, and things were running smoothly. The battle-scarred starship was now docked at shipyard seven and her crew was in a two day liberty rotation. Aldreck remembered his plans to visit each shipyard and see for himself what the engineers were working with, and decided that shipyard seven was a good enough place to start. (Shipyard Seven, Primary Repair Bay, Transporter Room - YEO Ensign JG T'Veyn Aldreck - 0815) Aldreck materialized in the shipyard's transporter room and nodded towards the transporter chief. He stepped down off the pad and headed out the door for deck one, Shipyard Headquarters. (Shipyard Seven, Primary Repair Bay, Shipyard HQ - YEO Ensign JG T'Veyn Aldreck - 0825) HQ was certainly a busy place to be, and the "hustle n' bustle" attitude that could be felt in the room was proof of it. Officers and crew members ran around with PADDS and did their jobs thoroughly. Aldreck smiled as he stood there. He hadn't told anyone he was coming, so it was nice to see that they weren't putting up a fake show. Aldreck wandered over to one of the consoles and looked over the specs, damage repair reports, and other information for the Reprisal. It seemed like things were going fine: the hull was being re-plated piece by piece and the ship systems were being repaired by specialists and technicians. The Reprisal would be like new after a few days if such fine work continued. Mission: Phoenix, Day 1 Stardate: 2379.01.10 (USS Reprisal, Ready Room) Winthorpe rubbed his temples. Winthorpe: "Have a seat." Bodine sits down. Winthorpe: "No you can't have a demotion to Ensign, I need you where you are. As my Chief Tactical Security Officer. And no you can't start over because (smiling) darnit I'm not going to let you slack off either." Bodine: "But sir, I've let you down twice." Winthorpe: "Bodine, you did no such thing. You couldn't have predicted Orilon's actions on the planet and while I don't approve of you leaving the bridge during a crisis, I understand how deep loyalties run. You're not even in any official trouble. I just wanted to make my point that you are a valuable member of this crew, and in a crisis I need your expertise on the bridge." Bodine: "Thank you sir. I won't let you down." Winthorpe: "Now, I really really want you to understand this. When there is not a crisis and something like this comes up, fine, but in a crisis situation, I need you at your post." Bodine: "Aye sir." Winthorpe: "Now go get some rest." Bodine: (feeling better) "Yes sir." They both leave the ready room. Bodine leaves the bridge, Winthorpe sits in his chair. (USS Reprisal, Main bridge) Smith: "Sir, we have entered Federation space. I sent a preliminary report to Starfleet." Winthorpe: "And?" Smith: "Sir, they have ordered us to Utopia Planitia for repairs and resupply." Winthorpe: "Planitia, what about Avalon Shipyards? That is our homeport." Smith: "I asked them that very thing sir. There has been some restructuring in Bravo Fleet. TF44's new base of operations is Utopia Planitia." Winthorpe: "Do they understand our situation?" Smith: "I informed Admiral Halverson. He ordered us directly to Planitia, he said to make no stops at all." Winthorpe: "ETA?" Smith: "Three days." Winthorpe: "Great. Number One, get some rest. Then I want to have meetings with the following personnel." (he hands Smith a PADD.) Smith: "Yes sir." (USS Reprisal, Crew Quarters) It was another dream. This nightmare was different than the ones Sgt. Harris had in the past. In this one Sgt. Harris' arm disintegrated after the exsplosion, and he lie there, concios for god only knows how long. Phaser and disrupter fire streaked over him, and Harris smiled when he thought how beautiful the display was, like the fireworks show at Golden gate Park. He turned his head. Bodies layed everywhere. Klingon, human, and even an Andorian Marine captain. In the far distance, he saw movement. With his left arm still a smoldering stump, he ran closer to the figure in the shadows. Disrupter blasts streaked by him, but he did not care. He knew he had to follow that figure that wrapped itself in the darkness. As he got closer, he began to slow down. He saw the person running clearly now. It was Bylan, pregnant with child. Harris: Bylan! Honey, you got to get down! Bylan! Harris ran after her, but no matter how hard he ran, she was always to distant to hear the pleading voice of her one time human lover. She ran threw the rough, broken terrain. Instead of being the planet where Harris had lost his arm, she now ran in the low mist of the rocky planet where Sgt. Harris had saved her brother's life. Harris: Bylan! NO! He watched helplessly as Jem'Hadar soldiers closed in on her. He reached for his phaser. His left arm was still a smoldering stump, but he felt no pain. He aimed, and fired toward the attackers. He hit one, than another, and another, till no more stood to threaten the Klingon woman. At last, he came near. She was the same as when he left her. Beautiful, even to human standards. Her sharp green eyes looked at him lovingly. He stepped forward to embrace her. Something clasped his neck, and picked him off the ground. Looking down, Harris, to his horror, saw K'Var's body, with the dead eyes of Bodine when he attacked Harris in sick bay. The Klingon lifted Harris higher in the air, choking the life out of him. K'Var: You soiled my honor! Harris eyes widened. It was the voice of Tech Orilon. K'Var: I shall return for you, Harris! And when we meet again, you shall die!100001010001110001010001000010101010 Harris awoke with a yell. Riso, who had been sleeping in the rack across the room, jumped up. Riso: Lights! The room illuminated. Harris looked around. Riso came toward him. Riso: You okay man? Harris: Yeah, just a stupid dream. What time is it? Riso asked the computer the time. 0400. One and a half hours till wake up call. Harris shook his head, and wiped the sweat from his face. Riso: Must of been one hell of a dream. You okay? Harris: Yeah. Yeah, I'm all right. What about you? I heard about your parents. I'm sorry for your loss. Riso: I'll manage. When we get back to the sol system I'm taking some time off to honor them. Harris: Sol system? Why are we going back? Riso: Guess you didn't hear. We're heading to Utopia Planita for repairs. Harris: Hmm. Guess that's for the better. How bad is the ship? Riso: Last I heard, we had almost one hundred casualties. Ship took a beating too. We might be there for a while. Balls to the Walls Greystone really laid into you didn't he? Harris: You can say that again. Riso: Balls to the Walls Greystone really laid into you didn't he? Both men laughed. Harris liked Riso. He was a good Marine, not to cocky, but ready to raise hell at the moments notice. He had a good sense of humor too. Harris: No sense in me going back to sleep. Guess I'll get ready, hopefully I'll be released back to duty. Riso: Any punishment come down yet? Harris: I'm not sure what the general is up to. How are your men holding up? Riso: Alpha company was hit hard by the loss of troops. Most of them are starting to come around and are returning to normal. For the ones that are still a little shaken I am keeping my eye on them. The first sign of Post Tramatic Combat Snydrome they are going to the councillor. Harris: Well it looks like they are no longer just rookies eh. Riso: Yeah, they are now blooded combat vets. Well I have some duties to preform and I think that I want to them done before we arrive at Utopia Planitia. Harris: Well I guess that you better that stuff done yet. I think that I am going to get some sleep before our little morning run. With the Riso turned and start for the door and Harris settled back into bed. Harris: Riso.... Riso: Yeah? Harris: I know that it was hard on you when you lost those troops down there but there was nothing you could have done. You did your job and that was all that you could do. Nothing more and nothing less. Riso: Thanks it helps to hear that from you. With that Riso walked through the doors and walked towards the Company headquaters. The hallway was empty with the exception of a security patrol moving down the hall. They looked at Riso but dismissed him as they continued to relieve the pair that were outside of his quarters. All that Riso could think about was poor Harris being stuck in there for something that he didn't start. Riso knew that once he sorted out everything with his parents if Harris wanted to talk about this he would lend his ear. Riso walked into the Alpha company HQ and sat at his desk. He turned the computer on and went to work on some reports that he wanted to finish. Riso wanted to do anything to take his parents off of his mind. He just could not afford the time to think about it right now. (Strategic Operations, Conference Room One - WTO Dr Dervin - 1604) Tanya watched as the elderly gentleman who was known as Admiral Jopek stood and began to speak. "Greetings to you all, looking around, I see some new people and some old." Jopek walked circled them all as he spoke; "My meeting with Starfleet Command over the past few weeks have brought about several changes to current policies that we are going to implement. Firstly, we are going to resume our starship construction at one hundred percent capacity. All inactive bays are in the process of being crewed, and then, unassembled space frames of various ships are going to be delivered and construction will commence. Starfleet wants these ships operational within the year, our new Yard Engineering Officer; Ensign Aldrek T'Veyn will be supervising that job." Tanya nodded as she regarded the new officer. "Next, I have received official confirmation that the USS Firebrande has completed its repairs and has been reassigned to us on a permanent basis under the command of Captain Remae Ktell." At that point, Jopek sat down, and Remae stood. "Hello all, I've assigned each of you a position on the Firebrande, so that when a mission may call for some of you, or all of you to crew her." Tanya listened as the list was pronounced. She noticed that her name wasn't on it. ~Hmmmm, that's odd, maybe they don't want me aboard after last time...~ "Now the rest of these positions don't usually exist on a starship, so I've assigned you a position best suited to your skills. Ensign T'Veyn Aldreck, I would like you to assume the position of assistant to Operations, you'll be keeping an eye on all the ship's infra-structure. Lieutenant Dr. Tanya Leigh Dervin, I want you to monitor the warp drive and other propulsion systems on the Firebrande, you'll report to the CEO while you are on the ship. Captain, Jenna Rulestaad, I would like you to take the position of Strategic Operations Officer and be of as much assistance to Tactical as you can. I hope that's all clear, I'll be on the Firebrande if anyone needs to discuss anything with me. Thanks, Admiral." "Very well, one of the things that Starfleet and I want to organise is the redeployment of the fleet, we've become defensive since Utopia planitia was attacked plus, our exploration missions have stopped. That is going to change. Captain Rulestaad, it'll be your priority to reassign the current fleets protecting our inner systems to exploration, diplomatic and scientific mission without compromising the safety of Sector 001. To help us do that, we have the Firebrande and as other ships are constructed, we'll be testing them by keeping an eye on the inner systems of the Federation. The other primary means of defence is the Mars Defence Perimeter, Captain, will you bring us up to speed on what the MDF can do and the resources it has?" Tanya watched as that woman spoke: "The MDP is being rebuilt even now, but its at 90% effectiveness. Of the Mobile weapons platforms, we have half in Stationary strategic spots that need covered, the other half are constantly being redeployed to confuse enemy intelligence. Alone they could withstand a siege, but they have not yet been fully tested." She considered her words for a moment, then continued with "We have the fourth, seventh and sixteenth fighter wings based at the Jupiter Fighter Defence Post, one is always on five minute alert and the other two wings can be scrambled to full effectiveness to anywhere in Sol within half an hour. The MDP's sensor platforms are currently taking position two AU's from the outer orbit of Pluto, and the Fleet Carrier Zukov with the fifteenth and forty-fifth fighter wings is also on station out-system for Sensor Platform defense and as a first line of defense against surprise attacks. She can pull back in-system to the Mars Perimeter within twenty minutes." She didn’t need to tell anyone that Fleet carriers were large and slow, their warp drives unable to function much beyond the orbit of Jupiter. Jenna leand forward in her chair, "And we have a new class of ship being built with Stealth and firepower foremost in mind, she should be ready in eight months. The MDP will be fully ready and crewed within a week." "The 1st Standing fleet currently has standing orders not to leave the system, to prevent another catastrophe like what occurred here earlier. Never less then seventy five ships will be in this system while we are at Fleet wide yellow alert." She turned her head and gave a pointed glance to the Fleet Commander of the 1st, Kevel. "What I will be able to spare for exploration is something we will have to consider carefully, Admiral. There is a reason a full fleet is assigned here." Then the Admiral continued; "One of the final things we need to talk about is the continued threat from the rebel Dominion forces in our part of the Alpha Quadrant. Starfleet Security has tried to find them but they have failed, as such, they have passed over the problem to Starfleet Intelligence. An officer from SFI is scheduled to come onboard tomorrow. I have informed SFI that our resources are open to them at anytime." The Admiral seated himself. "Some of you may know of the report of the wormhole that we created during our warp experiments, we are going back there to see what we can make out of it. Captain Remae, prepare the Firebrande for launch and assign a science crew to go with you, any of you who want to go, talk to Captain Remae." "That's all I have, anyone else?" The Admiral enquired. Tanya sat silently. There really was nothing more for her to say. But of one thing she was sure. She HAD to get on that mission to go and investigate the wormhole. Afterall it had been her experiment that had precipitated the phenomena. She'd wanted so badly to be able to read up on the records but having had her imposed vacation she hadn't gotten a chance to. Now was her chance. Waiting for the last of the people to pass up and make their requests to Remae. Tanya moved over alongside Remae and said; "Excuse me Captain? I was wondering, perhaps would there be room on your science team for me?" (Reply Remae) Tanya didn't give Remae a chance to finish, "I know it's partially my fault that it exists, I can't understand why it happened. I'm going to get right on it, now that I have my computer access back, please may I go? Please??" Tanya didn't realise that she did sound quite guilty like a small child asking to go back to the candy shoppe after she'd had her hand caught in the sweet jar. But on some level, that is exactly how she felt. She'd been part of the cause of this anomaly and now, she needed to be part of the solution, or at least, get a chance to ... well... um.. explore it. (Strategic Operations, Conference Room One - CO Capt Remae Ktell - 1645) The meeting was nearly over but while a low ranking officer was talking, Dr. Dervin leaned over and had quiet word with the Captain of the Firebrande. "Excuse me Captain? I was wondering, perhaps would there be room on your science team for me?" "I know it's partially my fault that it exists; I can't understand why it happened. I'm going to get right on it, now that I have my computer access back, please may I go? Please??" "Doctor, of course. I was hoping you would come forward, we are going to need your expertise as I've recently heard that our CSO, has been recalled to Earth, report to the ship tomorrow, we leave at 07.00." Remae smiled, the chances of them finding a cause and hopefully a fix for the wormhole had just doubled. The meeting was over and everyone separated to return to their own jobs and duties. Remae return to the Firebrande for the evening. Mission: Phoenix, Day 2 Stardate: 2379.01.11 (USS Firebrande, Bridge - CO Capt Remae Ktell - 0655) The ship was prepared and so was the Captain, although they had a small crew onboard, it would have to do. "Firebrande to Valhalla, Commander Lee, we are ready for departure, you have our flight plan and schedule, and we will be back according to those figures." (Reply Valhalla) "Very well, Mr. Landis, take us out to the outer marker, thrusters ahead and then lay in a course back to the wormhole event, warp 8.", ordered the Captain. "Engage.", he said. The Galaxy class ship eased its way out of the home it had been moored out for months, attached to Valhalla and headed slowly, through the mass of the traffic around Utopia Planitia towards a point where it could enter warp, without interfering with anyone else. (USS Firebrande, Bridge, CONN Alex Landis - 0659) Despite being a middle-aged man in his 40's, Landis felt like a Cadet on his first mission again. Granted, flying a Starship was nothing like flying a shuttle, but it had a grandiose feeling about it made him feeling proud. He had a long sound sleep and was well rested, his senses high and he took in the sensors, displays and the voices from the crew with ease. He, like everyone else, was paying the Captain some extra attention. "Firebrande to Valhalla, Commander Lee, we are ready for departure, you have our flight plan and schedule, and we will be back according to those figures." Landis turned and watched Ktell punch in some commands on the console in his chair. ~ It's time...! ~ Valhalla made their standard reply and Alex put his attention back to the controls. "Very well, Mr. Landis, take us out to the outer marker, thrusters ahead and then lay in a course back to the wormhole event, warp 8.", ordered the Captain. When the Captain said 'back', Landis felt a pang of discomfort. He and Drew had been beamed aboard the Firebrande but in the middle of the anomaly that caused them all to pass out from time to time. He had actually little memory left of the events leading up to their arrival at Valhalla. He *did* remember the battle though...! He shook his head and let the Computer lay the course. 10,56 ly away... all right, that was close to where the Dominion base had been, of course. "Course laid, engaging thrusters... clear of docking bay. Engaging Impulse drive... clear of the base, ready to go to warp, Captain." Landis reported as the Firebrande left the base far behind. "Engage.", came the order. Alex pushed the large yellow button on the upper left corner of his LCARS console and Firebrande went to Warp 8 momentarily. On the screen the stars seemed to pass by like beams of light and ahead of them the navigational shield cleared the space from cosmic dust and small rubble. They were on their way. (Starbase Valhalla, Admiral's Ready Room - FO Cmdr Lee/STRATOPS Capt Rulestaad - 0915) "Your co-operation will do for the moment, Commander. Captain Rulestaad is the one I really need to talk to. Oh, there is something you can do for me, Commander. prepare a shuttle with a warp drive capable of warp 3 for departure at about 11.00." Lee turned from the window with a frown, then moved his eyes to the Admiral. "With your permission, Admiral.", continued the uppity SFI operative. "Commander Lee, please see to the requests of the Captain." Lee nodded lightly, "Aye, Sir." he said, sounding something defiantly less then happy. The door chirped, and the person was asked to enter. Lee crossed his arms and turned back to the window as Captain Rulestaad reported in." Jenna looked at the three others in the ready room. There was an air of tension, and the Commander didn't look much happy. She turned her attention to the one person she didn't know as she was introduced, and kept her face carefully neutral when she found out he was SFI. "Captain, your presence is requested and required by the highest levels of Starfleet Command, please accompany me at 11.00. A meeting has been arranged to discuss the Dominion in the Alpha Quadrant, and, security is of the utmost importance." "Please report to me at the main Shuttlebay at this time." Jenna placed her hands behind her back, "As you wish." "Admiral, Captain, Commander, I'll be in my assigned quarters until we depart, thank you for your time." Jenna eyed the Operative as he walked passed her and through the door. Lee turned around, and the Admiral asked "Captain, Commander? Your comments please." Rich looked at Jenna, then back again. "A typical Intelligence officer, pompous and overbearing. ~A lot like you, Commander~ Came Jenna's thoughts. "Irregular, but not altogether unexpected." was her comments. "Captain, what would it take to have someone follow the shuttle, without being detected? I would like to get my STRATOPS back in once piece!" Jenna considered for a moment. "It's possible," she temporized, as she thought. "But not with a shuttle. If this is an official SFI operation, then that agent will have a lot of ships watching until we reach our scheduled destination." Lee sat down in a chair, and leaned back as she spoke. Once she had finished her statement, he broke in with, "And anything we try to do is probably going to be watched, even if we aren't the enemy. That would be SFI's standard operation, always checking to see if they can shake the tree and have a traitor or two fall out." Jenna nodded her head. "It would have to be very quiet, the less that know about it the better. And I think the vessel following would have to have a cloak." She cocked her head to the side, "however, if such an operation should happen and the tail is discovered, the pilot and whoever ordered it would be brought up on charges of Treason. It could very easily be turned that way." (Reply if desired) Lee rubbed his chin. "Maybe, maybe not..." he said, then closed his eyes in thought. "The cloak we can do, and I think I know how we can pull it off, thought considering the serious consequences of the actions, this is purely hypothetical." he opened his eyes, and shot a glance to both Jopek and Rulestaad. "There are at least ten ships in the 1st fleet that are capable of cloak, two of them capable of phase cloaking. The Admiral and myself go way back, he has something of a taste. Erm... A preoccupation for black operations..." ~Not unlike myself.~ "... going back to the Dominion War. Using a bit of subterfuge, hiding in plain site, one or more of those ships could cloak under the pretense of something completely innocent. Now, its impossible to track a phase cloaked ship, it if happens to fly in the same direction as that shuttle, well, it couldn't help but notice where they went." He smiled slightly, then let his face fall to neutral again as he looked at Jopek. "Purely hypothetical, Admiral. Such an operation would be fairly illegal and would never be able to have official orders to proceed." He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, wondering what Jopek would 'suggest', since an order would be logged and visible to everyone. That Kevel would go for it, Ahh... Lee didn't have any thoughts to the contrary. This was right up his alley. Jenna knew exactly what Lee was suggesting. "And what a coincidence it would be if my 2O happened to be on one of those ships, that, wandered. Seeing as he is fully versed in the world of Strategic Operations, and therefore the world of SFI." She personally thought SFI was one step up from being idiots, but they got her the deep core information she needed to run her war room, and she knew the methods in which they did it, considering Stratops ran so close hand-in-hand with SFI. She always liked secondary sources of information, however, and keeping an eye on SFI in the area sounded like an excellent idea to her, she would go along with this. (Starbase Valhalla, Admiral's Ready Room - CO RADM Jopek - 0920) Admiral Jopek, Captain Rulestaad and Commander Lee had just seen the SFI representative, Captain Kimmell leave the Ready Room. Kimmell has requested that Captain Rulestaad join him for a meeting off the base. "Captain, what would it take to have someone follow the shuttle without being detected? I would like to get my STRATOPS back in once piece!", asked the Admiral. Jenna considered for a moment. "It's possible," she theorised, as she thought. "But not with a shuttle. If this is an official SFI operation, then that agent will have a lot of ships watching until we reach our scheduled destination." Lee sat down in a chair, and leaned back as she spoke. Once she had finished her statement, he broke in with, "And anything we try to do is probably going to be watched, even if we aren't the enemy. That would be SFI's standard operation, always checking to see if they can shake the tree and have a traitor or two falls out." Jenna nodded her head. "It would have to be very quiet, the less that know about it the better. And I think the vessel following would have to have a cloak." She cocked her head to the side, "however, if such an operation should happen and the tail is discovered, the pilot and whoever ordered it would be brought up on charges of Treason. It could very easily be turned that way." Lee rubbed his chin. "Maybe, maybe not..." he said, then closed his eyes in thought. "The cloak we can do, and I think I know how we can pull it off, thought considering the serious consequences of the actions, this is purely hypothetical." he opened his eyes, and shot a glance to both Jopek and Rulestaad. "There are at least ten ships in the 1st fleet that are capable of cloak, two of them capable of phase cloaking. The Admiral and I go way back, he has something of a taste. Erm... A preoccupation for black operations..." "... going back to the Dominion War. Using a bit of subterfuge, hiding in plain site, one or more of those ships could cloak under the pretence of something completely innocent. Now, it's impossible to track a phase cloaked ship, it if happens to fly in the same direction as that shuttle, well, it couldn't help but notice where they went." He smiled slightly, then let his face fall to neutral again as he looked at Jopek. "Purely hypothetical, Admiral. Such an operation would be fairly illegal and would never be able to have official orders to proceed." He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, wondering what Jopek would 'suggest', since an order would be logged and visible to everyone. Jenna knew exactly what Lee was suggesting. "And what a coincidence it would be if my 2O happened to be on one of those ships that, wandered. Seeing as he is fully versed in the world of Strategic Operations, and therefore the world of SFI." "Interesting analysis, I understand that the USS Merrimac is in dock for minor repairs and she has a phase cloak, I also understand that the ship will be completely repaired soon. Captain, I suggest that you personally arrange her shake down voyage, especially play close attention to her flight plan. If there's nothing else, you are dismissed.", said Admiral Jopek, who had just ordered the following of Kimmell, without ordering it. The Vulcan was playing a dangerous game, playing around with Starfleet Intelligence wasn't something he needed on the second day of assignment. (Starbase Valhalla, Admiral's Ready Room, RADM Jopek - 09.30) =^=Admiral, you are getting a message from Starfleet Command.=^= "Thank you Mr. Black, pipe it in.", Jopek waited for a few seconds as the Operations Officer put the message through. "Admiral Jordan, what can I do for you?", Jopek asked, moving the small computer screen closer. =^=Admiral Jopek, we've got a priority repair mission coming in for you, the USS Reprisal, under the command of Captain Thomas Winthorpe. She has hull breaches, defensive and offensive systems are compromised. Sensors and most of her fighters need replacing. Also Admiral, she has wounded, about a hundred are you prepared for this?=^= "Yes Admiral, I will place Otono Medical on alert. We have a docking bay just about to become available, we can put work teams on her as soon as she arrives.", said Jopek, handling a PADD with the pertinent information. =^=Good work Admiral, keep me informed, Starfleet out.=^= "Admiral Jopek to Black, Aldreck and Cambridge, gentleman, we have a heavily damaged starship coming in for repairs, she has wounded, so Doctor, prepare yourself for an influx of about a hundred. Starfleet wants her bumped up for immediate attention. As soon as I get more information, I'll let you know." Jopek informed his Operations Officer, Yard Engineering Officer and Chief Medical Officer of the requests of Starfleet Command. (Reply OPS, CMO, YEO) "Very well, Jopek out. Computer, open a subspace channel to Captain Winthorpe on the Reprisal." <> A few moments passed before the image of the Captain appeared. "Captain, Admiral Jopek on Utopia Planitia, I understand you are heading our way for repairs and we are making the arrangements to receive you, can you give me an idea of your specific ETA, casualties, damage and requirements when you get here?" As Jopek waited for an answer from Winthorpe, he began to wonder what the Reprisal had been through to cause so much damage, he was looking forward to the report. (Starbase Valhalla, Yard Engineering Office - YEO Ens J.G. T'Veyn Aldreck - 0938) Before Aldreck could leave his office for the meeting with the Chief of Operations, Mr. Black, he received a message from the Admiral. Stopping dead in his tracks, he leaned against the wall adjacent to the doorway and listened. =/\=Admiral Jopek to Black, Aldreck and Cambridge, gentleman, we have a heavily damaged starship coming in for repairs, she has wounded, so Doctor, prepare yourself for an influx of about a hundred. Starfleet wants her bumped up for immediate attention. As soon as I get more information, I'll let you know.=/\= Aldreck responded, "Yes sir. I understand the Merrimack is just about finished with repairs. I'll step up the deadline on her, and possibly be required to cut some of the repairs short to be finished later, and I'm sure she'll be out of spacedock when the damaged ship arrives." (Reply OPS, CMO) Aldreck walked back over to his desk and figured he should contact Black. Operations was always busy when it came to entire bases, even more so in the case of Utopia Planitia. With ships docked, hundreds of officers would crowd onto the station for R and R, and things needed to be organized. "Ensign Aldreck to Lieutenant Black, I think it best that we put off out little meeting until another time. The sudden arrival of the Reprisal will be keeping both of us busy I presume." (Reply Black) "Very well, Aldreck out." Aldreck began re-scheduling the repairs of the Merrimack to make them much faster and to make the more important ones priority for completion. When the re-scheduling was done and met his satisfaction, he sent them on a priority one basis to Shipyard 6. He also received the complete damage report of the USS Reprisal. "Hull breaches on decks three, seven, eight, twelve and nineteen have all been contained. Shields are maxed out at 70%. We've lost two thirds of our fighter compliment. All told, over a hundred casualties. Sensors, several phaser arrays, and miscellaneous systems are heavily damaged. Photon, quantum and transphasic torpedo supplies are depleted as well." This general analysis was enough for Aldreck to begin assigning the appropriate worker teams to the appropriate stations and so on. It took quite a bit of a time, and at 2200 hours Aldreck felt they were ready for the Reprisal. <
> Jopek: "Captain, Admiral Jopek on Utopia Planitia, I understand you are heading our way for repairs and we are making the arrangements to receive you, can you give me an idea of your specific ETA, casualties, damage and requirements when you get here?" Tom relaxed a bit in his command chair as he thought about what to say to the Vulcan Admiral. Winthorpe: "I'll save all the details of the actual causes for my report, but a preliminary report by the Assistant Engineering Officer is that We have major hull breaches on decks three, seven, eight, twelve and nineteen that have all been contained but need yard repair work. Shields are maxed out at 70%. We've lost two thirds of our fighter compliment. All told, over a hundred casualties. Sensors, several phaser arrays, and miscellaneous systems are heavily damaged. Photon, quantum and transphasic torpedo supplies are depleted as well." Jopek: "That is quite a list, I will forward the list to my Yard Engineering Officer and Chief Medical Officer." Winthorpe: "My Exec will be forwarding a list of personnel requierments. Unfortunately it is almost as extensive as our wounded list." Jopek: "I will be most interested to hear a detailed report on your mission." Winthorpe: "I am sure of it. I have forwarded an official report to Starfleet Command." Jopek: "Yes, Commander Trask of Starfleet Judge Advocate General's Officer will be arriving shortly before you to make an official investigation into your mission." Winthorpe sighed deeply and the bridge crew grew even more silent at hearing there would be an official inquiry. Winthorpe: "Our ETA is two days, will you be ready to receive us Admiral?" Jopek: "Of course. Jopek out." The transmission terminated, Winthorpe stood and headed to his ready room. Winthorpe: "Lieutenant Lathak, you have the Conn. Number One, please come with me. =/\= General Greyston, please come to my ready room.=/\="