>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: Repercussions Day: 3 Stardate: 2444.07.11 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Mars - Medical Facility-aACMO(Couns) Ensign SG Quinna Solice and MO Ensign JG Kyros Ryelle - 00:15) (Mars Facility- Ensign Merek's personal quarters - aFSXO Ensign Sg. Ravok Shara -0358) (Mars Facility- Personal Quarters – CEO – Ensign Keira Merek – 0407) (Mars Base -- Medical -- Medical/Counselor -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0420) (Mars Base -- Medical -- Medical/Counselor -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0421) (Mars Complex – Medical -Nurse –Ewan McDonald - 0430) (SFHQ – Unknown Location – Pilot Officer Trinity Frost - 0445) (Mars Facility- Science Annex - aFSXO Ensign Sg. Ravok Shara -0508) (Mars - Personal quarters - Ensign JG Greta Smith & aFS2O, Ensign SG Ire Williams - 0630) (Mars Facility, Security Services Complex, Security Chief's Office – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters- 0642) (Mars Facility, Outside Security Services Complex – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters and Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0645) (Mars Facility, Science Annex Building – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters and Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0655) (Mars Facility, Science Annex Auditorium – CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 0658) (Mars Facility, Science Annex Auditorium – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters and CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 0700) (Mars Facility-Ravok's Personal Quarters – aFSXO Ensign Ravok Shara– 0726) (Mars - Hangar Bay - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0744) (Mars - Hangar Bay - FSCO Lt. JG Trip Williams - 0745) (Mars Facility-Ensign Merek's personal quarters– aFSXO Ensign Ravok Shara– 0756) (USS Republic - Shuttlebay - Captain Remae Ktell - 0815) (Shuttle - Rear Cabin - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0817) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – Ensign (sg) Sienna William-Verin - 0830) (Shuttle - Rear Cabin - Captain Remae Ktell - 0835) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – Ensign (sg) Sienna William-Verin - 0850) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – Ensign (sg) Adala Michaels - 0853) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – CSO Ensign (sg) Sienna Williams-Verin- 0900) (Mars Facility Science Annex - CSO's Office - SO (Research) Ensign Jaton Alyl - 0902) (Starfleet Command - Near the Main Building - FSCO Lt. Jg Trip Willimas - 0905) (Starfleet Command - Near the Main Building - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0906) (Mars Facility, Security Services Complex, 8th Floor, Chief of Intelligence Office – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal, aACTO, Ens(jg) Taya & SecO, Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0914) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – SciO Ensign (SG) Adala Michaels - 0915) (Starfleet Command - SFHQ - Captain Remae Ktell - 0916) (Starfleet Command - Outside President’s Office - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0922) (Mars Facility, Security Services Complex, 8th Floor, Chief of Intelligence Office – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal, aACTO, Ens(jg) Taya & SecO, Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0923) (Earth - Starfleet HQ - President's Office - Ensign Erin Cortez and President Atermi - 0925) (Starfleet Command - The Office of CINC - Captain Remae Ktell - 0929) (San Francisco Bay Area- Bay Overlook - FSCO Lt. JG Trip Williams - 10:00) (Mars Base, Main Complex - EngO, Ens(jg) Vex'ahlia Jordaan - 1030) (Mars Base, Main Complex - SciO Ens(sg) Adala Michaels - 1033) (Flashback to 2440.05.22- San Francisco Bay Area- Bay Overlook - Soon to be Cadet 4th Class Trip Williams and Cadet 1st Class Ailynn Bracken - 1100) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1115) (Mars - Hangar Bay - Ensign JG Greta Smith & Ensign JG Trinity Frost - 1131) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1145) (Mars Base -- Personnel Quarters -- NCO Engineer/Ops -- NPC Kiva Rothvaryn -- 1400) (Mars Base -- Security Center -- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons and SPC Luma'Lenai-- 1402) (Mars Base -- Outside base grounds -- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons-- 1405) (Mars Base, 7th Floor, Security & Tactical CaC - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters - 1406) (Mars - Outside base grounds - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters - 1408) (Mars Orbit, Void Haunter 2 , Pilot – Ensign (JG) – Niki Biel/ Pilot Officer - Sonnlo Caonrobh- 1408) (Mars - Outside base grounds - SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class), Steven Hammons- 1410) (Mars - Void Haunter 2 , Pilot – Ensign (JG) – Niki Biel/ Pilot Officer - Sonnlo Caonrobh- 1411) (Mars - Shuttle - SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class), Steven Hammons- 1414) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1415) (Mars Base -- Medical -- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons-- 1417) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1445) (Mars Base - Red Sands Tavern -Santiago Torres- 1547) (Mar Orbit – Lightship Endeavour – Pilots – Ensigns – Ire Williams/ Greta Smith - 16.00) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Mars - Medical Facility-aACMO(Couns) Ensign SG Quinna Solice and MO Ensign JG Kyros Ryelle - 00:15) Ryelle was never certain what hour of the night was the middle of the night. He figured that it might be what the humans called midnight, which would make sense, it was mid night. But that assumed night started at 18:00 hours, and depending of the season of the year, the sun didn’t set until much later, which again also varied from planet to planet. So was midnight really the middle of the night. These were the questions that always bothered Ryelle’s brain when he couldn’t sleep. These were one of those nights. So was he awake in the middle of the night, or was the middle of the night still to come. Regardless he knew one of the best ways to help if fall asleep would be to move around and work out some of the energy. Besides he knew why he was having trouble sleeping. During the mission to Trill he had the night shift, now he was trying to readjust to a more normal schedule. So in his mission to burn some energy off, he decided to pay a visit to the person who was taking his place on the night shift, Dr. Quinna Solice. Entering sickbay, he walked to the office and smiled. “Good evening or night, or whatever you want to call it Quinna.” Quinna jumped a bit. She was not expecting anyone walking in. Luckily the coffee she was drinking hit the ground and not her uniform. “Hi.” Quinna stood and was now at eye level Kyros. “What are you doing here. Thought you were not a night shift guy.” “I couldn't’ sleep, so I thought I’d burn off some additional energy. Then I thought, hey, Ryelle, you have this energy because you are used to being on the night shift, then I thought I wonder how Dr. Solice is doing taking my place. So I decided to come over here and bring you some Deka tea. Very relaxing. It’s a Bajoran tea.” Looking down at her cup, she notices that she spilled the last sip. “Well it looks like you are just in time.” Quinna moved to table where the two can sit together. “Deka Tea? Love to have some, thank-you.” “How is the night shift going so far, though I guess it is still only 15 minutes in.” “As of right now, it is just became more enjoyable.” Quinna sipped on the tea. There was something familiar with the scent. The scent was something familiar but could not put her finger on it just yet. “Well glad I could help.” Ryelle said sitting down with a smile. He had with him in a separate container with warm milk, something he knew had helped him seep in the past.” “I am curious. You came from a Bajorian Monestary. Were you a Vedic, or still a Vedic?” Quinna feared that she may move into counselor mode. “No, I never got that high.” He said with a warm smile. Ryelle may have always been known as the tall one, standing at 6’6”, but his gentle and kind disposition earned him the nickname, ‘the gentle giant of Kendra Province.’ “I was only in the monastery for 10 years before leaving. I entered at 18, left at 28 and went to the Academy right after. I had achieved the rank of Prylar, the lowest level of the Bajoran religious hierarchy.” “Why did you leave?” Quinna wondered. “I was a Prylar for a few years, but as my time in the monastery came to a close, I felt like I was not in the right place, I was not where I was supposed to be. I got this tug at my heart, that while my goal was to help people, I also needed to be with the people and among the people, and that was hard to do in the monastery, so I was released from my vows and returned to the world, to the academy, and now here. Though once I’ve served the requisite service time in Starfleet, I can see myself returning to Bajor to my hometown and becoming a country doctor or the like.” “From what I remember, I can see why you would want to go back one day.” “So what about you? What’s your story?” What about Quinna? The thought about anything to tell when she realized she has done nothing. “You know there is nothing special in my background. I lived most my life with my grandmother on Earth along with my brother. I spent most of my time studying. Always a nose in a book. When I was not studying, then I was spending time with my grandmother.” “Oh I am sure there is more to you than just study. Though that does explain the wanting to be both a counselor and a medical doctor. I’m sure there are hopes, dreams, and the like. Surely you had dreams or goals as a kid.” “Doesn’t every kid?” Quinna started. “I wanted to be a part of Starfleet. Here I am. I was born a Starfleet brat. My mother was a holo engineer and my father was a hmmm… I forget...ummm…. Bioengineer.” Quinna took a drink of her tea. “So Starfleet was my destiny. So I studied and studied, and graduated with a dual major.” Ryelle smiled, “And is that all you did? Just study? In the brief time I’ve known you, it seems all you do is work.” “That is not true. I have been reading a book... In my off time… while in the office.” Quinna said with a giggle. “What do you do for fun, how do you relax? Let me guess, study.” he said with a chuckle. “Define fun,” Brief pause, “OK you are right, I work all the time except when I exercise.” Quinna stated. “Well at least you get your face out of the books from time to time.” “OK, you tell me, what do you do for fun?” “Does prayer count as fun?” Ryelle said with a chuckle. “I don’t judge, But what else do you do?” Quinna inquired. “Well I write, poetry mainly, just to keep my mind sharp. I guess I could say exercise but that isn’t always fun.” He said with a slight laugh, “But mostly for fun, I guess you could say I knit. It was a hobby I developed in the monastery, something I could do in the quiet of my room. That and I am a master quilter, so I’ve been told.” “Interesting hobbies, but you are not in the monastery anymore. What do you do for fun now?” Quinna asked. “Well I still write and quilt, but I guess I try and spend time with friends, I try my best to be around other people, it gives me life. I left the monastery because I was too extroverted, but I also loved the monastery because we lived in a community. Being in a community is good. What about you, surely you have a group of people you interact with regularly.” “I am trying to. There are a couple of people here or there, but when I try to be extroverted, I just fail. I usually get the feeling that I am intruding and I do not want to be intrusive. I guess I dug myself into a hole. I studied so much that I forgot that there was a world around me. This assignment allows me to still be in that hole at times.” “Well sometimes when we find ourselves in a hole, we should reach out and ask for help.” “Sometimes you do not know you are in a hole until someone points it out.” Quinna’s tone turned dishearten. “Are you planning on going on the Earth trip tomorrow? Or I guess that is technically today.” Looking up, Quinna tried to erase the sadden tone, “Actually I am staying here on Mars. Are you going?” “Wasn’t planning on it.” He said with a smile. “I want to get a steady routine going,”Quinna explained herself but did not explain that she really did not want to see her family. “Well would have been a good opportunity to bond with some of the officers going. You know if you were planning on getting out of your comfort zone and wanting to be part of the flow.” Skeptically, “I don’t know….” “Perhaps maybe we should both hitch a ride and join the ‘party bus’ as they’re calling it.” Ryelle had a smile on his face. “So you will go too, because if I go without anyone to Earth, I will tend to just go home and I do not want that.” “Tell ya what, ya, if you go, I’ll go. How does that sound?” Quinna extended her hand out in and effort to shake on the deal, “Deal.” Shaking her hand Ryelle smiled, “I’ll see you at the ‘party bus’ then. Have a good night Quinna and enjoy the tea.” “ Goodnight and Thank you.” Quinna said. Ryelle then smiled as he left sickbay, he was going to try and sleep and hopefully this time it would work. (reply none) (posted by Kris and Will) (Mars Facility- Ensign Merek's personal quarters - aFSXO Ensign Sg. Ravok Shara -0358) After coming back to Keira's quarters. The two of them talked for few hours. He made himself comfortable on the couch and fell asleep. He awoke just before 0400, and couldn't go back to sleep. He got up quietly and slipped his shoes on and decided to head for a walk. He stopped by his quarters and changed his clothes. He was now wearing black sweat pants and a black hoodie. He decided to take a jog around some parts of the base he had never been too before. He passed Ensign Lacey Jacobs on her way to the gym " Morning "she said and he nodded his head as he passed her. He continued on his way down an uninhabited corridor. ~ This is ominous ~ he thought as he reached the end, the corridor ended at a wall. He turned around walking slowly he had jogged for nearly 40 minutes at this time. He started his walk back up the corridor filled with unoccupied quarters. Suddenly he heard a noise come from one of the rooms. He looked and saw the doors partially opened, he walked over to them and pushed them open. " I guess only minimal power has been restored to this section. He looked around the dimly lit quarters and heard the noise again. He stepped further in to the quarters. They were a mess and had a terrible odor. He felt something at his feet and he jumped " FVADT!!!" He yelled in Romulan. He looked down and saw a black furry creature sniffing his foot , it was a dog , a puppy. He bent down and picked her up and looked at her " Hello little animal, are you here alone ?" He questioned it like it was going to respond. Out of the bedroom a larger dog appeared this one was golden in color following behind her were 5 other pups. " Hello Creatures, I wasnt aware this was your home." He said to them as they sniffed him. One of the male pups lifted its leg in an attempt to relieve himself on Ravok's foot. Ravok jumped and tripped over a large empty plastic storage crate, falling to the ground. Still holding the puppy he jumped up and pointed his finger at the dogs " No, bad animals " he then remembered what Jaton had told him before leaving for Trill. The science department was rounding up animals. Ravok looked at the puppies and the mom. (Mars Facility- Personal Quarters – CEO – Ensign Keira Merek – 0407) Keira woke up to the feeling that something had changed. Her eyes quickly opened to see that Ravok was not on the couch. No signs of a struggle, that combined with a struggle would have woken her up. ~He left and didn’t want to disturb me?~ She questioned herself. As quietly as she could she exited the far side of her bed. The lighting was low, but now low enough that she couldn’t make out shapes of bodies a humanoid or anything out of place. She got down low and grabbed the knife she kept under her pillow. She slowly applied greater and greater tension until it came out of the sheath silently. Walking softly, slowly putting weight on each foot before shifting her weight she made her way into the main living space. She checked corners and storage closets, making sure no one was hiding. She got to her clothing closet, one of the places big enough for an adult to hide in. She settled with her back against the wall right next to the door. ~One, two, three.~ She tapped the key to open the door and, swung her off-hand in leading with the point of the sheath. She swung in fast and hard back and down striking the far low corner. This one move would clear all the most likely hiding places, gravity would force most to stick near the bottom outside of normal eye glancing patterns. She then pushed against the sheath driving it up to the far upper corner, and then back towards the door to clear out anything or one who could cling to the ceiling, like an arboreal needle snake. She closed and locked the closet and went about clearing the rest of the room. “Lathuel, if you’re hiding…”she whispered. She made her way quickly and quietly to the last place anyone could hide, the lavatory. She held her back against the wall, just like with the closet. She keyed the door open, but this time didn’t go in right away. If someone had a phaser or particle weapon waiting on the door to open, she didn’t want to present a target. No one came out, no particle streams came through the door. She flipped the knife getting ready to throw it. She got down on the floor in a crawl and cocked her hand back for a much more powerful overhand throw. She peeked around the door to clear right in front of the door. Nothing. She wouldn’t be able to use the reflective surface of the knife to see around the corners, unfortunately, there wasn’t enough light. So she just went for it and dove low, with a spin. She looked first left toward the toilet, then her quarter turn landed her on her left side facing the shower with her knife still ready to throw. No one. She groaned as she landed on her bruised left arm. “Did not think that through…” she said to no one. The first real sound in the room for minutes. She quickly got up and did some range of motion exercises to ensure everything was still working. Her arm was a little stiff. ~Maybe if I loosen up a bit, stretch and do some katas it will work itself out.~ As she began stretching she noticed a dull ache in her arm that wasn’t there before, but chose to ignore it. She then dropped into a basic preparatory drill. Then she felt what she would call a slight pain. “Fvadt!{Rom: Damn!} I’m going to have to go get this checked out.” She said to herself and started the now she knew, painful process of getting dressed. (Mars Base -- Medical -- Medical/Counselor -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0420) Quinna took her walk around medical. This was her normal walk that would allow her to keep away. The nigh shift so far had been very quiet. She walked to reception area to find She looked to whomever was at the reception desk. “Hi.” “Keira? What are you doing here?” “I’d like to get my arm checked out or whatever.” She said. Quinna motioned towards the back, “Come with me and we will see what I can do.” Quinna followed Keira and directed her to a biobed to sit on. Quinna turned her back to obtain a med stand that had almost everything needed and returned, “So tell me where it hurts.” (Reply Merek) Quinna scanned the arm, “Do you want to tell me what happened?” Quinna asked but then Quinna held up her hand, “And if is a TMI story, I don’t want to know.” Breif pause, “At this point. Perhaps after a few drinks though.” (Reply Merek) “Have you had problems with this before?” Quinna asked. (Reply Merek) (Played by Kris) (Mars Base -- Medical -- Medical/Counselor -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0421) Quinna took her walk around medical. This was her normal walk that would allow her to keep away. The nigh shift so far had been very quiet. She walked to reception area to find She looked to whomever was at the reception desk. “Hi.” “Keira? What are you doing here?” “I’d like to get my arm checked out or whatever.” She said. Quinna motioned towards the back, “Come with me and we will see what I can do.” Quinna followed Keira and directed her to a biobed to sit on. Quinna turned her back to obtain a med stand that had almost everything needed and returned, “So tell me where it hurts.” (Reply Merek) Quinna scanned the arm, “Do you want to tell me what happened?” Quinna asked but then Quinna held up her hand, “And if is a TMI story, I don’t want to know.” Breif pause, “At this point. Perhaps after a few drinks though.” (Reply Merek) “Have you had problems with this before?” Quinna asked. (Reply Merek) (Played by Kris) (Mars Complex – Medical -Nurse –Ewan McDonald - 0430) Ewan stifled a yawn as he looked around the quiet medical department. He had been put on a late swing shift by the head nurse and would be going on another one tomorrow. He glanced at the chronometer ~No that would be today~ Doing strange and long shift pattern were nothing new for him. When we day deployed with the team which were made up of a surgeon, ward nurse, an anaesthetist and him the operating theatre nurse. The team could be deployed for months on end with our relief which meant that they were all on call during that time. On bad time they had, had to do back to back 12 hour shifts so a late swing shift was not a problem. He stood up from the chair that he was sitting on and headed for the replicator. “Tea, milk, hot.” He paused as the replicator made his order and wondered if he should get himself a snack while he was there but decided not to. ~This is why I hate nights. I snack too much and then need to do more exercise~ He glanced at himself in his uniform that he had been give and realised that it was not designed to hid belly. He smiled to himself as he picked up his tea and sipped it as he began to walk a route around the department to help him stay awake. He heard voices as he rounded the bend in the small corridor that opened up to the main part of medical. He saw Dr Quinna Solice who was the doctor on for the night shift. She was talking to a woman whom he did not know but that was nothing unusual. ~Okay Ewan looks like its time for work~ He placed the cup on the table at the nurses station as he passed and walked up to both of them. He nodded to the woman and then looked at Solice. “Doctor Solice can I be of assistance?” (Reply Solace, Merek) (Reply Solace, Merek, any) (Posted by Robbie) (SFHQ – Unknown Location – Pilot Officer Trinity Frost - 0445) “REPORT!” She hadn’t expected a medal; she hadn’t expected a parade of honour; She hadn’t expected a congratulations; she hadn’t even expected a hrmmph of acceptance as she’d managed to land the shuttle. The one thing that she hadn’t expected, was this. "Sirs I landed 6 hours ago, I've been kept awake..." She stood at full attention. Surrounded by every single member of her chain of Command stood around her and glared furiously. “Sirs…If I may begin…” “SILENCE WHEN YOU SPEAK TO YOUR SUPERIORS!!!” a voice screamed in her right ear, she was about to point out that the one with the loud mouth was a Master Sergeant, who she’d once crossed swords with when she’d caught him trying to Jerry Rig a plasma flux module ‘just to make do.’ A Lieutenant Commander, who Trinity had always considered having a modicum of intelligence, held up a finger to the MSgt. “We have an issue Ensign Frost.” He steepled his fingers. She detested that, her father had always done that every time that he was about to crush a dream. “An issue Sir. My apologies, I don’t…” “Ah, but I rather think you do. You see…” Trinity knew. Knew then that the words she would hear next were to be the words that would sink her career. “You see…despite your” He laughed “ Hehe….heroics.” He may as well have slapped her around the face. “the…shuttle that you took was only rated…for…six…people.” She felt the bile rise, she could see the enjoyment on his face. “Sir I…” “You…” a different chinless wonder guffaweds… “Well I suppose you have a right to…whinge about it?” Trinity swallowed her temper. “Sirs. We received a beacon. At 2123 hours, a cry for help at the co-ordinates shown in your report. I was Duty Officer attending, and picked up the order to launch an assist.” “Miss…” another Officer made a show of checking her name. “Frost…Hmm. Well…You didn’t sign receipt on confirmation of the order to launch on immediate receipt of the order to launch. Didn’t follow policies…what?” “I…Had…an…Immediate Launch Authorisation…rescue…standard ops are that….” “That an Officer that rescues 7 people…in a shuttle only rated for 6 passengers…in the face of a storm that no pilot has any responsible expectation of surviving…be immediately blacklisted. YOU STUPID GIRL YOU DIDN’T CHECK PRECISELY HOW MANY YOU WERE RESCUING. ON RECEIPT OF THE IMMEDIATE REQUEST YOU SHOULD HAVE FILED A REQUEST TO LAUNCH THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE. YOU DIDN’T” “You incomprehensible…” Her temper was as ablaze as her hair, but she kept silent. Despite her anger, frustration, she could rely on the fact that the lack of ability to give a defense would be mitigated by the record… “…Recordings of course…have been bypassed to spare your blushes.” They may as well have stabbed her in the heart. “Sirs…I…obj…” “Admission of guilt accepted.” “Sirs may I ask who got the…” An amused chortle added to the tension. “How very…Ugh…Well McTavish…” “AH!” another voice entoned. “Did the right thing…Stepped back to fill his forms in….” “Twelve…people…died.” “…Hmmph…maybe so…forms correct…old family…” “…How very dare she...?” “Need these low-level pilots anyway.” “Dismissed…Ensign.” She left the room, leaving her heart in there. She needed an out. Sadly, at the moment, they held all the cards, It would take time…a couple of years perhaps…but she had escaped her family. ~I will escape them~ (Reply none) (Mars Facility- Science Annex - aFSXO Ensign Sg. Ravok Shara -0508) Ravok entered the Science Annex it was still early and nearly empty. He looked around and yelled " Hello!" ,as he sat the crate down his arms a little sore form carrying them. He heard someone walking in behind him. It was Ensign Willams , Sienna, Trips sister. He smiled at her " I found some animals for you " ( reply Sienna) ( posted by Davis ) (Mars - Personal quarters - Ensign JG Greta Smith & aFS2O, Ensign SG Ire Williams - 0630) Ire woke with a start as he his sleepy mind recognised the time. He was about to get out of bed when a few things registered. First he was not in his quarters, the next was then he was not alone in bed. He looked over and saw Greta as memories of last night came back to him. They had enjoyed the ice cream as well as the fact that they were on a day off today so there was no need for him to go to work. He lay back, careful not to wake up Greta and relaxed again. Opening her eyes, a heavy sigh escaped her as she rolled over and put her arm over Ire. "Morning…." He smiled at her. “Good morning to you. Did you sleep well?” Closing her eyes little, Greta sighed again softly, "Eventually. You're still here…" “Trip gave us all a day off, remember. So I don’t have a patrol or stand by today. Unless that was not your question.” he gave a slight grin. "Sorry, this is all a bit new to me. I just…. " she blushed a little and put her head on his shoulder, "...I'm glad you didn't leave. " “I am glad that you did not kick me out after our ice cream choice. I can’t believe that you don’t like bananas. It's a great flavour for Ice cream.” "Are you kidding? Bananas are evil. " Greta replied with a smile as she looked up at him. ~what is it about this man that just makes me feel so…. Oh what's the word… free?~ “Now if you were talking about coffee flavour I would agree with you.” he said with a smile a he looked at her. "See Now I know why you stayed here. You are crazy! Coffee Ice cream is heavenly. " Greta laughed. “Well I think we can agree to disagree about that one but I still think you're wrong about the banana.” he said with a smile. "We are lying in bed, arguing about ice cream? Two pretty decent fighter pilots. Ravok would have a field day if he could hear this conversation. " “Yes we would not hear the end of it. I have a feeling that Reena might be the same but I don’t know her that well.” "Me either… " Greta sighed heavily and closed her eyes. "Don't want to get up. I have to go and do some evaluations on my flight crew mater and I'm just so…" she stopped talking for a moment “I know what you mean. I know that Trip said not to do work until tomorrow but I might also swing past to make sure everything is okay with the Haunters.” he glanced back to the chronometer. “I am also happy being here…… do you have plans for the rest of the day?” Smiling, Greta looked up at Ire, "You're happy? Even with the fact you are in bed with a crazy Celtic warrior woman?" “Yes I am happy being here with you. You're not crazy, well not any more crazy than the rest of us pilots.” "Wait until you see me cook. I swear I turn into a crazy Scottish chef in the kitchen. Probably the Ramsay clan in me." She smiled back. "I don't think I have any plans though. I'm not important enough to be going to the party later." “Well that party is going to hob nob with the higher ups. It's not my kind of thing. I have an appointment with Ensign Peters. I have been volunteered to run a scenario for him at around 1400 but I was thinking of taking the Endurance up around 1600 and be back for dinner…...if you would like to come with me?” "Who or what is the endurance?" Ire grinned. “The Endurance is my lightship. It's a sailing ship based on the old bajoran design which is powered by the sun. She is up on the station I like to take her out now and again when I have the chance and do some sailing near mars. Have you ever been on a light ship?“ "No. Can't say I have. I can sail on open water though." “The principle is similar but its light pressure compared to wind. It's nice to be able to just slow down and take things at a slower pace after spending our time zooming around in our new fighters.” "Slow pace huh?" Greta leaned up and kissed him gently, "Haven't seen much of that slow pace yet, mister." She remarked with a grin on her face. Ire smiled back. “Slow pace is for when I sail and it's not like you miss warrior woman have been slow either.” Laughing, Greta sat up in the bed and reached onto the floor for her vest top. Putting it in, she turned back to Ire,"Give me a reason to stay here so I don't have to get up." Ire smiled as he also reached for his clothes. “I can think of many reasons why we should stay in bed but we both need to get up or we will stay here all day. Which is not a bed option but we spent a lot of time here yesterday.” Smiling sweetly, Greta said simply, "Fine." Stood up from the bed, pulled on her pyjama trousers and threw her pillow at him. He blocked the flying pillow. “Ow so that’s how it's going to be.” he slid off the bed and threw his pillow at her. Ducking, she ran round the side of the bed, grabbed his pants and ran into the living room, "can't go out without pants!" He lunged and missed as Greta scooted past. “Well that is very mature.” he pushed himself up, put on some underwear and followed her into the living room. "Wow, nice view " she grinned as he walked in, "I'll give them back in exchange for something. " He paused looking from Greta to his trousers and then back to her. “Exchange for something?” he said stepping closer. "In order to get your trousers back, I want a kiss. Not just any kiss, the leave me breathless kind." Ire smiled as he stepped close to her. “ I think I can do that.” as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. Greta pulled him close and sank into the kiss. After a moment, she stepped back a step and looked at him, "Wow…. Okay you win. I should get my uniform on. Can't go down to my office with my Jim jams on. " Ire pulled on his trousers as he grinned. “I would not mind that but the squadron might have other ideas.” "You don't know my lads and lasses. Half would think it was casual Friday and the other half would dissolve in to laughter." “It's good to know that the White Skulls are such a professional squadron. The Void Haunters would never do that.” He grinned more as he spoke "Hey! My crew are good. Better than that, we are a tight unit. Family. So, we tease each other." Ire smiled and nodded. “Yes they are. I didn't mean to cast aspersions on you or your squadron.” "Good, because young man, my crew would best you and your crew in combat. " “I look forward to seeing you on the field of battle one day and we can settle this like the kids we are.” he chuckled. "Speak for yourself, young man." Greta replied and headed towards her bed, "So are you going watch me get dressed or are you getting some coffee on the go?" “As much as I would like to watch you get dressed. I think I will get the coffee going or both of us will never get anything done today.” he smiled and then headed for the replicator. After getting dressed, Greta fixed her bed hair and wandered to him, sliding her arms around his waist, "is there a coffee for me there?" “Yes this one is for you.” he handed her a steaming cup of coffee as he took one for himself.. Taking it from him, she sighed, "First Day, in uniform….. I bet you it's gone round the squadrons already. " Ire nodded and groaned to himself. “Yes and I'm sure everyone knows by now. Gosip travels at warp speed. We just have to make sure we are proper and professional squadron leaders while we are at work.” "So no office visits then?" She replied, pouting. He grinned. “Only for business reasons but that doesn't stop us from after hours visits.” "Fair enough. " she replied, drinking her coffee. Putting the cup back in the replicator, she looked back at Ire, "So, big man, you ready to face the music?" Ire put his cup back into the replicator and nodded. He looked at himself to make sure that he looked professional and then indicated to the door. “Ladies first.” he said with a smile. (Reply any) (Posted by Jackie and Robbie) (Mars Facility, Security Services Complex, Security Chief's Office – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters- 0642) Prowling around the back of his office, Carson wasn’t best pleased. Ever since Hammons had come to see him the night before to present him with the evidence he’d found, the plan he had and asked for his authorization to go ahead and gain an arrest warrant he’d found himself uneasy. ~It’s what needs to be done,~ he kept reminding himself, ~No matter the consequences… these people need to be caught and this needs to end quickly.~ He checked the time again, Hammons and his team would be meeting him outside the Security Complex soon. Making sure his Uniform was correct and looked proper, he then picked up his sidearm and placed it onto his belt. Eyeing the phaser rifle which was securely mounted to the wall, he ultimately decided against it, he had backup and they’d be armed heavier than he needed to be. ~There won’t be a firefight anyway,~ he told himself as he left the office, sealed the door and headed to the turbolift. “Ground Floor” was the order he gave as the turbolift door closed behind him. (Mars Facility, Outside Security Services Complex – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters and Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0645) Hammons was whistling as his team reined in at the door to the CaC. All three of the men had on a light armor that was designed to offer some protection from phaser fire with a descending level of reliability and was much the same as that worn by the group that had tried to take over the Mystique. . Light stun got shrugged off, heavy stun required several hits to take you down, kill shots became only criticals if you were lucky and disintegrate? Forget it, you were toast. They also wore a polycarbonate helmet with a crystal polymer face shield which offered additional protection in a melee. They all had stun batons and sidearms on their left and right respectively except for Fredericks who was left-handed. Fredericks and Boyles also carried phaser rifles on a strap that was looped about their neck and body and attached to the butt of the rifle so that if dropped it wouldn't hit the ground and if a suspect tried to take it they would have two hundred pounds or more of angry security officer to deal with in order to acquire it. They formed up before the door at attention and waited for the security chief to arrive. Carson rounded the corner and the doors parted as he walked through them, he noted Hammons' team of trusted Security Officers and moved towards them. “Gentlemen.” he said in a calm voice. ~The pantomime had already started~ he thought to himself in regards to all the rules and regulations surrounding arresting someone. Nodding to each one of them, he took in their armored selves and then began moving past then, “Form up and follow me.” Each of the men fell into formation, Hammons directly next to Carson with the other two lagging slightly behind in a square formation. Carson was aware that the two behind had their phaser rifles at the ready on the off-chance that someone decided to attack the group on the short walk to the Science Annex. “You have a plan if this goes pear shaped?” Carson asked Hammons loudly as they walked briskly across the campus. He could see that a group of science officers they walked past turned to watch them pass. "Absolutely sir!" Hammons barked, being certain that his voice could be clearly heard. He successfully fought back the grin that was trying to hijack his face and kept his features stoic. "We have a strike team on standby." They passed the Arboretum and he saw a couple of technicians look up as they passed then do a double-take. The sight of a heavily armed team walking into the science annex grounds must have stood out like a Tellarite at a beauty pageant to them. The door to ground floor reception was just ahead, they were making excellent time, as a matter of fact Hammons expected only a minimal wait. That's why they had left when they did. (Mars Facility, Science Annex Building – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters and Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0655) They marched through the door in single file, Carson leading and Fredericks bringing up the rear then past a wide-eyed receptionist who knew the Chief of Security and didn't even think about slowing them down. The civilian Security men knew who he was as well and nodded grimly as they passed knowing something was up that they hadn't been called in on. Why else would he be followed by rifle toting troops wearing body armor? Something big was in the works for sure! Hammons thought about ordering them to secure the entrance but that was Carson's territory. Surprising even himself with the amount of power he now held as the Chief of Security, Carson was sure someone was going to at least attempt to stop them. Yet nobody did, once they passed the first two of the civilian security forces under Sytuk's control he did a quick look around for the security officer in charge. Noticing her standing by the reception desk, he shifted his walking direction slightly so they’d pass her as they walked towards the turbolift. Having watched them since they’d entered the building, she seemed to realise quickly that Carson had an order for her and began moving towards the group anxiously. “Sir?” she said as Carson and the team drew level with her. “Secure the building, no one in, no one out until you hear from me.” Carson said and gave no other information to her as he continued marching towards the turbolift. As he stepped into the turbolift and then turned around, he saw the security and civilian officers running around securing the exits of the building, before the two heavily armed officers stepped in after him and Hammons and blocked the view. “3rd floor” Carson said as the doors closed. “The whole base will know soon,” he said as the lift took them to the correct floor. "Dang straight they will!" The grin managed to claw its way onto Hammons' face but he quickly kicked it back off and replaced it with a grim look. The doors opened allowing the four men out into a large corridor, Carson once again took point and began leading the group towards the Auditorium. As they reached the double doors which led to their destination he paused before entering, turning to the other three he said, “I’ll go down the Centre, Hammons take the right and Fredericks go left.” The chief had made a last minute change but Hammons took it in stride, he motioned to Jared Boyles to take up a position by the door to secure the entrance then he and Fredericks took up their assigned positions and waited for the show to start. (Reply: None) (Posted by Jono and Charles) (Mars Facility, Science Annex Auditorium – CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 0658) He had called the briefing the day before at 1700 in order to bring the technical staff up to date on current operations, what was being done throughout the annex according to the files he had read, what was about to be implemented and future goals for the department. This was the opening salvo for operations going forward and nearly a third of those in attendance were also involved with preparations to find and synthesize a workable vaccine for the Trill symbiotes. The auditorium had excellent acoustic qualities and the whispers going on between personnel could be clearly heard but quieted into silence as he mounted the podium. With 0700 only seconds away he mounted the stage and took position behind the lectern. The Vulcan looked around at those assembled as the last second ticked down and all faces were turned in his direction "We will now bring this briefing to order…", he began then stopped as the double doors to the auditorium opened and three men walked in. The man in the lead was Carson Peters, chief of security and behind him were Petty Officer Hammons and one other. They were armed with two wearing body armor and helmets, their face shields were in the open position. Sekal cocked an eyebrow as they advanced down the aisle, their attention was solidly on him. He moved from behind the lectern, stepped down from the stage and moved to meet them (Reply: Any) (Posted by Charles G) (Mars Facility, Science Annex Auditorium – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters and CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 0700) Sekal left the lectern and stepped down from the stage as the technical staff present turned around or craned their necks wondering what was going on. Was there an emergency in the building? No alarms had gone off. Was security there looking for someone and checking in with the Chief of Scientific Research and Development? Some shrugged and took it in stride while a few looked on in alarm The Vulcan met the group as they made it to the first row of seats. "Welcome Chief Peters. How may I assist you?" His eyes traveled over the group as though weighing their intent. Having now walked the length of the auditorium at as quick a pace as he could without looking like he was rushing, Carson approached the Lieutenant with his hand hovering over the sidearm which he kept attached to his belt. He could feel the many eyes of the science staff peering at the back of his head as he glanced from Hammons and Fredericks and the back to Sekal. Clearing his throat, he then said “Lieutenant.” The word reverberated around the auditorium in a way Carson hadn’t expected, “as Chief of Security on Mars base, under Regulation 7, Section C, Chapter 4, I’m here to place you under arrest.” He took a breath and heard several audible gasps from behind him and some movement by the officers Sekal had been briefing. Allowing Hammons and Fredericks to keep an eye on the science staff for him, he then continued, “I have been presented with evidence by my investigating officers and in conjunction with the bases commanding officer it has been decided that you are being charged with espionage and sabotage,” another audible set of gasps and out of the corner of his eye he noticed Fredericks moving to intercept someone behind him. He gave it a moment and studied Sekal’s poker face, “I should tell you, anything you now say or do could and will be used against you at trial. Under the Seventh Guarantee, presented within the Constitution of the United Federation of Planets you do have the right to legal counsel and if you require counsel, they can be presented to you prior to questioning at interview. Whilst you’re under arrest you will be relieved of your positional duties. Do you understand the rights as I have explained them?” The auditorium had gone silent as Carson was speaking but now erupted in conversation, shouts and shocked exclamations. One scientist had been nearby and tried to intervene but Fredericks merely had to point the phaser rifle in the man's direction and he paled then returned to his seat quaking. Hammons had his hand hovering near his sidearm and was speaking in a calm but authoritative voice. "Everyone stay where you are and remain in your seats. This shouldn't take long. Keep the aisles clear and remain calm!" “Will you surrender yourself to us freely?” Sekal's face showed no hint of his thoughts as he answered. "I will not resist." He presented his hands for restraints. Stepping forward, Carson pulled out a pair of magnetised restraints and hooked them to Sekal’s wrist and activated them with a code. He then moved around Sekal and was able to see the rest of the auditorium. Speaking to the room he then said, “The building is currently in lockdown. Do not try to leave this room, until Security clears you to leave.” He made eye contact with as many of the scientists as possible. “Once you are cleared to leave, you are to continue with your day as previously ordered… unless those orders would have you contravening Starfleet regulations.” “Petty Officer Hammons, please secure the prisoner and remand him to the Security Services Complex.” Carson stepped away from Sekal to allow Hammons to take control of the Lieutenant. Sekal and Hammons locked gazes for an instant then Hammons nodded and spoke. "Lieutenant you first please, nice and easy." His hand and wrist were laid over the phaser on his belt. Sekal nodded and stepped in behind Carson with Hammons following. Fredericks brought up the rear with his phaser rifle pointing into the air but ready to be pulled down and pointed in the event it became necessary as he watched the crowd and followed. Carson began walking down the middle aisle towards the exit, Hammons and Sekal behind him with Fredericks further back. As he did so, he tapped his comm. badge, “Science Annex Security, we’re coming down with a prisoner. Please make sure the reception area is under control. Once we have left, you can reopen the building.” =^=Yes, Sir.=^= came the voice of the female security officer he’d spoken with on first entry. Hammons couldn't help himself, he called out over his shoulder to the assembly. "Looks like the briefing is over folks, have a nice day at work." He grinned as they left the auditorium. (Reply: Any) (Posted by Jono and Charles) (Mars Facility-Ravok's Personal Quarters – aFSXO Ensign Ravok Shara– 0726) After getting a clean bill of health, the female puppy was free to go. James the new veterinarian, had convinced Ravok to adopt the puppy. He entered his quarters and sat the freshly cleaned black labrador puppy down on the floor. " Maybe I should name you, huh?" Ravok asked the puppy as she sniffed around the floor of his quarters. He walked into his room and grabbed his bag he had already packed for his trip to earth , and a long black rectangular shaped carrying case ,containing the gifted Bat'leth for Keira. He laid the carrying case down on his desk. " How about...Narsia ? " Ravok asked the puppy." No that's a stupid name" he said as if he were correcting himself. The puppy sat on the floor and looked up at him and he looked down at her " I've never named an animal before , I wasnt allowed to have one as a child. So this is very new to me." Ravok stated as he looked around his quarters, on his wall a framed image of the Sol system hung, near the replicator. He walked over to it and looked at it " Mercury, Venus..." he said outloud and the puppy came running over to him when he mentioned the word name Venus. He looked at the puppy and raised his eyebrow. " Venus?" He asked. The puppy let out a tiny bark. " So I guess that's your name? Ok Venus, we are going to Earth shortly with..." he paused, perplexed on what to call Keira. " Ensign Merek" he resumed. He turned to the replicator. " 24 hour supply of Canine supplement 87-B " Ravok requested as a closed container of dog food appeared in front of him. He then opened the replicators menu and selected a water and food bowl, a small rope for tug of war , a rubber bone shaped toy that squeaks when pressure is applied and a tennis ball. These selections were suggested by the veterinarian. Ravok walked to his closet and grabbed another small bag and packed the items for his new Canine companion. He placed the case containing the Bat'leth on his back via the strap, and picked up his travel bag and placed around his free shoulder and picked up Venus and her travel bag. " Let's go Venus" he said with a smile as he walked out of his quarters and headed back to Ensign Merek's quarters. (Mars - Hangar Bay - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0744) Walking into the hangar bay, Erin couldn’t fight off the rising dread that was filling her mind. Today was a day she had known was coming but, for more than one reason, she was not looking forward to. Looking around, she spotted the shuttle that was taking her to the Captain and then onto Earth. ~ A day of reckoning for us both~ She thought to herself as she stepped on board. Looking towards the pilot, her eyes widened slightly as she took her seat, “Good morning Lieutenant.” (Reply Trip) “Today is full of surprises it seems. For us both.” (reply Trip) Not wishing to sound stand offish and taking a deep breath, Erin looked at him and nodded, “Let’s not keep the big man waiting.” (Mars - Hangar Bay - FSCO Lt. JG Trip Williams - 0745) Trip hadn't gotten much sleep, maybe six hours, which isn't a small amount, but he liked to get in a solid eight. But he had no one to blame but himself for his poor time management when it came to getting himself to sleep. The shuttle was ready to go, primed and prepped. He was outside the shuttle finishing up a bit of paperwork when he noticed a passenger he hadn't expected. ~What the hell is Billy's girlfriend doing here.~ “Good morning Lieutenant.” "Enisgn." He said with a polite nod. "I didn't know you were joining us.@ “Today is full of surprises it seems. For us both.” "Apparently." He said with a polite smile. ~I think I've found the person who was the source of that intense guilt. Her anxiety is easy to pick up on even from my passive empathic senses.~ “Let’s not keep the big man waiting.” She said and Trip followed into the shuttle. ~Something doesn't seem right and Billy's girlfriend seems to be at the epicenter of it all. Ignore it Trip, its Fleet politics and it doesn't matter. Stay out of it, keep your nose clean, worry about the Wing. Besides, you're taking Ash to meet her mom this afternoon. Focus on that not stupid conspiracy theories.~ (Mars Facility-Ensign Merek's personal quarters– aFSXO Ensign Ravok Shara– 0756) Ravok arrived at Keiras door, still carrying Venus and chimed the door pad. ( reply Keira Merek) ( posted by Davis) (USS Republic - Shuttlebay - Captain Remae Ktell - 0815) Remae was waiting in the main shuttlebay at the rear of the saucer section of the Odyssey class ship. Inside, the floor was a mess of storage containers laying upside down and mostly empty. The doors were open and the forcefield was operational but, the Bajoran suspected that all of the emergency power the ship was being fed from the surrounding dock was being used to maintain it. He was avoiding Mars, partly due to the slap in the face of his demotion and partly due to wanting to avoid the Admiral-Wife. She was holding down the fort, it was up to him to see what’s could be done. The shuttle appeared through the open doors and settled down on the bay floor, the doors open and he saw Trip at the controls and Erin in the rear cabin. He greeted both Officers as he entered the cabin but without much of a chat, he took the aft seat while Trip went to work on the controls. (Shuttle - Rear Cabin - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0817) Erin nodded a greeting as the Captain came aboard. Not sure which part of the day she was more terrified about, she turned her gaze back to her PADD. The thing that held the report she had sent off to Starfleet that had triggered this series of events and held her notes from their session, she began reading through them as the shuttle lifted off. Time, it seemed, was a funny beast. The trip to Earth wasn’t long but, to Erin, it had seemed like an age. Aware of the lack of communication between the three of them, she had not wanted to be the one to break the silence. Each of them appeared lost in their own thoughts. Each of them quiet and focused on whatever it was that occupied them. After a while, a voice broke her concentration, “Nervous?” Turning to face the Captain, Erin took a deep breath, “That’s one word for it. Terrified would be another, sir.” “When we land, I’ll drop you off at the President, she knows you are coming and I’ll see Admiral Cayne at HQ.”, he replied. “She knows…. Oh fantastic. That doesn’t fill me with utter dread at all.” (Shuttle - Rear Cabin - Captain Remae Ktell - 0835) It was about a 45 min flight to Earth and a little more time to find a landing and through the various administrative controls. Remae had been silent for most of the trip but, he turned to face Ensign Cortez, “Nervous?”, he said and he understood, how often did an Ensign get to meet the higher levels of Command of the Federation. (Reply from Cortez) “When we land, I’ll drop you off at the President, she knows you are coming and I’ll see Admiral Cayne at HQ.”, he said sitting back at his chair. (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – Ensign (sg) Sienna William-Verin - 0850) Sy indicated for the Ensign to take a seat across from her, "May I get you some tea? Or a refreshment?" She asked, trying to be nice to the Ensign, "This might be a long meeting." "First off how are you doing?" Sy asked, checking in with her. "Were you at the meting when Lt. Sekal was arrested?" "The reason I asked you to come, well. It's complicated. Do you know much about invasive species? When we came to Mars, the base had been abandoned for over 20 years. When the researchers here had left, they just let all the animals and insects go. I am sure that you have noticed that there are some around the base, and that we have been collecting the various fauna as we find them. I know you have seen some of the memos about those spiders that we are trying to corral. I think that the people who were working here before were interested in the development of poisons. But anyways." Sienna slid a thick manila folder across the table towards Adala. Inside were population reports, economic impact statements, analysis of the 2 deadly invasive species and the other 3, less harmful ones. There were hard-copy images of the bites of the snake and the chemical analysis of the venom. There were maps of where clusters were thought to be. "This is going to be your new project, Ensign Michaels. It's a lot of work. Those snakes can take off a person's hand if they wanted to. We need to eliminate both the snakes and the cocoons. Especially the cocooons. They are destroying the honey pear-apples that the farmers are growing, and those things are worth latinum. I don't care how you do it, I just would like to see results. I've included notes on who I think among the enlisted would be best to assist you, as well as who was on the original research team. Feel free to recruit whoever you need from the Research side. Ensign Alyl might be a good choice. "Those snakes are nasty, but they are a danger to the people rather than to the ecosystem, unlike those cocoons. I'd also like you to be my assistant with the fauna collection around the base. I need to delegate a bit in order to run this department effectively." Sienna smiled and waited for Adala to let it all sink in. "Any questions?" (reply Adala) (posted by Mel) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – Ensign (sg) Adala Michaels - 0853) Adala shook her head at the offer for something to drink and sat down. She frowned hearing that Lt. Sekal had been arrested. "No I wasn't at the meeting, what happened?" She asked quietly, not having gotten notice to even go to the meeting, she was now concerned she was in trouble. "I'm doing alright Sir, keeping busy." She settled back in the chair as the CSciO began speaking and took the envelope. "I will do my best and thank you for your confidence in me." She shook her head. "No questions until I read this over Sir. Then I am sure I will." (reply Sy) (Posted by Kathleen Deal) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – CSO Ensign (sg) Sienna Williams-Verin- 0900) "No I wasn't at the meeting, what happened?" Adala asked quietly about Sekal. "I'm not sure exactly what happened with the Lt, but it appears that he has been arrested for espionage and treason. I think it is ridiculous, I am sure that it is a mistake but .." Sy shook her head as if trying to get a thought out of it and went back to the meeting. She was going to have to calm the hysteria going on the Research. Sienna watched Adala closely as the meeting progressed as Sienna outlined the parameters of the assignment, "I put this off when the Admiral first mentioned it due to the absolute mess that the base was in when we got here, but the frequency of the infestations are increasing, as you can see on the hard copy maps included." Sienna leaned back in her chair, "One reason I included hard copy is that some of these places are out of the way and not exactly up to spec technologically speaking. The other is that I find it easier for me to think if I can pin up data around me. I suggest you take the rest of the day to review the data, then find Ensign Alyl and see if he has any ideas. He was a former Starfleet officer for several years and has experience leading projects, but this is your project Ensign Michaels, he is there to assist and advise. We have a number of good people with a great deal of experience. I know that this is the sort of project that in another time you would be the very junior officer on. But we don't live in those times any longer and we all are going to need to work hard to rebuild to where we were two decades ago." Sienna's dark eyes watched Michaels intently. Not judging. "I have faith in you. I expect a daily memo to be kept up to speed and a weekly progress report. If you have any questions or concerns, come to me immediately and do not get mired down. It's better to ask for help." Sy looked away for a moment, as if something occurred to her. "And...please be careful when you go off base. Take a member of security with you, especially to the outlying areas. Not everyone here likes starfleet and with good reason." "If there is nothing further you are dismissed." (reply Michaels, any) (posted by Mel) (Mars Facility Science Annex - CSO's Office - SO (Research) Ensign Jaton Alyl - 0902) Jaton had heard that Sienna was in the CSO's office, and he needed to talk to her. Formulate some sort of game plan. He had been tearing through the hallway towards her office when he saw the door open as Michaels came through it. He dashed ahead and through the closing door. Irregular he knew, but in this time he felt the need to dispense with formality. "I just heard about Sekal. What do we do?" (reply Verin, any) (posted by Spencer) (Starfleet Command - Near the Main Building - Captain Remae Ktell - 0904) The shuttle was parked in collection of other shuttles, Remae left their shuttle. As he did, he looked over at the pilot, “Thanks Lieutenant, what are you going to do?”, he asked, wondering how Mr Williams was going to spend his time, slightly envious by the idea of free time. (Reply from Trip) “Let’s go Ensign.”, he said and by the look, she was less interested in going than him so he simply nodded to the big building in the distance. (Starfleet Command - Near the Main Building - FSCO Lt. Jg Trip Willimas - 0905) The shuttle had arrived on Earth and it had been a rather uneventful trip. Trip was a bit miffed that Erin was there. He was hoping to get some face time with Remae, get to know the man who had trusted him enough to double promote. Instead with Erin there, it became more about the business they had to do and not enough time for the 'bonding' that Trip was hoping to have. ~And I still don't understand why Cortez needs to go see the President. It's fine, it's politics. Stay out of it Trip,~ “Thanks Lieutenant," The Captain said after they had landed. "what are you going to do?” "Just gonna go see some old haunts. I mean its only been a few months since I was here as a cadet, so it's not a matter of homesickness. But there are a certain sites I miss, and I think I might head to the bay. See if I can catch any Humpbacks before they head to warmer waters in the fall for breeding. Time travel, what a wonderful and crazy tool. Took an extinct animal and brought it back to the modern world to save the Earth from destruction. Anyways. Take care sir." Trip then made sure that the shuttle was off and began making his way to a transporter kiosk to make his way to San Francisco proper. (reply None) (posted by Will Banowsky (Starfleet Command - Near the Main Building - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0906) The shuttle had parked and Erin sat still in her seat with a tight grip on her PADD. ~This is it. Either this is a day i face demons of more than one variety or this is the day i fold under the pressure.~ “Let’s go Ensign.”, Captain Remae said. Standing, Erin nodded and followed him out of the shuttle and into the large building that lay a short walk from their shuttle. (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – Ensign (sg) Sienna William-Verin - 0830) Sienna took a seat in her office and sighed softly. She had a ton of reports that she needed to go through and a lot of work that had been hastily shoved to the side when it was suddenly time to get the Mystique ready to fly in less than two weeks. Luma had been transferred successfully and was settling in nicely. Luma was currently very unhappy with things, but that was Ensign Vex's concern, not Siennas. Sy had woken up early to attend the Research briefing and had been there when Sekal had been arrested...arrested...for espionage and as being a saboteur. She could not imagine a larger mess than an auditorium full of people who were watching in disbelief as the head of research was arrested. It had to have been a mistake. But she had seen Carson Peters' face and that Hammons guy was whistling at one point, enjoying taking the Vulcan down. Who had not resisted. Had not protested his innocence. Sienna needed to talk to the Captain or the Admiral, or someone to give her some advice as to what to do. But she DID have a project that had come up marked as priority one when she returned from the Trill mission. Before they had left, she had left a group of crewman under a senior, grizzled Tellerite who had a lot of experience with large scale projects. The parameters had been clear: Investigate the results of the terraforming on every scale, and concentrate on the flora and fauna of Mars, with an eye to invasive species that may have been on the base that had possibly escaped the base into the local ecosystem. She tapped the hardcopy of the file with one elegant finger, thinking quietly about who of the current crop of ensigns would be best to take this on. She did not know much about Adala Michaels, but she seemed to have a decent well-rounded scientific background and this would get the Ensign some experience leading a project. And it was a doozy after all. Sienna would make it clear that Michaels could approach any of the other ensigns for assistance and she would have the considerable expertise of the enlisted personnel to assist her. There were at least two major problems - Tellarite snakes that were venomous and liked to make a nuisance of themselves by invading local homes and the Karien whisp whose cocoons were killing trees and the infestation was spreading. There were less important issues but those were the two that needed to be addressed immediately. Environmental problems could cascade very quickly. The Admiral HAD asked her to do this on her very first couple of hours on Mars, maybe he had known of the problems. Sienna tapped her comms badge, "Ensign Adala Michaels, please report to the CSO's office - that is Ensign Kirien's office please. It's off the research arboretum. Immediately." Sienna tried to take the right tone, firm but not too firm. She tried to emulate her Mom, but it probably failed. (reply Michaels, any) (posted by Mel) (Mars Facility, Security Services Complex, 8th Floor, Chief of Intelligence Office – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal, aACTO, Ens(jg) Taya & SecO, Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0914) The Chief of Intelligence office in the Security Services Complex was an empty shell, which had the basics of a terminal and desk. Carson had moved in some seating and a second table the evening before when he had decided it would become the holding cell for Sekal during their fake arrest. When deciding where to hold the clandestine meeting with Taya & Hammons, it also seemed to fit the bill, of course Sekal would be there as well, but since he was already involved there was a chance he’d provide a different point of view. Walking into the office, which was now guarded by Fredericks & Boyle he nodded to Sekal, “The others will be here momentarily. Do you need anything before we start?” asking the Vulcan as he moved over to the separate table away from the terminal. "Negative." Sekal spoke as he moved toward the table as well. T'Lah hopped upon the table and moved to the center where she lay down and watched Carson with her impassive eyes which were emerald green. After they settled themselves into their seats she began licking her white forepaw then scrubbed behind her grey, pointed ear. Before walking into the intelligence office, Taya ran her hands up and down her uniform, smoothing out any wrinkles. Taking a deep breath, she had gotten over most of her anger. She was unhappy with Carson for leaving her out of the loop with Sekal. Yes, she was technically in tactical now, but she and Carson had a good rapport, so she should have been included. She also had 217 tactical applicants scheduled to meet her in the main training area at 0900, so that had to be postponed until later. She was in an unpleasant mood. Sighing again, the door slid open and she stepped inside. Sekal looked up as the door opened then nodded to the Andorian. "Greetings, Ensign Taya." T'Lah stopped for an instant to look at her then went back to industriously grooming herself. For someone just arrested for espionage, Lieutenant Sekal was in a good mood. That is, if Vulcans had them. His cat was there, too. Taya's instincts were telling her something was amiss. "What's going on?" she said to no one in particular. Taking her expression and body language in, Carson internally sighed, but keeping his face neutral, “Sit down, Taya. We’ve got some explaining to do.” He waved his arm out towards the seats around the table. Taya studied Carson for a moment, but she sat down without saying anything. “Security Officer Hammons will be here momentarily.” Carson said as he picked up the water and took a sip. “How are your Tactical Squads coming together?” Taya frowned. "I don't know. I had to reschedule their training because you called me here." Her tone was flat and her antennae were moving in slow circles. “Ah,” Carson said, a little surprised by her tone. “Sorry. We won’t keep you long then… as you can probably tell by now, Lieutenant Sekal, contrary to reports, hasn't been arrested.” He let that hang in the air for a moment “Once we got back to Mars, I tasked Petty Officer Hammons to pick up with the investigation we had ongoing to route out the Spy on the base.” As he said this, he turned his head towards the door as it opened suddenly and he saw Hammons walking in. Taya looked at Sekal, then Hammons, and back to Carson. She was understanding where they were going with this, but she still didn't like being excluded. Hammons stepped into the room with a grim look on his face which disappeared only after the door had firmly shut. With the portal closed he sighed and broke into a smirk then walked toward the table. Until the tension hit him that is at which time the smirk disappeared to be replaced by only the slight hint of a smile. "Lieutenant the Chief is afraid he's going to owe you a favor if this works but on my part you get a lifetime pass if you need a hand." Before he sat down he noted the Andorian's foul look and the Chief's apologetic one and could easily guess what was going on. He took a chair and looked Taya squarely in the eyes. He had dropped the whimsical look completely and was deadly serious. "If you aren't happy about being called in late Sir then you can blame me not the Chief on this one. I was the one who made the plan and brought it up to him, made the arrangements and picked the personnel involved. I chose very few and them only the ones whose discretion I could vouch for personally and no offense but I don't know you that well." He sat back but didn't relax. "One wrong word or the slightest off look could have brought this whole caper down like a house of cards and this is a desperation gambit. If our target smells anything out of the ordinary she will stay low and we will have no chance of mounting enough evidence to convict her." He then nodded to Carson. "The Chief has the plan and from this point it's time to lay out our next move not chew on old bones." He crossed his arms as he looked away. Taya's eyes squinted as she glared at Hammons. Had she been reprimanded by a petty officer? She was angry, but kept it to herself. Sekal picked T'Lah up and removed her from the table, her long, white furred legs hanging down until he had placed her on the floor. Miffed she then padded to her food bowl to get a chunk or two of the hard kibble followed by a bit of water. Sekal then sat back and waited for the meeting to get started in earnest. He did have some suggestions and when the proper time came he would voice them if they had been otherwise overlooked. (Reply: None) (Posted by Jono, Rob and Charles) (Mars Facility, Science Annex - CSO's Office – SciO Ensign (SG) Adala Michaels - 0915) Adala listened as Sy spoke about what the Lieutenant was accused of and frowned but didn't dwell on it as the conversation moved back to her assignment. "I understand Sir." she said as she fingered the envelope in her hand. She was anxious to get a look at the information there and get to work. She was edgy, She needed the job to focus on and looked forward to the work. "I will update you on my progress Sir." a Shaking her head at the mention of going off base. "I will be sure to take someone with me." When the CSO dismissed her she stood and smiled at her boss. "Thank you for having the confidence in me to get this done Sir." She nodded and exited the office heading for her own little hole in the wall to get to reading. (reply Sy if necessary) (Posted by Kathleen Deal) (Starfleet Command - SFHQ - Captain Remae Ktell - 0916) Ever since the President’s Office had been transferred to HQ, the collection of doors all around the central hallway. Flags of member worlds, a map of the quadrant, nothing had change since he was last here with Jana. At least not physically. The feel was a little off but then, Remae always disliked being here. (Starfleet Command - Outside President’s Office - Captain Remae Ktell - 0920) The President was in her outer office, and as they both entered, the Bajoran president nodding their direction, “Well, Captain, look at what the cat dragged in!” Ensign Cortez was next to Remae and he looked at the President for a moment, “Stiave, this is Ensign Erin Cortez.”, he said simply and added, “I take it I have you to thank for Jana’s arrival?” “It was for the best.”, she said and then went over to the Counsellor, “Come with me, my dear, we have to talk about the Captain. Pipsqueak, you have an appointment.”, she said and then, she disappeared with Erin and Remae left, regretting telling anyone about his nickname and THAT story. He had a feeling, he’d be telling it again soon. (Starfleet Command - Outside President’s Office - Ensign Erin Cortez - 0922) Walking into the outer office of the President, Erin felt a sudden weight on her shoulders. The weight of having gotten herself into something, some political intrigue and a long standing issue that had plagued a man she looked up to and respected. “Well, Captain, look at what the cat dragged in!” “Stiave, this is Ensign Erin Cortez.”, he said simply. Erin nodded her greeting, still in a slightly scared frame of mind at the woman infront of her. As the President walked to her side, Erin realised she was standing at a very stiff attention. “Come with me, my dear, we have to talk about the Captain. Pipsqueak, you have an appointment.”, she said and then walked into her office. Erin, turning her gaze quickly towards her Captain, gave him a look of somewhere between terror and hope, and followed the President into her office. (Reply None) (Posted by Jackie) (Mars Facility, Security Services Complex, 8th Floor, Chief of Intelligence Office – SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, CSRD, Lt. (Jg) Sekal, aACTO, Ens(jg) Taya & SecO, Petty Officer (2nd class) Steven Hammons - 0923) Bemused by the situation Carson had stayed quiet for a few moments, he’d expected Taya to be frustrated… perhaps a little angry with not being included in Sekals arrest. From the outside looking in, it was a big public arrest which had the base scurrying around like ants. A big public arrest could also do wonders for your career and he wondered whether the fact he’d kept her separate had her thinking he’d done it for that purpose. He cleared his throat, “Mr Hammons came to me with a plan and suggestions on how to complete it. I was the one who made the decision to either go ahead or change it, you know how these things progress Taya. Operationally I had no need to add to your stresses until now, which is why I’ve brought you in.” He paused to see if she wanted to respond. Taya simply nodded. At that point, she didn’t care anymore about the who, the what, or the why. The situation was what it was, so she had to get over it and move on. ~Now to get to business,~ Carson thought to himself, “Time to put the pieces together.” He said as he leaned forward and activated the screen. In front of the team assembled the table turned into a large monitor and on the monitor showed a map of the main complex. “Our target is an NCO by the name of Kiva Rothvaryn, she was uncovered by the work of Intelligence Analyst Vax’ildan,” and as he said that, a tall, slightly older but incredibly graceful man walked through the doors behind them. He nodded at them and stood at a slight distance, having been sat in the personal space of the Chief of Intelligence office since late last night. “... and has been under constant surveillance since before we left for Trill. Vax, if you will…” he pointed to the screen. “Of course.” The analyst pulled his own PADD up and swiped so the monitor on the table changed slightly. “What you’re seeing on the screen is the sensor data for Miss Rothvaryn for the entirety of her time under surveillance. Highlighted are times when for some reason or another, sensor failures or deactivations she disappears off the map.” He swiped again, “overlaying your manned surveillance reports with that allows us to ascertain a pattern.” The room went silent for a second as the officers present were able to view the data. Carson kept his gaze neutral but was particularly interested in seeing Hammons and Tayas reaction. Would Hammons feel frustrated that the work he’d had him doing since they got back was to make sure an officer with no connection to the case came to the same endpoint? It started as a low, almost inaudible chuckle that rapidly rose in volume until Hammons was openly laughing with such abandon that he was almost doubled over. It was causing his stomach muscles to hurt but felt good to release the tension. "…. You knew….held back information…. Kept it out of the case file …. I'm an idiot….thank God!" Could be heard between the gales of laughter that were blowing from the Petty Officer. It took a couple of minutes for him to finally wind down leaving him red faced and puffing while trying to pen the mirth up again. "Chief you horn swaggled me!" The accusation was made in good humor. "This whole time I felt like I was perched on the edge of a cliff while wrestling with a tiger but I was just a front man doing the legwork and verifying the case notes." He shut his mouth for a moment to cage the laughter which was threatening to reemerge. Taya allowed herself to have a small smile that disappeared quickly. She got some enjoyment out of seeing that Hammons had been an unwitting pawn in the operation. Sekal looked at him with an eyebrow high on his forehead. "Do you require assistance Petty Officer?" That set Hammons off again. Sekal shook his head. "Illogical." “Going through Engineering logs also shows that the NCO knew about each sensor black spot and attempted to use this knowledge to communicate to her handlers only to be spooked each time by a member of Security doing a sweep. We believe that whilst you were away, we’ve managed to restrict her from sending any private communications” Vax finished and Carson nodded to him. “Though we can’t be sure she doesn’t have a separate device in her quarters.” Carson tagged on at the end. “Initial thoughts?” He then asked the assembled group. Hammons wasn't laughing openly anymore but he couldn't hide the smile. "Of course she does but in order to have a peek in her quarters requires a search warrant which we don't have the evidence to get. So it may as well be somewhere in the fleabag nebula for all the good it does us." Something about a warrant popped into Taya's mind. It was from a report when it was first discovered there was a spy. "I don't remember the details," said Taya, "but there was something from a night shift engineer. At one of the work stations where we suspected information was sent, a drop of blood was found. If the DNA is from our suspect, it could be part of an evidence package sent to JAG." Hammons nodded. "The DNA evidence was conclusive but the time frame is not. It puts her at the scene but didn't pinpoint the exact time so we know she was there. While it makes her a suspect it's not conclusive proof. Not enough to arrest her or get a search warrant on." He rubbed his chin. "The leeway of a couple of hours in either direction is too much wiggle room for a cut and dried case." Carson nodded, “The DNA sample was actually one of the reasons Rothvaryn was put onto our radar, that and some fancy tech decryption by Vax.” he shifted in his seat slightly, “I’m not overly concerned by needing enough to get a warrant, I’m happy that the plan we have in place will be enough to answer any questions brought up the JAG later on down the line.” Hammons nodded. "It is a foundation of evidence that will be damning when we DO tie her conclusively to the transmissions. At the moment that's all it is but it's darn good to have in the ammunition locker." He mused, his thoughts agreeing with Taya's summation. "Which is why I said the DNA is part of a package of evidence," said Taya. She decided she didn't like Hammons. “The first part of the plan has already been put into place, Lieutenant Sekal, graciously, I might add, agreed to be arrested publically. In addition to this I’ve pulled back all Security Surveillance from Miss. Rothvaryn, our hope,” he looked from Hammons to Sekal and back to Taya, “is that after a few weeks of being unable to report properly in and the fact that I’ve now closed the case down, she’ll take the opportunity to report in.” "Yep!" Hammons agreed whole-heartedly. "If I was cut off from my superiors for a month I would be looking for a window of opportunity and from her viewpoint this has to be it. That's why I suggested the mock arrest and doctored the case files. Right now she's looking free and clear." Carson nodded again, “I’ve agreed with Engineering that two sections of the base's sensor grid be taken offline for the remainder of the day, if the pattern sticks, she’ll make a site-to-site transport to one of these areas in an attempt to transmit to her handler.” pausing for a second, he looked around to make sure everyone was still with him, “I’ve requested that Luma keep an eye on the transporter patterns and alert us as soon as this happens. Once it does, Mr. Hammons and Ensign Taya you’ll have literal minutes to get your teams into place.” Taya needed to blow off some steam, so she was ready to kick some butt. “Hammons, you’ll be taking Boyles and Fredericks. Get close enough to listen in on the transmission and be ready to arrest her once we have the proof. You need to be ready to go at any given moment for the next 24 hours, we’ll have a few minutes to get you in place as Vax will be working out of the office next door in an attempt to slow her efforts down without spooking her.” Steven nodded. "Righto Chief and I know just how we are going to handle it. I'll pull Boyles and Frederick's off as soon as this meeting is over and we'll get ourselves outfitted for the bust and stand by. I suggest our communicators be dislocated from general chatter and confined only to those who are in on this effort. I don't want a comm going off while I'm trying to sneak up on her because this is not going to be a typical bust." He caught the eyes of the others in turn. "I don't want just her but her insider as well and whatever she knows will be gone if she suicides on us. She is going to be taken down quietly before she knows what hit her." “Taya, I need you and a tactical team ready to breach Rothvaryn’s quarters. You need to be in place, with a team that doesn’t know who or what their target is until I give you the Go order. I know it’s a lot to require, but needs must.” "I'll be ready," said Taya. She had 217 personnel to pick from, so she knew she'd have the best team available. Sekal crossed his arms and gave a nod. "All quite logical. I have nothing to add." “The reason the breach and the arrest must be simultaneous is because I fear if she knows she’s being arrested, there will be some back-up switch, incendiary device… anything really which she’d then activate and destroy the evidence holed up in her quarters.” Carson finished. Hammons nodded but didn't say anything. If this went down as he was already planning then she would never get the chance. “Excellent.” Carson said, he stretched a little, a lot had already happened this morning and the day had barely begun. (Reply none needed) (Posted by Jono, Charles & Rob) (Earth - Starfleet HQ - President's Office - Ensign Erin Cortez and President Atermi - 0925) Walking into the President's office, Erin stood to attention, not knowing what to do. The President had just closed the door on the Captain, sending him off to Admiral Cayne for his meeting but she wanted to see the Counsellor and have a conversation about that file and that report and that incident. “Ensign, take a seat – and stand at ease, I am not? Starfleet or Military and I? wish I? wasn’t right here in the middle of them all but, there we are…”, said the Bajoran as she headed to the replicator, “Can I get you something?”, she asked and after getting her usual cup of tea, she came around to the other side of her desk and sat close to Erin. “Tea would be good, Ma’am.” Erin replied as she sat down. Trying her hardest to fight the panic in her, Erin took the cup of tea from the President as she began to speak, “You are wondering why you are here, are you in trouble, did you get Remae into trouble and what this is all this about… I? understand, let me start to explain.”, she said taking a sip of her tea. “We go back, Remae and I?, I? even officiate their wedding, him and Jana - what a mess, what a couple… not even from the same universe, it was a mindmess until we all realised, it didn’t matter, they loved each other. Nothing was going to stop those two.”, she said smiling, “It was a different time alright. One flying around in the Spectre, one in the Wraith, both going for Counsellor on the Spectre on the same day, close to the same hour, making 2O, FO and then CO almost the same time.”, she said drifting off, reliving the memories as often older people do. It took a moment for her to come back from the past. “Ma’am?” Erin replied, looking at her wondering where her mind just went. The counsellor in her wondering whether this was as much a counselling session for the President as it was for the Captain. “Anyway, then there was Gul Dulon, you know what Remae has told you, we know what he told you as it was in the report. Officially, we do not know much about what happened. The Spectre crashed on a remote part of Cardassia, Remae was captured and tortured and eventually rescued by that damn? Andorian Marine, finally, he got back but the damage was done.”, she said pausing for more tea. Erin kept quiet. Sensing that something more was coming. Sipping her tea, she made mental notes to be revisited at a later time. “Dulon was taken care of but as for Remae, well, the Admiralty were told he wasn’t to be trusted, his time with Dulon changed him and the information in his head, what, at least, highly damaging to Starfleet and at most, a ticking-time-bomb.”, she said expressing her hands outwards, “We were waiting for a signal, a trigger, a sign and when you report hit the database, every alarm went off. Cayne went a little nuts and we had to protect Remae, you, everyone from what might be in that head, and now, the time has finally come.” “The time?” Erin asked, curious as to what she meant and also concerned for the response. She paused again, “Let’s focus on you… Remae is going to need you more than you may realise, and why you? You are already involved, it makes sense to keep this situation inside this family, and that’s what’s going to happen, Ensign.”, she said standing back up again. “I… ma’am i will admit to being concerned. The trust Captain Remae has placed in me is… a lot. I’m barely qualified. Sure, I know my stuff and I know what I need to do but, it’s a lot.” “When Remae is finished with Cayne, we’re going to talk about that next step… but in the meantime, make yourself comfortable and if you have questions, now would be a good time to ask.”, she said again, returning back to her desk. Raising an eyebrow, Erin fought back the snappy response of sure I have questions. Instead, she took a sip of her tea and then, taking a breath, “Ma’am, I have many questions but I won’t overload anything. I suppose my first question would be why? Why Captain Remae? Why him?” “Wrong place, wrong time.”, she said, “When the Spectre crashed on the Spectre, Dulon took the chance to capture a Starfleet Captain and use them for his own purposes. Captains have unique knowledge, codes, and other information any power would find useful.” Nodding to the response and, keeping her face stoic, Erin took a second and then continued, “Are you sure that this is what is best for Captain Remae? Would forcing him to remember not damage him further?” “I am afraid that time has passed, I? fear that, if we don’t move soon, he will taken too far over the edge now the time has started, shall we say, started moving again, but truth be told, we’d never have known or acted had it not been for an old friend.”, she said coyly. The President wasn’t going to be drawn further on that point for now. “And the file, no-one knows what is on it?” “Not exactly. Over the years, Remae has accessed parts of the file, we know a little. Most of it classified but, what information we believe is on there, could be damaging, could be a shopping list, we do not know but dealing with a madman, a megalomaniac and serious threat to the Federation such as Gul Dulon, we can’t take anything from granted.”, she said, her tea finished and he arm crossed. “So, how much danger is the Captain, and by association, myself in? I have people, friends, people I care about back on mars…” The President raised her hands, “No danger at all. If real danger to people, individuals was a possibility, we wouldn’t have waited decades to address this issue… this is about what Dulon put into his head, what that file contains and what we can do to improve Remae’s mental health. The signs are, this is coming to a head with a long time of nothing at all… it has to be addressed and, at the end, we may need your help as the latest Counsellor to be a part of this issue.”, she said carefully. “Your colleagues, who have spent time with Remae are in different universes, we can’t contact them. You are the best option.”, she said, looking at the Counsellor. "Well, I take that as a compliment, ma'am. My concern here is for the Captain. No-one else. If this is going to harm him in anyway, I will stop this. No questions, none." (Reply none) (Posted by Jackie and Tony) (Starfleet Command - The Office of CINC - Captain Remae Ktell - 0929) Admiral Dominic Cayne once again filled his field of vision. He was asked in, given a seat and made to wait for the Admiral to speak. For a moment, Remae thought to himself if a) Cayne has to deal with as many PADDs as he did and b) If he had a Billy to do his paperwork? “Captain.”, he finally said as the small computer terminal slid down into his desk, “I didn’t want to put Jana there but, I am kinda glad I was talked into it. She’s one hell of a woman, how did you ever get her to marry you?”, he said gruffly, “So, its time then?”, he added offhandedly. “Sorry?”, said Remae, now taken aback. “It was going to happen sooner or later, but I was surprised it happened now. Its been years, hasn’t it? Since your last episode?”, he added, knowing a lot more than expected and that now, Remae was at Red Alert. Tight. Coiled. Ready. Cayne pointed at the Bajorian’s head, “When we received that report, we knew it was time.”, he said again. “That file in your head has to come out now, Captain. There were some of us, including me, who were willing to let it go, to let it play out, but, all of a sudden, you are important to the cause, proved yourself valuable, finally.” He paused for a moment. “Let’s start from the beginning, let’s talk about Gul Dulon.”, he said sitting back in his chair as he started to talk. (Reply from Williams, Cortez, Any) (Posted by Anthony Keen) (San Francisco Bay Area- Bay Overlook - FSCO Lt. JG Trip Williams - 10:00) The San Francisco bay in the morning was a beautiful site, the sun hitting the water causing a beautiful reflective sheen. It’s why Trip often went to the bay to think, to reflect. He had his spotten, a little hidden grove that overlooked the bay. It wasn’t a secret, other people came here as well. But Trip often found himself alone here, able to be deep in thought. The burden of carrying Dale and Ash’s secret was weighing on him, but he would weather the storm. Even if it meant keeping it from his best friend. As he looked out at the bay, trying to focus on anything else. All he could thing about was her, Ailynn, and everything she had done for him. (Flashback to 2440.05.22- San Francisco Bay Area- Bay Overlook - Soon to be Cadet 4th Class Trip Williams and Cadet 1st Class Ailynn Bracken - 1100) The graduation party for the 2440 graduating class of William T. Riker High School was one Trip would always remember. Not because he became the official flip cup champion of his graduating class, but because of one conversation. One sad conversation with his Imzadi, Rae. They had met as young teenagers, and instant connection, and had dated throughout high school. But now their paths were separating, she wanted to enter the civilian world, he was going to Starfleet Academy. They had talked about marrying young, that summer, but it didn’t feel right, they were scared, they were so young, they hadn’t dated anyone else. So they mutually decided to break up, remain friends, date other people, and let the universe decide if they were meant to be. It was a gamble, it was her idea, and Trip loved her so much he was willing to take that risk. But his heart hurt, and so he ran to his spot, his favorite spot, a spot he had only shared with Sienna and Ailynn, because he needed to think. Because he was doubting whether he should go tell her that they were making a mistake, because he wanted to just look at the water and lose himself in his thoughts. Ailynn strode gently around the scenic path that followed the bay. It wasn’t her favourite haunt, but she found that she could let herself go here, walk, think, scream if she needed to, it seemed that the locals had seen everything, seen every type of cadet at their highest or lowest ebb. She fiddled with her new 4th year cadet rank pips; at the back of her mind a determination to gain those 4 gold pips that would signify a third generation Captain Bracken. Stupid though it was, the thought of it made her flush, and she allowed herself a moment to imagine the pips at her breast. She turned a corner in the path, and literally stumbled on… “Trip?” “Oh hey there Lynn,” Trip said a bit surprised he hadn’t expected to see her this morning. She pulled him into the hug that she had always considered sisterly. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and pulling him close to her. As she pulled away, she caught his face, a hint around the eyes gave him away. “I’ve seen that look before, but not on you…” She sat next to him on the bench that looked across the bay toward the golden gate bridge. “Penny for them? And don’t try to lie to me.” “I would never lie to you Ailynn, never in my life. For some weird stupid reason, I’ve never been able to lie to a Bracken.” Ailynn tilted her head slightly, she knew that Trip had stayed at the vineyard a few times. She shook off the thought. “Soo...talk to me goose.” She remembered him being pretty much naked at the President’s ball. It had been a duck, but ‘goose’ had been a mean nickname for a while. “Its Rae, we umm broke up.” Trip paused, they had almost broken up a few years ago when Trip made out with another girl while drunk at a party. The punch had been spiked by an idiot named Tommy Connicky. Trip couldn’t remember if it was Ashlyn Jones or….Ailynn….years later he would learn the truth that it was Ashlyn. Ailynn sighed gently, she shared Dale’s feelings on ‘Imzadi’. It wasn’t a concept she could have any understanding of, her deepest shame being that she’d never kissed anyone let alone…. “I’m sorry to hear that...you two were tight. May I ask what happened?” “Life.” Trip said. “We’re 18, right, only person I’ve ever dated. I’m the only person she’s ever dated. And like you know, for all the years we’ve known each other, we’ve had this bond, this connection. We share a telepathic bond. How many nights we’ve spent just talking telepathically. But…” “But…” She supplied, largely unnecessarily. “But, we found each other so young, there is so much more life to discover, to learn, and like just because we have this bond, does it mean that we just have to take a plunge? We are entering a key part of our development right, college and the academy, and she thinks that, well that it would be good to break up. To really see, to develop who we are to each other without the pressure of destiny or fate. See what we are like with other people.” There was an inkling in her mind, She wondered if she was truly the right person for this job, but she had known him longer than anyone. She wondered however, even given that protection, that she should ask the question that was already escaping her mouth. “Trip...Honey...are you sure that she felt the same?…I’m sorry to ask; but….” “It was her idea.” Trip said with a somber tone. “I mean at a certain point its true. Did we really know who either of us were without the other being around. And the answer is no.” Ailynn was saddened slightly, but not surprised, Dale, her gran, always said that the person that you were today probably won’t exist tomorrow. “Sorry to hear that.” “I mean we’ll still be in each other’s lives, as good friends, and just, well gonna take a break from each other right now. So I had to come to my spot. It just stings, but she’s right, right? I mean we’re 18, we just graduated high school. And it might help to grow into an adult without worrying about destiny. We need to learn who we are as individuals and not as Trae or whatever the weird couple name we had. Right?” “Ugh! Don’t remind me. I mean yeah, you guys were tight, and maybe yeah, you are each other’s halves, but you are still really young to be having those conversations.” She laughed semi-bitterly. “Not that anyone ever tries to have those kind of conversations with me, I don’t even know what I want.” “Well, it will happen some day.” Trip said. He always thought that Lynn was drop dead gorgeous, but for some reason no one ever found her romantically interesting. She shrugged. “Realistically, I can’t begin to think about it. I need to graduate Med School and find myself a posting first.” “Who knows, people have been marrying young for love and sometimes money for millennia. I guess it was just all of a sudden. I figured we’d just carry on dating while we finished school.” “So I get the whole ‘Imzadi’ thing, but is it the be all and end all?” She was thankful that she could be as open with Trip, and hoped that she would one day find someone to be truly romantically attached to. “I guess thats what we are trying to find out. A lot of people don’t end up with their Imzadi, you know.” Trip said as he picked up a rock and started playing with it. “And I guess, finding yours so young messes with you in a way. It’s like before I could even crush on her proper, the connection was there.” She shrugged, and nodded, “I see that.” “So the question we were asking ourselves was simple really. Where we imzadi because we were destined to be in love. Or were we in love because we were imzadi.” “Ouch.” She drew breath, as if to ask something, but filed it at the back of her mind as he continued. “So I guess this separation, this break up, is to figure out who we are, you know, and see if maybe, we come back to each other in time, after dating other people.” There was something in her mind, something about someone both wanting their cake and eating it. She’d always liked Rae, but this smacked of a girl who wanted to have fun, and then come back to Mr Right. Ailynn didn’t voice this, even secure in her friendship with Trip, she wasn’t sure she could say such things. “okay…” “Sometimes I wish she wasn’t my imzadi or that I didn’t have one. It takes a lot of the mystery out of love. Takes a lot of the unknown. I’m jealous of those who can just know without ever reading their partner’s thoughts. Something she said just resonated with me, she said, ‘You know maybe more important than having a partner who can read your thoughts, is to have someone who can know what you're thinking without words and without thoughts, without special skills, just by being there, they know.’ and I can’t get that out of my head.” Her thoughts meandered as he spoke, drawing on memories from back home. “I understand what you mean. It’s not quite the same thing, but Dale and Mum do it all the time. A whole conversation sometimes in a single look. Baffles me, it really does.” “My grandparents have that, they can know what the other is going through just by one look, just by staring in each other’s eyes. No tricks, no telepathy, just love. And Rae is right, I want that. But it takes time to develop, and maybe the distance is good. Maybe I’ll find that with someone else. Or I find out that I had that with Rae all along. It’s in the universe’s hands. If it’s meant to be, and all that stupid jazz.” “Perhaps you’re right.” She said, “You’re kind of asking the wrong person. I’ve no yardstick on this. I didn’t know my dad, and Mum hasn’t dated again since. Dale is a more levelled person regarding love, but prophets know how, as she’s never dated or really been in love enough to commit or make sacrifice for anyway. With that being said, what you say makes sense, I guess. You don’t need to be an empath or whatever to read someone's thoughts. ” “Didn’t mean to spring this on you, I just came up here to think and reflect and you just showed up at the right time I guess. I’ve always felt like I could tell you what's on my mind. You’ve been a really good friend to me over the years. Even though as a kid I got you into a lot of trouble.” Ailynn laughed gently. Picking a couple of daisies from the lawn, and beginning to make a daisy chain. “Yeah you did.” She smiled fondly. “Nearly as much as I got myself into.” “Yeah, good thing we both turned into competent well behaved young adults.” She laughed. “Remember when we thought we could ride my bed down the stairs like a go-cart?” “Yeah, I’m surprised your mom didn’t kill me.” “I still have tinnitus from that one I think.” She said only half joking. Aimee, her mum had gone ‘the Full Bracken’ on that little stunt. She adored her mother, but she did have a tendency to overreact. This one had made the entirety of the Klingon-Federation conflicts look like a sunday school picnic. “Hey” Trip said as he took his rock and threw it off the ledge like he was side arm throwing a baseball. “Thanks for always listening. You are one of the few people I trust implicitly. I hope it stays that way. I hope I can always come to you for advice, or to just lay out my burdens No secrets.” Ailynn smiled, and happily completed the ‘daisy chain that she had been weaving. She shrugged nonchalantly “Always got your back compadre, you know that. Wherever it is we end up.” “Wherever we end up.” (End Flashback) Trip looked out into the distance. The universe never deemed fit for Rae and him to get back together, but it did deem fit to keep Ailynn a constant part of Trip’s life. ~Lynn was always there for me, I could tell her anything. Yet right now, I’m keeping her family's secrets from her and it sucks. So what do I do. Do I come clean and say, hey by the way, this is the real story behind your secret aunt. But does that increase Ash’s chance of danger. I mean I trust Ailynn like she was family.~ Trip turned and began to walk away from his spot, headed back to HQ in case so he could be ready for when it was time to head back to Mars. But he just couldn’t help but pause one last time. ~I said I’d never lie to a Bracken, yet here I am, lying to my best friend to keep her grandmother’s secret. But is it lying to a bracken, if I’m lying for a Bracken?” (reply none) (posted by Will and Mark) (Mars Base, Main Complex - EngO, Ens(jg) Vex'ahlia Jordaan - 1030) After the Engineering meeting the previous day had finished Vex had retired to her new quarters within the main complex of the base, only a floor and a corridor away from the computer core- it was quite simply the closest quarters the QM could provide Vex to the core. The apartment itself, was pretty roomy and Vex suspected the quarters were above her rank and station and she'd shared that thought with Luma as she'd come to it. After a few hours of agonizing over the data she'd stolen from the Lieutenant on the Crystal, she'd fallen into an uneasy sleep with dreams moving from the base being blown up, to a group of mercenaries downloading Luma into a crystal and absconding with her. Upoin waking up, she shook the nightmares and reminded herself it'd be practically impossible to do so without Luma's permission. The Chief had given them all the day off, but not being someone who could just relax she'd pulled up a list of the senior scientists and began looking through their profiles for someone that could help with her geological queries. ::Let's see if Ensign Michaels is around:: she thought to herself, but also subconsciously broadcasting it to Luma. (Reply Luma iyw) She tapped her comm. badge, "Ensign Michaels, this is Ensign Vex'ahlia Jordaan. Are you free to meet in your office, say, 11am?" (Reply Michaels) (Posted by Jono Bradley) (Mars Base, Main Complex - SciO Ens(sg) Adala Michaels - 1033) The ding of the comm pulled Adala out of her thoughts. She stood and stretched before stepping over to her desk and settling in the seat. She'd been lost in her thoughts, in her future and it took a minute or two for her to focus. "Ensign Michaels, this is Ensign Vex'ahlia Jordaan. Are you free to meet in your office, say, 11am?" She tapped a button on her desk leaned her elbows on the desk. "Ensign Jordaan, this is Ensign Michaels. That would be fine. I look forward to meeting with you." She settled back and close the comm. ~I wonder what that's about~ (reply Jordaan) (Posted by Kathleen Deal) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1115) The morning after the Admiral had requested Carson begin some bootcamps on how to and when to act in the field, he’d begun planning a full training day which he would look to implement some time in the future. Ire’s bootcamp couldn’t wait however and it would be useful to have a guinea pig to try a few different options out on before opening it up for the wider group and after the morning he'd had, what with the arrest and all the comings and going's due to that, it would be nice to take a break from it. He’d set a few rudimentary sessions up for the afternoon and requested Ire join for their first session. Ire entered the holodeck and saw Peters standing there. He had been told to meet him here but he did not know why. “Sir, you wanted to see me.” “I suggested to the Admiral that it might be useful for you to come and join me in testing some of the new bootcamp sessions after what happened down on Trill.” Carson said as he tapped in the command codes and then entered the door. The sun was beaming overhead, they stood in the middle of a huge field and around them were pathways to different buildings, which housed different challenges and lessons. Carson set off at once to the right, bypassing two buildings as they went and entering the third. Inside was a gymnasium filled with all sorts of machines and in the middle a boxing ring. He gave Carson an inquiring look. “So I am your guinea pig?” They walked up to the boxing ring and Carson said, “In you go.” with a smile on his face. “This won’t be too hard, especially after seeing what you did to that teen. This is more of a warm-up.” Ire sighed. “Ow thanks Sir.” “Computer start Peter’s Boxing 12d,” the computer beeped and a man appeared in the ring, with two sets of boxing gloves and training material. “You’re going to spend half an hour in the ring, training and sparring with the computer. Once you’ve done that, we’ll begin what we’re actually looking at.” Ire looked from Peters to the boxer who had just appeared and back again. “You know sir boxing is not really my thing.” ~It's not like you don’t know what you are doing~ He took the other sets of boxing gloves and began to put them on. (Mars - Hangar Bay - Ensign JG Greta Smith & Ensign JG Trinity Frost - 1131) Trinity stepped into the hanger, a feeling of calm erupted from the depths of her body, her pulse quickening briefly, but then slowing before she felt the adrenaline begin to touch her bloodstream. She smiled as she reached one of the craft that she had so long been denied access to. She walked down it’s length, running a gentle finger along the wing. Curious, she tapped a quick couple of commands into the adjacent terminal, bringing up the ship diagnostics. Trinity shook her head sadly, and sighed gently. She lost herself in the sea of deeply technical data, a happy smile on her face as she swam in the numbers before her. Looking up from her desk, Greta's brow furrowed, "Dobson!" She yelled as She stood up from her desk. A cute, middle aged guy with slightly whitening hair trotted into her office as Greta made it to the door. "Yes ma'am." "Two things, don't call me ma'am. Makes me sound Like an old Spinster." "Yes…. Sir?" Dobson said with a slight inflection on the end of the sir. "That's better. Second. .. who the hell is that!" Greta said, extending her hand to point at the woman stood near her fighter, Skull one. Dobson turned, looked then turned back to Greta, "Maintenance tech?" "Wait here you fruit loop." Greta said as she walked out of the door, straight over to the red headed woman and remarked, with a broad Scottish accent, "See something you like there, missy?" Trinity looked at the Officer that approached her. She was a blonde woman, a similar height to herself, but a presence that filled the hangar. She shrugged, and handed the PADD over. “Forgive me Ma’am. I’m…” She sighed. “I’m rated on these, but...I was never allowed to fly the damned things back on Earth.” Greta took the PADD, not looking at it straight away and looked at the woman, "So you just thought that you would waltz in her and take a look? This is my baby right here." She’d hoped that the reception was different here. She’d hoped that she’d be at least be in the same hangar as the craft that she was born to fly. It seemed that the woman in front of her was no different to the imbeciles that she had left back on Earth. Fighter Jocks, In her experience, the female ones had always been worse. She could feel her temper rising. “Ensign…” She stared right back at the other Officer. “ I walked in here, as much a pilot as anyone in this hangar. Which not only says a lot about your security here, but also…” “A girl can dream...right.” She underplayed her hand. Greta raised an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest, "Firstly, our security is, usually, pretty top notch. With these new fighters it has to be so someone is gonna get their backside handed to them when I find out who let you in…." Pausing, Greta took a moment to look at the young woman, red hair and a will about her. Something else, a spark. A love of flying. It was coming off her in almost palpable waves. "Second," she began, "Would you mind telling me your name?" She caught the fact that the harridan in front of her was the same rank, she made a few connections in her mind. “Trinity Frost, forgive me...Ensign…?” "Smith. Greta. " “Graduated on these, and was then put on limited hours so I couldn’t fly the damned things.” A bitter tone slipped through uncharacteristically. Softening her look, Greta unfolded her arms, "limited hours? Why was that?" “I had the nerve to fly a six person shuttle into a hundred year storm and save seven people. Apparently I didn’t file the right papers, and took out the wrong rating aircraft...Ma’am.” Bitterness once more. "Okay, stop With the ma'am. I just told one of my crew to stop that. Hate it. The boys here love a good salute and procedure. Me, I prefer to build a family not mindless automatons that salute everytime I walk in the room. Drives me crazy. “You saved 7 people. That takes, and forgive the colloquialism, balls of steel. Sucks when you get restricted. Been there, done that, got the tshirt, mug, full gift set. I get it. You want to fly. I know that feeling. Still a bit of an old boys club despite what people say. But the big boss here isn't like that. Two of the four squadron leaders here are women." She smiled, and motioned toward a small seating area. “May we...Ma’am?” she added it with a smile, a gentle poke of fun. She could feel the person that she had once been coming back to the fore. "Of course, pull up a pew, Ensign Frost. " Greta said as she sat down. "I didn't introduce myself properly before. Ensign Greta Smith. Squadron Leader of the White Skulls." Trinity smiled, sighing deeply. “It’s a pleasure Greta. Trinity Frost...basic shuttle pilot until I grab enough flight hours this month so I can apply for a re-rating.” "There's nothing basic about a pilot, my dad used to say. Sure we may not be doctors or presidents but we can make something that is essentially a hunk of metal and wires and make it fly." “You misunderstand...I don’t detract from that. Quite the opposite, My point was to merely say that I’m doing less technical flying than I was when I was twelve, I’m twenty-eight. That burns.” "I bet. I can still remember my dad taking away my flight privileges as a teenager when I snuck out of the house to go to a party. It sucks. I get it. Sometimes it's not that it burns, it's how we deal with that burn. How we fight back, how we learn from it and move forward." Trinity nodded, pulling the bobble out of her hair, and shaking it loose. The auburn tresses shouting a defiance to anyone in the hangar. “Yeah...I know…” Greta nodded, simply watching her and letting her speak. “I was close to it you know…What they wanted me to do I mean. I wrote a resignation six times.” "Oh, girl. I have written that letter so many times but, thankfully, never went through with it. And now, for my sins, I am where I want to be. Squadron leader. Although if they had told me about the amount of paperwork, I would have sent the promotion back quicker than you could say haggis." Greta replied with a wink. Trinity laughed. “My last happy memory of my father was that he told me he once worked as a haggis farmer. He said that the male haggis had their right legs shorter than their left. He said to catch one you had to chase it up a mountain clockwise, when it hit the top it fell over and you put it in a bag.” Smirking, Greta held back a laugh, "Hey, I'm from Scotland in case you couldn't tell by my accent." Leaning forward, Greta whispered, conspiratorially, "it's all true." Trinity laughed warmly, the first time that she’d done so for as long as she could remember. As her face fell to her normal expression, she shifted in her seat, and played the ace that she’d had in her hand...forgotten. “You play wargames yeah? You and the other squads I mean.” "We have done. Just recently. Well, the squadron leaders did. Two on two at first. Poor ire…. " Greta paused for a second, the thought of the previous night still fresh in her mind as she sighed, softly, "He got knocked out first. Leaving me two on one." Trinity nodded, but then smiled. “I’m sorry to hear that.” "I held my own for a good while. Nearly took out the romulan bit, fate is a cruel mistress and I went out. Still could have been worse… wait why did you ask about war games?" Trinity motioned to the forgotten PADD, the one that Greta had held all this time. “I can give you plus 10 percent.” "10 percent of what? " “Performance. Reading the tech manuals gave me something to do while I wasn't flying. Your power flux resonance isn’t optimal given the parts you’ve had to use, the bussard capacitors are feeding at a different frequency to the plasma timers. Plus more...tiny details; in themselves...nothing.” Raising an eyebrow, Greta looked over the PADD. ~no wonder. I knew these birds could go faster. ~ Looking back at the red head, Greta nodded, "listen, how about this. You show my engineers your calculations, let them take a look and, if you are right, I'll do what I can about getting you your hours." She felt the smile widen, a sense of everything being calm around herself. She looked at the hangar around her, she felt her heart skip slightly at the prospect of being listened to. "I appreciate that Greta. Truly." "See, not such a hard ass despite what my crew might say." Trinity laughed gently and winked impishly. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. "It's okay, there's enough rumours about me right now as it is." Trinity tilted her head slightly, and tucked a stray lock of fire-red hair back behind her ear. “Good rumour?” she frowned gently, “bad rumour” then inhaled in mock delight. “Saucy rumour? "Knowing this lot, probably a bit of all three." She laughed, the person that she had almost forgotten was coming back to her. “I’m sorry. I just feel happier now than I have in years.” Greta smiled, "well that's something. Tell me, you talk the talk but can you walk the walk?" Trinity’s face fell serious for a moment. “I’m not just talking a fight. I really can fly these things. She motioned to the new type III and type V Valkyries that were at the other end of the hangar. “Only thing that I ever wanted to do. Dad was okay with me flying rings around a crop duster at 12, he had a bigger issue when I started tuning it to be faster, more manouverable at 14. He had kittens when I told him that I wanted to go to the Academy at 18.” "Wow, it's hard for me to imagine that. My dad always flew. He was so proud when I got into the fighter program…." Greta stopped as the memory of her dad's face flashed into her mind. Trinity hadn’t meant to open up, but there was something about Greta, Trinity seemed to warm to her nature. She reminded her of her best friend back when she was 16. “Begged me to give him one more year, then the following year did the same, said that this was the last time, just twelve more months. By then I was 21, and I realised that I was close to being stuck on that farm. So...I left. I had the shirt on my back, a change of underwear, and some tradeables to cover my next few meals stuffed in my backpack.” Looking at the woman in front of her, Greta smiled warmly, "you have the spirit of a pilot. One piece of advice though. Go make up with your dad before it's too late. Believe me, there are things I wish I could tell my dad, people I would love him to meet but…" There was something, perhaps the tiniest of hints about the words she chose and even given her accent the way she said it. "I'm sorry...I…" "Hey, it's okay. Just when you start something new, you want your dad's approval. But, I know he would have liked. .." Normally her playful, curious nature would have tried to tease the rest of the sentence out of Greta. She paused, and carried on "maybe this isn't the best time or place? Drinks later?" Nodding, Greta smiled, "oh heck yes, hen." "Then I'll see you then," Trinity picked up the PADD, "I'd best go start earning my keep." She smiled gently, as she stepped away, her mind already deep in thought. (Reply none) (Posted by Jackie and mark) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1145) Once Carson was happy that Ire was suitably warmed up and perhaps a little frustrated with the fact that the training program would barely allow him to land a punch, he stopped the boxing session and took Ire back out of the gymnasium, back across where they’d walked previously to an opposite building. As they entered it was obvious that this would be a very different type of situation he’d be asking Ire to deal with. “What sort of weapons training did you get at the Academy, outside of the ships of course?” Ire paused for a moment looking at the options and picked up a set of tonfa. He picked them up and spun them a couple of times to get the weight of them. He then turned and looked back at Peters. “These sir. I know how to use these.” “Interesting,” Carson said, it wasn’t what he was expecting. Of course all cadets will have been expected to have had basic weapons training with a phaser, so usually when given the choice of a weapon most would pick that. “This is the weapon you’d be most comfortable with?” “Yes Sir I have a good teacher before I entered the academy and it helps when I do my Zero-G martial arts training.” “Ok, so in front of you is a sort of obstacle course. It has enemies throughout and the aim of this game is for you to get to the other end in one piece.” As he described it a door appeared in front of them and Ire’s attire changed to that of his normal Starfleet Uniform, complete with the correct colours, rank and comm. badge. He glanced at Peters and then at the obstacle course. “Sir do I have a time limit or can I go get my fighter?” Carson smirked, “you can use anything or any tactic available to you in this room, right now. Anytime you fail, it’ll reset and you’ll start again. Any questions?” Ire nodded and paused for a moment before moving to the beginning of the course. He spun the tonfas again putting them in the ready position and then began. Noticing that Ire was ready to face the course, Carson activated the simulation and the doors he was standing in front of opened to reveal a small bedroom. A four poster bed sat underneath a window which the sun was glaring through, “You’re in the bedroom, in the house on the planet Xanadar. You were on an away mission to observe the locals, your starship is in orbit around the planet. Your team have been captured by the locals and you’ve been hiding in the house for a day, your job is now to rescue them.” Ire paused before at the entrance. “Do I know where my away team is being held and how far away I am from it. Do I have contact with my ship in orbit?” Carson nodded towards a scrap of paper which was on the bedside cabinet, on it was a handwritten map of the compound. Once unfolded it would show the building Ire was currently in and a basic layout of the four building compound he was in and the approximate location of the hostages. At that moment the sound of a voice came floating through the window, “Have you found him yet?” “No, sorry, sir. He disappeared too quickly. “Keep looking, Jared is in with his friends. He’s going to begin killing them until they tell him how to contact the Ire.” ~Well what a surprise~ He glared at Peters before entering the room quietly. He moved over to the table and pulled the scrap of paper off the table without silhouetted himself in front of the window. He glanced out the corner of the window. From the window he saw a fountain out the front of the building he was in and a path running off to his left towards another building. He moved back from the window and glanced around the empty room just to make sure that he had not missed anything. ~Come on time is pressing~ He moved to the stairs and slowly moved his way down. The downstairs was just another room with a window on the right hand wall and one on either side of the door.facing out into the fountain. As he reached the door it was suddenly slammed open and a large man came rushing forward. ~Dam~ Ire stepped back into a fighting position and then swung out with his tonfa deflecting the sledgehammer blow that was aiming for his head. He side stepped past the man striking the back of his head with the other to knock him unconscious to the floor. As he moved forward to engage the second man found himself looking at the end of a pistol. ~Ow hell~ The pistol fired and he fell to the floor twitching in pain as the holodeck simulated the pain, sending his muscles into a spasm. There was a pause before the room reoriented itself and he found himself back on the top floor. He saw Peters enter the room and he carefully got himself to his feet. “Sir.” “Not a bad way to go out,” Carson chuckled. He enjoyed watching the first few attempts within this scenario, it usually took cadets eight or nine goes to figure out it was essentially unwinnable without a certain choice made, he hoped Ire would get to it quicker being a seasoned professional. “Anything you can think to do differently this time?” He paused replaying what had happened in his mind and he took a sign and nodded in frustration when he realised it. “Sir that bottom window by the door. The angle must have been right for the men outside to see me moving down the stairs.” He nodded, “I’m sure they did, how will you prevent that this time?” “There is no window on the stairs which means that there is a blind spot between the building that I start in and the building where the away team is. If I can get the two men on the stairs I can get to the other building before they spot me.” “Well, when you’re ready…” Carson said as he sat back down in the lounge chair which had appeared. Ire paused for a moment making sure that his plan was correct in his mind. He then nodded to Peters who started the scenario again. He moved over to the bed this time as he knew what the map said on the table and as he moved the pillow he found a loaded pistol which he picked up. He froze as he heard the front door squeak open. ~Too slow, hurry up~ He moved to the window and climbed out with the tonfas in one hand and the pistol in the other. He heard a creek on the bottom step as he dropped the distance onto the ground. Without pausing, turned and sprinted across the open ground towards the building which contained the away team. He skidded to a halt as he rounded the corner using the building to block the view from the upstairs window that the two men were searching. ~Need more PT~ He stood there for a moment catching his breath. When he was happy that his dash had not been noticed by any one he moved over to a window and glanced careful in. He saw four people in starfleet uniforms which he assumed was the away team tied to chairs. There was a man standing behind them with a revolver aimed at one of the away team that looked familiar. He suddenly realised that they were Trip, Ravok, Greta and Reena. ~Damn it Carson. That’s evil~ He knew that his friends were not real and were holograms but that split second took his concentration. He realised with horror that the man with the pistol was aiming it at Greta’s head and began to squeeze the trigger. ~No~ He stepped out and raised the pistol and fired it twice hitting the man’s center mass. Whatever time he thought he had, had just disappeared as the sound of the two gunshots echoed around the compound. Ire swore to himself as he leaped through the window and into the room. He had barely taken two steps when the main door was smashed open and two men came charging in with automatic weapons. They saw the man on the floor and him standing by the window and opened fire. He was hit multiple times in the chest as he dropped to the floor spasming again as the holodeck froze. ~He’s stealthier than he has a right to be~ Carson thought to himself whilst he waited for Ire to get back to his feet.”So you learnt from the first attempt, but have you learnt enough to be successful this time?” he said to the Pilot. “You know all too well in the air, that you don’t get second or third chances in real life. It’s the same in ground combat, you make a decision you have to stick with it.” “Yes Sir.” ~What I need is a TR-116 with a exographic targeting sensor and a micro-transporter and then I would not have to leave the room~ One of his classmates at the Academy had been a small arms nut and had raved about the weapons and set up for weeks. “Think about what gives you the tactical advantage over these locals, and we’ll start again once you’re ready.” He nodded to Peters as he tried to run through different options on how to get the away team out without killing them, himself or alerting the guards. ~That was evil using Greta, Ravok, Reena and Trip like that……..~ He paused his mind grabbing onto something. ~....you defended an ally under attack but the prudent course was immediate beam out. Why didn’t you take that option?~ That was the question that Trip had made when he had his dressing down after returning from Trill. He realised that his hand was unconsciously touching his comm badge that he had totally forgotten was on his uniform. ~This is my punishment. Understand what went wrong, learn how to do it right and move on~ A smile danced across his face as this whole situation and scenario all made sense. He turned and looked at Peters. “I am ready.” He stepped into the room again. He heard the voices of the two men outside as he tapped his comm badge. “Ensign Williams to Endurance emergency beam out. Lock onto the away team and myself and beam up to the ship.” =”=This is the Endurance Transporter Room, Locking onto targets and beaming out.=”= The simulation changed all of a sudden and they were stood in the transporter room of the USS Endurance with all the captives around them. Carson smiled, he’d figured it out quicker than the cadets and just slow enough to have perhaps learnt the lesson, he clapped out loud. “Well done, Ire. Excellent work. You see the point of the exercise?” Ire gave a mental sigh and nodded. “Yes sir. I was never going to get the away team out by myself and lead to the death of myself or the whole away team. Which left back-up or beam out.” “Yes, either one of those actions would have won you the scenario. When I went through it the first time back in the Academy, during a Tactical Scenarios course I went for the back-up, reasoning that the beam out could give away who and what we are to the locals and therefore breaking the prime directive. But then again, I’ve always overthought things too much.” Carson shrugged. “I felt that beam out was the best solution. Putting more people in harm's way by deploying back-up with the amount of enemies that theoretically could be on the compound risking loss of life which would not be appropriate. I guess maybe overwhelming security force might have worked but all it would take is a pistol going off and someone could have died” “Well thought through,” Carson replied and waved his hand to dismiss the scene and the holodeck returned to its normal state. “I have to say, I’ve seen you as a pilot and I’ve now seen you as a ground operative. You’re a hell of an officer, Ire. Just remember to keep training your mind to think through the scenarios quickly, as well as your pilot skills etcetera.” “Thank you Sir. It was an interesting scenario.” “We’ll keep running these types of sessions weekly, opening it up to others but I’d like you to come to at least the next few. Ire nodded. “Yes Sir that would be great. It would be good to come and run through a few more sessions, thank you.” (Reply none) (Posted by Jono & Robbie) (Mars Base -- Personnel Quarters -- NCO Engineer/Ops -- NPC Kiva Rothvaryn -- 1400) The week after the vast majority of the Ensigns had left for Trill aboard the sentient spaceship...and had that trip been planned to be so quickly departed or had they ran because of the infiltration team that had attempted to steal the entity on the Mystique. The Entity that currently was integrating into the base's computers. Kiva found that intriguing, and she had collected a vast amount of intelligence from both her agents on the base and from ships that had come in. What she had not been able to do was to get any of that data out. Two weeks prior she had someone break into her quarters and wrote in her lipstick on the old fashioned mirror in her lavatory. Nothing much just an eye. The implication was clear. She was being watched. By who, though? Security or Intelligence? Perhaps. By her people? Absolutely. She sat down in her chair in her quarters and sighed, putting her head in her hands. She was tired. She was tired of it all. As an ex-slave she had thought that she had done the right thing. But this Federation... this Admiral..they had misjudged him, she thought. He had attempted to bring the trill back into the federation. Scuttlebutt was that the Starfleet was going to be building a starbase out by trill. There would be a starfleet presence there. Maybe a little girl would not grow up a slave because of it. She brushed her dark hair back, and got up, intending to destroy the data she had accumulated and go straight. She moves over to her bedroom and startled when she saw a shadowy figure there. "Don't call for help Kiva. I've come for your data." The man was holding her padd that she had stored in the safe that had been mysteriously installed in her quarters overnight when she was first assigned here. "You should know that you have become a liability." Kiva took two steps back, frightened, "But they arrested Sekal!" He laughed, that cruel laugh that reminded her of the slavemasters who had controlled her for years, "You are a sentimental fool. Roanoke thanks you for your contribution but you have been terminated." A knife from behind slid into her heart and Kiva's eyes widened. She felt rather than saw the two beam out as the light faded from her eyes, all of her data gone. Since they had been in her safe, they had everything. Except for the small informational rice shard in her left wrist, her fail safe. If something happened to her.... That was the last thought as the once slave known as Kiva faded from existence. (reply security) (posted by Mel) (Mars Base -- Security Center -- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons and SPC Luma'Lenai-- 1402) It had been a shorter wait that it felt like. They were all three kitted up with special gear for the arrest Hammons had planned. He had a hypo with a powerful sedative in a pouch at his waist and was wearing boots specifically designed to muffle the sounds of his steps. The recording device was at his waist waiting to be turned on as was his sidearm. Boyles and Fredericks were similarly equipped but with phaser rifles as well. The straps had been discarded just like anything else that would make extraneous noise. =^= The Hammons, there are now three life signs in the quarters and people have beamed into her quarters, two of them. =^= Luma paused, =^= The energy of the transporters is different than ours. It causes Luma to itch=^= When the call came through though it wasn't what he was expecting. Luma had noted a beam INTO the suspects quarters then back out again. Something was way, way wrong! Luma had been listening and following the conversation, keeping her electronic senses on the Kiva as the Hammons had requested. She had followed the woman all day after Hammons had carefully, patiently explained to Luma that he and the Carson were not harming her former mind-bondmate. They had also had to explain to Luma that she had to keep the secrets away from her bondmate, Luma did not approve of keeping secrets from Vex. He knew Taya and her troops would be going in now! He slapped his combadge. "Transporter room get us to the termination point of that beam out now!" They weren't kitted for this but no matter. What they had would have to do. Luma overrode the command, and grabbed Hammons, Carson and the people who were on Hammons ‘team’. She deposited them far outside the base. =^= The Hammons will be careful. His Alaya will be sad if he is harmed.=^= (Mars Base -- Outside base grounds -- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons-- 1405) The landscape they beamed to was lightly wooded, broken and isolated. As they solidified Hammons heard the report from Taya's team come through...their suspect was dead, murdered. There was no one around but two men, they weren't very far and walking away from them. The men were not hurrying and hadn't noticed yet that his team had beamed in behind them Hammons’ fury at the report knew no bounds. Everything had been in place, nothing was left to chance. NOTHING! He was at a sprint before he knew it and his vision had narrowed to see only his quarry. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears. The guys heard him coming, half-turned and started to run. Hammons knew Boyles and Frederick's couldn't be far behind him. "Hammons clear. I've got a shot!" One of the phaser rifles whined. One of the men fell but the other was still running. He didn't hear, didn't care. The only thing that existed in his world right now were him and his quarry. "Hammons clear!" He was closing fast, the guy was caught behind the curve and rage was fueling Hammons. When he caught him it was with a flying takedown from the waist. They rolled briefly on the ground then broke apart. As the guy was getting up Hammons left foot connected with his nose and he rolled back with a cry. Hammons was on his feet in a flash and met the man getting up with an uppercut that had fury fueled adrenaline behind it. He felt a bone pop in his fist as he heard the crunch of the man's jaw. The guy gave a strangled yell, blood was pouring from his nose and his jaw was misshapen. Hammons pulled him from his half crouch to his feet and yelled into his face. "How did you know?" His left fist sunk into the guy's abdomen. "How the **** did you know?" His right fist hammered the same spot. The guy was doubled over wheezing as he tried to suck in a breath. A snap kick to his chest sent him careening backward and he lay nearly unmoving, stirring only weakly. Hammons pounced forward, his right booted foot connecting only air as Boyles arms snaked under his armpits then he lifted up and clasped his hands at the nape of Steven's neck in a full Nelson hold. "How the **** did you know you ****** ******?" Hammons yelled at the top of his lungs as he tried to escape the hold. "Hammons calm down!" Boyles hissed in his ear. "He's down." Steven kicked back at Boyles legs as he tried to free himself, Boyles was able to avoid it... mostly. "Hammons you're going to kill the guy, stand down!" Oh he wanted to kill him all right but he wanted him to suffer first. "Let me go!" Frederick's appeared then. "I restrained the other guy and sent him in." He looked at Boyles struggling to keep Hammons in check then to the man he had downed then back at Hammons. "Hammons you're bleeding." Steven stopped struggling for an instant to follow Frederick's gaze, blood was spreading on his left side. It was only then that he noted the sting from there. A knuckle on his right hand was throbbing painfully as well. "Hammons are you good?" Boyles asked him calmly. "Yeah." Jared released him and he started looking around where they had struggled and saw the knife. At some point during the fight the guy had drawn it and nicked him, Steven had no idea when, it had all been an adrenalin filled blur. Fredericks called out. "The guy will make it but I think he might need facial reconstruction before he can tell us anything." There was humor in his voice. Hammons didn't care. " Restrain him and take him in, have medical take care of him." That's not what he wanted though, he wanted to squeeze the life from the guy drop by drop. "And make sure that petaq doesn't get near me or I'll finish him off." There was acid in his voice. "Frederick's here, two to transport to the brig, this one needs medical attention." (Reply: Medical) Boyles slipped a plastic bag around the knife at the handle then upended the bag so it slid all the way in. Some reddish soil was captured with it then he looked up at Steven. "Speaking of medical you need to get yourself looked at." Hammons nodded, his face was still darkened by rage. "How did they know Boyles? How did they know?" His buddy and partner shook his head. "I don't know but we'll find out." Steven nodded grimly. "Get that back to the Chief." Boyles nodded as Hammons tapped his combadge, the stain of blood now larger than a dinner plate. "Transporter, one to beam to medical." (Mars Base, 7th Floor, Security & Tactical CaC - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters - 1406) An alert klaxon sounded around the Command and Control Centre, of which Carson was inside with a small team of highly trained Security Staff. The 'CaC' as it was commonly known, was a part of the main base complex and was regarded as one of the most secure rooms in the building and rightly so in Carson's mind. Reinforced walls and a door/airlock system thicker than some of the personnel quarters he'd seen. After a succesful run around the holodeck with Ire Williams, he'd returned to the CaC, checked in with Taya & Hammons to find that nothing had changed in his absence. Not that he'd expected that it had, they'd mostly agreed amongst themselves that if Rothvaryn were to act it would be in the evening as she usually did and certainly if anything had happened they'd have checked in immediately. So the red klaxon sound which was beginning to deafen both him and his colleagues at their stations around him, came as somewhat of a shock. "Identify the issue," he yelled to the nearest Security Officer as he stood up and began walking around the large room. He knew there were only a few reason the klaxon would sound unnannounced and they were all bad news. "Attemped beam out, Sir." Jenning's said from behind him. Carson spun around, "Who was the target? and where were they being sent?" The only sound in the room continued to be the klaxon as a dozen officers all raced through their systems to find the answer the Chief had asked for. "The co-ordinates place the beam out site to be off the base, Sir. A little while away, I'm reading silmultaneous beam outs of Petty Officer Hammons, Boyles & Richards to the same co-ordinates.." ~Something has happened~ the thought raced into Carson's mind. "The beam out was targetted at YOU, Sir." another Security officer shouted from his left and at that two of the Security Officers guarding the CaC stepped up beside their Chief, phaser rifles drawn, obviously expecting an attack. "Who requested it? Look quickly, this is important." Carson said, before waiting he then tapped his comm. badge. "Petty Officer Hammons, Report." Nothing came back, either he was too busy too reply or too ignorant. Both could have been a reality. "The request was made internally from the Main Base, no Starfleet signature attached. Not one that I recognise anyway..." the womans voice trailed off as she couldn't make out what she was looking at. "Luma." Carson said out-loud. "Something has happened, I want an open channel to Hammons. Boyles & Fredericks stat." He then tapped his comm. badge again, "Peters to Taya, if you've not already, Breach now, breach now." his gut told him Rothvaryn had tried to flee, Luma had seen it happen and in reaction Hammons had requested her to beam them after her. Luma couldn't have known that the CaC was off-limits for transporter access, noone could beam out or in which was a part of its Security features. Though if she hadn't have tried, it seemed he wouldn't have known what was happening. He assumed Hammons had a good explanation for not checking in before charging off. (Reply Taya) =^=How the **** did you know?=^= came over the intercom, it seemed one of the Security techs had managed to patch in one of the comm. badges. There were sounds of a scuffle and other sounds of running as the second and third comm. badges were patched through. Several more tense seconds passed by as all they heard were the sounds of panting, gasps and pounding came through the speakers. "Can they hear us?" Carson asked the tech. He knew the answer immediately as he couldn't hear his own voice repeated through one of the other badges. "No, Sir. Audio only." Carson nodded solemnly. He tapped his comm. badge again, "Peters to Mars Combat Air Patrol, I need a flyby at these coordinates. Highest Priority, Clearance Code Peters-alpha-beta-gamma." he leant forward to a console and input the coordinates he knew the fight to be happening at. "Be advised, friendlies are amongst potential targets. Assistance may be required." (Reply Robbies SPC Pilot) =^=How the **** did you know you ****** ******?=^= The klaxon had now been turned off, so Carson and the room could hear the Petty Officer screaming as if he were at them. =^=Hammons calm down! He's down.=^= Came a quiter voice, Boyles, Carson thought. Another few seconds. More sounds of a scuffle. =^=Hammons you're going to kill the guy, stand down!=^= =^=Let me go!=^= Another voice, Fredericks, he assumed. =^=I restrained the other guy and sent him in.=^= =^=Hammons you're bleeding.=^= "This is frustrating," Carson said. "You, you and you." he pointed to the two Security Officer's already armed and a third which wasn't. "With me." =^=Hammons are you good?=^= Boyles again. =^=Yeah.=^= "We're leaving, once we're off base, I want a transporter lock down put in place. No one in or out for the time being." Carson ordered. Fredericks called out. =^=The guy will make it but I think he might need facial reconstruction before he can tell us anything.=^= Carson could hear the humour in his voice as he headed to the exit of the CaC with the three security officers following him. As the airlock shut behind them, he heard the start of Hammon's response over the loudspeaker and then there was silence, =^=Restrain him and...=^= Outside of the airlock was a small arms locker, Carson tapped his code in, grabbed a rifle and handed one to Jennings beside him. "Computer, authorise site-to-site transport for 4. Coordinates provided." the three officers around him, took defensive stances as the transporter locked onto them and beamed them out. (Mars - Outside base grounds - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters - 1408) As they materialised, Carson immediately noticed that they were within a lightly wooded area. They all took a few steps forward and he immediately noticed the clump of people ahead of them, as they got closer it was obvious to see that the two people Hammons had gone after were incapacitated and under control. "Make a perimeter." Carson ordered, he continued moving forward as the other three broke off from him in seperate directions to ensure the Chief had his perimeter. He walked up swiftly, "Report." he bellowed to the group. He looked from Boyles & Fredericks to Hammons and then to the two men they had in control. Hammons and one of the men looked like they'd had the tussle, "and quickly, before you bleed out." he said in a stern voice as he looked over Hammons wounds. (Reply Hammons) "and if these men happen to have been taking a stroll in the outdoors? Did you stop and question them, or you simply chose not to?" (Reply Hammons) "We don't know why they beamed out of Rothvaryn's quarters yet. We don't even know that it was these two that did, did you stop to think that who ever did so, could have beamed away from this site immediately? Muddying the trail." (Reply Hammons) "Let's see." he tapped his comm. badge, "Peters to Taya, Mission Report." (Reply Taya- w/room for more) Once he'd finished the conversation with Taya, he turned back to Hammons. "Seems your instincts were nailed on. It still doesn't excuse, this mess." Carson waved his hand over the face of the one man which was bleeding heavily. At that moment they were buzzed overhead by two type 11 shuttles following a peregrine attack fighter. (Reply Robbies SPC Pilot - assuming you'll comm to see if assistance is required) "I need the type 11 to land, if you've got a medkit handy, that'll be useful too." Carson said as he once again eyed Hammons injuries. Seeing them almost made him regret giving the lockdown order. (Reply Robbies SPC PIlot iyw) He watched as the shuttle turned around and headed back towards them, looking for a clearing to land easily. He whistled loudly and made a hand movement to the three officers he'd brought with him, they all closed in on the group keeping a defensive stance. "Gentlement, I need you to relinquish your weapons." he said, looking to the three of them, "and submit yourselves for questioning." he paused and then added, "This needs to be done by the book." (Reply Hammons, Fredericks, Boyle) He knelt down beside the man which had been stunned, put on some gloves and then began rifling through the mans pockets and jacket. "Nothing." he said, to noone in particular. He knelt down beside the man which had been stunned, put on some gloves and then began rifling through the mans pockets and jacket. "Nothing." he said, to noone in particular. One of the Void Hunter Squadron's officers ran out the back of the shuttle with a medkit, but before they could apply any medicines, Carson gruffly said, "In the shuttle, first." "I'm not sure this one should be moved before applying some basic med.." "Fine, but make it quick. The rest of you, in you go." Jennings, stepped forward, moving with Boyles, Fredericks and Hammons towards the shuttle. After a few minutes, they were all up in the air and moving at pace back towards the Security Services Center roof landing platform. Once, they were comfortably in the air, he tapped his comm. badge again, "Peters to Security CaC, lift the transport ban." =^=Confirmed, Sir.=^= He then turned to the pilot of the shuttle, "Transport Petty Officer Hammons and Jennings directly to the Main Sickbay. Hammons you'll be under guard, I expect you to report back to me as soon as your cleared by Medical" (Reply Hammons) Carson sat down as Hammons & Jennings beamed out. He'd made the decision not to beam the two suspects straight to the brig, or indeed to medical incase they had any subdermal devices which activated upon an unauthorised transport. (Reply Hammons, Taya, Robbies VH SPC Pilot, any) (Posted by Jono Bradley) (Mars Orbit, Void Haunter 2 , Pilot – Ensign (JG) – Niki Biel/ Pilot Officer - Sonnlo Caonrobh- 1408) Sonnlo looked out of the cockpit window of the Peregrine Fighter that she was in. Ire was on a day off, so she had managed to get a flight with Niki who was in charge of the Squadron for the patrol. It meant that she needed to refamiliarize herself with the older Peregrine fighter then the new Mk5 Valkyries that she had flow with Ire the day before. The Squadron had been up for a couple of hours and Niki had the split the fighters into smaller groups doing grid patrols. They were going to do some practice dogfighting in a couple of hours but until then she and Niki were orbiting Mars. =^=Peters to Mars Combat Air Patrol, I need a flyby at these coordinates. Highest Priority, Clearance Code Peters-alpha-beta-gamma=^= Niki paused for a split second and glanced at Sonnlo as Peters talked. =^=Be advised, friendlies are amongst potential targets. Assistance may be required=^= “This is Void Two. We copy your request for a High Priority Show of force with friendly’s in imminent danger. On our way.” Niki looked at Sonnlo. “Contact Orbital Control and get clearance for transit to the surface. Well take Chris and EJ with us.” Chris was their wingman for the patrol and EJ was flying the type 11 shuttle. They were flying orbital CAP and were the only ones closest to respond. “On it.” Sonnlo tapped commands into her console. “Orbital Control this is Void Two requesting emergency transit to the surface for three craft.” =^=Understood Void Two. We have received the request conformation. Proceed to transit corridor Gamma, Zulu 276=^= “Understood Orbital Control proceeding to transit corridor Gamma, Zulu 276.” As Sonnlo spoke to Orbital Control Niki spoke into the Squadron’s comm net. “Void Two to Squadron. There is an emergency dirt side I am taking Void 3 and Void 10 with me. Void 4 you are in charge up here while I am gone and make sure to maintain orbital CAP” =^=Four Copies=^= “Okay Void 3 and Void 10 form up on me.” =^= Three Copies=^= =^= Ten Copies=^= Niki turned the fighter towards the planet below and pushed the throttles of the fighter powerful impulse engines as far as they were allowed to go for planetary re-entry. (Mars - Outside base grounds - SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class), Steven Hammons- 1410) He hadn't had time to beam out yet before company arrived. Fredericks had tried and failed to transport and was standing by the softly moaning prisoner Hammons had just taken down. Boyles had just gotten to his feet with the evidence bag and Hammons was still in a cold fury. Chief Peters stalked up with a guard detail who fanned out at his orders. "Report...," he snapped and looked around the group before focusing on Steven again, "...and quickly, before you bleed out." "Two perps taken down." Steven snapped. "One a murderer and another an accessory. I don't know which is which yet." "and if these men happen to have been taking a stroll in the outdoors? Did you stop and question them, or you simply chose not to?" Hammons fought to keep his temper under control as his eyes blazed. The adrenaline was still in his system and it was telling him the words were an attack. The fight or flight instinct was tangible. Well he wasn't about to flee and fortunately his brain was overriding his instincts. The questioning while goading in the extreme was to be expected. That didn't keep him from gritting his teeth when he replied. "Did you not get the word from Luma? Two beamed into the suspect's quarters then out again. I sincerely doubt they stopped by for tea and crumpets SIR." "We don't know why they beamed out of Rothvaryn's quarters yet. We don't even know that it was these two that did, did you stop to think that who ever did so, could have beamed away from this site immediately? Muddying the trail." Steven's eyes narrowed, that sounded like a questioning of his judgement. "That SIR was what is known as actionable information and I acted on it. We transported directly here, two beamed out. Two men in sight in isolated country, out of place with no reason to be here and two times one is two sir." He was glaring now. "Add in the report from one of Taya's tactical team that our suspect was dead. Two murderers plus two men out of place equals four." Carson then contacted Tays for confirmation while Hammons fumed. He would go over their plan step by step later, right now he was stuck on the fact that no matter how good the plan had been it hadn't been good enough. He had been confident it was a materstroke, maybe divinely inspired but who was he to judge? He was just a stupid petty officer second class and his plan had fallen like a Jinga tower. Chief Peters turned his attention back to him after getting the report. "Seems your instincts were nailed on. It still doesn't excuse, this mess!" There was a brief interchange between Peters and the pilot whizzing by overhead. (Reply: Ire) Boyles jumped to his defense when Carson turned his attention back to Hammons. "That MESS sir was caused by a kick that bloodied his nose followed by the most beautiful uppercut ever seen on Mars. Two blows that would have knocked any other guy loopy but this fool was tough and stayed on his feet." Steven shook his head and motioned for him to back off, statements would need to be made later and the perps physical state would no doubt be a matter of question. Right now he wanted to use somebody as a punching bag but a gym bag would have to do... later. "Gentlement, I need you to relinquish your weapons and submit yourselves for questioning." he paused a second, "This needs to be done by the book." Hammons stripped the sidearm from his belt and gave it to Boyles to hand over for him. It was an unusual gesture that wasn't insubordinate but showed just how furious he was at the moment over everything, the murder, the botched plan and now having to give up his trusty companion. Boyles and Fredricks then handed over rifles and sidearms to the guys who walked up. Boyles was still holding the evidence bag which Chief Peter's seemed not to have noticed. Once Peters had searched the guys and ordered them taken to the shuttle Boyles stepped up to him as he turned around. "This knife came from the perp Hammons took down sir and was what he cut him with. I can enter it into the evidence locker or you can. Fredericks can verify its authenticity as well." Fredericks nodded his head solemnly. "You bet your life I can!" (Mars - Void Haunter 2 , Pilot – Ensign (JG) – Niki Biel/ Pilot Officer - Sonnlo Caonrobh- 1411) The ride down to the surface had been bumpy but nothing she had not been through before. Niki flew her fighter as low as she was allowed to go which, would make noise but not enough to annoy the neighbours. “Okay Three and Ten, once we have passed them we will bank right and increase hight to a loitering altitude and see if they need us again.” =^= Three Copies=^= =^= Ten Copies=^= Sonnlo was checking her instruments and looking at the outside world as the guided Niki onto their target. “We are on the run up. Will be over the target in thirty seconds.” “Understood.” The flight screamed over the target as load as they could. Sonnlo looked out of her cockpit window as they flew past, she saw a group of people which appeared to be the people they were looking for. Sonnlo activated the comm system. “Peters this Void 2 show of force completed. Do you require any further assistance?” =^=I need the type 11 to land, if you've got a medkit handy, that'll be useful too.=^= She got the nod from Niki who was pulling into a long lazy turn so that they would be heading back the way that they had come. “Understood landing her now.” Sonnlo changed channel “Void 10 this is 2.” =^=Ten here=^= “Ten, Ground needs a casivac to medical. Land where we saw the group of people. We will provide top cover.” =^=Ten Copies=^= As they flew past again this time higher and slower Sonnlo was the shuttle split from the formation and line up for landing. Sonnlo watched as the Type 11 came into a land and flared just above the surface to lose speed and drop onto the ground. “She’s down……back ramp opening……they are coming abord………….ramp is closing and they are lifting off.” =^=Two this is Ten lifting off and heading for medical =^= “Understood high and slow or low and fast?” =^=Low and fast=^= “Understood go and we will catch up.” Niki glanced at the information on her console. They were on the far end of the circuit and would have to turn before heading back in the right direction. She saw that her wingman was positioned on her left side where he had been since dropping out of orbit. “Three this is Two we are heading back to medical we will form up with Ten.” =^=Three=^= “Ready.” She looked over at Sonnlo who nodded. Niki’s finger danced over the console as the fighter increased power to gain altitude and pulled into a high-g turn. She could feel the increase of g-force as the fighter’s compensators began to struggle to keep up. She levelled out as she kept accelerating as she and her wingman raced after the shuttle. (Reply Hammons, Carson, any) (Posted by Robbie) (Mars - Shuttle - SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class), Steven Hammons- 1414) Carson ordered the transporter ban lifted after they had settled into the shuttle and gone airborne. Hammons looked at no one and nothing in particular, his thoughts were turned inward and he was unusually silent. "Transport Petty Officer Hammons and Jennings directly to the Main Sickbay. Hammons you'll be under guard, I expect you to report back to me as soon as your cleared by Medical" That had caught Hammons attention. He didn't trust himself to speak knowing the posting of a guard over his person was a slap in the face, proof the Chief didn't think he could be trusted. ~So be it.~ He stood to his feet without a word and moved just as silently to the transporter. Raging against it wouldn't help and he didn't say a word until his outburst in Medical. Boyles shook his head as Hammons walked away. "I don't know what you're thinking sir but you've got it all wrong." (Reply: Carson, pilot, any) (Posted by Charles G) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1415) The morning after the Admiral had requested Carson begin some bootcamps on how to and when to act in the field, he’d begun planning a full training day which he would look to implement some time in the future. Ire’s bootcamp couldn’t wait however and it would be useful to have a guinea pig to try a few different options out on before opening it up for the wider group and after the morning he'd had, what with the arrest and all the comings and going's due to that, it would be nice to take a break from it. He’d set a few rudimentary sessions up for the afternoon and requested Ire join for their first session. Ire entered the holodeck and saw Peters standing there. He had been told to meet him here but he did not know why. “Sir, you wanted to see me.” “I suggested to the Admiral that it might be useful for you to come and join me in testing some of the new bootcamp sessions after what happened down on Trill.” Carson said as he tapped in the command codes and then entered the door. The sun was beaming overhead, they stood in the middle of a huge field and around them were pathways to different buildings, which housed different challenges and lessons. Carson set off at once to the right, bypassing two buildings as they went and entering the third. Inside was a gymnasium filled with all sorts of machines and in the middle a boxing ring. He gave Carson an inquiring look. “So I am your guinea pig?” They walked up to the boxing ring and Carson said, “In you go.” with a smile on his face. “This won’t be too hard, especially after seeing what you did to that teen. This is more of a warm-up.” Ire sighed. “Ow thanks Sir.” “Computer start Peter’s Boxing 12d,” the computer beeped and a man appeared in the ring, with two sets of boxing gloves and training material. “You’re going to spend half an hour in the ring, training and sparring with the computer. Once you’ve done that, we’ll begin what we’re actually looking at.” Ire looked from Peters to the boxer who had just appeared and back again. “You know sir boxing is not really my thing.” ~It's not like you don’t know what you are doing~ He took the other sets of boxing gloves and began to put them on. (Mars Base -- Medical -- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons-- 1417) He was deposited into the triage area. His right hand was throbbing and the left side of his shirt was wet. "Is there a doctor in the house?" There wasn't any humor in his voice and no smile on his face. He wanted this over and done with so he could get out. (Reply: Any in medical) (Posted by Charles and Melinda) (Mars Facility, Holodeck 2 - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters & aFS2O, Ens(sg) Ire Williams - 1445) Once Carson was happy that Ire was suitably warmed up and perhaps a little frustrated with the fact that the training program would barely allow him to land a punch, he stopped the boxing session and took Ire back out of the gymnasium, back across where they’d walked previously to an opposite building. As they entered it was obvious that this would be a very different type of situation he’d be asking Ire to deal with. “What sort of weapons training did you get at the Academy, outside of the ships of course?” Ire paused for a moment looking at the options and picked up a set of tonfa. He picked them up and spun them a couple of times to get the weight of them. He then turned and looked back at Peters. “These sir. I know how to use these.” “Interesting,” Carson said, it wasn’t what he was expecting. Of course all cadets will have been expected to have had basic weapons training with a phaser, so usually when given the choice of a weapon most would pick that. “This is the weapon you’d be most comfortable with?” “Yes Sir I have a good teacher before I entered the academy and it helps when I do my Zero-G martial arts training.” “Ok, so in front of you is a sort of obstacle course. It has enemies throughout and the aim of this game is for you to get to the other end in one piece.” As he described it a door appeared in front of them and Ire’s attire changed to that of his normal Starfleet Uniform, complete with the correct colours, rank and comm. badge. He glanced at Peters and then at the obstacle course. “Sir do I have a time limit or can I go get my fighter?” Carson smirked, “you can use anything or any tactic available to you in this room, right now. Anytime you fail, it’ll reset and you’ll start again. Any questions?” Ire nodded and paused for a moment before moving to the beginning of the course. He spun the tonfas again putting them in the ready position and then began. Noticing that Ire was ready to face the course, Carson activated the simulation and the doors he was standing in front of opened to reveal a small bedroom. A four poster bed sat underneath a window which the sun was glaring through, “You’re in the bedroom, in the house on the planet Xanadar. You were on an away mission to observe the locals, your starship is in orbit around the planet. Your team have been captured by the locals and you’ve been hiding in the house for a day, your job is now to rescue them.” Ire paused before at the entrance. “Do I know where my away team is being held and how far away I am from it. Do I have contact with my ship in orbit?” Carson nodded towards a scrap of paper which was on the bedside cabinet, on it was a handwritten map of the compound. Once unfolded it would show the building Ire was currently in and a basic layout of the four building compound he was in and the approximate location of the hostages. At that moment the sound of a voice came floating through the window, “Have you found him yet?” “No, sorry, sir. He disappeared too quickly. “Keep looking, Jared is in with his friends. He’s going to begin killing them until they tell him how to contact the Ire.” ~Well what a surprise~ He glared at Peters before entering the room quietly. He moved over to the table and pulled the scrap of paper off the table without silhouetted himself in front of the window. He glanced out the corner of the window. From the window he saw a fountain out the front of the building he was in and a path running off to his left towards another building. He moved back from the window and glanced around the empty room just to make sure that he had not missed anything. ~Come on time is pressing~ He moved to the stairs and slowly moved his way down. The downstairs was just another room with a window on the right hand wall and one on either side of the door.facing out into the fountain. As he reached the door it was suddenly slammed open and a large man came rushing forward. ~Dam~ Ire stepped back into a fighting position and then swung out with his tonfa deflecting the sledgehammer blow that was aiming for his head. He side stepped past the man striking the back of his head with the other to knock him unconscious to the floor. As he moved forward to engage the second man found himself looking at the end of a pistol. ~Ow hell~ The pistol fired and he fell to the floor twitching in pain as the holodeck simulated the pain, sending his muscles into a spasm. There was a pause before the room reoriented itself and he found himself back on the top floor. He saw Peters enter the room and he carefully got himself to his feet. “Sir.” “Not a bad way to go out,” Carson chuckled. He enjoyed watching the first few attempts within this scenario, it usually took cadets eight or nine goes to figure out it was essentially unwinnable without a certain choice made, he hoped Ire would get to it quicker being a seasoned professional. “Anything you can think to do differently this time?” He paused replaying what had happened in his mind and he took a sign and nodded in frustration when he realised it. “Sir that bottom window by the door. The angle must have been right for the men outside to see me moving down the stairs.” He nodded, “I’m sure they did, how will you prevent that this time?” “There is no window on the stairs which means that there is a blind spot between the building that I start in and the building where the away team is. If I can get the two men on the stairs I can get to the other building before they spot me.” “Well, when you’re ready…” Carson said as he sat back down in the lounge chair which had appeared. Ire paused for a moment making sure that his plan was correct in his mind. He then nodded to Peters who started the scenario again. He moved over to the bed this time as he knew what the map said on the table and as he moved the pillow he found a loaded pistol which he picked up. He froze as he heard the front door squeak open. ~Too slow, hurry up~ He moved to the window and climbed out with the tonfas in one hand and the pistol in the other. He heard a creek on the bottom step as he dropped the distance onto the ground. Without pausing, turned and sprinted across the open ground towards the building which contained the away team. He skidded to a halt as he rounded the corner using the building to block the view from the upstairs window that the two men were searching. ~Need more PT~ He stood there for a moment catching his breath. When he was happy that his dash had not been noticed by any one he moved over to a window and glanced careful in. He saw four people in starfleet uniforms which he assumed was the away team tied to chairs. There was a man standing behind them with a revolver aimed at one of the away team that looked familiar. He suddenly realised that they were Trip, Ravok, Greta and Reena. ~Damn it Carson. That’s evil~ He knew that his friends were not real and were holograms but that split second took his concentration. He realised with horror that the man with the pistol was aiming it at Greta’s head and began to squeeze the trigger. ~No~ He stepped out and raised the pistol and fired it twice hitting the man’s center mass. Whatever time he thought he had, had just disappeared as the sound of the two gunshots echoed around the compound. Ire swore to himself as he leaped through the window and into the room. He had barely taken two steps when the main door was smashed open and two men came charging in with automatic weapons. They saw the man on the floor and him standing by the window and opened fire. He was hit multiple times in the chest as he dropped to the floor spasming again as the holodeck froze. ~He’s stealthier than he has a right to be~ Carson thought to himself whilst he waited for Ire to get back to his feet.”So you learnt from the first attempt, but have you learnt enough to be successful this time?” he said to the Pilot. “You know all too well in the air, that you don’t get second or third chances in real life. It’s the same in ground combat, you make a decision you have to stick with it.” “Yes Sir.” ~What I need is a TR-116 with a exographic targeting sensor and a micro-transporter and then I would not have to leave the room~ One of his classmates at the Academy had been a small arms nut and had raved about the weapons and set up for weeks. “Think about what gives you the tactical advantage over these locals, and we’ll start again once you’re ready.” He nodded to Peters as he tried to run through different options on how to get the away team out without killing them, himself or alerting the guards. ~That was evil using Greta, Ravok, Reena and Trip like that……..~ He paused his mind grabbing onto something. ~....you defended an ally under attack but the prudent course was immediate beam out. Why didn’t you take that option?~ That was the question that Trip had made when he had his dressing down after returning from Trill. He realised that his hand was unconsciously touching his comm badge that he had totally forgotten was on his uniform. ~This is my punishment. Understand what went wrong, learn how to do it right and move on~ A smile danced across his face as this whole situation and scenario all made sense. He turned and looked at Peters. “I am ready.” He stepped into the room again. He heard the voices of the two men outside as he tapped his comm badge. “Ensign Williams to Endurance emergency beam out. Lock onto the away team and myself and beam up to the ship.” =”=This is the Endurance Transporter Room, Locking onto targets and beaming out.=”= The simulation changed all of a sudden and they were stood in the transporter room of the USS Endurance with all the captives around them. Carson smiled, he’d figured it out quicker than the cadets and just slow enough to have perhaps learnt the lesson, he clapped out loud. “Well done, Ire. Excellent work. You see the point of the exercise?” Ire gave a mental sigh and nodded. “Yes sir. I was never going to get the away team out by myself and lead to the death of myself or the whole away team. Which left back-up or beam out.” “Yes, either one of those actions would have won you the scenario. When I went through it the first time back in the Academy, during a Tactical Scenarios course I went for the back-up, reasoning that the beam out could give away who and what we are to the locals and therefore breaking the prime directive. But then again, I’ve always overthought things too much.” Carson shrugged. “I felt that beam out was the best solution. Putting more people in harm's way by deploying back-up with the amount of enemies that theoretically could be on the compound risking loss of life which would not be appropriate. I guess maybe overwhelming security force might have worked but all it would take is a pistol going off and someone could have died” “Well thought through,” Carson replied and waved his hand to dismiss the scene and the holodeck returned to its normal state. “I have to say, I’ve seen you as a pilot and I’ve now seen you as a ground operative. You’re a hell of an officer, Ire. Just remember to keep training your mind to think through the scenarios quickly, as well as your pilot skills etcetera.” “Thank you Sir. It was an interesting scenario.” “We’ll keep running these types of sessions weekly, opening it up to others but I’d like you to come to at least the next few. Ire nodded. “Yes Sir that would be great. It would be good to come and run through a few more sessions, thank you.” (Reply none) (Posted by Jono & Robbie) (Mars Base - Red Sands Tavern -Santiago Torres- 1547) "Sir, I don't really have any different story than any of your other patrons. Lets just say that i am following in the footsteps of my grandamother, but, a little further. I am taking her healing into the future. I am in Starfleet Medical." "I should have known." The Spaniard said with a smile. "You have the smell of doctor on you." (Reply Wen) "I've been a bartender and restaurateur for many years and a counselor for many years before that. People wear their profession, their calling, on them, like a badge of honor, and it reflects. So you don't really smell like a doctor, don't know what a doctor smells like, other than maybe disinfectant and anxiety. " (reply Wen) "So, Doctor Wen then, tell me, how are you finding your time on Mars so far?" (reply Wen) (reply Wen) (posted by Will) (Mar Orbit – Lightship Endeavour – Pilots – Ensigns – Ire Williams/ Greta Smith - 16.00) He looked around the main cabin area and smiled. He had not been out in the Endeavour for a while. He had filed his course with Mars Orbital Control as well as a copy to Security and with Squadron’s data banks so that everyone who needed to know would know where he and Greta was. He floated forward and tapped the console near the main view port. “Mars Orbital Control this is the Endeavour requesting a permission for push start and then sail unfurling.” =^=Endeavour this is Mars Orbital Control. Push start and sail unfurling granted. There is no traffic in your area=^= Ire gave a small smile as Mars Orbital Control would be keeping an eye on them as the slowly transited away from the station and would be re-routing other traffic around their flight path. “Understood Mars Orbital Control. Once underway we will proceed out of orbit.” He looked over at Greta and smiled. “Okay we are going to have a jolt as we are pushed off form the station. You may want to grab on to one of the grab bars.” "You really are crazy sailing this old thing." She replied as she grabbed one of the rails. Smoking to herself, she was secretly looking forward to this, to flying with him and not have to worry about being professional or keeping things on the down low. Ire did the same and pressed the button. There was a click as the docking latches disengaged and then a hard shove as the Endeavour was forced away from the station. He looked out view ports to make sure that they were clear and then floated over to one of the four hand cranks. “Let’s get these sails unfurled and we can then go for a sail.” He began to turn the crank that would unfurl one of the two main sails. Watching him work for a moment, a smile flew over Greta's face. "Want me to get the other one?" “Yes please if you take the two on that side they unfurl the main sail and the spritsail.” She leant down and began to turn the crank that unfolded the other sail. Wiping her forehead, she continued to work. Ire grinned as he finished the main sail crank and moved to the spritsail crank. “She’s based on an original Bajoran lightship design. No grave plates or impulse drive, just natural light pressure on the sails for propulsion. There is a zero-g toilet in the back compartment for longer trips but we should not be going out that long.” He finished the spritsail crank and locked it off. He realised that he was tired from the exhaustion and decided that he needed to get more gym time in when they got back. “If you grab that bar on the ceiling and brace yourself on the restraints on the floor. I need you to turn it right so that we can get the sail lined up with the sun.” Doing as he requested, Greta anchored herself down and watched. ~he really does know this old boat~ Ire floated over to one of the view ports and looked as the Endurance turned gracefully. “A little bit more…….and keep it straight and lock it off.” He turned back and grinned at her. “And that’s it. Now that we are on our way, we can relax.” "Good." She replied and smiled. "You look tired already. Someone hasn't been working out much. Maybe we should log in some gym time?" “That would be a good idea. It's just finding time to fit it all in one day.” "Well it's either that or a shoulder massage. Take your pick." “Shoulder massage sounds nice….” He pushed off gently and floated over to her and grabbed the bar and stopped facing her. “... but a bit complicated in zero-g.” "True. So what's the plan here, fly boy?" “Well the idea was to get distance from the star base. Then sail on the light side between mars and phobo’s orbit. Until we get bored and then head back?” "Bored? This is fun. My brother would have loved this. Shame he's off somewhere on mission. " she replied, looking out the window wistfully. “What does he do?” "He's a marine. 5 years older. He's a good guy but he's a Little over protective." Ire paused for a moment before asking. “How much is a little and should I be worried?” Smiling, she leant forward and kissed his cheek softly, "you have nothing to worry about. Hr just likes to know that I'm looked after. Despite the fact I am a grown woman, he still sees me as his baby sister. " Floating past Ire slowly, Greta anchored herself again and looked at the controls, "How do you even fly this thing?" Ire floated up after her. “Well the two big mainsail provide most of the forward motion as the light pressure from the sun hits them. The two smaller ones called the spritsails and the one above called the jib are used for the main steering control but basically to turn felt we reduce the amount of sail on the left side so that there is more light pressure on the right sail and we turn. This can be done with the mainsails long turns but also using the fib and spritsail for more fine maneuvering.” He paused “does that make sense?” "Kind of." She smiled back. "You do this for fun?" He grinned. “I do this to relax. The ability to just slow down and take your time. Is what I enjoy. What would take out fighters at full impulse to cover takes some time on the Endeavour which also gives me time to think about things.” "Think about things like?" She replied with a wicked glint in her eyes. “Well I was planning to come up here and think about us and how I would talk to you about how I felt but that’s already done.” he gave her a smile. “I was going to think about the Trill mission and also try and work out how on earth I am an Ensign and the Wings second officer with only being out of the academy for over a month but now that you are here I want to get to know you better.” "I think we know each other pretty well." She grinned, "..but go ahead, ask me anything. " “Why did you want to be a pilot?” "Freedom. Be able to go anywhere and, it's going to sound silly….." “No it does not. I feel the same; the sense of freedom and the ability to get away from it all is amazing.” “Your turn. There must be something you have wanted to know about me?” "Well, I've heard about your…. Aunty is it? How does that work?" “How does that work in what way?" "I mean… it's an AI right? Is she there all the time… oh God… was she there last night when we…." Ire grinned. “She is not omnipotent or stuck in my head. Think of her as a not so grumpy version of Luma and like Luma she is in control of her ship. It's not as big or as fancy as the Mystique but it's hers. She’s half a quadrant away doing cargo runs not spying on using the base's internal sensor net.” "So…. I don't have to worry….. that's good to know. I'm gonna have to meet her at some point… how does one meet an AI?" “You talk to her.” he paused reasling that was more stupid as it sounds. “She would use one of her personas and materialise like a hologram. Then you would be able to have a chat rather than you just talking to a bulkhead.” Looking away, the talk of meeting family had made Greta nervous and a little sad. Taking a breath, she gazed out of the window not speaking. Ire frowned and drifted beside her. “Greta?” "Yeah?" She replied, quietly. He held her shoulders and rotated round until he was in front of her. “Greta what is it? What’s wrong?” "It's…. My dad.. he would have liked you." Ire caught the words. ‘would have’ he himself had used on many occasions when talking about his parents. He gave her a sad smile and hugged her. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” Leaning into him, Greta sighed, "He died three years ago. He was a good guy. Just bad luck really. He was a pilot, so I guess you could say that's where I got the flying bug from. He… his engines gave up on him, lost control and… " she stopped talking and closed her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Ow Greta I am so sorry.” Looking up at him, she fixed a smile in her face, "wasn't your fault. We should talk about happy things rather than just floating here." “I like floating here with you.” He smiled and gave her a squeeze before he reached out and hocked a hand hold to steady them. “Okay other things…… how do you like our new fighters?” "They are pretty cool. I mean, they fly like a dream, instant turns, smooth as butter." She smiled at him, "How about you? " “They are wonderful to fly. It will be interesting to see how they fly when totally loaded out for combat.” "True. I just hope I can do better than I did in that contest. Don't want to disappoint the boss. He seems to really like the new woman. She's good." “I hope so too. I am sure next time it will go better…..really like or really like?” "Not like you like me if that's what you mean." She replied with a wink. "So, okay. I do have one question. " “Okay.” "Why me? I'm nothing special. I can fly sure but…" “You are special to me and yes you can fly but it's not the only reason. Underneath that professional outer shell you have is a wonderful caring person and that is a person I want to be with.” Blushing, she smiled back, "Even if I sleep in pink, fluffy pyjamas?" He smiled. “Especially as you sleep in pink, fluffy pyjamas.” "You lie!" She exclaimed laughing and hitting his arm softly. "Now if you had pink fluffy pyjamas that would be a sight!" Ire slowly drifted away as Greta hit him. He steadied himself against the bulkhead. “I don’t mind pink and fluffy pyjamas I just don’t think pink goes with my eyes.” Smirking, Greta smiled back, "I don't own any. Don't tend to sleep in pyjamas. " Ire grinned. “Well from what I found out last night you definitely don't and you do not "you're going to make me blush." Greta replied. Turning away, she looked around the rest of the ship, "How long did it take you to build this thing?" “Most of the components were pre-fabricated at Bajor so it was just a matter of fitting them together and then adding the components and rigging. It took me about a month to get everything in place and then another two weeks making sure that it was all working.” "Wow. Perseverance. You must be quite invested in this." “It's something that attaches me to my Bajoran ancestry. It reminds me of what I had and what I have.” Nodding, "I can understand that. Years ago, if a woman had wanted to do anything, we would have needed a man's permission. Now look, here I am, flying in space, fighting for something i believe in with someone i could…." He was about to speak but decided not to so he drifted over and held her hand. Squeezing his hand, "You tell anyone about this and I swear… I have a reputation you know." She winked. “Well the way my reputation is at the moment no one would believe me.” he smiled back. "Not what I heard. There's been rumours of a knight in shining armour who saved a damsel in distress. Well, one of the counsellors anyway." Ire groaned and shook his head. “I am sure it has been blown out of all proportions with the kind of skuttlebutt we have here.” Smirking a little, "Shame because I was quite looking forward to telling people I was dating a knight. But seriously, you did good. Really good. That could have been a bad situation. " “Totally. It could have gone nasty really fast and the fall out could have stalled our opportunity for Trill to join the Federation. That and the fact that I had to go and tell Trip again that I had screwed up again. But Erin needed help and I would do it again in a heartbeat but maybe with a little more thought about my options about getting her away from two angry combative men.” "Aw, you're a regular gentleman aren't you?" She smiled, "So, if we weren't in this piece of history, what would you, or we, be doing now?" “I don’t know, probably something really boring.” he grinned as he pushed off the bulk head and drifted past the navigation screen showing where they were and when they were needing to turn. “We are going to have to turn in about 45 minutes.” he stopped himself in the middle of the main cabin with a hand hold and floated there. “What do you think we would be doing if we were not here?” "Would it surprise you to know I Iove to read? Old classics. I have a holodeck program that's just a log cabin in the Canadian woods. Nothing for miles around except forest. There's a comfy couch and a log fire. I just curl up there sometimes with a good book and read." “Yes it would surprise me and it sounds lovely. What old classics do you read?” "Dickens mainly. But I am partial to Shakespeare. The cabin is rustic but warm and cosy. " “Sounds lovely. I can see why you would like spending time there.” "You should come with me one day. I can set the weather outside to anything. Sun, snow. Could be fun to have a snowball fight." “I think the only time I had a snowball fight was when we did the cold weather survival training at the academy and that only lasted about five minutes until the CPO came back.” "Then maybe we should talk to Ravok and Reena. Get them on the holodeck and ambush Trip. Snowball the boss." She said laughing. Ire smiled back but shook his head. “Yeah might not be such a great outcome afterwards. Especially if they have a sense of humor failure.” "Oh come on! I think we could. Although we are on thin ice with Trip. We're lucky he didn't…" she looked away for a second. “Yes we are and as I have been in his bad books too many times this last month. I would not want to be there again any time soon.” "So, was it worth it? I mean, you think this whatever we have here is worth it? Worth risking the wrath of Trip Williams?" “I don’t go out of my way to make Trips' life a misery but I would take Trips wrath for us. I just hope we don’t need to.” "I never said you did…. Oh… sorry. I just heard the rest of that." She smiled widely. "So, anything else you wanna ask a girl whilst you have her and she can't escape?" “Was actually going to as you that question? Is there anything you want to ask me?” "I asked first." She replied in a sing song voice and stuck her tongue out at him. May questions pour into his mind. What was her favorite color, food, animal, what was her darkest secret, where did she like on holiday, what is her favorite holo drama but he would find those out as time went by. He looked at her and smiled. “Well as you asked…..Are you happy?” "In general or right now? Because right now, right this second, yes. I could go for a dip in the ocean or a hot tub but yes, I am happy." She smiled softly. "What about you? Are you happy?" He smiled back “Right now? Yes I am right now at this moment I am happy.So what’s your question?” "I don't need to ask anything. Other than, can we go back? I have a bad craving for a large burger from Red Sands. I don't know what they do to them but, oh man they are delicious. " Ire grinned and nodded. “Okay let's drop the right mainsail and spritsail. We won’t be speeding home but we will get there.” He drifted over to the crank and began to wind it to reduce the sails. "Ire? I do have a question for you." “Sure what is it?” he glanced over at her. "Tonight, your place or mine?" She replied with a wink and smile. He grinned back as he locked the crank and the Endurance began to turn and head for home. “Well you graciously showed me your place last night It would be wrong of me not to show you mine.” (Reply none) (Posted by Jackie and Robbie)