>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: Repercussions Day: 3 Stardate: 2444.07.11 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Flashback to Stardate 2443.06.03 - Bracken Villa Tuscany - Cadet Trip Williams and Captain Dale Bracken) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – Nurse – Ewan McDonald - 0434) (Mars Base -- Infirmary -- Medical/Counselor -- aACMO -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0437) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – Nurse – Ewan McDonald– 0440) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – CEO – Ensign Keira Merek – 0442) (Mars Base -- Infirmary -- Medical/Counselor -- aACMO Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0448) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – Nurse – Ewan McDonald - 0452) (Mars Base -- Counseling suites -- Medical/Counselor -- aACMO -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0801) (Starfleet Command - The Office of CINC - Captain Remae Ktell - 0945) (Earth - Starfleet HQ - President's Office - Ensign Erin Cortez, Admiral Cayne, President Atermi - 1000) (Mars Base, Science Annex, Fifth Floor, Ens Michaels Office - SciO, Ens(sg) Adala Michaels & EngO, Ens(jg) Vex'ahlia Jordaan - 1104) (Mars Base, Hospital -Main Triage, CMO Ens(sg) Ailynn Bracken, 1126) (Mars - Shuttle bay - ACMO Ensign Erin Cortez - 1145) (Mars - Shuttle bay - FCSO Lt. JG Trip Williams - 1147) (Mars - Admiral’s Office - ACMO Ensign Erin Cortez - 1201) (Mars - Admiral’s Office - ACMO Ensign Erin Cortez - 1211) (USS Rebel Wind - Main Engineering, Master Status Room - Head of Reactivation & Refit Command’s Weapons & Propulsion Dept: Utopia Planitia, Ens. T’Loren Sevant - 1215) (Mars - Shuttle - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters - 1416) (Mars Base, Kiva Rothvaryn's Quarters, Security & Forensics Officer, CPO Percy de Rolo III - 1427) (Mars base, Counsellor's office, CMO Ens(sg) Ailynn Bracken & ACMO Ensign (sg) Erin Cortez - 14.32) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Security's Office - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, 1450) (Mars facility - corridors- TAC/SEC Ens(jg) Paul Sleeford - 1500) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Intelligence Office - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, 1504) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Intelligence Office - CSRD, Lt. (jg) Sekal, 1506) (Mars Base, 7th Floor, Outside Sec Chiefs Office - NPC, Petty Officer 3rd Class, Jeremy Dunce - 1516) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Outside Chief of Security Office- SPC SecO- Petty Officer (2ndClass) Steven Hammons- 1523) (Mars base, Chief of security’s office, SPC- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons-15:25) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Security Office - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, 1528) (Mars Base-Security Services Centre- CSec Office - (SPC) Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons- 1535) (Mars Facility, Science Annex– CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 1544) (Mars Facilities - Shuttle Pass - ENS SG Counselor Ariel Trei - 15.45) (Runnabout Evangeline - Cockpit - Admiral's Aide Ensign JG Billy Alexander - 15:50) (Runabout Evangeline - Rear Passenger Section - R&R/W&P Ens. Sevant - 15:52) (Runabout Evangeline - Rear Compartment - ENS SG Counselor Ariel Trei - 15.54) (Mars Facility- Science Annex– CSRD Office- CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 1601) (Mars Facility, Science Annex- 3rd floor, High energy particle physics lab– CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 1700) (Earth-Napa Valley- Home of Dale Bracken - FCSO Lt. JG Trip Williams and SPC Civilian Liaison Ashlyn Jones - 17:04) (Earth-Napa Valley- Home of Dale Bracken - FSCO Lt. JG Trip Williams - 17:30) (Mars Facility, Science Annex, Personal quarters – CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 2000) (Mars- Utopia Planitia Spacedock- Lounge 3 – CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 2015) (VSRS Sinya- Cargo Bay 1 – CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 2038) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Flashback to Stardate 2443.06.03 - Bracken Villa Tuscany - Cadet Trip Williams and Captain Dale Bracken) Trip woke up dripping in sweat. Screaming. He had dreamt about that day. Yet waking up he remembered the familiar surroundings. He was in Tuscany, the Bracken vineyards. Safe. Dale stepped into his room on silent feet. Years of habit coming unbidding to her naked feet, pulling a night robe around her, whilst padding against the warm ancient stone. She reached the side of his bed, seeing the sheen of sweat on his brow, kneeling at the bedside she dabbed his face with the corner of the pure cotton sheet that draped him. “James?” she whispered. “Honey?” Her voice was warm, concerned. "Oh, its you miss Dale." He quickly grabbed the sheet from her and Covered himself. It was one thing for her to have seen him run around in his underwear when he was 10, but at 21, shredded abs and sex appeal, he was embarrassed for his mentor to see him in nothing but boxer briefs. His mom away from mom. "I keep dreaming about…" Dale sat, gently on the chair at the edge of Trip’s bed, and nodded. "I just feel so hollow, empty. I still feel it, every emotion she had when she died. It makes me feel like I'm dying. Its too much." Dale nodded. “It’s 5am. Work clothes. We’ll talk on our way to the bottom field. Possible blight.” "Can't I Just stay in bed. I just… I don't feel like anything." Dale paused before answering. She’d never had a son, sadly. "And that is the reason you need to get up and keep moving. Take it from one who knows." She leant forward and gave him a peck on the forehead maternally. "Have I ever lied to you? Ten minutes. We'll walk and talk. You're here to rest and begin to heal. Not wallow." "You're right. I came here to get away. To retreat. I loved coming here as a kid. But my heart just aches. I have no energy.." Dale stood up, motioning to the pile of clothes at the end of the bed. “Get dressed. We’ll have breakfast in the field.” Trip waited for her to leave and stood up. At that moment he froze. He began breathing heavy. Pupils moving fast. The world closing in. He was reliving all the emotions he felt as Rae died and collapsed to The floor, his lower body wrapped in a sheet, but his scarred torso Crashing onto the cold floor. Dale heard the thud as she just left the room, and dashed back in, taking in the scene at a glance. “Trip? Sweetie?” She looked down at his torso, looking at the shape and state of the scars. She pushed the information to one side in her mind as she knelt by him. “Trip. Honey?” "Im….ok…" he said breathing heavy. "Since...the..incident i...i randomly relive her death...al the feelings...i feel like im dying…" She helped him up onto the edge of the bed. When it was over Trip was back to normal and mopey. “You okay?" "Yes Miss Dale." "Get yourself up. I think it’s time I shared a couple of things with you.” "It's odd Miss Dale. I almost died once. Was stabbed. Bleeding out. I didn't die. I wasn't afraid. But feeling Rae die. I don't revisit the emotions of my near miss. But hers … haunt me." “As I understand things, the situations were very very different. We’ll talk about that. Get dressed Cadet.” "I'll meet you downstairs. I just. She was my imzadi. Am I destined to be alone now?" Dale stopped at the door, her heart ached briefly, remembering. “No. Of course not. Romance crops up everywhere, in places that you least expect it.” A few minutes later, they strolled out of the Villa, and stepped over the gate in the ancient drystone wall. As they walked between the vines, Dale looked over the grapes, with a critical eye. She picked one that seemed to please her, and she put it in the basket that she carried. “So just you and me. We were talking about romance I believe?” She looked at Trip. “In answer to your question, No. There’s always someone out there. I’m not going to be graphic but over the years there’s been a couple of people that I was devoted to. Each very different.” "I know you've had sex Miss Dale. You don't need to sugarcoat." She smiled, glad he was able to just speak to her. “Since we’re both adults I sort of feel that you can call me Dale?” "I'll try. Just weird. You're one of my best friends grandmas, my mentor, and my babysitter. But I'll try...Dale." “Besides. I wasn’t talking about just sex. Although there’s always room for the odd one night stand. Less often at my age of course.” She smiled and laughed gently. “No, I was talking about love. Deepest love, devotion even.” "But I had that and I took a break from it, and before I could get back to it...it was snatched from me. Could I really find it again." “Honey, it’ll find you, whether you like it or not.” She stepped over, checking a few leaves at random. “Good here.” A few more steps. “I understand the concept of course; but I’ve never understood the ‘imzadi’ thing. The person that I am today won’t exist tomorrow, and so on, our lives are tapestries. Interwoven, the odd dropped stitch. What we adored yesterday, we’re all too much in danger of abhorring tomorrow.” "Dale, you're right. Ha, its a shame you don't have a daughter my age. You'd be a fun mother in law." She smiled sadly, "I'd be an overcritical monster and we both know it. Besides, if it hadn't have been for the accident, Aimee would only be 35, can you imagine shacking up with someone as highly strung as she can be." "Hard pass." She laughed. “Sensible kid. Believe me, you need someone far more gentle and lower maintenance than a Bracken female.” She laughed gently "So there was something you wanted to tell me or show me?" Dale nodded, "you’ve loved and lost, far far earlier in life that most ever have to contemplate. Like I said, I’ve been there myself, Aimee’s dad was lost when the Onyx disappeared. We never found the crew. Other relationships that I was heavy into, came to an end rather abruptly. "How'd you handle it? Losing the love of your life." “Honestly? I’d lost more than you can imagine, but at the time, others needed me more, I didn’t have the luxury of having time to wallow in grief. Aimee needed me, Ailynn had been born, and she’d had a few health issues when she’d been born. Nothing serious. But with no partner, Aimee needed me.” She paused "Did I want to die? Yes I did, but there was far too much for me to do, and to keep an eye on. Apart from that, the Federation was coming apart at the seams, Aimee, myself, your parents and a close group of others fought hard to stop it happening, but there was only so much damage that we could prevent happening. Why do you think your parents and us got on so much.” "What was he like? Aimee's dad? How'd you cope with losing him?" “I was Second Officer at the time. I also had Aimee. So I had my work, and science to distract myself with. Paul and I were good when we were together, but I think we both wanted very different things. At the time I’d been medically removed from duty. I’d completed my PhD and found myself pregnant with Aimee. However it coincided with Paul deciding that he’d take a posting as CEO on the Onyx. We never saw him again after that. He was quiet, and mysterious, utterly wrong for me, but I wasn’t much older than you are now.” "Wait. I thought you said Aimee was pregnant with Lynn when he died." “Two different relationships. I lost Paul when I was pregnant with Aimee. The other was a different relationship. That one was a painful loss, and I don’t talk about it much.” "Oh…" Trip paused. "How do you bounce back?" They reached the edge of the next field. “Here. check the leaves on that side. You're looking for yellowing and black spots.” She stepped away, but carried on speaking. "how do you bounce back? How do you bounce back thinking you've lost everything?" Dale stopped. “There’s never nothing. Regardless of how low you fall, there’s always something. You’re doing the right things, Do things that you love, keep up your flight hours. Do things because you want to do them, rather than because you have to. Things like that.” "I'm going to be ok right?" Dale smiled. "You will. I'll not lie, it'll take time, before you even think of beginning to feel like you can live, and love again, but you will." "I wish my parents were here. But they had to go off world. Mom didn't leave me alone for a week. I don't blame her. I know she only left because I promised I was ok and because you said you'd keep an eye on me. I'm grateful you did." Dale smiled warmly. "I've always been around for you, and always will. It's no big thing." "I really need to talk to my dad too. He went through something similar when Myka, his first wife died. I know he'll also have great insights. But…" "But?" "But it's just, he found his imzadi. I just hope I find anyone. If I'm old and alone at 45, I'll just have to settle for Lynn." Dale laughed gently. "You are barking up the wrong tree. She'll be a good friend for you. Anything else...I'm not certain about." "You know. It is a shame you only had one kid. You're a great mom." Trip said as he entered into a clearing and laid down to look at the clouds." Dale smiled sadly as Trip lay down. She opened the basket that she'd been carrying and laid out the breakfast items she'd brought. Then flask of strong coffee that she poured into two mugs and passed one over to Trip. Trip sat up and took the mug. "I'm not sure about that, but I appreciate the sentiment." "You've always done alright by me Dale. You'd have been a great foster mom had anything happened to mine. At least for me. Sy is a different story. but I've always felt I could trust you." "Your sister and you are chalk and cheese, you've both had issues growing up ; but I've always been around when I could be." "I think. I think I'll be ok. I'm going to have to go to counseling aren't I?" Dale took a sip of the coffee and picked up some salami, cheese and a rustic bread. "Yeah you are. I can sit here and go on like a crazy aging woman, but at the end of the day I'm not an empath. I have no understanding of it. You need very specialist help. There's no shame in it. I can get Aimee to contact someone for you? She'll get you the best." "Thanks Dale." He said with a smile. "Rae wouldn't want me to wallow in despair. She'd want me to have hope. I just need to find it.," Dale nodded an agreement. “No, she wouldn’t. Here’s the issue that I have. If someone loves you, and I mean truly truly loves you, then they won’t hold you back, they give you their support, they help you fly.” She paused. “They don’t let you become beholden to their spectres. I’m not saying moving on is easy, and done lightly, I’m saying that given time; you’ll know that you’ve released her.” “I guess, one day, yeah. It’s just, I mean, its like part of her is stuck in my head. And I don’t know. I guess I need to be patient. But she was….she was my Imzadi, and its like even if she isnt here, there is still the part of me that fears that she’ll always hold me back, that I’ll either never commit to the right person, because they aren’t her, or I’ll just hop into bed with some pretty blonde and look for casual flings, because they are not her.” “Honey, we’ve all been there. As I said before. Romance, devotion is lovely, but now and then...there’s nothing wrong with going at it on a cheap one night stand.” She shrugged apologetically. “It gets a lot out of your system; allows you to think, breath, contemplate.” She sipped her coffee once more, wincing. Her mother had made it very strong. “It allows you to focus on what is actually important, think about the reasons you’re on edge in the first place.” “But I know she is at peace right?” “Of course. She’s at peace now, whatever you or she happen to believe, and she isn’t holding you down.” She held his hands tightly. “Honey, you are.” “I know Miss Dale. I know. But it’s been a month, Thankfully professors were lenient, I maintained my GPA, still number two in the class. I’ve signed up for summer pilot training. I’ve got the credits to classify for Starships and shuttles, but if I do this, I can still graduate Stellar Cartography and also be classed in fighters. Plus, there is the leadership course. I’ve loaded my summer to be busy.” Dale lifted her head up, and looked at him, carefully. “James.” She sipped at her coffee, and finding it at the correct temperature, drank deeply from it, feeling the caffeine hit her system. “James, please be careful. Do not overload yourself. There have been students, as promising as yourself that have self destructed because of it. I won’t let you do that, not after all that we’ve all done.” “Miss Dale, I’ll be fine. They’ve been in works since before the incident. I know how to balance my work, school, and personal life. I have managed burn out well since high school when I played four sports Freshman year, before sticking to two. I may work my butt off, but I still know when its time to go out to bar, or play around in the holodeck.” “Just...take care. As much as I’ve pushed you over these last years; I’ll hold you back too.” She motioned to the spread. “Eat.”. A few minutes of silence went past, and a thought came to her, something that she’d meant to ask for a while. “I always found you here. You know. All those times you ran away, after our ‘arguments’. I’ve always meant to ask you, ‘why here?’” “Blue skies.” He said with a smile. “The empty field. Reminded me of the ranch, of home.” “Have you ever seen it on a moonless night? Do you remember when you asked me...years ago, why I did what I did? Why I joined up, why a scientist?” “Not really.” “It was two things, I was 16, and we’d had dinner back up at the Villa on the veranda. It was our first summer here. I discovered wine and physics the same evening. The sun was setting, blood red over the hillside. I had to find out why the sun ‘changed colour’. That night, in my nightdress, i came here, and sat pretty much where we are now. It was pitch black, I sat back, shivering, but the heavens opened up in front of my eyes. Billions of stars, each different, I knew that I had to see as many of them as I could. Now, that girl is long long gone, and this aging woman is all that remains, but some nights I still come here; and that beauty hasn’t faded one iota.” “You’re not that old Miss Da...Er Dale. Still in your 50s, some folks might even call you a cougar.” “So that’s why Tommy spent so much time in your back garden? You know that that hole is still in the fence?” “Not me though,” He said with a chuckle. “My best shot with a Bracken girl is Lynn, but that’d be like kissing a sister.” Trip then paused. “Though I may have drunkenly made out with her at a party once, well either her or Ashlyn Jones one of her classmates.” “Oh well there you do have a problem, and I am not helping you. A gentleman never forgets. Managing to hold her expression impasse, she continued “Ashlyn? She was in Lynnie’s class no?” “Well, last I heard she was on Bajor.” Dale nodded, “Can’t say I know the girl. I think Lynnie has mentioned her. Father’s an utter...well you know. I tried pushing for authorities to take notice, but ‘they were busy with actual issues.’ Yes...I know.” “We all have our troubles.” Trip said laying back down looking at the sky. “She’s a sweet girl. I wish I would have gotten to know her better. She was always so kind to me.” Trip smiled and continued. “I love this spot, because it just gives the best view of the sky, of the clouds, it just, it really helps me think. Whether at the Ranch, my backyard in San Francisco, your Napa place, or here, I just...I don’t have to worry when I’m under..” Trip then began singing, “Blue skies smilin' at me, Nothin' but blue skies do I see, Bluebirds singin' a song, Nothin' but bluebirds all day long, Never saw the sun shinin' so bright Never saw things goin' so right, Noticing the days hurrying by. When you're in love, my how they fly, Blue days, all of them gone, Nothin' but blue skies from now on.” Dale lay back on her elbows, watching the buzzards hang on the thermals a mile or so away. ~It was odd~ she thought, in most respects she’d always considered James a son, a pupil, an apprentice; in others and never mind how odd it sounded, she now considered him a friend, enjoying a younger view on the quadrant, the Federation as a whole. “Lovely. Not a song I know sadly, but I like it. I’m not massively musical I’m afraid, but there’s an old poem, back from where my family is from.” She lay back, head on the grass, and recited a poem, long since commited to memory. “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:” The poem was only a couple of verses long, but it had been a childhood favourite. It ended: “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, and—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!” Dale felt her heart sink, a well of tears fill her eyes that she wasn’t certain that she could hold back. Lifting her head, once she was almost certain that she wasn’t going to cry, she regarded him. “It’s every parent’s wish Trip. Now, I’m not your mom, nor would I pretend to be, but I’m not ashamed to say that I hold a place in my soul for you.” “Why do you say that?” Trip asked looking at the clouds. He was at peace, at least for a moment. “All this time and you still don’t get it?” she sighed sadly. “Baby boy…” It wasn’t intended as condescending. “The Fleet is two things, co-existing.” She drained her coffee, shuddering at the now cold drink. “The first, a career for the intelligent, that they may contribute….yada yada yada. Boring!.” Trip nodded. “The second, and surely you must have noticed this...there’s a cadre of truly gifted people, a core of influence that can see cracks...see...pivot points that once secured can truely…” she turned to him. “...Truely...shape. Destiny.” Trip sat up. He listened intently. “THAT...is why your parents and our friends hooked up…” “I see.” “No...Given all that...we bloody failed.” “You still didn’t answer my question Dale.” She lifted her head, raising an eyebrow. “I love you, you daft boy, like a son.” Trip began laughing. “Well, I guess your judgement isn’t always the best.” She smiled and laughed. “Dale,” he said as he stopped laughing. “You are my mom away from mom. I love you too.” (End flashback) As he opened his eyes he felt more at peace. He loved looking at a blue sky., Dale's kind words encouraged him to begin the healing process. After that Trip he had told his parents truthfully about all his struggles and was able to move towards becoming whole again with his parents at his side. In that moment he knew he couldn't keep the secret from Lynn or Sy any longer. Smiling he stared at the sky and began to sing. “Blue skies smilin' at me, Nothin' but blue skies do I see…" (reply none) (posted by Will and Mark(NPC Dale Bracken)) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – Nurse – Ewan McDonald - 0434) “Yeah, just the man I was thinking of. Please join us. We will need some equipment. Ewan nodded as he stepped closer. “Yes Doctor?” “Yes, it was yesterday evening.” Merek answered. “Looks like you have bruised ribs, deep cuts on the skin. We will need a dermal regenerator, and the bruises are deep so we will need a subdermal one as well.” Quinna started. “Yes Doctor.” He glanced over at the storage locker beside him where he knew the equipment that Quinna needed. “Was that it?” Merek said looking relieved. “Oh I am not done yet. Though your upper arm bone, the humerus, is not broken, there are hairline cracks in the bone.” Quinna paused. ~This might take a little longer then a quick use of regenerator~ “That would explain the pain.” Keira admitted. “I am concerned about the damage to the muscles and the ligaments that have been stretched thin. You have to take it easy. If you tear the ligaments then that would require surgery.” Quinna turned to Ewan, “Let's get started. Would you please get the equipment.” “Take it easy, what do you mean? I’m due to go on a day pass to Alaska, so I take it no wrestling bears?” Ewen smiled “Yes Doctor.” He said as he went to the storage locker and took out the regenerators and a couple of other bits of equipment that might be needed. As he returned, he saw that Merek had removed more of her clothes and was down to her sports bra and shorts. Merek was not the first half-naked woman he had seen in front of him and would not be the last. As a medical professional he had seen patients with less on and in more horrific conditions, but this was not about his feelings it was about hers. He layed out the equipment on a small trolly that was beside the bio-bed and nodded to Doctor. “I’ll do the superficial wounds if you are happy with that?” (Reply Solace) He nodded and moved over to Merek and gave her a kind smile as he held out the dermal regenerator. “Hallo, my name is Ewan I am one of the nurses on tonight. Do you mind if I treat your cuts?” (reply Merek) “Thank you.” He carefully began to move the dermal regenerator over the superficial wounds leaving the deeper ones for Quinna. “So you did this bear wrestling?” indicating her wounds and lacerations as he worked. (Reply Merek) (Reply Merek, Solice) (Played by Robbie) (Mars Base -- Infirmary -- Medical/Counselor -- aACMO -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0437) “Take it easy, what do you mean? I’m due to go on a day pass to Alaska, so I take it no wrestling bears?” “Only if the bear starts things first.” Quinn add as she turned to see Nurse McDonald return. He helped prep Keira. “I’ll do the superficial wounds if you are happy with that?” “That would be great, Thank-you.” Quinna picked up the bone fuser. She worked on the regenerating the crack upper arm. She listened to the conversation. “Hallo, my name is Ewan I am one of the nurses on tonight. Do you mind if I treat your cuts?” She nodded, “Proceed.” “Thank you.” As he passed the activated device he also began speaking to pass the time. “So you did this bear wrestling?” “No not a bear.” She corrected him, “ It was a combat simulation on the holodeck. The safety protocols were, relaxed. The opponents were mythical beings from Klingon Legend. A Gre’thor demon, what I’m sure is an inaccurate representation of insectoid beings called Hur’q and some kind of vulture like beast I’m not sure which myth it’s from.” (Reply McDonald) “I had a few Klingon friends growing up, so I’m familiar with some of them.” She admitted. “The program is not mine. It’s a copy that I’m told is fairly famous it was written by the first Klingon to serve in Starfleet. I picked it up in the Academy.” Quinna was impresses with McDonald’s professionalism, but more impressed with his bedside manner. He kept Keira busy as she repaired the Humorus. Her next step was to mend the subdermal abraisions. “Really, so you are the one who got the last one…..” Quinna laughed. (Reply McDonald, Merek) Quinna continued with the ribs. “How are you doing, Mr. McDonald?” (Reply Mc Donald) “How are you doing?” Quinna asked Keira (Reply Merek) (Reply Merek and Mc Donald) (Posted by Kris) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – Nurse – Ewan McDonald– 0440) “It was a combat simulation on the holodeck. The safety protocols were, relaxed. The opponents were mythical beings from Klingon Legend. A Gre’thor demon, what I’m sure is an inaccurate representation of insectoid beings called Hur’q and some kind of vulture like beast I’m not sure which myth it’s from.” “Why Klingon. I would have thought you would have picked demons from home?” “I had a few Klingon friends growing up, so I’m familiar with some of them.” Merek admitted. “The program is not mine. It’s a copy that I’m told is fairly famous it was written by the first Klingon to serve in Starfleet. I picked it up in the Academy.” Quinna was impresses with McDonald’s professionalism, but more impressed with his bedside manner. He kept Keira busy as she repaired the Humorus. Her next step was to mend the subdermal abraisions. “Really, so you are the one who got the last one…..” Quinna laughed. (Reply Merek) Quinna continued with the ribs. “How are you doing, Mr. McDonald?” “I am finishing now.” He moved the regenerator over the last wound one more time nodded and stepped back. “How are you doing?” Quinna asked Keira (Reply Merek) (Reply Merek and Quinna) (Posted by Robbie) (Ewan McDonald) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – CEO – Ensign Keira Merek – 0442) “Really, so you are the one who got the last one…..” Quinna laughed. “Don’t let that Ferengi fool you, he creates artificial demand by saying he just sold the last copy. Then you come back in later, he remembers your face then marks it up from his last asking price. I threatened him with bodily harm and he relented his little scheme. Feel free to use my copy it’s in downloaded into the holodeck.” She said with a devious grin. While the doctor moved on to her rib cage. Keira felt the intense itching move. Quinna asked, “How are you doing, Mr. McDonald?” “I am finishing now.” He moved the regenerator over the last wound one more time nodded and stepped back. “How are you doing?” Quinna asked Keira. “Fine.” She said, “Admittedly this is a much better alternative to the last time I broke a bone when I was five or six.” (Reply any present) “We didn’t have any advanced medical.” She said. “It healed the old fashioned way. I was in a cast and sling for weeks. At that age it felt like an eternity.” (Reply Quinna, MacDonald) (Posted by Todd) (Mars Base -- Infirmary -- Medical/Counselor -- aACMO Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0448) “How are you doing?” Quinna asked Keira. “Fine.” She said, “Admittedly this is a much better alternative to the last time I broke a bone when I was five or six.” “Sounds like there is a story. So tell us about the last time.” Quinna suggested. “We didn’t have any advanced medical.” She said. “It healed the old fashioned way. I was in a cast and sling for weeks. At that age it felt like an eternity.” “Well it looks like all is mended.” Quinna quickly added, “that can be mended.” Quinna paused and rescanned Kiera. “OK, You are good to go. Mr. McDonald will give you something to dull the aches.” (Reply Merek, Mc Donald) “Mr. McDonald, would you please administer 10 cc of Terakine for the pain.” Quinna asked. (Reply Merek, McDonald) “When you leave, you are to rest. No extra-curricular activities. Try to take it easy on duty.” Quinna ordered. “You can go after your meds are administered.” (Replies If you want) (Played by Kris) (Mars Base -- Infirmary – Nurse – Ewan McDonald - 0452) “OK, You are good to go. Mr. McDonald will give you something to dull the aches.” Ewan nodded. “Yes Doctor Solace.” (Reply Merek) “Mr. McDonald, would you please administer 10 cc of Terakine for the pain.” Quinna asked. He stepped over to a trolly and picked up a hypospray inserted a vile of Terakine and entered the 10cc dose. He the turned back to Merek. “This should help take of the edge. For a while at least.” (Reply Merek) He gave her a smile as he injected the hypospray into her neck and head the soft hiss if injection. He then stepped back, picked up the rest of the equipment and began to put it back. “When you leave, you are to rest. No extra-curricular activities. Try to take it easy on duty.” Solace spoke “You can go after your meds are administered.” (Replies Solace, Merek) (Played by Robbie) SPC Ewan McDonald (Mars Base -- Counseling suites -- Medical/Counselor -- aACMO -- Ensign S.G. Quinna Solice -- 0801) Quinna just left her shift in the infirmary and now is starting a shift in counseling. Next time she transitions, she decided that she needs a transition routing. Last time she slept was on the Mystique. She released a huge yawn. Without thought, Quinna automatically ordered an extra string coffee. Taking a huge breath, she took in the harsh roasted aroma. The next was the first drink. Typically, Quinna would be savoring that moment, however, when the tea ran out, she was back onto the coffee. “Computer, open door policy,” Quinna ordered. While counseling, she always maintained an open door unless she was with somebody. She knew Cortez had a few patients visiting this morning, but Quinna could not find the list or remember who they are, though she was not sure if she was told the list anyway. (Reply any and all) (Played by Kris) (Starfleet Command - The Office of CINC - Captain Remae Ktell - 0945) ~ Gul Dulon ~ Admiral Cayne was talking about the warp criminal, Gul Dulon, Remae had to wonder about how much this Admiral knew about what happened and what Remae had been through, although, this moment seemed to have been coming for a long time, now that it had, the Bajoran was ready and calm. "Gul Dulon, as you know, was caught out on Cardassia Prime when you, performed a high-velocity landing with the Spectre. This, you know. You were captured, tortured and use for purposes you do not know much of, even we do not know the full details.", said Cayne, pressing a button to raise once again the computer terminal from his desk. "Imagine our surprise, when, your Counsellor's report hit our systems, and when it did, this happened...", he said again pressing a single button on his terminal. An image of Admiral Jopek appeared, not that much younger-looking, but for a Vulcan, it could have been decades ago, and Remae began to watch, his eyes not quite registering what he was seeing but he was memorised to the screen. 'This is Fleet Admiral Jopek, and if you hear this message, it is because certain criteria regarding Admiral Remae Ktell have been met. This message was set to activate to the highest levels of command so, I am assuming that the knowledge of Gul Dulon has passed on but, in case not... I will start at the beginning.' 'Gul Dulon is a Cardassian the senior members of Starfleet Command have dealt with over the decades. Long before Remae was involved, we were using Dulon as a back-channel into the Cardassian government, but we did not realise that he was using us as well.' 'Dulon led a rebellion bent on taking over the government, and we cheerfully thought it as a good idea, and we backed him on this matter but, after the destruction of Starbase 45, we discovered that Dulon was heavily invested in medical and weaponisation experimentation, he had taken over the mind of one Captain Phelps and used him. He had a plan to destroy various stars by using Captain's of the Federation and their access to technologies of a starship and his research with Trilithium weapons.' 'He targetted Sol, Proxima Centauri and Starbase 23 but was thwarted in each case and he ended up retreating to Cardassia Prime.' 'Starfleet promptly stopped worrying about Dulon until Remae encountered him when he crashed the Spectre into the Cardassian homeworld.' 'Dulon took the chance to capture himself another Starfleet Captain and to restart his program of infiltration, how could he not, it was gift-wrapped for him.' 'Remae was placed into a medical stasis chamber and he was experimented on. While he was there, Dulon took the chance to dump all his dealings with Starfleet, his research notes and everything else that important to him, into that file and place it into Remae's mind.' 'For the Cardassian, everything was going fine except, he was interrupted in his experiments by a Marine force, led by Major Drizzt. That Andodrian not only rescued Remae, and got himself back to the Spectre but took the chance to kill Gul Dulon too... or so we thought.' 'Over the years, we kept Remae at arm's length, treated him pretty badly, but myself and another Admiral were keeping an eye on him. We knew the file couldn't be extracted by force and as parts of it came to him, he would express his psychological state by letting each Counsellor he came into contact with, know more and more but then it went silent.' 'As those reports came in, we kept them safe and used them to piece together what information we could but Remae stopped remembering, and we no longer thought any more of it. He was promoted to Admiral and given a place where he could not bother anyone.' 'However, if you are seeing this, you have a problem, and I am not available to assist. It's critical that all attempts to recover the data is made, for you see, we believed Gul Dulon's memories and maybe more are in that file... I hope medical technology has advanced. Jopek-Alpha-Nine-Black.' The message concluded, and Remae was blinking as he processed this new information, but he came to clarity when the Admiral was staring at him, "That code which Jopek just used wasn't even known to us until we checked the records. It's used in times of war. If he wanted to get our attention, it worked.", said Cayne. Admiral Cayne was pointing a phaser at the Bajoran. "Have you lost your mind?", said Remae jumping up, in a defensive posture, ready to react but the press of hypospray against his neck gave him no more time, "Captain... I wish there were another way, truly.", said Cayne sounding like he actually meant it. (Reply from None) (Posted b Anthony Keen) (Earth - Starfleet HQ - President's Office - Ensign Erin Cortez, Admiral Cayne, President Atermi - 1000) Admiral Cayne walked into the office of the President, and he was noticeably lacking one Bajoran Captain. "Counsellor Cortez, I presume?", said the Commander in Chief of Starfleet as he walked in, noticeable a sidearm was attached his hip and of course, eyes were drawn to it. "Dominic? What happened in there, what happened when you played the message?", asked the President and she took a look at the Counsellor for a moment, "Perhaps we should discuss this in private?", she added, nervously. "Change of plan.", said the CINC, "Counsellor, here is a PADD with a message I want you to give to your Chief Medical Officer on Mars. Ask him, Ensign Bracken isn't it?, to come to Starfleet Medical, we have a job for him to perform.", he said, giving the PADD to the Counsellor. Erin, looked up at the CINC and said, "Her, sir. Not him. Where is the Captain?" "Indisposed at the moment, Ensign." Erin took a second to survey the situation. The President was in shock, the Captain was nowhere near by and here was this man, wearing a phaser on the side of his uniform. Standing slowly, Erin took a step forward. "I'm not sure you understand me, sir. Where is the Captain?" President Atermi looked over at Cayne and the Ensign,"Admiral, perhaps you should tell the Ensign what she wants to know?", said the Bajoran, seemingly taking the change of direction that she wasn't prepared for in her stride. "Very well, Ensign, your Captain is going to have the file taken out of his head, one way or another. I'd prefer a specialised medical Doctor to do the work, someone that is familiar with the medical history of her patient... but if you'd prefer, we can proceed now?", he said starting to head for the door. "If it means anything to you, Ensign, Captain Remae was always going to head down this pathway, it was just a matter of time.", said Cayne, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.", he said and he headed out the door. The President was covering her feeling well, years of practice covered up that this wasn't what she signed up for and the involvement of the increasingly disabling CINC was of great concern to her and that her friend, Remae, was now under the care of strangers disturbed her greatly. "Ensign, you have you orders; I suggest you follow them.", she said with her hands closed. Erin, now torn over what was happening and her duty to which she had sworn an oath, took a deep breath and said, "No." The President raised an eyebrow for a moment and the young women seemed to find her voice. "Ma'am, with all due respect, how can you just sit there whilst this man does God only knows what to your friend? In fact, no, scratch that. I know the answer." She turned on her heels and faced the President, a fire burning in her now, an anger that she had not felt in a very long time. "You say he's your friend, one of your oldest. You don't know the meaning of the word friendship. If you did, you wouldn't be allowing this to happen. See, I've met people like you. Been beaten down by people like you. You're scared, not for Remae, for yourself. You are scared of what this will do to your position, your power. I used to look up to you. A female president. Now, nah. I see you. See what kind of person you really are." Taking a deep breath, Erin realized she had been shouting. Closing her eyes for a split second, she opened them and looked at the door, then at President Atermi, "Prove me wrong. Show me what kind of a person, woman and friend you are. Show pipsqueak." The President stopped in her tracks, looked up at the Ensign, so fresh-faced, so young, so optimistic, in one conversation she had epitomised the type of Starfleet they were trying to fashion, not what it had become. Cayne had gone too far but Atermi wasn't in a position to change her mind or direction because of the disapproval of one Starfleet Ensign. "Security.", she said to the door and in walked two officers in yellow uniforms, "Escort Ensign Cortez to her shuttle... Counsellor, we will meet again.", she said and went back to her desk. The room was empty again and the President was alone with her thoughts. (Reply none) (Posted by Jackie and Tony) (Mars Base, Science Annex, Fifth Floor, Ens Michaels Office - SciO, Ens(sg) Adala Michaels & EngO, Ens(jg) Vex'ahlia Jordaan - 1104) Not realising quite how far she had to walk to get to the Science Annex, Vex had to lightly jog the last portion of the distance to make sure she got to the Ensigns office on time. Not realising how much extra time the arrest earlier on in the morning was also going to add onto getting into the actual building, meant she was a few minutes past when she told Michaels she was going to arrive. “Knock, Knock” she said as she approached the office and found the door already open. Adala stood at her desk and turned when she heard the ensign. “Come in.” she motioned to the replicator. “Care for something to drink while we chat?” she asked as she sat down and indicated the chair across from her. “Thanks, but I’m OK.” Adala waited while the Ensign settled herself into the seat. “What’s on your mind Ensign? How can I help you?” “We’re hoping that with your geological background you might be able to help in our search for the best possible crystalline rock.” Vex paused for a moment, “One that can be used to help Luma’Lenai move around when needed.” Adala nodded and thought. “I have something we might be able to use.” She stood. “I’ll be right back.” She stepped into the adjoining room and a minute or two later reappeared carrying what appeared to be a large clear/white stone. The stone was about 6 inches square. “Will this work? We’ll have to do some testing to be sure it will do what we want it to do, and protect her at the same time. “ Vex looked at the crystal and with absolutely no idea what she was looking at, she stared somewhat blankly. “Oh. I have no idea. I defer to your judgement, I’ve got to be honest. I wasn’t expecting such a fast turn around,” she joked and let out a quick laugh, “Where did you get this from?” Adala laughed and said jokingly. "I am the rock lady. Isn't that why you came to me?" She shrugged. "I've had it for some time. It's become a paper weight. Figured it could be used for something more perhaps?" She ran her hand almost lovingly over the surface of the stone. "I don't know if this will work or not. I am thinking that we need something that will provide a natural way to regenerate if need be. To keep Luma 'nourished' I suppose. Just because I suggested this one rock doesn't mean there are not more that can be used or are better choices. This is just the beginning of our search." She paused and then said “Oh, it came from Earth, while I was there at the Academy.” responding to Vex’s original question. “Boy, you are a rock lady! I’ve never heard anyone talk so much about a stone.” Vex laughed, hoping Adala wouldn’t be offended by the comment. “Well I have the scanned information from the crystal that Sekal has.. I may have taken a few liberties when it was in my possession.” she handed over the padd with all the data she had. “Perhaps we can start from there?” Adala shook her head as she accepted the PADD and browsed the information there as they talked. "This is impressive. I have more rocks we can try if this first one doesn't work." She motioned towards the door she had gone through to find the rock before them. "Care to check out this rock ladies collection?" She moved towards the door and nodded. "Take a look." Vex stood up and smoothed down her Uniform, “Sure. I’ve got some time.” Briefly looking around the office, she wondered how long Adala had been situated in it. Allowing the Science Officer to take the lead, she followed the woman to where she kept her rock collection. As Vex and Adala walked through the door the lights came on revealing the walls covered with rocks of various sizes and shapes. Each one carefully cataloged. “Here you go.” She picked up a padd and passed it to Vex. “This details each rock.” she waved her hand. “Any or all of these are at your disposal for Luma if needed. I can always get more.” Taking the padd, she began looking through the list with really no idea what she was looking for, “Than…” she began before the comm link opened up. =^=Ensign Jordaan, please report to section C, Main Engineering.=^= Frowning she tapped her comm. Badge, “I’m on my way. Thank you for your help, can I leave this search in your hands?” passing the padd back to the Scientist. “Luma is around, if you need to speak with her to gather more information.” Adala took the padd back and nodded. "I will get right on this and find something suitable to use." Vex nodded and briskly turned around and made her way out of the office and towards the nearest turbolift. She watched as Vex left her office before making her way back to her desk to sit down. (Reply None) (Posted by Kathleen Deal and Jono Bradley - Vex’ahlia Jordaan) (Mars Base, Hospital -Main Triage, CMO Ens(sg) Ailynn Bracken, 1126) Ailynn stepped out of her office, and toward what she’d long since discovered was the hub in almost any major hospital. The Main triage was the first point of contact between patient and medic. It was Ailynn’s favourite place to be after the operating theatre. She loved the atmosphere, the energy, and the general dynamic here. Everyone cog, from the smallest upward each doing their job. When she’d arrived this place was desolate. She remembered walking this very hall, saddened by it’s abandonment. Now, enlivened by her hand and those of skilled engineers, and staffed by gifted Doctors, and nurses. She’d never considered herself a ‘big cog’ kind of girl even with her family background, but now she felt she was settling into everything pivoting around her. She caught sight of someone from across the busy unit, a soul that didn’t fit the ‘patient’ or ‘busy staff’ stereotype. Muttering an ‘excuse me’ to the Ensign who’d passed on a referral request, she left the desk, and wandered over to the Trill Officer. As she got closer she saw that she was a good six inches shorter that she was. “Good Morning, Ensign…” (Reply Tevan) “Ailynn Bracken. Chief Medical Officer…Welcome to Mars. Can…I be of help to you?” (Reply Tevan) (Posted by Mark) (Mars - Shuttle bay - ACMO Ensign Erin Cortez - 1145) Sitting in the shuttle, Erin was staring into space. The trip back from Earth had been quiet, silent in fact. She hadn’t said anything to Trip the whole way back, simply holding onto the PADD that Cayne had given her and sat still. Her mind was whirring. What had happened with the Captain, the fact that she had been escorted from the President’s office and Starfleet headquarters by security officers which she could only guess Trip had seen and would have been wondering about. The guilt at leaving her Captain and not forcing the issue with CINC. That was the thing that was killing her right now. (Reply Trip) Taking a breath, Erin turned and simply nodded a thankyou to the Lieutenant and stood. Sighing, she knew that he could probably tell there was something wrong but she didn’t want to, nor could she really, discuss what had happened. This was something confidential. Something that she was sure the Captain did not want broadcasting around the base. (Reply Trip) “Sorry, in a world of my own, Lieutenant. Thankyou for the smooth ride home.” (reply Trip) “Right now, i have to go see Admiral Bell. Then, i need a drink. A strong drink.” (Reply Trip) (reply Trip, Any) (Posted by Jackie) (Mars - Shuttle bay - FCSO Lt. JG Trip Williams - 1147) It had been a really awkward trip home. The captain stayed behind and no one would tell him why, and he was called back from his walk around San Francisco early to take Ensign Cortez back to Mars. It was odd, but it was politics. Trip was not gonna deal with politics. His parents were both Captains, his grandfather was a Vice Admiral and former Academy CO. He knew the politics game too well and wanted nothing to do it. But coupled with the fact that Ensign Cortez had not said a single word the entire ride home, he was just happy to be back on Mars. He had a trip to get ready for, he was going to head back to earth with Ash as soon as she got of work, so he at least had that to look forward to. ~Billy was right, Erin is really moody. Guess she's not used to fleet politics, poor thing hasn't said a word since we took off.~ "Well we're here, last stop Mars. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." Taking a breath, Erin turned and simply nodded a thankyou to the Lieutenant and stood. "You alright there ensign, you seem a bit off." “Sorry, in a world of my own, Lieutenant. Thankyou for the smooth ride home.” "No problem, now go get some rest, seriously you look like you've been through hell." “Right now, i have to go see Admiral Bell. Then, i need a drink. A strong drink.” "Well I guess that works too." Trip then made his way off the shuttle and began looking around the shuttle bay. Looking over he noticed one of his pilots and motioned for her to come over. Ensign Frost was by reputation an amazing pilot, but apparently due to some personal and personnel issues did not have the flight hours logged to pilot a fighter. She was a shuttle pilot par excellence and was a great flight officer candidate, but if her reputation had even an iota of truth, he much prefer she log the flight time. That is when Trip got an idea, both to get Frost some flight time and to impress his friend. "Ensign Frost, come here a moment." (Reply Frost) "Hey listen, I've got a job for you. I need you to make sure this shuttle gets taken to get serviced. It works fine, but it's old, like have the stuff here, we don't want it to malfunction. Then if you could make sure the Maintenance crews get the Evangeline up and ready to go for her 16:00 departure." (reply Frost) "Oh, and so yeah, I had requested a type 8 for my personal use this afternoon, decided, I'm just gonna take my fighter instead. I need to get a bit more flight time with the new Mark V. So since it is going to be prepped for the afternoon anwyays and you need the flight time. Have her prepped to depart at 16:15. Then I want you to take a trip to earth and back. That should log you an hour and a half. Go ahead and leave at 16:15, I bet there are sure to be stragglers who miss the 'Party Bus', so you can be the back up ride." (reply Frost) "Little by little we'll get your flight time logged don't worry Ensign. Dismissed." (reply Frost) Trip nodded and then walked towards the doorway. He was going to take the tram back to the residential complex and hang out in his quarters. He smirked as he left though, it seemed he had a bit of a curse going. ~Seems like every female pilot in the wing is drop dead gorgeous. Yet another beauty I can't date.~ Trip then began laughing to himself. ~It's all good though. Not going to risk latrine duty ever again.~ (reply Frost) (posted by Will) (Mars - Admiral’s Office - ACMO Ensign Erin Cortez - 1201) Walking into the outer office, Erin took a deep breath. Knowing that she was about to tell Admiral Bell that her husband was stuck on Earth, probably unconscious and with Admiral Cayne, she knew that this was going to be a difficult conversation. (Reply Billy) Opening her eyes, she put a smile on her face, “Hey, is she free?” (Reply Billy) “I need to see her.” (Reply Billy) ~Well that’s a loaded question. No, everything is not okay but i can’t tell you that. I wish i could but…~ “It will be. Hopefully it will be soon.” (Reply Billy) “Thanks. I just need today to be over. But, still, if you could tell her i’m here?” (Reply Billy) (Mars - Admiral’s Office - ACMO Ensign Erin Cortez - 1211) Walking in to the office, Erin stood to attention and looked at the woman infront of her. (Reply Bell) “Ma’am, it didn’t go…. Quite as planned.” (Reply Bell) “Well, i spoke to President Atermi whilst he went to talk to Admiral Cayne. A few minutes later, Cayne came into the office with his side arm and handed me a PADD to give to Doctor Bracken. He left and i….” (Reply Bell) “Ma’am, i shouted at the President.” (Reply Bell) Taking a seat, Erin sighed, “I just…. I had to. She wouldn’t stop what ever Cayne was doing. I think this has to do with the file he has in his mind. Something happened, with Cayne. Something i don’t know what.” (Reply Bell) “All i can promise you is that, when Doctor Bracken goes back to Earth, i will be going back with her. As far as i can tell, Cayne wants her to remove the file from Captain Remae. May i speak freely?” (Reply Bell) “Ma’am, i left him, your husband. I feel bad about that. I truly do. Not that i could do anything really about after getting escorted out of Headquarters but still…. I will go back with her because i will be damned if i let anything nefarious happen to the Captain because i left.” (Reply Bell) (Reply Billy, Bell, Any) (Posted by Jackie) (USS Rebel Wind - Main Engineering, Master Status Room - Head of Reactivation & Refit Command’s Weapons & Propulsion Dept: Utopia Planitia, Ens. T’Loren Sevant - 1215) “em-ARC is at one one five percent rated pressure, the emergency controls are not engaging.” A pause of two seconds as she tapped buttons on the Master Control monitors. “Red Alert, move us away from Starbase Valhalla at best possible speed. Non-essential personnel are to beam off the ship Immediately.” She half turned her head, “Lt Anderson, inform UP Control and clear the flight path.” She waited for a nod and then looked up at the Matter/Antimatter Reaction chamber. Four engineers were hopping around it like mexican jumping beans, trying desperately to get control rods in place and stop the accelerating flow of antimatter, or to figure out why the core itself wouldn’t eject. A series of thumps shook the ship as the anti-matter storage pods were jettisoned, leaving only the one they had been tapping for the power test. They flew off towards Mars as the Rebel Wind swung her nose and immediately went into full impulse power, breaking the normal speed limits and moving into time-distortion speeds at the upper edge of C. “All Antimatter pods have been jettisoned, we’ll be in position for a short warp jump in two minutes.” Mick Anderson shook his head again, a movement T’Loren just caught at the edge of her peripheral vision. “Not fast enough.” “Reactor control failure in fifty-two seconds.” she said, in way of confirmation. The ship shuddered again as several fusion reactors were dumped, to lessen the explosion that was almost certain by a few percentage points. She continued watching the engineers as they continued their desperate struggle. She was not primarily an engineer, the ideas she had for stopping this runaway train had been exhausted minutes ago, she was now at the mercy of the propulsion team that she nominally oversaw. IF this had been a torpedo, she’d have had it in the bag. If this emergency required subspace programming, she was your go-to girl. This was pure mechanics though. The best she could have done would be to give a post-mortem... and that only if she’d not been aboard this flying bomb. “M/ARC at 130% and rising. The flow of anti-matter has reached fifty micro-grams per second, increasing. I’m out of ideas, not even one of my infamous suicidal ideas.” His fist slammed against the console once, twice, and a final third time. “Fifteen seconds.” “Utopia Planitia, you will be in the blast radius.” she said into the channel she’d opened so they could be kept informed without her crew being interrupted. “But I can do this one thing.” Before anyone could say a word, she engaged a very short and simple program she’d written when the pressure in the chamber had breached 100%. It bypassed protocol, all safeties, and ejected the last antimatter pod while it was still being tapped. It was only possible because the ship was in refit and she was listed as the head of propulsion upgrades - otherwise this action would have taken an hour to do by hand. She hadn’t used it before because there was a 100% chance that, once the pod had been ejected at high speed, the antimatter still in the pipe would explode - thus destroying the ship. But the ship was doomed anyway. This would, at least, limit the explosion to a few pounds of anti-matter, rather than a half ton of the stuff. The world flashed white. T’Loren’s eyes closed tight by reflex, and she didn’t open them again for several seconds. She spent that time reviewing just what in the world she was going to say to her superiors. When she did open them, Mick was staring at her. “The hell did you do?” “Ejected the last pod, to lessen the explosion - giving Valhalla a 92% chance of survival.” At the look on his face, she quirked an eyebrow. “We were dead, ten seconds isn’t enough for a miraculous recovery. But it *was* enough to ensure a few other thousand people a life past today.” [Simulation Complete, results transmitted to Starfleet Engineering and Security.] Loren sighed and hung her head for a moment, before massaging the bridge of her nose. “Everyone, thoughts? What the hell was all that?” “The kind of cluster-f*ck that can’t happen except in simulations.” One of the senior techs said, while leaning on a railing from one level above and looking down. “Oh, I think it could happen.” T’Loren said as she speed-read the scenario rundown on her monitor. “The issue was sabotage in two of the antimatter flow regulators, with false programming to indicate it was working properly.” She let the team digest that, a couple of them looked at her with what she would classify as extreme discomfort. Sabotage of antimatter systems was not only an engineer's worst nightmare, but after that incident on Earth... She shook her head and sighed as she closed her terminal, which had flashed the scenario details once the simulation had finished. She hadn't known the scenario from the start, as it would have colored her reactions. Her ideas hadn't been helpful either. The primary problem was that, to discover the damage would have taken a few hours on average - they’d had five minutes. In terms of sabotage, this scenario would be wickedly successful. “Alright, that’s enough.” She finally said as she stepped away. “Some of us have engagements tonight, we’ll come back to this tomorrow. We have two more simulations before we’ve passed our security review and can continue upgrading the Rebel Wind. Use tonight to unwind, come back fresh.” The rest of the team broke off and headed for various exits, all but Mick. “Could you really have done that?” he asked quietly, once everyone was out of earshot. “What, cause an explosion ten seconds before my death?” She looked at him with mild surprise.”Lieutenant, I grew up on warships to a father who bled duty and honor. If it would save the lives of the many, and there was literally no hope for us anyway - yes.” “There are times, Loren, that you scare the shite out of me.” He shook his head and wandered off, leaving her alone in main engineering. Her brows creased slightly as she considered that. Did it mean he wouldn’t have been willing to push the button that would end his own life, in a no-escape scenario? That would require some thought. (Mars - Shuttle - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters - 1416) Boyles shook his head as Hammons walked away. "I don't know what you're thinking sir but you've got it all wrong." "Something's gone wrong all-right. There are no accusations here, we're doing it by the book, all right and correct so fire can't be rained down on us from above." he motioned with his head upwards. "Someone know's something and I intend to find out who." After Hammons had been transported to Medical, Carson had gone about ordering the full Forensics search of Rothvaryn's quarters from the shuttle. As much as transporters were useful, if he had the option and the time to travel without them, he always took that option. "Peters to de Rolo." he said as he activated the comm. link, "I need you to drop your current case file and head to a Kiva Rothvaryn's quarters immediately for a full forensics workup. Ensign Taya is already there, so don't keep her waiting." =^=Of course, I shall be there momentarily.=^= the thick british accent came across the comm. link and it allowed Carson to break into a small smile as he sat down. He'd had limited contact with the head of Forensics, but he thought him to be trustworthy and professional. ~Let's see what he can find.~ (Mars Base, Kiva Rothvaryn's Quarters, Security & Forensics Officer, CPO Percy de Rolo III - 1427) Curious. Curious was the word he would choose if asked to describe what had happened throughout the day so far. One of the bases two Lieutenants had been arrested in the morning, there had been no forewarning from the Chief. The arrest had been quick, concise and oddly loud. Everyone on the base was chattering about it. Another oddity was that the Lieutenant had not then been signed into the Brig. Another rumor which was starting to break was that, he'd been taken to the Earth by the Captain to be presented to Starfleet Headquarters directly. Whatever he had done, must be incredibly serious. Serious enough to warrant the dramatic event that morning. AND then, little under half an hour ago, he had been sat working within the CaC, reading through the rather monotonous report one of his Forensics officers had produced on the murder of a civilian in the city just off the base, when the alert sounded and the Chief jumped into action. From what he'd heard it seemed like Hammons was involved in some form of take-down and it wasn't going as planned. After all that, he'd been requested by name to visit a Kiva Rothvaryn's quarters immediately with his forensics kit. He was no walking down the corridor, stepping at a reasonable pace he turned the corner and noticed the Tactical officer standing outside the quarters seemingly standing guard outside. He acknowledged the officer as he approached, "Hello. I am Chief Petty Officer, Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the third, but most just call me Percy." A strong British accent flowed from his lips. The man just stared at him blankly for a moment, "Ok." "I'm the head of Forensics. I was called for." He raised an eyebrow. "Ah, of course." He stepped away from the door and as it opened called in, "Sir, Forensics is here." Stepping into the room, he was surprised to find the newly minted head of Tactical standing inside with another officer. "Sir. I am Chief Petty Officer, Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the third." he jumped into a quick salute. From behind him came the voice of the guard which had followed him in, "...but most call him Percy." he sounded like sarcasm, but he couldn't be too sure. (Reply Taya) (Posted by Jono Bradley (Mars base, Counsellor's office, CMO Ens(sg) Ailynn Bracken & ACMO Ensign (sg) Erin Cortez - 14.32) Walking into her office, Erin had barely spoken to anyone since Trip had brought her back from Earth. She flung the PADD she had been given down onto her desk and stalked around the room, ~I should never have left. Shouldn't have left him in that room with Cayne. Shouldn't have let Trip talk me into coming back. I should have stayed….~ Ailynn had happened to see Erin come back early from earth, and puzzled, had followed her up to her office, and watched as she paced her office. Tapping gently on the doorframe, Ailynn entered the Office. "Erin? I've had complaints from maintenance, seems that the carpet in this office needs replacing again from all the pacing." Turning round, Erin realised her manner and demeanour were not conducive to her current situation. Closing the door behind Ailynn, she turned back and said simply, "Can I trust you?" "Always. You know that." She shrugged, " What's happened?" "It's Captain Remae. I screwed up." Ailynn perched on the edge of the desk and paused "Remae? How exactly?" Erin sat down with a thump on her sofa and put her head in her hands, "I left him." "Left him? You mean Billy?...I'm so confused. You'd better start at the beginning, don't leave anything out, including the bits you're not allowed to tell me." She rubbed her temples and stood up, ordering a strong coffee before waving a hand in the air "especially those bits." "The Captain has a…. Well, he has a file in his head. Apparently, my evaluation of him triggered something at Starfleet and he and I were ordered there. He went to see Admiral Cayne and I… met with President Atermi. Cayne…. He… has Remae somewhere at Starfleet Medical. He told me to give you that PADD on my desk. " Ailynn leant over and picked up the PADD, and examined it’s contents, having unlocked it with her code. She sighed deeply as she scanned it’s contents, “Dammit...Really?” "I… should have stayed with the Captain. Now, he's undergoing God knows what because I left his side." “This wasn’t your doing ‘E.’ "This is such a mess, Ailynn. This has put me in a bad position. " “Look,” She tried, though she knew that Erin hadn’t cleared her rant yet… “Firstly You did what Remae himself requsted of you...its Standard Ops…” "On the one side, I have my professional courtesy. Captain Remae has placed trust in me with this. Trust and an understanding that, in my role as his counsellor, I don't discuss any of this. But then, there's Billy." “Billy?” "Billy would give his life to help that man through anything. And here I am, knowing that he is going through something, that I am going through something and I can't talk to him about it. I can't tell him because it would break every code as a counsellor I stand by." “Okay! Stop!” Erin dwelling on past decisions wasn’t helping. “What is it you’re asking me?” She looked at the file. “Have you seen this?” "No, I haven't. It was given to me for you…." “Hush…” Ailynnn put down the PADD, then picked it back up immediately and rather than just glancing at it, brought it under the focus of her considerable intellect; just as Cayne knew she would. Ailynn hated being played, especially by people who weren’t as clever as they thought they were. “Cayne wants me to remove it...doesn’t he.” Erin nodded, "Yeah he does. I'll give him that, he said he wanted someone familiar with the Captain's medical history. " “Hours job...tops. Going to need you to put your nurses outfit on though. We’re being played, might as well stick to the rules.” "Wait… me? How are you gonna get me past as a nurse? Never mind that, how the hell are we gonna get into Starfleet medical?" She laughed. “That won’t be a problem, backdoor codes will still work, its how I managed to stitch Trip back together all those times back when I was at Med School.” Erin, feeling a weight lifting, smiled. Then, a thought entered her mind, "This… we're being played here aren't we?" “Oh yes...however it’s by someone who isn’t as clever as they think they are.” Ailynn agreed succinctly. Looking at her friend, Erin sighed, "Something is going on here. Cayne, when he came into the President's office… I could just tell there was more to this. Something neither of them wanted anyone to know, especially not me. That's why I got a little mad and got myself escorted out…." “Good girl. Always good to remind Admirals that they’re not all that.” "Not the Admiral… I may have shouted at the President…" Erin replied, looking down at the floor. Ailynn laughed. “Even better. If you’re going to go down, might as well be in some style eh?” Looking back up, Erin smiled softly, "Look, will you do me a favour? This is going to sound stupid and, very possibly, irrational. If we get caught sneaking into Starfleet medical, it's probable that I will get arrested or thrown out. I shouted at the President of the Federation for goodness sake. Just… tell Billy I'm sorry." “Of course I will. You are however being rather melodramatic.” Ailynn sighed gently, and smiled, “If he’d have wanted you out your backside would be toast already.” "I know. I know." Erin replied. "Told you it was silly. I just hate the feeling that they are trying to play me… play us. Something else is going on here and I hate with a passion, fleet politics. It's why i never want a command position. Too much posturing and too much paperwork. " she smiled. “Look. We’re 2 Medical Officers, in a medical building. We stay in uniform until the last moment. No one will question two more blues. I remember Mum saying floor 4b was being refitted, so I’d gamble that’s where he is as few people go there. There’s theatres there that we can use.” "Okay." Erin replied simply, grateful for Ailynn's calm and steady nature. “As to Fleet Politics...Yeah it’s a pain, but my family didn’t get where it was by playing the game their way.” She shrugged. “I could always wear Captain’s pips and pretend to be mum?” Smiling widely, Erin shook her head, "We're in enough hot water with this as it is. Let's not add to the list of things that we could get arrested for. Impersonation of a ranking Starfleet officer… whilst that could help, you'd be in deep…. You know if it got figured out." Smiling warmly, Ailynn found herself feel more alive than she had in a while. “Spoilsport. You’re right though.” She paused for a moment, “Okay, grab a set of scrubs, and your dress blues, I’ll swing by my office and grab my medkit, and stuff. I’ll meet you on the ramp for the second shuttle in 10?” "We have time. We should probably do this as close to the party as we can. That way, Cayne isn't in the equation. He'll be at the party. Also, we can get in and out and still make the party as if nothing happened. " “Makes sense. Look, I have to go, I’ve got a ton of stuff to do, and I’ve just had reports of a body appear so I need to look at that. Keep me in the loop?” "Always, partner in crime." Erin replied with a wink. "The next question we have to think of is what the hell do we do with the file when we get it out?" Pausing for a second, she bit her lip, a habit she had when she was nervous, "I don't trust Cayne as far as I can throw him. Part of me says we should look at it. See what the fuss is about and then tell the Captain. Not Cayne." Ailynn nodded. “Agreed. Be careful.” "Always." Ailynn left the office at her normal long stride, her mind was already on the rest of the afternoon, but a large part of it, was already considering Earth, and Starfleet Medical. (Reply none) (Posted by Jackie and Mark) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Security's Office - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, 1450) He'd left Boyles, Fredericks & their evidence to be processed in by his aide as he stepped inside of his office for the first time in a few hours. As the door shut, he stood still and breathed deeply. "F***" yelling he threw the padd in his hand towards his desk, it clattered off it and hit the wall. Putting his face into his hands and crouching down low, he stayed still for a full minute. Processing what had happened, over and over in his brain. Where had it gone wrong? Why had it gone wrong? Was it a coincidence? Unlikely. Who was the mole within his department. Are they in his department? Perhaps its an Admin or Op's person. Could be someone higher, were they so far off with the fake arrest of a Lieutenant? Maybe even an Admiral. What is the next step? What IS the next step? Opening his eyes he straightened his legs and stood up. Another deep breath and he spun around and headed straight back out of the door. No one in the corridor, could tell what had happened in his office, the walls were sound-proofed in the Chief's office. A brisk walk later, down a few corridors to the other side of the Seventh Floor and he walked towards a door which was guarded. The Chief of Intelligence's office. It had never actually been used for it's actual purpose, Intelligence had their own well protected portion of the base which they operated out of. This was here, if... well, Carson failed to see much of a reason for it, but it had certainly come in useful as an Operation centre for their mission. "You're relieved." he said to the Security Officer's standing at the door. They looked surprised, but didn't question the order. "Return to your normal duties. You have my thanks." and with that he swept through the door. (Mars facility - corridors- TAC/SEC Ens(jg) Paul Sleeford) Sleeford stepped up the steps leading to the facility on Mars, having spent a tedious journey from Earth, the small transport had bee filled with giggling young ensigns freshly minted from the academy, all excited about their first postings to what little ships there where in the fleet, keeping himself apart Sleeford watched as the group got slowly drunk. Pausing at the door Sleeford took a deep breath and walked through the door and approached the desk, his cane tapping a tattoo with ever step. Stopping Sleeford eyed the bored looking crewman, a sight he'd become familiar with over the past few months. "Ensign Sleeford to see Admiral Bell" Looking up the crewman pointed to the corridor leading away to the left. "Down there forth on the right" Shaking his head Sleeford walked slowly down the corridor arriving at the indicated door, pressing the door chime he waited. (Reply BELL) Taking a breath Sleeford entered the room and slowly made his way to the desk. Stand to attention, his cane straight by his side Sleeford reported in. "Ensign Sleeford reporting for duty Ma'am" (Reply BELL) Placing the PADD on the desk, Sleeford waited while the Admiral read his file. Glancing round the room quickly Seelford saw that the room had recently been occupied and by someone who'd rather be elsewhere. Relaxing slightly Sleeford waited, knowing the next questions would probably be about his ability to do the job. Something he'd gotten used to over the past months. (Reply Bell if any) Leaving the office Sleeford headed down to the security office to report in to his new boss. Resting on his cane for the short ride down, Sleeford took the time to review his first impressions, so far he'd meet a bored crewman, who wanted anything but to be threre, an admiral who would rather be somewhere else and several Ensigns running around with nothing better to do then get in each others way, the only thing Sleeford hadn't seen was anyone of rank, discounting the admiral, it looked to him like the entire facility was being run by babies. Entering the security floor Sleeford approached the door of his new boss. Tapping the door frame with the end of his stick Sleeford waited. (Reply PETERS) (Posted by Alistair - Ens (Jg) Paul Sleeford) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Intelligence Office - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, 1504) Lieutenant Sekal was sat behind the desk, currently in the middle of... something. Carson almost tripped over the cat as he walked through the door. "You're free to return to duty, Lieutenant." he said, as he moved past the desk and towards the door to the left of the room which was currently housing the Intelligence Analyst he had on loan from Foxglove. (Reply Sekal) "Let's just say, things have not gone to plan, I'll have a better idea of what's happened and where to go next in a few hours." (Reply Sekal) Pausing before heading in to speak with Vax'ildan, he said, "Computer, please reinstate Lieutenant Sekal's position and priviliges." The computer confirmed the change, "Again, Thanks for your help. I'll add my notes to your file within the hour, so if anyone gives you trouble they can go in and read them." (Reply Sekal) He finished the conversation and then tapped in a code to unlock the personal quarters, which were attached to the office and walked through the door. Vax'ildan's head whipped up from his computer terminal with an alertness which impressed Carson, he didn't know the specifics of why the older man hadn't progressed on to becoming an Agent, or Intelligence Officer in his many years working for SFI, but it looked like he had the talents for it. Before he could say anything his comm. link activated once again, =^=Chief, Sorry, I have an Ensign Sleeford here in the main base. Reporting in as assigned by Admiral Bell.=^= Carson hung his head for a moment and sighed, "Ask him to head over to my office in the Security Building. I'll be there once I have a moment. Peters out." He turned off the comm. link and disabled it for the moment and looked back towards the Betazoid. "Talk to me." Carson said as he took a seat opposite the man. (Reply Sekal, Sleeford, None) (Posted by Jono Bradley) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Intelligence Office - CSRD, Lt. (jg) Sekal, 1506) Sekal had dropped the full workup on the theoretical materials outlines locked to his access into the main database only moments ago when the Chief of Security walked or rather stormed in. The man's face was red and he was sporting a deep frown. His tone was also gruff and short. "You're free to return to duty, Lieutenant." He was basically talking over his shoulder as he blew past. "I take it from your manner that the arrest did not work out as intended." Sekal folded his arms as the Chief paused in his headlong rush. "Let's just say, things have not gone to plan, I'll have a better idea of what's happened and where to go next in a few hours." Sekal nodded and stood to his feet. "Very well I will clean up the office before I leave. If you find yourself in need of my services you have but to ask." "Computer, please reinstate Lieutenant Sekal's position and priviliges." The computer answered an affirmative. "Again, Thanks for your help. I'll add my notes to your file within the hour, so if anyone gives you trouble they can go in and read them." Sekal watched him leave then picked up the pet carrier and set it within easy reach. Once the office was pristine he would gather T'Lah and the PADD and depart. It was evident that the trap the security department had set had failed and he was already formulating a theory as to why. It was a logical conclusion and easily overlooked. Even he had failed to take account of it in the planning stage with Hammons. This all assumed of course that there had not been a leak and with so few involved and considering the depths of Hammons paranoid preparations a leak would seem unlikely. But the vagaries of human nature could not always be foreseen hence the logical conclusion he had drawn. (Reply: None) (Posted by Charles G) (Mars Base, 7th Floor, Outside Sec Chiefs Office - NPC, Petty Officer 3rd Class, Jeremy Dunce - 1516) "Dunce, I need your signature on this." He leaned over the desk, looked it over and placed his signature to accept delivery on the padd. "Put it ova there, will ya." he said pointing to the empty desk next to him. It had been an all-together extremely strange day so far, as one of the Chiefs main aides (there were three of them all together) he'd barely seen his boss all day. He'd either been locked up in the CaC, charging off with weapons, arresting the Chief of Scientific Research or holed up in the offices on the Eighth Floor of the Security Service's Complex. And he'd done it all without so much of a word to any of the aides, who had been running around trying to make sure they had what he required at which ever office he appeared at next. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a man he'd not seen before, he was in a Security uniform and was tapping what looked like a Walking Stick on the closed door to the Chief's office. ~Must be new~ Dunce thought to himself, ~Here comes the Welcome Wagon~ Walking the short distance from his desk, he called out, "Sorry, Sir. The Chief's not here, is there anything we can do for you?" (Reply Sleeford) "I see, han' fire for a moment." Dunce stepped back slightly and tapped his comm. badge, "Chief, Sorry, I have an Ensign Sleeford here in the main base. Reporting in as assigned by Admiral Bell." There was a pause before the answer came through, =^=Ask him to head over to my office in the Security Building. I'll be there once I have a moment. Peters out.=^= the channel shut. ~That was short~ Dunce thought to himself, "You've arrived on quite a busy day, Sir." (Reply Sleeford) "The Chief arrested the Chief of Scienctific Research this Morning and it seems to have been going downhill since then. He'll be waiting for you over in the Security Services Complex- which, ah, is our.. Security & Tactical that is, main building." Dunce looked at the man, "It's a bit o' a walk though I'm afraid. You could take the transporter's if you wanted?" (Reply Sleeford) (Posted by Jono Bradley - Jeremy Dunce) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Outside Chief of Security Office- SPC SecO- Petty Officer (2ndClass) Steven Hammons- 1523) He had rolled into the main hallway in time to see someone else step into the Chief's office. The guy was sporting a cane and didn't exactly look light on his feet. ~Poor guy, wonder what that's all about.~ Steven's injuries had been patched up pretty thoroughly but his right hand was still a little swollen. Blood loss from the knife slash low on his left side hadn't been dangerous but they'd given him some fluids anyway along with regenerating the skin closed. The worst part was he'd been told to take it easy on the affected areas for the rest of the day as well as tomorrow. That meant no slamming his fists into the heavy bag like he wanted to do. The reasoning? To allow the swelling in the tissues to subside even though his knuckle was no longer fractured and his side was closed up. He also had his shadow dogging his steps at Carson's instructions. That guy's presence didn't help calm him down either. As soon as he was cleared in the follow-up interrogation he would get rid of the guy, until then he was an irritant by nature of his very existence. Steven stopped and leaned against the wall be the door to the office while his guard folded his arms and waited silently, he'd already figured out that Hammons wasn't interested in conversation. Hammons stewed on the cluster **** that had gone down earlier while he waited, for the life of him he couldn't figure out how they had known to make their move when they did. The guys they had captured were likely just muscle and not the decision makers. Still.... interrogating them might lead to someone farther up the food chain. "They'd better know something worth my while". Steven grated. "What?" His unwelcome shadow asked. Steven just glared at him for a moment then turned away and went back to waiting silently. (Reply: Sleeford, any) (Posted by Charles G (Steven Hammons) (Mars base, Chief of security’s office, SPC- SecO- Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons-15:25) Steven was leaning against the wall trying not to think about what might have gone wrong, where a leak might have occurred. There were too many unknowns. If Sekal or the Chief were in on it there was nothing he could have done about it. He didn't personally know the analyst and Boyles and Fredericks hadn't known who their target was until after the meeting when they had gone over preparations for her capture. He'd like to think that it would take some time to put a two man hit team together but it may have taken mere hours or less than an hour. Perhaps it had gone into motion after Sekal's faux arrest. But if it had then why? Was everything happening on the base being monitored by some big brother somewhere or was this a knee jerk reaction to a *just in case* scenario? And what about the transporter? Luma had said that the trace was unfamiliar to her so it wasn't just some run of the mill beam in from a standard StarFleet issued unit. Was it alien or an experimental long-range version? Had it come from Earth or somewhere else? Even the Intelligence unit on Mars used the standard transporters. So large of a rabbit hole wasn't his cup of tea and he felt like he was circling the drain when the door opened again and the man with the cane made his way out. “Can you direct me towards the Medical department” Steven nodded and tried to keep the surliness out of his voice. "It's in a detached facility. Walk out the front entrance and it will be on your left, first building." He watched the guy wander off, his cane clicking as it made contact with the floor then abruptly remembered the reason he was here as his shadow cleared his throat. Hammons glanced up then spun and entered the Chief's office, it was time to face the firing squad with a cigarette firmly in his teeth. He had no idea what Peters was going to throw at him but he needed to keep his cool. Carson had bought in on his plan and it had been a failure so he could expect a good a** chewing at the least. "All right Chief shoot...", he said as he walked in the door, "...let's get this monkey show on the road so I can get on with the rest of my life. Hopefully without brig time." (Reply: Carson) (Posted by Charles G) (Mars Base, Security Services Centre, Chief of Security Office - SCO, Ens(sg) Carson Peters, 1528) Having moved to Carson's office, he and Vax'iildan were continuing their conversation on the botched portion of the mission when a light tapping could be heard coming from the door, which he had, for the first time since moving in, locked. "In there." he pointed towards the door to his personal space. Vax'ildan clearly trained at leaving a room quickly and stealthily was through the door as Carson tapped the button which opened the door to the main corridor. Walking in, the man he didn't recognise placed a padd on the desk and then stepped back, not quite at attention but certainly formally. The man walked with a cane which intrigued Carson somewhat, an odd profession to continue to choose to do with such an impairment. He picked the padd up and briefly read the orders from Admiral Bell to integrate the Ensign within the Security & Tactical departments. “Ensign Sleeford reporting for duty sir!” the man said, once he'd cleared his throat. Carson took a beat whilst continuing to look through the padd and then looked up to the officer, "At ease, Ensign. Please take a seat." "This entire," he began, waved his hand around a little, "experiment.. duty station.. base.. is still incredibly new. It's good to see someone with some experience joining the department. I apologise in advance, normally I would have prepped and have a position ready for you, however we're bang in the middle of an operation, so tell me a little about your proficiencies so I can fit you in where we'll get the best out of you." (Reply Sleeford) "Now tell me about any restrictions you have," he eyed the cane, "Do we need to make any changes for you?" (Reply Sleeford) "Right," Carson said after Sleeford went through the required information, "First things first, You need to head to Medical & Counselling, get the once over and meet the people there. I'm not sure who's on duty," he paused for a moment and thought, "and they may have a lot on their hands too. Once you've done that report into Ensign Taya, she's the acting Chief of Tactical." (Reply Sleeford) "Take the rest of the day to get to know the base and the personnel, once you're up and running though, you'll be taking active charge of the Security department during the beta shift. Ensign Saarsgard has the Alpha shift, so it'd be worth you getting together with him and introducing yourself also." Sleeford left once he'd gotten his orders and Hammon's trudged in directly afterwards. "All right Chief shoot...", he said as he walked in the door, "...let's get this monkey show on the road so I can get on with the rest of my life. Hopefully without brig time." "Medical fixed you up quicker than expected." Carson observed, "Take a seat." he said authoritatively. There was a pause, a silence which filled the room for what felt like a full minute as Carson pondered on what to say. "I like you Hammons. You got to the crux of this case far faster than I had a right to expect you to and by the looks of it any slower and my... hesitancy would have left us with nothing. But why... jeez, why would you almost bludgeon the guy to death? You've just made things significantly more complicated." (Reply Hammons) Carson pulled a seperate padd from one of the draw's behind the desk, "This is a requirement, you'll know this already." tapping a few button's on the padd he brought up the 'Use of Force in an Offensive Scenario Form' and sighed slightly as he began filling it out, "You felt the force used was equal to that which you expected to receive?" (Reply Hammons) Nodding, "With the event fresh in your memory, you're happy that both Fredericks & Boyle also used force which was equal you expected to receive and acted both professionally and responsibily?" (Reply Hammons) They went through several more questions in the same vein, the time ticking by slowly as the required form's were filled in and stored. "and Finally, with the event in your mind clearly are they anything you would change if faced with the same scenario again?" (Reply Hammons) "Ok. With that done." he tapped the console and the door to his personal area re-opened and Vax walked back in, nodded to Hammons and sat down beside him. "Debrief time, Gentlemen. What do we know, why did it happen and where do we go from here?" Carson said, handing the initiative off to the two men in-front of him. "Either, they knew she was about to be arrested or we'd frustrated the means of communications too much that whoever was in charge took action to make sure she hadn't been compromised." Vax'ildan said "Forensics are in the apartment now, we'll hopefully find if she had another means of communicating there. The two men, you took down" he nodded to Hammons, "didn't seem to have anything else on them." (Reply Hammons) (Posted by Jono Bradley - Carson Peters & Vax'ildan) (Mars Base-Security Services Centre- CSec Office - (SPC) Petty Officer (2nd Class) Steven Hammons- 1535) "I like you Hammons. You got to the crux of this case far faster than I had a right to expect you to and by the looks of it any slower and my... hesitancy would have left us with nothing. But why... jeez, why would you almost bludgeon the guy to death? You've just made things significantly more complicated." "Well let's get something straight first Chief...", Hammons began, "...it's not like I took a tire iron to the guy." He shifted in his chair. "You can quiz Boyles on what happened, I'm sure he can tell you the details and I wouldn't ask him to lie on my account." He leaned forward. "I tackled the guy and got in the first blow, a kick to the face, bloodied his nose and he still got up. That's when I cut loose with the uppercut that broke his jaw and one of my knuckles. Blame Mars gravity but not me for the way he looks. I exploded out of a crouch when I threw it but we are talking one third Earth normal gravity here." He shook his head. "The guy still made it to his feet. A couple of body shots later along with a kick to the chest and he was down." Peters mentioned required paperwork and pulled out a PADD. "You felt the force used was equal to that which you expected to receive?" Hammons gave a derisive laugh. "I could have expected to receive a lot worse than he got if he hadn't lost that knife he sliced we with at some point in the struggle so yeah. I stayed within the bounds of equal force." The Chief nodded. "With the event fresh in your memory, you're happy that both Fredericks & Boyle also used force which was equal you expected to receive and acted both professionally and responsibily?" He nodded. "Far as I know Fredericks fired the once and took down his target. Boyles never threw a punch. He was too busy holding me back to make sure I didn't jump that son ** * ***** after he was down. Boyles saved my bacon with his actions and I don't mind saying so." More forms and questions appeared followed by, "and Finally, with the event in your mind clearly are they anything you would change if faced with the same scenario again?" Hammons sat back with a sigh. "I probably should have stunned him with my phaser like Fredericks did with his guy but he had made it personal to me. So yeah in the future I'll keep a clear head and use my sidearm. Walking around with a bloody shirt and a fractured knuckle wasn't a pleasant experience." "Ok. With that done." He punched a button and the analyst reappeared. Hammons didn't know him, didn't know anything about him. Was he the leak? There was no way to know... yet. "Debrief time, Gentlemen. What do we know, why did it happen and where do we go from here?" "Either, they knew she was about to be arrested or we'd frustrated the means of communications too much that whoever was in charge took action to make sure she hadn't been compromised." "Forensics are in the apartment now, we'll hopefully find if she had another means of communicating there. The two men, you took down" he nodded to Hammons, "didn't seem to have anything else on them." "Except the knife." Steven stated firmly. "That's in evidence and needs to be checked by forensics to see if it's the murder weapon. If it is it will have two sets of DNA on the blade, hers and mine since he slashed me with it." "And as for the why and how?" He shook his head. "They kill her the very day we set the trap. If you believe in coincidences good for you but I don't. The timing was way too neat for my liking." (Reply: Vax) "That leaves two possibilities in my mind. They guessed or were told. How the hell they would have guessed I have no freaking idea. Everything was tied up neatly on our end. She was no longer a suspect in our case file and we had gathered enough evidence to place an arrest order on someone else... again by the case file. How do you jump from that to 'Oh! It's a trap!' I don't get it! We laid a perfect trail away from her, gave her the opening she needed and she ends up dead." He stomped the floor with his right foot. "It doesn't fly with me." (Reply: Vax) "Yeah that leaves only one possibility. Someone ratted us out. One of the seven people who had knowledge of it either let it slip or warned them purposely. The only other explanation if this case makes you as paranoid as it's made me is that big brother is watching us but I think Luma can be our watchdog on that front." (Reply: Vax, Carson) (Posted by Charles G (Steven Hammons) (Mars Facility, Science Annex– CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 1544) Sekal walked through the ground floor airlock door into the building with the pet carrier in his right hand and his personal PADD in the left. The reception area attendant looked up at him as he entered and blanched. "Sir... I..." "You will find that my credentials have been unlocked with an explanation by the Chief of Security." The man quickly pulled up his file and read it then gave a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry sir. Welcome back." The Vulcan nodded and strode past the civilian security contingent who watched him in confusion for a moment. They knew who he was and what he had been arrested for but he had been waved though. Heck a rumor had been circulating around the base that the Chief of Scientific Research and Development was on Earth undergoing interrogation yet here he was larger than life walking through the building as though he owned the place! Sekal acknowledged them with a glance and a small nod but didn't break stride and they parted before him like the Red Sea, he then made for the turbolift. (Mars Facilities - Shuttle Pass - ENS SG Counselor Ariel Trei - 15.45) She checked in for the trip to Starfleet HQ. She was glad there was a blue medical dress uniform. She looked pretty good in it. If she had to wear the dress whites she tended to look like a walking lit candle with her red hair. She didn't know what to expect with this trip but it was sure to be interesting. (Reply Remae) (Posted by Edward) (Runnabout Evangeline - Cockpit - Admiral's Aide Ensign JG Billy Alexander - 15:50) Billy sat silently in the cockpit of the Runnabout. He was classed with being able to fly support craft so Trip, being ever shrewd and not wanting to assign one of his pilots, decided that Billy was going to play chauffeur for those going down to Earth for the "Party." Billy had the distinct impression this was going to be nothing more than a dog and pony show, hence why they were wearing their dress uniforms. He was supposed to be going down with his girlfriend Erin, but she was acting odd, well odder than usual that is. Still he volunteered so he had to do his job. The party bus, as the runabout was being called, was starting to fill up. Counselor Trei was one of the first to arrive as was the Bajoran doctor Kyros Ryelle who sat silently in the crew compartment. The Evangeline was configured less for scientific missions and more for transport, so the rear compartment was set with plenty of seating. "Will be headed out in about ten minutes, need to wait for the others to arrive." Billy said turning back to look at Trei. (Reply Trei) "The hope is to leave at 16:00 sharp. Then after 45 minutes, we should arrive HQ with time to spare for the party." (Reply Trei) (Runabout Evangeline - Rear Passenger Section - R&R/W&P Ens. Sevant - 15:52) “Ah, excuse me.” T’Loren recovered herself as a bear of a man in security yellow caught her arm, after nearly knocking her off her feet. “My fault, I wasn’t paying attention.” She replied. She gave him a small nod and stepped into the runabout, as he’d stepped aside to let her pass. Her attention almost immediately went back to the PADD in her hand as she negligently picked a seat at random and smoothed her uniform under her to sit. She’d spent three hours trying to figure out a way around the scenario they’d failed so spectacularly, but so far, no new safety features or procedures had jumped out at her - minus the obvious, to double-check every system twice before starting up. That wasn’t practical though, not with her team being stretched so thin over so many ships. It was a nightmare, and here she was being flown to a formal party. She’d rather have stayed behind. (reply: Any) (posted by Trout) (Runabout Evangeline - Rear Compartment - ENS SG Counselor Ariel Trei - 15.54) She took a seat in the rear compartment and looked over to Billy. She sensed something was troubling him but it was not the time to deal with the issue. She walked over to the cockpit to greet him. "Hello Billy. Are you ready for the trip?" (Reply Billy) (Posted by Edward) (Mars Facility- Science Annex– CSRD Office- CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 1601) He had checked in at several of the labs on the way to the office, not getting into the details of the research but "showing his face" as it were to let everyone know that he had returned. There had been varied reactions, from shock to relief and he had received them with the same emotional detachment. He set the pet carrier on the desk and released T'Lah who groomed two of his fingers briefly in thanks before hopping down to go to her water bowl. There was still a lot of dried food in her food bowl left over from this morning but he recycled it and replicated more then refilled her water bowl. He also recycled and replaced the contents of her litter box before moving to the desk. He had completely cleaned and wiped down the office of the Chief of Intelligence before leaving it along with recycling everything there that was no longer needed. He sat down and opened the cabinet on the right side of the desk near his legs, inside was a safe which he unlocked with a combination thumb scan and voiced code phrase. The voice recognition program also analyzed his voice pattern along with the code. Taking out its contents he placed the crystal above the display device where it revolved slowly, throwing off glints of blue due to reflected light from the opened window. "Luma retrieve the file sent in at fifteen hundred and add it to the projected materials file." He had completed setting up the outlines for future weapon and shield components earlier and dropped them into the main database under his name. The Intelligence section was compartmentalized so he hadn't been able to directly access the science department files there in order to merge them. =^= Luma is pleased that the Sekal has returned. Luma was anxious and worried until the Hammons explained that the Sekal was involved in a hunting exercise to capture a bad person.=^= "A hunting exercise?" "A snare is used for hunting is it not?" "Yes." He left it at that. There was much Luma would learn in time and human slang could be difficult to understand. =^= Luma could not tell the Vex about the huntings and this did not please Luma. It made Luma very sads.=^= "The purpose behind it was extreme. The more people that knew of it the less chance it would be successful." He cocked an eyebrow. "Their concerns were justified. The infiltrator was killed to silence her." =^= That makes Luma very sad. The Sekal's file has been merged.=^= "Display it please." His eyes traveled down the rows of parameters and he nodded in satisfaction. Once the crystal drive was completed, if it was eventually completed and if materials could be manufactured within the listed tolerances then the projected power of StarFleet would be increased to unheard of levels. Those used in weaponry reaching the highest tiers would burn through the shields of a Borg cube and slice the vessel into sections that could be obliterated by torpedoes and the primary shielding could absorb the Borg's main weapon without buckling. The Borg themselves were now scattered and impotent but at some point in time others would reverse engineer or discover the technology on their own. Having a counter to it was necessary. He sat back and steepled his fingers at the dichotomy. He was a scientist not a man of war yet he was engaged in laying out the parameters for offensive and defensive systems. Yet in a way it carried it's own logic. In order to meet the Admiral's orders every system of a ship needed to be upgraded. His father himself had started on an exploration vessel then made the transition to a warship and was accounted to be an able tactician, perhaps brilliant. While a scientist at his core he was well able to achieve stunning military victories like the one that had opened the path for the fifty second battle Fleet into Federation space to unseat Doenitz which had put an end to the civil war. The ship and crew had eventually been destroyed leaving only a single survivor. Had Saleke died then Sekal himself would not exist. "Would I have made the same step?" His words were directed to no one. "Could i do it if necessary?" There was no one to answer. No one except T'Lah that is. She hopped upon the desk and sniffed the crystal for his scent before batting at it. He moved to the replicator and ordered some catnip toys to occupy her. It wasn't long before she was engaged in spirited battle with a stuffed mouse which she would alternate between raking with her claws then carrying it around the room before attacking it again while he returned to his work. (Reply: Any) (Posted by Charles G) (Mars Facility, Science Annex- 3rd floor, High energy particle physics lab– CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 1700) The lab was spacious and well equipped with a mass spectral graph analyzer, an energy conduction field sensor and a number of other pieces of equipment dealing with energy field and subatomic particle research. Sekal planned to bring his research to this lab on the morrow. The faux arrest which he had been involved in had eaten up his day as foreseen but he had made up for it in finishing up some long range theoretical specifications. With that framework now in place his conclusions could be tested to see if they were accurate at the proper time. First of course the foundation had to be successfully laid. Ensign Stennin was currently engaged in scanning the delicate internal components of the phaser he had been given to study. He noted the science officer was in process of doing so using one of the sensor units. Sekal walked over to him and stood by until the other Vulcan turned from what he was doing to acknowledge him. (Reply: Stennin) Sekal nodded. "Is your study proceeding successfully?" (Reply: Stennin) He looked at the readout. "The magnetic focusing coils are not standard. What alloy of material did they use in the manufacture of it? The magnetic fields they are generating is of extremely high strength for such an application but it is logical. Dark matter is of a highly stable energy form that is difficult to influence. (Reply: Stennin) (Posted by Charles G (Earth-Napa Valley- Home of Dale Bracken - FCSO Lt. JG Trip Williams and SPC Civilian Liaison Ashlyn Jones - 17:04) As Trip landed the fighter in the clearing in front of Dale’s estate, Trip could feel. Ash’s nervousness. They were supposed to be going to the Bracken Villa in Tuscany, but due to change in Ash’s work schedule and Trip deciding to take Remae to Starfleet HQ early that morning, it would have been too late to visit in Tuscany, so Dale moved the meeting to her home in the Napa Valley. It was smaller than the Tuscan villa, but was about 10 acres and did have some grapes. Originally acquired to grow different grapes then the one Tuscan vineyards, it ended up being Dale’s quiet place. A perfect place for Ash to meet her mother for the first time. “Well Ash,” he said looking at her and putting his hand on her shoulder for support. “I know it’s not the Tuscan vineyard I promised, but well we’re here. How are you feeling?” Ash stepped out of the shuttle, and took in her surroundings. “Look whatever happens I’m her for you. Would you like me to stay in the shuttle when you meet Dale?” Ashlyn shook her head. “I’d like you to come? She’ll want to see you anyway and you’re better at the tiny details of the plan that we constructed.” It was a lie, Ash knew the entire thing backwards and inside out. "As you wish. Dont worry. I'll stay close by." As they walked up the steps leading to a varanda area, as Ashlyn reached the top step, she saw a tall woman, with iron-grey hair cut short. Had she not have been wearing her uniform, Ash would have instantly known that she was used to Command. There was an aura about her that made her nervous, an air of competence, and intelligence, Ashlyn instantly saw where Aimee and Ailynn had inherited it. Reaching the top step, Ashlyn watched, as Dale’s face changed, from a thoughtful, perhaps impassive air, to one that lit up with a warm welcoming smile. “Ashlyn?” Dale was fighting every urge she had to just grab the terrified young girl into a hug, but she knew that it was way too soon. Dale continued to regard Ashlyn’s features, It was fair to say that she was stunningly beautiful, and she had those same eyes that all her family had, expressive, thoughtful, and highly intelligent. There were clear hints here and there as to her parentage, down to simple mannerisms, the way that she held her shoulders as she walked. "Hey Dale. I brought Someone who is dying to meet you." Trip said with a smile. Dale nodded. “Trip dear. There’s a bottle of ‘32 in the pantry, right hand side. Be a gentleman would you?” "The chianti? Sure I'll be right back." Trip then left go get the wine. "Ash, Ill be back in a flash." He said bounding up the steps into the house. Dale swallowed her nerves. Despite all the stupidly dangerous missions that she’d been sent on over the years, this was the moment that made her the most nervous, as if the ground could swallow her up right now…Thankfully Ashlyn stepped up to the plate. “I’m not normally at a loss for words, but...Mum?” Dale regarded her daughter, stood there, brave as you like, in the face of the most terrifying situation, she could then see the rest of Ashlyn’s genetics, the way that she tilted her jaw to address a situation, the tiniest tightening around the eyes, and a hint of steel deep within her. Dale nodded. “If that’s what you want to call me, I’d like that. I understand if you can’t, Dale is fine.” Trip returned with the bottle and three glasses. "I'm off until tomorrow afternoon and I love wine. Mind if we stay overnight?" “Of course. There’s room. It’s just me at the moment. Mum and dad are in Tuscany. Aimee has something early tomorrow so she’s staying at her home in San Francisco. Sit please.” She opened the bottle and poured three half glasses out, passing the first to Ash.” Ashlyn smiled a thanks as she received the glass, sniffed it and took a small sip, leaning back in her chair. Dale herself passed Trip’s glass over, “All in place?” "Lynn thinks that you got freaky with a Vedek and got knocked up. She bought it. Still a bit distant from Ash. But hey, Ash has a friend in me. What about Aimee? She buy it?" Ashlyn watched, entranced, as the two spoke to each other, she’d never seen two people speak so openly. Dale made a face. “Aimee is the issue.” She held up a comforting hand. “She and I are closer than you can imagine, she knows me better than anybody. That said, she’s said nothing, but there was the tiniest hint…” "Do you think she'll tell Lynn?" She shook her head. “Never. She’ll speak to me first, I trust Aimee beyond absolutely.” She turned to Ash. “She’s coming to terms with a shock, even as you are. Aimee is a practical creature though, a scientist, and a former field agent. She knows what’s expected, even if she doesn’t understand it.” “My sister?” Ashlyn asked gently. Dale smiled, nodding. “She is crazy keen to meet you. Emotional creature bless her.” "So speaking of secret plans. I had an ulterior motive for bringing Ash here." “More secret plans? James Williams you have been busy.” She raised an eyebrow amused. "From now until we leave, no talk of machinations. We have fun, we party, and mother and daughter get to know each other." “Agreed. Firstly, I have something that I want Ashlyn to have. I’ll be right back.” Dale stood up and walked into the Villa, appearing a couple of minutes later. “What’s she up to Trip?” "I don't know. Honestly." “I’m just getting used to this. Apart from everything else, I can’t believe I’m here. Ailynn always said how beautiful it was. Dad never allowed me to come though.” "Yeah…" Trip paused. He was putting his relationship with his sister and best friend on the line. Just then, Dale stepped back out onto the veranda, a small box in her hand. She opened it and passed it over to Ashlyn. As Ashlyn took the box off Dale, she inhaled sharply, her hands shook. She carefully took out the contents. “Mum?” Dale smiled at Ashlyn’s reaction as she pulled out the beautiful, intricate jewelry out of the box “It’s Bajoran d’ja pagh. It belonged to your father. It has the symbol of your father’s house, and the markings of the highest caste in Bajoran society.” Ashlyn looked stunned. “Dale I...I...This is beautiful, priceless... I can’t. “It’s yours. He’d want you to have it. I want you to have it.” She closed Ashlyn’s hand around the earring. Trip smiled. It was a beautiful moment. But he felt out of place, like him being there was ruining the moment. Dale caught Trip’s awkwardness. “Now, I must impress on you. Although this is yours, and you have every right to it. I must forbid you from ever wearing it. The symbols and markings would instantly be recognised, and put you at risk.” “Now…” She smiled at Trip, “awkward moment over. What shall we eat?” "Well, probably a carbonara, maybe roasted potatoes and a saltimbocca. I don't know. I mean, we’re not in Italy but I’m craving Italian." "That sounds good. Ashlyn would you like to help?" She stood up and nodded to Trip, telling him that it was all okay. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'm going for a walk." Ashlyn sat up looking worried. "It's okay Ashlyn," Dale said. "He's always liked a walk on his own, whether here, his family ranch, or the villa, he likes open spaces. Shall we?" Trip then excused himself and walked towards a small pond a few acres away from the house. Dale stopped at the door, watching the man who she had always considered a son walk away. She had her arm around Ashlyn’s shoulders, but the obvious weight of Trip's burden weighed heavily on her own. What had made her such a good operative was her innate ability to read people. Not empathically, but by simple body language. She watched as he disappeared between the hedges, remembering the 10 year old who had done the same thing. Turning to Ashlyn she smiled warmly. Leading her into the kitchen, her mind already filing several pieces of information away. She turned one last time at the gap in the hedge, now empty making a note to chat to the Williams parents later when she could be alone with her thoughts ~Alone. Even in the company of family and friends. He still seems as alone as he did the last time he was here.~ (reply none) (posted by Will and Mark(SPC Ashlyn Jones)) (Earth-Napa Valley- Home of Dale Bracken - FCSO Lt. JG Trip Williams and SPC Civilian Liaison Ashlyn Jones - 17:04) As Trip landed the fighter in the clearing in front of Dale’s estate, Trip could feel. Ash’s nervousness. They were supposed to be going to the Bracken Villa in Tuscany, but due to change in Ash’s work schedule and Trip deciding to take Remae to Starfleet HQ early that morning, it would have been too late to visit in Tuscany, so Dale moved the meeting to her home in the Napa Valley. It was smaller than the Tuscan villa, but was about 10 acres and did have some grapes. Originally acquired to grow different grapes then the one Tuscan vineyards, it ended up being Dale’s quiet place. A perfect place for Ash to meet her mother for the first time. “Well Ash,” he said looking at her and putting his hand on her shoulder for support. “I know it’s not the Tuscan vineyard I promised, but well we’re here. How are you feeling?” Ash stepped out of the shuttle, and took in her surroundings. “Look whatever happens I’m her for you. Would you like me to stay in the shuttle when you meet Dale?” Ashlyn shook her head. “I’d like you to come? She’ll want to see you anyway and you’re better at the tiny details of the plan that we constructed.” It was a lie, Ash knew the entire thing backwards and inside out. "As you wish. Dont worry. I'll stay close by." As they walked up the steps leading to a varanda area, as Ashlyn reached the top step, she saw a tall woman, with iron-grey hair cut short. Had she not have been wearing her uniform, Ash would have instantly known that she was used to Command. There was an aura about her that made her nervous, an air of competence, and intelligence, Ashlyn instantly saw where Aimee and Ailynn had inherited it. Reaching the top step, Ashlyn watched, as Dale’s face changed, from a thoughtful, perhaps impassive air, to one that lit up with a warm welcoming smile. “Ashlyn?” Dale was fighting every urge she had to just grab the terrified young girl into a hug, but she knew that it was way too soon. Dale continued to regard Ashlyn’s features, It was fair to say that she was stunningly beautiful, and she had those same eyes that all her family had, expressive, thoughtful, and highly intelligent. There were clear hints here and there as to her parentage, down to simple mannerisms, the way that she held her shoulders as she walked. "Hey Dale. I brought Someone who is dying to meet you." Trip said with a smile. Dale nodded. “Trip dear. There’s a bottle of ‘32 in the pantry, right hand side. Be a gentleman would you?” "The chianti? Sure I'll be right back." Trip then left go get the wine. "Ash, Ill be back in a flash." He said bounding up the steps into the house. Dale swallowed her nerves. Despite all the stupidly dangerous missions that she’d been sent on over the years, this was the moment that made her the most nervous, as if the ground could swallow her up right now…Thankfully Ashlyn stepped up to the plate. “I’m not normally at a loss for words, but...Mum?” Dale regarded her daughter, stood there, brave as you like, in the face of the most terrifying situation, she could then see the rest of Ashlyn’s genetics, the way that she tilted her jaw to address a situation, the tiniest tightening around the eyes, and a hint of steel deep within her. Dale nodded. “If that’s what you want to call me, I’d like that. I understand if you can’t, Dale is fine.” Trip returned with the bottle and three glasses. "I'm off until tomorrow afternoon and I love wine. Mind if we stay overnight?" “Of course. There’s room. It’s just me at the moment. Mum and dad are in Tuscany. Aimee has something early tomorrow so she’s staying at her home in San Francisco. Sit please.” She opened the bottle and poured three half glasses out, passing the first to Ash.” Ashlyn smiled a thanks as she received the glass, sniffed it and took a small sip, leaning back in her chair. Dale herself passed Trip’s glass over, “All in place?” "Lynn thinks that you got freaky with a Vedek and got knocked up. She bought it. Still a bit distant from Ash. But hey, Ash has a friend in me. What about Aimee? She buy it?" Ashlyn watched, entranced, as the two spoke to each other, she’d never seen two people speak so openly. Dale made a face. “Aimee is the issue.” She held up a comforting hand. “She and I are closer than you can imagine, she knows me better than anybody. That said, she’s said nothing, but there was the tiniest hint…” "Do you think she'll tell Lynn?" She shook her head. “Never. She’ll speak to me first, I trust Aimee beyond absolutely.” She turned to Ash. “She’s coming to terms with a shock, even as you are. Aimee is a practical creature though, a scientist, and a former field agent. She knows what’s expected, even if she doesn’t understand it.” “My sister?” Ashlyn asked gently. Dale smiled, nodding. “She is crazy keen to meet you. Emotional creature bless her.” "So speaking of secret plans. I had an ulterior motive for bringing Ash here." “More secret plans? James Williams you have been busy.” She raised an eyebrow amused. "From now until we leave, no talk of machinations. We have fun, we party, and mother and daughter get to know each other." “Agreed. Firstly, I have something that I want Ashlyn to have. I’ll be right back.” Dale stood up and walked into the Villa, appearing a couple of minutes later. “What’s she up to Trip?” "I don't know. Honestly." “I’m just getting used to this. Apart from everything else, I can’t believe I’m here. Ailynn always said how beautiful it was. Dad never allowed me to come though.” "Yeah…" Trip paused. He was putting his relationship with his sister and best friend on the line. Just then, Dale stepped back out onto the veranda, a small box in her hand. She opened it and passed it over to Ashlyn. As Ashlyn took the box off Dale, she inhaled sharply, her hands shook. She carefully took out the contents. “Mum?” Dale smiled at Ashlyn’s reaction as she pulled out the beautiful, intricate jewelry out of the box “It’s Bajoran d’ja pagh. It belonged to your father. It has the symbol of your father’s house, and the markings of the highest caste in Bajoran society.” Ashlyn looked stunned. “Dale I...I...This is beautiful, priceless... I can’t. “It’s yours. He’d want you to have it. I want you to have it.” She closed Ashlyn’s hand around the earring. Trip smiled. It was a beautiful moment. But he felt out of place, like him being there was ruining the moment. Dale caught Trip’s awkwardness. “Now, I must impress on you. Although this is yours, and you have every right to it. I must forbid you from ever wearing it. The symbols and markings would instantly be recognised, and put you at risk.” “Now…” She smiled at Trip, “awkward moment over. What shall we eat?” "Well, probably a carbonara, maybe roasted potatoes and a saltimbocca. I don't know. I mean, we’re not in Italy but I’m craving Italian." "That sounds good. Ashlyn would you like to help?" She stood up and nodded to Trip, telling him that it was all okay. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'm going for a walk." Ashlyn sat up looking worried. "It's okay Ashlyn," Dale said. "He's always liked a walk on his own, whether here, his family ranch, or the villa, he likes open spaces. Shall we?" Trip then excused himself and walked towards a small pond a few acres away from the house. Dale stopped at the door, watching the man who she had always considered a son walk away. She had her arm around Ashlyn’s shoulders, but the obvious weight of Trip's burden weighed heavily on her own. What had made her such a good operative was her innate ability to read people. Not empathically, but by simple body language. She watched as he disappeared between the hedges, remembering the 10 year old who had done the same thing. Turning to Ashlyn she smiled warmly. Leading her into the kitchen, her mind already filing several pieces of information away. She turned one last time at the gap in the hedge, now empty making a note to chat to the Williams parents later when she could be alone with her thoughts ~Alone. Even in the company of family and friends. He still seems as alone as he did the last time he was here.~ (reply none) (posted by Will and Mark(SPC Ashlyn Jones)) (Mars Facility, Science Annex, Personal quarters – CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 2000) Sekal was meditating when the call came through from base Administration. He opened his eyes and answered the chirping comm. =^= Lieutenant Sekal?=^= "Yes." =^= A ship has just docked and the commander has requested to meet you.=^= "What ship?" =^= A Vulcan ship. VSRS Sinya.=^= His head snapped around. "Where has he requested the meeting?" =^= Lounge three on the platform.=^= "Notify him I will be there shortly." He stood to his feet and tapped the combadge. "Transporter control. One to beam to Utopia Planitia space dock." (Mars- Utopia Planitia Spacedock- Lounge 3 – CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 2015) As he entered the lounge Sekal could see the Vulcan standing by the set of observation windows that overlooked the docks on this side. The familiar rank adornment upon his collar as seen from the rear had changed. As he neared the window and the tall figure he could see the familiar shape of the Mystique below and to the right, three docks to the left the registry numbers of that ship were visible in the station lights. NX60637. He stepped to the window beside his father and waited silently to be acknowledged. Commodore Saleke turned his head to him after a moment. "It is curious that they never changed the experimental registry number." Sekal shrugged. "The ship had a long and efficient career under that number. It would be illogical to change that which did not need to be changed." His father nodded. "It was an exceptional ship with an exceptional crew." That said his eyes fixed upon his son's collar. "Lieutenant Sekal now I see." Sekal merely nodded. "When?" "Yesterday morning." Saleke's eyes returned to the window and looked out upon the Mystique. "Is Luma'Lenai still aboard?" "No." Saleke turned to look at him once again, one eyebrow quirked questioningly. "Luma was transferred to the surface when we returned. She now resides in the base computer." "Interesting. I did not consider that Luma might be agreeable to such a change of station. Her crystalline form was destroyed. How did you manage it?" "The Anelurian crystal." Saleke nodded. "Logical though hazardous to Luma as the energy to which it is linked is an unknown." "The transference was done carefully and with full knowledge of the danger. I was ready to put a halt to it if her safety was jeopardized." Saleke turned back to the window again and his expression was unreadable even to Sekal. "When I found out these two ships were here I thought it advisable to see them while they were still available. What are the plans for them?" "Unknown." There had been a question on Sekal's mind. "You were not allowed to transfer Luma to the Hades?" "No." "Star Fleet Intelligence?" Saleke turned his eyes to him. "Yes." Sekal nodded. "I deduced as much and told Luma this, she saw it in the mind meld." "You mind melded with Luma'Lenai" "Yes." "Why?" "It was necessary at the time. Luma needed a mind bondmate." At his father's raised eyebrow he continued. "It was temporary. A more efficient mind bondmate was found." "Fascinating. And when she found out you were my son?" "She understood, she desires to speak with you." Saleke nodded. "I will speak with her before I leave." "Did the situation with Luma enter into your decision to leave StarFleet? Saleke shrugged. "There were a number of factors that led to me resigning my commission. Luma was one of them." "Why are you here father?" Saleke turned toward him fully. "I was ordered to bring you something that would help with your research. When it was determined that the Mystique was returning to Mars I left to bring it to you." "Left where?" "The project." "What did you bring?" "You will see." Saleke turned and Sekal fell into step behind him as he left the lounge. (VSRS Sinya- Cargo Bay 1 – CSRD- Lt. (Jg) Sekal - 2038) They were standing before a crate approximately five feet square. Two other Vulcans were in the bay with them. Commodore Saleke used a demagnetizer to break the seal on the lid then pushed it open. Sekal stepped closer to it and saw that it was two thirds full of the cerulean blue crystals of varying sizes. He glanced over at his father. "Command ordered you to bring this much?" "No. The amount ordered was not explicit however I was told that you would need more for your research." Sekal looked about the cargo bay and saw four similar containers. "This should be more than sufficient. Were you told why?" Saleke nodded and lowered the lid. "The logical decision was made that your research could not proceed efficiently with the one specimen in your possession. It has also been agreed that a diverse group such as you are involved in gives the most opportunity for making the breakthrough that Vulcans alone have not been capable of." "One full crate then?" "Yes. It was necessary to inform you before it is shipped to the surface so that you may make arrangements for its disposition." "How long?" Saleke used the tool to reseal the case then motioned to the others who brought over an anti-gravity unit. "Within the hour. It will be delivered by shuttlecraft." Sekal nodded and started to turn away. "I will take you to the transporter room so that you can beam down from the ship." Sekal waited for his father to take the lead but Saleke stopped once they were in the hallway and turned his face to him. "You once made a promise to me. Do you remember it?" Sekal stopped and nodded. "I told you I would one day unravel the enigma. I was six years old I believe." Saleke nodded. "Your opportunity has arrived." (Reply: None) (Posted by Charles G)