Compiled by Calvin Capps =============================================================== Mission: In Limbo Mission Day: 1 Star Date: Unknown =============================================================== (USS Relentless - TAC/SC Lt Ryko Skylynx - 1849) =============================================================== Mission: Dead or Alive Day: 1 Stardate: 2414.05.15 =============================================================== (USS Boudicca - QV – Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr.– 1800) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward (QV) - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1951) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward (QV) - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 2004) =============================================================== Mission: Dead or Alive Day: 2 Stardate: 2414.05.16 =============================================================== (Color II - Building - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1323) (Color II - power network shafts - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1330) (Color II - power network shafts - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1400) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Asst. CEO Ryan Jericho - 1413) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1419) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1422) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – ACMO Lt Jg Mia Saryn – 1424) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – ATAC Lt Ryko Skylynx – 1426) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – aCMO Lt Jg Mia Saryn – 1430) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – ATAC Lt Ryko Skylynx – 1430) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – Leyan – 1436) (Color ll - Tunnels Beneath Planetary Capital – ATAC Lt Skylynx – 1436) (Color ll - Tunnels Beneath Planetary Capital – Leyan – 1438) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1440) (Color II - Power Distribution building - Security Officer Lt. Rayne Showers - 1443) (Color II - Power Distribution Building - Asst CEO Ensign Stephen Getman - 1445) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary - ATAC Lt Ryko Skylynx- 1445) (USS Boudicca - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 14.46) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps & Major Joel Kilowa - 1448) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary – aCMO Lt Jg Mia Saryn- 1449) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary - Leyan- 1450) (USS Boudicca - Deck 15 - Upper Secondary Computer Core - CEO Lt. Henry Jacobs - 1451) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - Top Level - Security Officer Lieutenant Rayne Showers - 1452) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary - Asst. CEO Ensign Stephen Getman - 1452) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast – 1459) (USS Boudicca, Gangway near Ready Room, Yeoman Meggan Puceanu, 1500) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1500) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – Yeoman Puceanu – 1500.1) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.02) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1503) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room 1 - CO Captain Calvin Capps & Major Joel Kilowa - 1505) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room One - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1506) (USS Boudicca - Turbolift – Yeoman Puceanu – 1507) (USS Boudicca - Deck 10 – Yeoman Puceanu – 1510) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.11) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room 1 - CO Captain Calvin Capps & Major Joel Kilowa - 1512) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 – Yeoman Puceanu – 1513) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.15) (USS Boudicca - Cargo Bay 2 - Science Officer Lieutenant Liam Gray - 1515) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room 1 - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1516) (USS Boudicca, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1517) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast – 1520) (USS Boudicca - Corridor - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1522) (USS Boudicca, Deck 10, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1523) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast - 1524) (USS Boudicca, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1527) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay – Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr.– 1527) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Science Officer Ensign Nickolas Romanoff - 1530) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.30) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1532) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay – Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr.– 1533) (USS Boudicca - Deck 15 - Upper Secondary Computer Core - CEO Lt. Henry Jacobs - 1535) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Science Officer Ensign Nickolas Romanoff - 1537) (USS Boudicca, Transporter Room 3, ACEO, ENS Jericho, 1538) (USS Boudicca - Corridor - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1539) (USS Boudicca -Bridge - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.40) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1540) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr. - 1541) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1542) (USS Boudicca, Turbolift, Yeoman Meggan Puceanu, 1544) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck ! - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.45) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1548) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – Yeoman Puceanu – 1548.5) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1549) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Yeoman Puceanu – 1551) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1553) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room – Yeoman Puceanu - 1555) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1557) (USS Boudicca - Transporter Room 1 - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1558) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room – YEO Puceanu - 1559) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13, Transporter - Major Joel Kilowa - 1600) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13, Transporter Room - 1st Lt Drew Dewalt - 1600) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast - 1603) (USS Boudicca - Transporter Room 1 - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1604) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13, Transporter - COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1605) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1605) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, ACEO, ENS Jericho, 1607) (Color II - Geothermanl Tap - Transporter Room - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1608) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- Transporter Room - COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1609) (Color II - Beam-in Site - 1st Lt Drew Dewalt - 1610) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- Transporter Room - COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1611) (Color II - Beam-in Site - MCO Major Joel Kilowa - 1612) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1614) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1615) (Color II - Beam-in Site - 1ST LT Drew Dewalt - 1617) (Color II - Beam-in Site - MCO Major Joel Kilowa - 1619) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 16.20) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - YEO Meggan Puceanu - 1625) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 16.30) (USS Boudicca- Deck 4 – Ensign Mactavish - 1630) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1632) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Asst CEO - 1632) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1642) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast - 1645) (USS Boudicca, Main engineering, Asst CEO, Ensign Mactavish, 1645) (USS Boudicca, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1647) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1650) (USS Boudicca, Main engineering, Asst CEO, Ensign Mactavish, 1650) (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Computer Core Lower Section, Yeoman Puceanu, 1651) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, ENS EO Jericho, 1653) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1655) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, Asst CEO, Ensign Mactavish, 1655) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, Ens EO Jericho, 1658) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, Asst CEO,Ensign Mactavish, 1700) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - Bottom Level - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1705) =============================================================== =============================================================== Mission: In Limbo Mission Day: 1 Star Date: Unknown =============================================================== (USS Relentless - TAC/SC Lt Ryko Skylynx - 1849) "Steady as she goes, helm. We do not want to screw this up." "Aye, captain," her voice said with not the slightest hesitation. The bridge seemed to hum slightly with the potential for destruction, the destiny of something grand, the ability to create and explore, and the restrained power contained within the deck plating all at once. Ryko focused on the holographic interface of the tactical station. Captain... captain.... he had only ever known her as Captain. Thorson? Thurson? Tompson? Who knew what her name was. All he knew was he was here and he had a job to do. An experimental weapon. He knew he was dreaming. He'd had this dream many times. Many times, the same dream turned nightmare. It never stopped. It gave him breaks - longer now between each recurrance - but it always came back. Haunted him. "BORG!" The voice echoed, and time slowed down to a crawl. In slow motion, the Captain ordered him to activate multivector assault and fire the weapons. In slow motion, his hands moved across the tactical display despite his lucid self trying not to obey. In slow motion, the Phased Dispersion Missiles traced towards two borg cubes and hit them head on, obliterating them instantly with only one warhead to each. Then the distortion. The unexplained anomaly. The blinding light. And the feeling as though he had been torn to shreds and reassembled in the blink of an eye. The darkness, the madness of a million consoles bursting and burning. Screaming. People dying. "Yalta... Yalta?! YALTA?!" [Incoming Transmission] (posted by Adam) (Starbase Geneva - Lt Ryko Skylynx - 0446) [Incoming Transmission, Priority One.] Ryko jolted upright, awoken from the familiar dream by the sound of the computer announcing a call. He calmed his breathing with hasty deep breaths, wiped the cold sweat from his brow with his bedsheets. "Computer, lights, level one," he ordered in a croaky voice that sounded like he had just been screaming her name. The computer obliged. Ryko rose, threw on a standard-issue bathrobe, and made his way to the desk of the modest temporary quarters. The personal display screen was already raising to the upright position. [Channel is secured, please enter level seven authorization.] "Authorization Skylynx seven seven delta phoenix," Ryko said monotonously as he gave his security override code. The Starfleet symbol blinked out to be replaced by a face he wasn't sure he'd ever see again. "Catch you at a bad time, Sky?" Ryko's face brightened so quickly it was as though he'd taken a warp flare to the chest. "Drew?!" Major Andrew "Drew" Dewalt, Australian, Marine, and to use his own words "Built like several brick ****houses ", laughed at the look on his old friend's face. His dusty brown hair and chiselled jaw framed a pair of eyes that seemed to be always dancing with mirth for some reason or another, and the long scar that traced from his right brow to his left cheek served as more than enough warning for anyone who felt like trying to wipe that perpetual smirk off his face. "Heard you were shipping out to the Boudicca," the Marine said, calming down from the joke. "Fate's a bastard, isn't it?" "I've had worse," Ryko responded in a gravelly tone. "It won't be the same, I can handle it." "Handle it?" Drew grew serious. "You look rougher than a klingon's head ridges after amateur cosmetic surgery, mate. Don't tell me you're handling it." "Drew, I'm fine," Ryko protested flatly, sitting and rubbing his eyes. "I just react badly to calls at 0400 on my first day of active duty." Drew's face turned concerned. "'Nother sleepless night?" "Mostly." "Maybe you should come out here, spend some quality bar time with your old wingman," Drew suggested. "Have you got no short term memory? First day of duty, remember?" Ryko joked, his turn now to crack a smile. Drew laughed. Something over the marine's shoulder demanded his attention and when he turned back to the visual sensor, his face was serious. "I've got to go, just wanted to call and tell you good luck, alright?" "Thanks, Drew," Ryko said. The sentiment was sincere, even though it was said with as much energy as a dead targ's bark. "No worries," the Australian quipped. "And hang tight. I might see you soon, if all goes well. Dewalt out." The screen blanked out back to the UFP seal. Ryko scratched his head and headed back toward his bunk. ~Please dont tell me he's trying for a reassignment,~ he thought to himself. Drew had met up with Ryko shortly after his debriefing with Admiral Dar Mace. The two had swapped history. Drew had been reassigned to the Typhon sector, on board a Steamrunner-class ship named Sigurion. Promoted at last to Major. Ryko had laughed - he'd never seemed to get beyond 2nd Lt. And now he'd just hinted - heavily - that he was trying to get transferred back to the Wolf Pack - the Boudicca detachment of SFMC. ~Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have him around.~ Ryko smiled, flopped back onto the bed, and went back to sleep, this time dreaming of badly-imitated Klingon poetry sung in an Australian accent. (posted by Adam) =============================================================== Mission: Dead or Alive Day: 1 Stardate: 2414.05.15 =============================================================== (USS Boudicca - QV – Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr.– 1800) She was worried for both Mia and Jacobs, Elizabeth loved Mia and Jacob had been hurt enough by the hands of women that she did not want him to hurt at the relationship that had blossomed between Mia and herself. Lizzy went about drinking her tea paying attention to the body cues of each at the table where Mia now sat. The conversation progressed and Lizzy hoped Mia was alright, she wanted to be by her side,to hold her hand and comfort her. Then Jacobs did something unexpected. He sat back in his chair and put his hands behind his head in a relaxed matter. Then looking at Elizabeth back in corner of a now very busy QV, he smiled a smile Lizzy did not know what to make of it. As fast as he put both hands behind his head he then raised one of them and motioned for her to come join them. Noticing that she had been spotted she swiftly turned her head to gaze out of the view port. This was not enough however to detour Henry however. Lizzy watched he stars hoping Henry would just go away. ~He...~ "Dr. Caspian..." She hear her name carry over the din that filled Ten Forward, and the room quickly quieted. ~Shit~ "...come join us please." Henry called the room now seemed eerie quite has Elizabeth felt all eyes on her. ~Damn~ ~No, I rather not and save what little bit of dignity I may have left.~ Lizzy thought has she tried to shrink back into the corner of the room. She could feel her cheeks flush as the embarrassment of the turn of events set in. Seeing that she had no way out besides leaving the QV; which leaving Mia alone was something Lizzy was not going to do. She stood and tentatively walked over to the table. "Yes," She spoke softly as she reached the table. "can I help you?" (reply Mia, Jacobs.) She took an offered seat next to Mia, under the safety of the table she reached for Mia's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward (QV) - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1951) Stephen took another sip of from his cup, Sky's excellent story-telling skills keeping his attention away from the coffee's extreme bitterness. The experienced security officer went on to depict how massive parts of internal hull were demolished in one of the encounters. This was something that triggered Stephen's imagination in particular. From his very childhood among the places he had called home, starships held a prominent place. Now, that Lt. Skylynx was describing the damage in detail, Getman was being increasingly aware of the fact that he had never had to deal with defending his own home. Sure, he could call Earth as his home as well, being a Federation officer now, but as much as Getman liked to think of himself as a professional and emotionally detached individual, the thought of fighting off an invading force within the corridors he was working in and among the machinery he help to maintain every day, played his strings unexpectedly strongly given he has been around only for several weeks. "Truth be told, I'm glad they sent me back to the Boudicca. Feels like home." Sky's last remark snapped Getman back. A possibility that one day he may be asked to sacrifice the ship he is about to put, hopefully, years of work into, to save the crew still echoing at the back of his head. Stephen quelled the lingering doubts silent, taking another sip from the hot cup. "I must admit, engineers did well." He waved at the ceiling. "Not a scratch on the *inside*." He smiled, sure that Sky will catch the remark to the battle scars purposefully left on vessel's exterior. A this point, Getman thought positively of the new security lieutenant. The man clearly knew what he was talking about, yet avoided boasting about his skills. That was something Stephen always thought of highly in superior officers. "We've had some theory on the new holo-interfaces back in the Academy, but little chance to see them in action. I believe our grand Lady is one of the first smaller ships to employ those. Some say it boosts productivity while cutting responce-time noticeably. I recall a few fellows having some practice at a capital ship betting their hands the solution will replace most LCARS on the bridge. How do you find the tactical one?" (reply Sky, iyw) Suddenly an unexpected event disrupted the conversation. Lt. Jacobs, thus far talking with Dr. Saryn more or less quietly at a far table, stood up and invited Counsellor Caspian aloud. Getman and Sky looked at each other but, having some time off after all, decided to see what happens. (posted by Bartek) (USS Boudicca - Ten Forward (QV) - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 2004) Shock and awe seemed like the best way to play out this scenario. Henry knew that he caught Elizabeth off guard and thought that he would at least break the ice that had unknowingly formed around, between, and beneath the three of them. "Well, " he stopped and smiled, "now I know you know what the two us were talking about and if you ask me I think it's great" (reply Caspian) "As a matter of fact I think it will be a great thing to see you two together around the ship." At this point Henry was satisfied with the faces that both Elizabeth and Mia made in response to how and what Henry was actually saying. Satisfied enough that he wanted to enjoy the rest of the evening with the both of them instead of making anyone else walk on eggshells. "Let's all have a drink shall we?" (reply Mia, Elizabeth) Henry stood and motioned the bartender to make three of his favorite drink. It took no time at all for someone to walk over with three tall glasses of a green hue. The three grabbed their drinks and made a cheerful toast. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) =============================================================== Mission: Dead or Alive Day: 2 Stardate: 2414.05.16 =============================================================== (Color II - Building - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1323) Captain orders were clear - the landing party would separate into two teams, one beaming back to the Boudicca and trying to bring help from above, the second, Getman included, was to search for the survivors and investigate the power plant underground. "I will hold them off as long as I can," Lt. Skylynx stepped in. All three nodded at each other. The captain managed to exchange several words with Doctor Saryn, while Sky made last seconds count throwing handy information at Mr. Trei. It was only a brief moment before the armoured door finally started giving way to the mass outside. Captain and his team quickly advanced to the upper floors, the security-uniformed Klingon covering their backs. The door cracked right in the middle, all the way down to the floor, the two halves hanging from the wall at each side. The seemingly unstoppable crowd started pouring in. Trei's officers were the first to noticeably slow the mass down. The almost-constant forward phaser fire and graceful swings of the infamous bat'leth secured their position initially, as the ever-growing pile of bodies started to hamper the crowd's own entry. Singled out individuals spilling sideways became easy targets. For a brief second it seemed the mass may forego trying to breach a wall built of their own. But as the muffled explosion upstairs upped everyone spirit for just long enough, a distant but frighteningly loud animal howl gave the crowd a second kick. The wall of bodies pushed strongly, fell onto the officers. Nobody would ever want to remember the inhuman scream one of them gave out being pulled deeper into the pile, Trei grabbing the other one by his collar and making way upstairs. "Time to move out!" Sky shouted, opening fire across the halls at the enemy now interested in the only people left downstairs. "Getman, lead us out of here, before we're zombie chow!" Stephen needed no stronger motivation. With his tricorder in one hand, a phaser in the second and Jacobs' pulse rifle across his back he was about the lead the team underground but Doctor's disturbing expression made him stop. He hesitated, he could hear the crowd closing in by the growing frequency of phaser shots. It was getting desperate. "Doctor?" Getman asked to no response. This was certainly no time for courtesy. "Doctor!" He grabbed Dr. Saryn by her shoulder. "I'm fine, Ensign. Honestly. We need to get the hell out of here." "Doctor, there was never anything I agreed on with you more!" "And, Ensign, got a spare Phaser rifle?" Stephen nodded and handed over the spare rifle with one swift move but he clearly underestimated the woman's fighting skills, if he had ever considered them at all. Feeling the rifle, she immediately began shooting. Each, single shot dead-on. "Getman, we need a place to hold up and soon." "We'll be safe in the tunnels as long as we collapse the entrance behind us!" Stephen reassured her taking the hopefully last peek at the incoming force and then at the dark and uncomfortably low tunnel entrance below. He was about to lead the way, switching his flashlight on when out of the blue, Doctor Saryn surprised him again, and probably everyone else. "I'll be right back." She shouted hastily. "You what?!" Getman was in shock. He couldn't really tell if that was Saryn's unexpected behaviour or her blazing speed in ignoring him and jumping full-speed into one the of side rooms, apparently making her way back towards the staircase while avoiding the undead. It was now clear that the pursuing crowd had problems navigating in the narrow corridors, decision making obviously flawed. Most of the infected still headed at the remainder of the group. Getman looked at Sky. There was little doubt the officer was furious at the girl. Coming to his senses Stephen quickly raised his phaser, providing as much fire support as he could. Not only they had to keep the crowd at a distance now, but also try to maintain an opening for Mia to get back through. Throughtout the next minutes the phaser cannonade could be heard half a click away. Getman would later swear that he even heard another explosion somewhere nearby. They just kept shooting. (posted by Bartek) (Color II - power network shafts - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1330) Sky's stunt paid off. The building fallen behind them, sealing the entry, and Mia safely back with the child she miraculously heard over all the noise, they could finally focus on finding other survivors. (posted by Bartek) (Color II - power network shafts - Asst. CEO En.jg. Stephen Getman - 1400) The team was walking in the dark for a few dozen minutes, Lieutenant Skylynx leading the way, Getman right behind with Doctor Saryn and the remaining security officers closing the group. With the main power down, ventilation was not functioning either. The air was hot and damp, the red emergency lights barely illuminating the floor riddled with cables of various sizes. Fortunately, the tunnel was high enough to walk straight. "Got it." Getman whispered, walking closer to Sky. "This magnetic residue pattern heuristics of yours are major stuff. So much for theory versus field practice." Stephen continued to whisper, perhaps his Academy military courses still imprinted into his subconsciousness. This wasn't necessary however, Doctor Saryn doing everything she could but the difficult conditions were making the child she was still carrying cry every other minute. Oblivious to the relief efforts up in the skies coupled with looming ammunition shortage, everyone's spirits were taking a fast plunge - they would not stand another shootout like the one on the surface and hand to hand was obviously not applicable. Good news would be more than welcome. "You've got to tell me about the guy you've learned the trick from." Getman continued, continually tweaking the new scanning logic. He had been tripping over the wires several times already. "I've found the resonance which gives us maximum resolution in this damp air..." He moved a cable hanging from the ceiling out of his face's way. "... The 'labyrinth' structure you mentioned, is a heat dissipating base of a major power grid relay under the city. You see..." He made sure others could hear him as well. "the plasma from the plant is transferred via large enclosed conduits, not unlike Federation EPSs but with diameter several times the heigh of typical humanoid, but much lower plasma temperature. Still, where the conduits separate from larger threads deep underground" Getman started gesticulating. "into many smaller channels upper under the surface, the junctions need to dissipate some heat to prevent damage to the cheap materials they were built with..." Getman tripped over another wire, again barely maintaining balance. He could swear he could catch a glimpse of Saryn's smile in the darkness. ~ Good, at least there's some smile left somewhere...~ "... Now, we're lucky two-way. One, since the main planetary plant is right here, the junction ahead is the only one for the city. With the plasma flow down the radiators provide the heat and some humidity; if I were hiding in the tunnels, that's the first place I'd pick and there aren't many to choose from either. Second, if we do find people alive down there we have many smaller tunnels to evac them through to choose from, leading all over the city, or we'll have an easy way to the plant - we just need to follow the power feeds down. (reply Sky, Saryn iyw) Getman lowered his voice again. "Yeah, unfortunately. We can't tell in advance whether the junction ahead, or the tunnels beyond it, are filled with survivors or... the infected. Nor can we make sure we'll be greeted with help once we surface." Getman tapped his tricorder several times intently, but resigned after a few moments. "I don't have anything more for you Sky, I'm sorry. We will probably need a decision whether to go through the junction or use the smaller maintenance shafts to go around it and head for the plant directly." (posted by Bartek) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Asst. CEO Ryan Jericho - 1413) =^=... The rest of the away team is held up in a building surrounded by an unknown EM-shielding. We need to get them out yesterday.=^= CEO's words echoed through Engineering, Ryan walking down the ladder by the Warp core, shaking his head. =^=Consider it done=^= Ensign Wolloway confirmed at one of the terminals, with Jacobs closing the channel. He looked back at Jericho now standing right behind him. The old engineer shook his head again, face sporting a thick beard. "The lad is incredible! What does he think my boys been doing upstairs since we lost contact?" Ryan commented aloud, fists on his belt. The puzzled ensign in front of him couldn't determine whether Ryan wasn't aware of the silence around or that he did intend for all to hear his cry. Regardless, it was quiet. Even with the second shift called on-duty, everyone was manning computer consoles busy analysing the massive amounts of data from the planet's surface. To Ryan's dismay nobody else turned their head. ~ eh, everyone would be running and sweating with wrenches and plasma torches back in the day! Not some bloody touch panels! ~ He stroked his commbadge. "Mr. Romanoff, Jericho!" After the officer responded on the channel, the engineer continued. "If you have a minute," Ryan thrown in, stressing his dissatisfaction over how much time it took for Romanoff to answer. "my boys are wrapping up the quantum composition for the military-grade structures, but given the mission update from the returning crew we received moments ago, it's very likely we will be beaming our people through solid rock instead. We don't have any soil specialists at hand ..." Ryan couldn't help but squeeze in another sarcasm he had been honing for the geeks at Science. It actually fitted nicely this time around. "Would boost our research if you could give us that hand. Sending preliminary geological overview over to your account." (posted by Bartek) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1419) =/\=Understood sir. I'll get that started right away. I have one other request…=/\= he paused for a moment. =/\=I'd like to return with the rescue team. I have Colony operations training, and I think that it could be useful for working out several things. In addition, Trills are known for their extraordinary immune system. That's why we make such great hosts for the symbionts. I think it would be a boon to planet side operations. They may also have need of my diplomatic skills if we encounter any survivors.=/\= The Captain paused to ponder over Lt. Rinn's request. The Chief of Operations made great points when he was trying to persuade the Captain to his own view point. But there was one reason Deynyk did not use. It would be unlikely that the Captain would return to Color II now. Not that he didn't want to or was scared to do so, but it would be irresponsible for him to return to a planet that was being ran by an unknown creature that is able to control a horde of zombies. No, the Captain must stay aboard the ship and protect the crew, the ship, and manage the overall operations down on Color II from the bridge. If Calvin were to pick anyone to return to Color II with Major Kilowa Lt. Rinn would be the perfect fit. His sense of adventure which gives him the zing to go on such a dangerous mission without affecting his decision making skills when it comes to diplomacy made that obvious. Diplomacy would be important and that specific attribute can't be left to the Marine leader. "Your request is approved Lt. Rinn. Let's meet up at 1500 for a mission breifing." (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1422) =^=Your request is approved Lieutenant inn. Let's meet up at 1500 for a mission briefing.=^= The captain concluded. "Aye sir, I'll be ready." Deynyk replied as he closed the channel and went on to conduct his research. (posted by Daniel Greene) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – ACMO Lt Jg Mia Saryn – 1424) She could hear the footsteps of the horde behind her. The many footsteps of the damned heading for her and, with the baby in her arms crying, Mia was beginning to panic. .:Mia, try and calm down, the baby will be sensing your panic and reacting:. .:Easier said than done with that lot behind you:. Suddenly, up ahead she heard weapons moving and yelled out, “HOLD YOUR FIRE!” Nearly crashing into what little remained of the security detail, she stopped, took several deep breaths and said, “There's no-one left up there. It's just us.” (Reply Skylynx) Hefting the baby so she was resting onto her shoulder, Mia said, “They made it back. As far as I can tell.” (Reply Skylynx) “Lieutenant, now is not the time for this. We have god knows how many of those things heading our way. We need to collapse this tunnel. Stop them from following us.” (Reply Skylynx) “Here, take this weapon off me. I can't use it with her in my arms and I don't intend to leave her behind.” (Reply Skylynx) Walking behind the small contingent of security personel, Mia stated, “I need to check her over. Make sure she hasn't been hurt. The last thing we need now is a zombie baby on our hands.” Walking a small distance away from them but keeping them within her sights, she spotted a small flat boulder and rested the small girl down and smiled at her. “Hey little one, let's just make sure that you're okay.” The baby looked up at her with big blue eyes and smiled. The amazing ability of children to see through the bad never failed to amaze Mia or Saryn. (posted by Jackie Smith) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – ATAC Lt Ryko Skylynx – 1426) The last ten minutes had been a blur of weaponsfire and psychic madness. Ryko had been so immersed in the craze of battling back a horde of impossible fictions that had rudely turned to reality, that he had completely lost track of time and order. No one seemed to have taken his cue to get underway into the tunnels, so until someone did or the situation grew too dire, he had decided to take the lead. Eventually, the latter had occurred. Ryko now found himself battling back with the last of the seperated security detail in a desperate rearguard action, trying to cover most of the remaining away team's escape. Zombie after zombie filled his vision, dulling his senses into a constant stream of attack, attack, attack. Suddenly, a familiar voice ripped through the chaos. “HOLD YOUR FIRE!” "HOLD!" Ryko bellowed, and the open space was suddenly filled with a deafening silence. Wind finally had a chance to move through the wounded air, carrying away some of the stink of the dead and the vaporised. A form resolved from the shadow, one that was decidedly not undead. As she came closer, Ryko recognised Saryn. “There's no-one left up there. It's just us.” Ryko's face fell. "No one at all? What about the captain, the rest of the away team?" He asked desperately, eyeing the child that had suddenly appeared on Saryn's shoulder. He almost missed her response. “They made it back. As far as I can tell.” "That'll have to do," Ryko said sternly, taking stock of munitions and morale. The two others of his security detail seemed battered, and unfortunately, a little broken. ~God dammit Drew, I miss you, buddy,~ Ryko thought of his late marine friend, whom he had left behind in the other reality. He shook off the reverie and asked the obvious. "Mia... where the hell did that Baby come from?" “Lieutenant, now is not the time for this. We have god knows how many of those things heading our way. We need to collapse this tunnel. Stop them from following us.” Despite himself, a snort came out of Ryko's mouth. "Love to, but all our plasma charges were with the rest of the team, and we've barely got any powercells left as it is." “Here, take this weapon off me. I can't use it with her in my arms and I don't intend to leave her behind.” Ryko pondered as he took Mia's phaser from her. Its power cell was still full. An idea formed. "Alright, let's move out! We've got a power plant to find and a tunnel to seal. Marx! Take point!" Ryko gestured in military short hand and the team formed up around the doctor and her newfound Precious Cargo. Ryko checked his phaser rifle. Fifty percent power and no sunlight to recharge. Lovely. ~Glad I brought you, old friend,~ he thought, patting the hilt of his Katana belted to his waist. He turned to the doctor's relieved firearm, and with a couple of deft flicks of the small control set, started the weapon chirping like a bird with a fire up its arse. He jogged, phaser rifle tucked against his hip in case of contact, toward the place where the doctor had joined them, and laid it on the ground right in front of a structural join in the open space. "MOVE!" He called as the chirping became ever more constant, sprinting to catch up with the team as it filed out in almost single-file. The chirping built and built as they retreated, and Ryko's voice echoed with enough warning to give any stragglers time to catch up. (Reply Getman, Saryn iyw) Ryko caught up to the doctor and took up a pace beside her. He looked to the child now cooing in her hands. "How is she?" He asked, unsure where this paternal curiosity had came from. “I need to check her over. Make sure she hasn't been hurt. The last thing we need now is a zombie baby on our hands.” "Cortez! Medkit!" Ryko said in hushed, clipped tones. The hispanic human trotted back a few paces and handed over his field kit to the Lieutenant, who handed it to Mia. As the doctor attended to the child, Ryko pulled out his tricorder, taking advantage of the moment's pause to scan the underground across what range he could find. "Nothing in local geographic range," he muttered to himself. "Typical, there's enough interference down here to hide an entire complex, geosensors only push out a few meters." He fiddled with his tricorder a little, then decided to try something else. "Let's try... a magnetogram," he said, punching controls quickly. (Reply Mia, any) "Magnetic resonance scanning," Ryko said as he worked. "An old Marine friend of mine showed me the technique a couple of years ago, in a situation like this... minus the... uh... zombies," he said, clearly still uncomfortable with using such a silly word to describe Color's unfortunate populace. The tricorder beeped. "Success," he said in what sounded like a pseudo-Australian accent. He realised he had just mimicked his old friend perfectly. ~Thanks, Drew.~ "Four hundred meters, through what looks like the old Greek Labyrinth," Ryko commented, showing his tricorder to the assembled team. He flicked on his rifle's light. "When you're ready doctor, I'll take point. Let's hope we don't meet the Minotaur." (posted by Adam) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – aCMO Lt Jg Mia Saryn – 1430) "When you're ready doctor, I'll take point. Let's hope we don't meet the Minotaur." Mia looked up at Skylynx and said, “I'm ready, just let me wrap up this little one and then we can get moving.” (Reply Skylynx) She reached to her uniform top and removed the outer cover and, instantly, felt cooler in her vest top. Smiling down at the little girl lying infront of her, Mia grinned and said, “Come on little one, let's get you cooler.” She picked up the baby and made a carrier from her uniform by wrapping the two arms around her neck and positioned the baby in the majority of the material. Smiling down, she knew that having a small child nestling near to the heartbeat of an adult was a sure way to calm them down. Having lived many lifetimes through Saryn, she knew that this would work and would help the away team also. Standing slowly, she looked at the rest of the away team and said, “Let's go. We need to get as much space away from that crowd outside as we can and, if we meet the minotaur, then so be it.” She smiled. (posted by Jackie Smith) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – ATAC Lt Ryko Skylynx – 1430) “I'm ready, just let me wrap up this little one and then we can get moving.” "Fantastic," Ryko said, the word half-humorous and half-sarcastic. He even let a small grin escape his lips. "Alright, let's move. Eyes and ears sharp, and I know this may be a stupid request, Doc, but try to keep the little one hushed." “Let's go. We need to get as much space away from that crowd outside as we can and, if we meet the minotaur, then so be it.” She smiled. With that, Ryko checked the status readout on his phaser rifle. He'd deliberately brought along a slightly-older Type VI, having had a feeling that he'd be going a long time without a chance to change or recharge powercells. The readout flashed 12% yield with a very grim finality. Ryko let out a short huff of irritation. ~Damn stupid Martian power packs,~ He cursed mentally to himself as the trio started walking. An odd afterthought of how bizarre it was to think such a thing crossed his mind; Ryko had been trained in telepathic combat disciplines although mostly in a defensive capacity, in the same vein as Vulcan Emotional Suppression, but not as extreme. Still, it was an odd occurrence for such a fleeting thought to cross his mind. He ignored it and carried on, Getman coming up to his side with his tricorder giving promising news. "This magnetic residue pattern heuristics of yours is major stuff. So much for theory versus field practice. You've got to tell me about the guy you've learned the trick from." Ryko let out another smile. "Sure, soon as we get out of this place. I think you'd like him; he's a combat engineer," Ryko said as they advanced cautiously down the narrowing, steadily-wetter tunnel. Ryko flicked on his wristlight, unwilling to do the same with his Phaser's mounted beam light for fear of killing the already-depleted power reserve the weapon held. A few moments of relatively quiet progress and Ryko poking light into shadows only to reveal rats - living and dead - Getman's voice perked up again. "I've found the resonance which gives us maximum resolution in this damp air..." "Excellent," Ryko said, relieved that he was no longer dependent on the sound of dripping water to judge distance. "What've you got, Ensign?" Getman came uneasily to Ryko's side and the half-betazoid mentally cursed again at his own height and naturally increased movement speed. ~Dammit Ryko, give them a chance to keep up with you! Not everyone is a giant! Look at you, lanky, muscle-bound-~ Ryko silenced the thought again, this time with a physical shake of his head. Something wierd was going on, he was fairly certain of it. He wasn't sure how or why but random trace emotions were penetrating his normally-well-shielded telepathic centers. Ryko had no idea where that particular thought had came from, but he made a mental note to take some time to meditate when they returned to the ship. IF they returned to the ship. Getman tripped over another wire, again barely maintaining balance. Ryko stifled an amused snort and stepped forward to assist the ensign through the jungle of cabling. "... Now, we're lucky two-way. One, since the main planetary plant is right here, the junction ahead is the only one for the city. With the plasma flow down the radiators provide the heat and some humidity; if I were hiding in the tunnels, that's the first place I'd pick and there aren't many to choose from either. Second, if we do find people alive down there we have many smaller tunnels to evac them through to choose from, leading all over the city, or we'll have an easy way to the plant - we just need to follow the power feeds down." "I'm guessing that since corpses emit little to no Magnetic Resonance, we will have no idea if there're any of those.... creatures between us and there?" Ryko inquired, semi-dreading the answer. Getman lowered his voice again. "Yeah, unfortunately. We can't tell in advance whether the junction ahead, or the tunnels beyond it, are filled with survivors or... the infected. Nor can we make sure we'll be greeted with help once we surface.I don't have anything more for you Sky, I'm sorry. We will probably need a decision whether to go through the junction or use the smaller maintenance shafts to go around it and head for the plant directly." "Or," Ryko said as he turned his wristlight around to the front once again, "We could just ask." He nodded ahead, where two pairs of apprehensive-looking eyes seemed to be shining out into the darkness because of the luminosity of the light. "Hello?!" Ryko called, hoping his voice didn't sound aggressive. " (posted by Adam) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – Leyan – 1436) Leyan sat quietly at his post outside the geothermal plant, tapping his rifle slowly. The old man, now in his seventies, smiled at the turn of events. Before today, the colonists had treated him with respect but not allowed to do anything to help the security of their hamlet. Now, since the undead had risen, he found himself in high demand. The old soldier had fought in many conflicts and the civil war before retiring to Color II. The kids of the colony had given him a nickname that had stuck. The last starfighter. Smiling to himself at the thought of that, a grin spread across his face. Suddenly, Leyan heard movement in the tunnel he was guarding. A light shone in his eyes and he blinked a little as the voice called out of the darkness, "Hello?!" Standing quickly, he raised his rifle and shouted back. “Halt, who goes there?” (Reply Skylynx) His grip tightened on the rifle as he said, “Approach and be recognised.” A thousand thoughts crept into his mind as he saw the bedraggled group come into focus. A ragtag bunch of starfleet personel, mostly men and one woman who appeared to have something wrapped in a bundle around her chest. (Reply Skylynx) Leyan looked them all over and said, “None of you are infected?” (Reply Skylynx) He lowered his rifle a little and said, “Leyan. Where is the rest of you? Is this all the Fleet sent?” (posted by Jackie Smith) (Color ll - Tunnels Beneath Planetary Capital – ATAC Lt Skylynx – 1436) “Halt, who goes there?” The voice was stern, and Ryko recognised the forced-marshal-bearing of a man who was used to doing something entirely different. He wondered idly what this person's function had been before Resident Evil and Pals had moved in. "I'm Lieutenant Ryko Skylynx, USS Boudicca. We came to help you. We mean no harm." Ryko was astonished at how diplomatically flat he sounded. ~Textbook speech... so damn boring... where's the flair?~ He thought to himself. He watched the stranger guard's body language as the man took the measure of Ryko's voice and what little he could see of his physical shape. Eventually, he spoke again. The telltale sound of a fiddled weapon jigged through the air. “Approach and be recognised.” Ryko stepped forward, waving the others ahead too. Slowly at first, then eventually all together, they came into the light of the Guards' hand torches. Ryko's own wristlight flashed over them, but he was careful to make sure his phaser rifle remained dipped. Behind him, Getman hung a cautious middleguard between Ryko and Saryn, with her precious cargo in tow. The Coloran looked them all over and said, “None of you are infected?” "No, we're not." Ryko's response was curious but he held off on the question for now. "This is Ensign Stephen Getman and Dr Mia Saryn. Who are you?" The Coloran lowerd his rifle at last. “Leyan. Where is the rest of you? Is this all the Fleet sent?” "No," Ryko replied, absorbing all the unspoken information hidden between the lines of Leyan's words. "Our ship is in orbit, there are more of us but my team was forced underground by a horde of... the infected." Ryko hastily stopped himself from letting out the word "Zombies." It didn't seem proper or even correct. He decided to change the subject. "How many of you are there?" (Reply Leyan) "We're trying to get to that power plant. We think it holds the key to all this, maybe we can figure out some way to end this... epidemic there." (Reply Leyan) "We'll follow your lead," Ryko said, and waving the others forward, followed Leyan towards their stronghold. (posted by Adam) (Color ll - Tunnels Beneath Planetary Capital – Leyan – 1438) "How many of you are there?" Thinking for a moment, he said, “Approximately 30 men, women and children. There maybe more hiding elsewhere.” "We're trying to get to that power plant. We think it holds the key to all this, maybe we can figure out some way to end this... epidemic there." He looked at this man infront of him and said, “I doubt that but you Fleet types will probably know more than this old soldier. I'll take you there.” "We'll follow your lead," Ryko said (posted by Jackie Smith) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1440) The Captain waited inside of the containment field patiently. He also waited for a little less patiently for Major Kilowa to show up. As the team busied themselves with nothing to do, as they waited for their test results, they watched the injured security man forced into restraints as it fought to be freed to kill the living. After the fight was over and the now zombie was secured Dr. Caspian came to the Captain with the results of the teams tests. The doctor explained that all the test results came back negative for any viruses that would cause the team to be turned into the undead. They were now released, but before Calvin could leave sickbay and begin the preparation of the evacuation of the rest of his away team Elizabeth had more information to make known. "Captain Capps, I have something for you to look at, it seems thanks the sacrifices made the computers and staff here have been able to locate the genetic code to the virus. While this is only the first step to a cure, it will allow us to use the ships sensors to track the virus and tell if anyone beaming aboard is infected." "Great work doctor. Contact Ensign Romanoff, I feel he could give you a hand in this area. Keep up the excellent work and keep me updated." (posted by Calvin Capps) (Color II - Power Distribution building - Security Officer Lt. Rayne Showers - 1443) Rayne was particularly reluctant to join this current away team on account that he had so much to do back onboard the Boudicca. It was determined by his merit that he was promoted to lieutenant junior grade and therefore was taking on much more responsibility in regards to ship security. There was no chief security officer in place and it was evident on the ship with the way certain protocols were laxed. The Captain was well aware of this fact and began assigning tasks to be undertaken and competed to remedy the situation. Therefore with his promotion came a greater responsibility. Others may have been thinking about their currently safety in a situation like the one he was in but he kept his mind focused what needed to be completed. Showers had always believed to continue to think ahead and not in the moment; thinking ahead ensured that you made it ahead in life. His thoughts had done him well so far as he was still alive and kicking along with the other members of the team that remained on the planet. After the last attack from the zombies the team made a steady decent into a facility that obviously controlled enough raw energy to power the entire planet. Such an amazing facility did not come without its downfalls as the deeper the team traveled the more evident it became that something horrible had happened down on this planet. ~Third shift security reports would have been posted by now~ he thought as his phaser rifle swayed from side to side as he brought up the rear of the group. His thoughts switched however when he looked over in the direction of the Dr. Saryn. She was holding a baby that she came across in transit from one building to the other. Rayne was all for the preservation of life especially since someone took the time to save him while he was trapped in a cavern as a child. He was beginning to think back to that time in his life but quickly relinquished the thought to stay focused. The group stopped at the presence of two sentries at the entry of what appeared to be another facility. He still stood at the back of the group. Lt. Skylynx made the initial contact with the two guards and after verification the group was granted access into the compound. "Hold on close to that baby" (reply Mia) The team poured into a room containing quite a few of the remaining survivors of Color II. Men, women and children had made the massive room their makeshift asylum in attempts to hide away from the zombie infestation. "Looks like we found them." (reply Mia) He looked over to the center of the room where an elderly man was consoling a young boy and girl while trying to keep everyone else calm. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (Color II - Power Distribution Building - Asst CEO Ensign Stephen Getman - 1445) The Ensign followed in behind the security personnel and the doctor who was still holding the baby she found some yards back. A very strange find. Stephen wondered about it for a second before his mind changed to his surroundings. Except maybe more phaser fire there was little that could make Stephen get his mind off of the power distribution building itself. As he walked through the door arch he followed all the elements on his tricorder which was telling him very interesting things. It seemed that power was being used down here but it wouldn't last for long. If these people didn't leave soon the power would run dry and leave these people breathing increasing poisonous air. For now though they were safe, it was just beginning not to be. Ensign Getman stayed behind until he felt like he could be useful and he knew exactly how to do that. Quietly he walked up to Lt. Skylynx. "Sir, may I have a word." (reply Skylynx) It was hard for the new officer to admit to what he was about to say. "Sir, I don't feel that I am ready for this. Can you take the lead?" (reply Skylynx) "Thank you sir. I will continue to monitor the power distribution here, but I do think we better start getting some answers from these guys." (posted by Calvin Capps) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary - ATAC Lt Ryko Skylynx- 1445) The Sanctuary was immense. Leyan led them all into the cavernous open space that seemed to be like some gigantic subterranean slum, a huddled collection of tents and bedrolls off to one side, and on the far corner there was what appeared to be a hastily-assembled medical bay. The walls and ceiling were angular, utilitarian constructs, covered with pipes and conduits of all kinds. It reminded Ryko of some of the other less advanced colonies on the Federation's border territories. Introductions were small and clipped, the moods of the Survivors was clearly deteriorating with time. As Ryko took a moment to observe them, he caught glances of data readouts from the edges of the room. Without looking with too much detail as to attract attention, Ryko did manage to glean a little information about their power status. It didn't look good. He was suddenly aware of Getman by his side. "Sir, may I have a word." "Of course, Ensign," he offered, shouldering his rifle and nodding for Getman to fall into step beside him. The man clearly was struggling with something. Ryko patiently waited, letting him put the words together in his own mind before saying them out loud. "Sir, I don't feel that I am ready for this. Can you take the lead?" Now it was Ryko's turn to be taken aback. He stopped himself from asking what was bothering the Ensign so much that he wanted to give up his position, but instead just nodded. "Alright. But I'll still need your eyes and ears here, Stephen. I snuck a glance at their power distribution readouts. This place draws energy directly from the Power plant that is our main objective. I'm no engineer but I know it doesn't look good." "Thank you sir. I will continue to monitor the power distribution here, but I do think we better start getting some answers from these guys." "Agreed." Ryko looked toward the triage bay he had seen earlier. A few menials were fussing over the child that Saryn had rescued. (Reply Getman, iyw) "Doctor," Ryko said as he approached her. "How's the baby?" (Reply Saryn) "Good. Cause we need to get going. Maybe we can ask Leyan for help. He seemed to be eyeballing you and the child especially. I'm not sure why. But any way in is a good way in at this point." (Reply Saryn, Showers) Ryko looked over at the old man the other security officer had mentioned. He mulled the thought for a moment. "Alright, it's worth a shot. Someone needs to rally these people. Either way, we can't let them stay here and starve. They won't be able to hold out forever. Our best shot is to find a way for them to get to the Boudicca. Saryn, Showers, both of you make that a Priority. Getman and I will speak to Leyan about heading for the Powerplant. We'll use short range comms only. The range might be compromised by the tunnels, but it's all we've got." (Reply Getman, Saryn, Showers iyw) "Excellent idea, Mr Showers. Getman, make sure your tricorder is configured to recieve short burst text transmissions. Are we all clear on what to do?" (Reply Getman, Saryn, Showers) "Alright. Let's go. Good hunting." With that, Getman and Ryko hurried back to Leyan, who seemed to be preoccupied with inventorying the Sanctuary's weapon and medical supplies. Ryko wasted no time in tapping the man on the shoulder. "We need your help to get to that power plant, Leyan. It might be our only chance to save these people and this colony." (Posted by Adam) (USS Boudicca - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 14.46) Getting no immediate response he had to do something to inform Saryn of the danger rapidly closing in their position. He didn't have any practice in one on one telepathy. That was something Caspian would be much better at than him. He made an attempt to push through the mob and the interference eventually connecting with Saryn. He tried to send the message. : Trei to Saryn. The beast is rapidly closing on your position. You need to get out of there now. Find a place to beam out and do it now..: He waited to feel a mental connection response from Saryn. (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps & Major Joel Kilowa - 1448) The Captain sat behind his desk listening to the Marine CO. In the past missions Joel has really impressed Calvin. The Captain read him as an excellent leader and strategist. Today, the strategist within the Major was going to be tested. "Captain, with the amount of these undead that you speak of, it would really help if we could just beam into the tunnels underneath that building." "Major I have said it once and I hate to repeat myself, but that just isn't going to be..." A communication opened to the Captain. =/\=Trei to Capps. I am ready for the search. Will report when the beast is found. Trei out.=/\= "Very well Liuetenant. Advise me of any discovery, and be careful. Do not make contact with the beast." The communication went away as quick as it came and the Captain turned back to the marine. "What was I saying." "You were saying how you were going to get my team into those tunnels safely," kicked back Joel. The Captain on a usual day would have the patience to deal with such a broken record. But the facts were he had been chased by zombies into a building, forced to blow a hole in the ceiling, saw what could only be described as a flying demon beast and right before becoming lunch himself he was beamed away from danger. Calvin was beginning to become extremely frustrated. "Major Kilowa that is exactly why you have been called to handle this situation. You and your marines are the most equipped to deal with this, so do so," Calvin said with a strong edge. The major adjusted in his chair. He wasn't scared or threatened by the Captain, but he didn't want this meeting to get out of hand. He knew he needed to approach this subject in a different manner. Before he could, however, another communication came through for the Captain, except this time it was garbled. =/\=Tr-- to Capp-. I fou-- the ----- and it -- closing on Sa----- --sition in the building. Get her --- of th--- now. Waiting ------ orders. Tr-- out.=/\= ~What the hell~ the Captain thought. He tapped his combadge, not completely sure it would work. "Capps to Lieutenant Jacobs." (reply Jacobs) "It would seem that we had another power malfunction of some sort. I believe Lieutenant Trei just tried to contact me, but the communication was broken." (reply Jacobs) "Get to it Mr. Jacobs," the Captain replied. "Capps out." Calvin looked down at his console and noticed it was time for the meeting with Lieutenant Rinn. "Lets go Major, we may find an answer for you yet." Calvin stood up and headed out his door with the marine closely behind. (posted by Calvin Capps) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary – aCMO Lt Jg Mia Saryn- 1449) "Hold on close to that baby" She nodded and said, “I intend to.” The view of the survivors of this strange phenomenon, all huddled together was something else. Saryn quivered inside her. It remind him of some of the sights he had seen during the war and she knew that there were memories there that gave him trouble. Lost in their collective memories, she barely heard Skylynx say, "Looks like we found them." Smiling, she said, “I think that would be a fair assessment.” Spotting what looked like a medical facility, Mia made her way there. Not caring about the people staring at her, she lay the little baby down and said, “Come on, little one. Let's get you clean cause you stink.” She wrinkled her nose and laughed as the baby gurgled delight infront of her. With a skill that showed one of them had been a parent before, Mia removed the baby's diaper and wiped her clean. Keeping an eye on her motor skills and reactions, she knew that this little girl had been unscathed by the recent series of events. Wrapping her back up, once clean, she bounced her in her arms and said, “There, that feels better, doesn't it?” She knew that it would be hard to leave this baby and part of her wanted to take her back to the ship. .:Mia, you always do fall for strays:. .:I know, but think of this. At least Lizzy will finally get her family:. "Doctor, How's the baby?" Smiling at the security officer, she said, “She's fine. All clean and ready to go.” "Good. Cause we need to get going. Maybe we can ask Leyan for help. He seemed to be eyeballing you and the child especially. I'm not sure why. But any way in is a good way in at this point." Tilting her head a little, she said, “Got you. I can try and talk to him, see if we can use his knowledge.” "Alright, it's worth a shot. Someone needs to rally these people. Either way, we can't let them stay here and starve. They won't be able to hold out forever. Our best shot is to find a way for them to get to the Boudicca. Saryn, Showers, both of you make that a Priority. Getman and I will speak to Leyan about heading for the Powerplant. We'll use short range comms only. The range might be compromised by the tunnels, but it's all we've got." Smiling down at the little girl in her arms, she waggled her finger infront of the baby's face and said, “You are gonna get me into so much trouble.” Suddenly, the baby gripped Mia's finger and held tightly. Her heart leapt a beat as she knew. She knew that this little one was coming home. “ Are we all clear on what to do?" Mia looked up and said, “Yes.” "Alright. Let's go. Good hunting.” Nodding, her thoughts turned to Lizzy. What she would say to her bringing home a child. ~A family at last.~ she thought to herself. (posted by Jackie Smith) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary - Leyan- 1450) Leyan led the group into the sanctuary. He left them to inspect their little oasis of relative calm and made straight for the weapons store. Looking at the small stash that they had managed to accumulate, it wasn't much but little was better than none. Picking up his old rifle, he grabbed a rag and began to clean the thing. As he worked the rag over the oil surface, Leyan glanced up at the one fleet person with the spots. His mind worked overtime as he tried to place her species. ~That's it. Trill. I've heard about them.~ he thought to himself as he watched her nurse the baby she had brought down to the sanctuary. ~Poor kid has no-one, both parents dead. Killed in the first.....~ He closed his eyes for a moment and then felt a tap on his shoulder. "We need your help to get to that power plant, Leyan. It might be our only chance to save these people and this colony." Turning, he saw the man who had lead the starfleet crew to them and said, “As I said before, I doubt that. But if you really want to go, I can take you there.” (reply skylynx) Sighing, leyan nodded and said, “That's true. But tell me this... are you taking us with you? We can't all stay here. Those things will get in and it'll be a bloodbath. There's children here. Please.” (posted by Jackie Smith) (USS Boudicca - Deck 15 - Upper Secondary Computer Core - CEO Lt. Henry Jacobs - 1451) The openness of the room never ceased to amaze Jacobs. He and another engineer walked into the room with deadly intent to find, isolate, and resolve any and all malfunctions to make sure the ship was at operating efficiency. Between the two of them there was a plethora of engineering equipment that would facilitate the process. No sooner than the two made it to the actual work area the Captain broke the silence in the air. =^=Capps to Lieutenant Jacobs.=^= Jacobs shot a look at the other engineer, knowing that the Captain wanted an answer to his previous question. "Jacobs here," he responded. =^=It would seem that we had another power malfunction of some sort. I believe Lieutenant tree just tried to contact me, but the communication was broken. =^= The fact of the matter was that there was still no evidence of the ongoing malfunction. Until he could localize the malfunction, he would not have a valid answer to give the Captain. "Sir, I am looking into it myself. Currently in the Secondary Computer Core running diagnostic after diagnostic to find it sir," he gave a response knowing that it was not what the Captain wanted to hear. =^=Get to it Mr. Jacobs, Capps out.=^= The channel closed and Jacobs knew his butt was to the fire. "Lets find something to report shall we. I don't want to have that conversation with the Captain again." There was a flight of stairs containing five steps and the two quickly walked down them to the main floor of the room. Jacobs continued true to the farthest wall in the room while the other engineer walked to a closer wall panel to the left. "I need you to start with a level four diagnostic. I don't care how small it is if you find something please bring it to my attention." The other engineer nodded in his direction and turned her back to begin her task. Henry did not turn from facing her until he was sure she understood her purpose. Once his point got across he turned back to the console in front of him and balanced himself on a railing in front of him to gracefully drop down to the floor. Once he was down there he opened an access panel and set it to the side of him. To any other eye things would have looked in order but Henry was an engineer with a built in tool, one that proved to be a lifesaver more and more often. ~Just why is this here~ he asked himself while scratching his head. (posted by Darrl McDaniel) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - Top Level - Security Officer Lieutenant Rayne Showers - 1452) The space was massive. The survivors of the planet epidemic had turned a compound designated for one thing into a secure establishment equipped to protect against a siege for weeks. The people of Color II were definitely resourceful and used everything available to them to their advantage. The Federation personnel were no fully emerged into the room and they took in the individual stations that had provided support for everyone that was within the confines of the room's walls. Rayne was close enough to hear Skylynx, Mia, and Getman discussing the next course of action. Attention was geared towards an older gentlemen positioned in the center of the room. From what he overheard the sentry describe, the man was the elder of the city and was the in the highest position of command of those surviving. If there would be any information to be gained, it would be from his mouth that they would receive it. Talking with the elder would take the precedence while also devising a way to ensure the safety of the survivors. It would not be longer before those zombies from the surface would find a breach the hideout. There was plenty for the four of them to do and while Rayne and Mia would find a way to safely move the refugees if need be he came up with an idea. "Well if we are going to be splitting up again we need to make sure we are maintaining communications. We already don't have contact with the ship. We don't need to loose each other as well. The tricorders should be able to send and receive basic message transmissions. It's our best bet for communication this deep into the planet." The idea was acknowledged and processed and the four went about their tasks. Before any moving would be done Rayne made a perimeter sweep of the room. He wanted to make sure he was aware of any and all routes into and out of the room. If they were going to move these people he wanted to make sure it was in a safe and orderly fashion to minimize any harm to anyone. He then returned to the center of the room where Mia was already talking to the elder of the city. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (Color II - Coloran Underground Sanctuary - Asst. CEO Ensign Stephen Getman - 1452) "Excellent idea, Mr Showers. Getman, make sure your tricorder is configured to recieve short burst text transmissions. Are we all clear on what to do?" Ryko said as he took control of the away team. "Aye sir," Stephen replied as he opened his tricorder once again. After he made the necessary modifications he waited for the que to continue with their task. "Alright. Let's go. Good hunting," he ordered further. Stephen followed behind Ryko as the Lieutenant tapped Leyan on the shoulder and eagerly explained their need. "We need your help to get to that power plant, Leyan. It might be our only chance to save these people and this colony." (reply skylynx) Sighing, leyan nodded and said, “That's true. But tell me this... are you taking us with you? We can't all stay here. Those things will get in and it'll be a bloodbath. There's children here. Please.” Stephen heard the question and decided that he would give his opinion. "The power in this area will not last much longer and I believe moving you with us will be hard but we will be able to do it. Our security personnel should be able to protect all of us and we can discuss how all of this happened along the way." (posted by Calvin Capps) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast – 1459) The beast felt the a being at the far edges of his mind, who ever it was seemed content to stay at the far reaches and watch. So the beast went about his work, let the being watch his joyful destruction these people made better prey and were more fun to hunt than the native populace that had mostly ran in horror. In some area's the native's military put up some resistance which was good the beast was however more concerned with letting his horde grow and secure the gains they already made. For ever body that fell victim to the plague was another mind he could control, could tap to make his own power stronger. He was nearly on top of the way team when, there at the edge of his mind the being made its move. It tried desperately to push it's way though the minds of the mob, the blackness of the beast. The beast smiled, an evil grin as he opened his mind to the person who was so desperate in getting a warning to the rest of the way team, either didn't know or didn't care that the beast was allowing himself to mentally establish a connection to every person in his horde he had to force his way past. The beast wove those connections into a tight rope as he heard the warning echo though the minds of his horde. : Trei to Saryn. The beast is rapidly closing on your position. You need to get out of there now. Find a place to beam out and do it now..: The beast pulled on his mental resources then looked skyward replied ::Not this time.:: The beast unleashed his fury has he channeled the minds of a thousands of lost souls into the mind of the person that sought to defy him. ::You I will destroy.:: (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca, Gangway near Ready Room, Yeoman Meggan Puceanu, 1500) The Captain's yeoman paced the gangway nearest the Ready Room. Her normally slightly wavy hair was poker-straight, flat, and lifeless. Though clean, there was an almost dirty look to her locks. She hugged her tricorder to her chest. She felt tremendous anxiety, made worse for her since she knew it wasn't actually hers. Meggan hadn't been to the planet's surface, while others had. And the overall mood of those returning wasn't pleasant. More seasoned officers than she seemed confused. Confusion wasn't something the Yeoman dealt with well -- hence her 'pet' tricorder. She trusted it sometimes more than she did her own senses. Meggan had grown up in an extremely controlled environment. The emotional malaise of "WTF?" hadn't generally been something she'd had to deal with. Now she was having to cope with it in spades. Her pacing having turned at some point into a rather aimless wandering, Yeoman Puceanu found herself on the bridge... (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1500) Calvin stepped out of his office and his memory took him toward the turbolift since his head was turned toward the marine walking behind him. When the Captain could see something in his peripheral vision he turned to look at what he was about to run into and avoid it if at all possible. His face turned forward just in time for it to make contact with Yeoman Puceanu. "Sorry Meggan, I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing, but I am glad I ran in to you. I am on my way to conference room 1 and Lieutenant Trei attempted to contact me but the comm went out. I believe he is located in one of the holodecks. Can you go check on him for me?" (reply Puceanu) "Excellent, was there anything I need to help you with?" (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – Yeoman Puceanu – 1500.1) Yeoman Puceanu was startled out of her aimlessness by a near collision with her Captain. "Sorry Meggan,” the CO said. He mentioned a problem with the comm, and that Lieutenant Trei was likely in one of the holodecks. “Can you go check on him for me?" he asked. Meggan liked it that her Captain called her by her first name. The familiar address made her feel somewhat better and made her hair lose its dingy look. The strands slowly coiled a bit as the CO spoke. And, at the mention of holodecks, she was happy to oblige. Holodecks felt like home. “Yes, sir,” the Yeoman answered. "Excellent, was there anything I need to help you with?" Meggan looked down at Dinah, her pet tricorder. It was named after the cat in Alice in Wonderland, but not the feline of the Cheshire variety. After an uncomfortable pause, she reestablished eye contact with the CO. “This mission … the crew … seems very ill at ease, sir,” she said. “Would you consider authorizing … a minor sedative?” (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.02) He felt the tremendous strength of the beast's mind slamming into his mind. He held it off with some effort. He heard the beast mentally say that his fight is with him now. That was fine with him for the beast may have a strong mind, his emotions are weak. He intended to send the force of the collective horde's pain at the beast just like a fictional Teran super hero called Ghost Rider. The ability Ghost Rider has is to make a criminal feel the pain he has caused the victim and thus turning their body to dust with the action. He doubted this will happen to the beast but it was worth the try just to give the away team the time it needed to get out. He pictured himself turning into the skeleton with the skull in flames and the rolling flames in his eyes. : You may have the strength of the horde mentally but emotionally you are weak and that is where I will fight you. Feel their pain.: He sent all the pain the beast has caused the horde along with all the fear and pain he caused the away teams. He kept sending waves of pain at the beast for as long as he could sustain it. (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1503) “This mission … the crew … seems very ill at ease, sir,” she said. “Would you consider authorizing … a minor sedative?” Calvin first met Meggan on the holoship she was rescued from. The Captain was a cadet in the academy at the time and was experiencing first hand a raid onto an illegal holoship. It was part of his studies and the end result of that class created a life long friendship with one of the specific rescuees, Meggan Puceanu. Calvin has had roughly 7 years to get to know Meggan. He understood her fondness for technology and why she trusted it to a fault. He knew her weird quarks, and expected them. Her question, the Captain could never had predicted, but it did follow her personality. "That is a negative midshipman." Midshipman was not her current rank, but it had been for a long time and most of that time Calvin knew her. Meggan liked the title midshipman better and normally smiled when it was used. When Meggan graduated from Starfleet and her rank went from a non-commissioned to the commissioned rank yeomen Captain Capps could tell she wasn't as happy with the new title. "Go find Mr. Trei, Meggan," he said quickly and abruptly. Seeing Ensign Puceanu turn about and make her way to the turbolift Calvin turned to look at Major Kilowa. The marine had a perplexed look on his face and was about to say something, but the Captain interrupted him first. "Don't worry about it." (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room 1 - CO Captain Calvin Capps & Major Joel Kilowa - 1505) The Captain was running late and he blamed it all on the Major. When the two stepped into the conference room they found Lieutenant Rinn already sitting in one of the chairs. Calvin took the nearest seat from the door and waited for the marine to settle in. "First, normally the entire senior crew would be here but unfortunately we are in a unique situation where we all are doing are part in separate areas. Second, I have updated the Major in exactly what happened on Color II. We are here to come up with a viable plan to rescue the rest of the away team that is now in the tunnels of the building we escaped from. And we need a plan ASAP." The major jumped in, "Lieutenant Rinn, the Captain says he asked you to find the specs on that building. Were you able to come up with anything?" (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room One - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1506) Deynyk had been sitting in the conference room since he'd been released from sickbay a short while earlier. His work had begun to bear fruit and he was fairly certain that he had made significant headway towards locating the possible routes as well as the potential hiding places of the population that remained on the planet. The captain and Major Kilowa entered the comport almost back-to-back, time wise, and Deynyk noted with some interest that they were the only three officers present. The captain wasted no time on formalities, but jumped right into the conversation, "First, normally the entire senior crew would be here but unfortunately we are in a unique situation where we all are doing our part in separate areas. Second, I have updated the Major in exactly what happened on Color II. We are here to come up with a viable plan to rescue the rest of the away team that is now in the tunnels of the building we escaped from. And we need a plan ASAP." Major kilowatt jumped in next, "Lieutenant Rinn, the Captain says he asked you to find the specs on that building. Were you able to come up with anything?" Deynyk nodded and then rose, moving towards the primary display screen as he went. "I have, Major, Captain. In fact I have a good idea where the away team is most likely to be as well as the most likely location of any surviving colony personnel. Problem is, the first is a fairly broad area while the latter is going to be very difficult to reach. Let me expound." He reached up and touched some of the buttons on the display, pulling up the labyrinthine cluster of tunnels, junctions and small rooms situated through the underground beneath the capital city of Color II. The image began to slowly rotate along it's vertical axis to the right. "I've managed to locate a series of subterranean tunnels that exist beneath the city. These vary in size and for a variety of functions, so I have taken the liberty of removing those that are non-navigable for the away team, based on the relative size or the contents of some of those tunnels. So steam tunnels, smaller ventilation tunnels and spaces too small to traverse have been removed. What you see here, are the tunnels and compartments that remain accessible." He reached up and tapped another series of buttons and the image zoomed in to a specific portion of the tunnel complex. A red diffuse gloss appeared at the mouth of one of the tunnels. "This point is the entrance in the building where the away team would have gained access to the underground complex of tunnels and shafts." He zoomed out, expanding the image but showing the clear areas of passage and connections available to the away team. "Assuming that the away team was forced to somehow barricade the tunnel behind them, thus preventing any immediate pressing pursuit. Working on that basis, we can estimate the average speed of travel of the away team, and using algorithms developed by spelunking search and rescue teams, we can estimate the most likely routes of travel. That means that the away team should be somewhere within the overlaid blue sphere marked on the display." He tapped in a few more commands and the sphere was added to the display. "If any member of the away team was injured, we can cut the speed and distance traveled by one-third, which would place them somewhere within the much smaller green sphere area." Another series of taps added the green sphere. "With those parameters and using the prediction software developed as mentioned, we have three possible high-probability areas for each of the two spheres. These should be our first priorities, especially the blue sphere points, as they can change the most as time elapses. The green sphere points can shift as well, but is dependent upon some mobility by all parties in order to reach these points. If mobility is not an option or is severely curtailed, we will need to contract the green sphere significantly. My suggestion it to beam down to the planet at each of three sites. surface access points should be easy to spot, and I have already identified the coordinates for all of these points." He tapped a couple of other buttons and an orange circle pulsed over three separate entry points. By following the preloaded maps with the use of a tricorder and coupled with a communications transponder at each of the three entry points, the teams should be able to navigate the tunnels without worry of being lost. The three transponders will allow for triangulation should the maps prove inaccurate. Teams should carry a spare set of transponders as well as a set of transport pattern enhancers, to allow immediate beam out from the tunnels once the away team has been located." Rinn paused for a moment. Then he zoomed into the central portion of the labyrinth. "Alternately, it is my belief that the city's remaining survivors have driven themselves underground. I think they may have used the tunnels to move as far away from the surface and the infection as they could. In addition, anyone seeking power for basic medical, food replication or other needs would move towards the most likely place to find these things." "Judging from the work done by the engineering team prior to our arrival, there are two maglev transport lines down into the geothermal planetary power tap, as well as several worker maintenance tunnels, that could potentially be come transit ways for survivors familiar with the basic layout. With very few exceptions, as long as you continue moving down slope, you will be able to reach the power station proper, provided that you are able to bypass the security gates and other fail safe barricades. In addition, the closer the proximity to the geomagnetic generators used in the plants, the less chance that we will have to detect the population close to those points." "Further more, there is a transporter system in the plant and I have confirmed that the automated systems for the plants are intact, although they are currently secured. If we could gain access to them, we could potentially make connection remotely, and tie the Boudicca's transporter control panels into the power plants network. Doing so may allow us to transport one or more search teams directly into the power station's operations area. using their own transport pattern enhancers, permanently installed just for such an occasion." "Alternately if that is not possible, our away teams could gain access to the facility through direct routes along the tunnels into the plant via the maintenance tunnels. So either way we can continue our rescue efforts." Deynyk pointed out the last bit of the details, highlighting the key points and expanding the data as needed to fill out the presentation. He now went on to summarize. "In conclusion, after reviewing evacuation plans for the city, and noting the convergence of the access tunnels to the geothermal core, I find this to be the most likely place for the survivors to be. Furthermore, by extrapolating psychological behavior and estimating the rates of travel of the away team underground, I feel that we have a fairly narrow area of deployment, where they are likely to be currently. Three marine squads for the search should be sufficient to check those high probability areas, while a fourth team could investigate the condition of the geothermal core facility." With that, Deynyk moved back over to his seat, leaving his display up for anyone to scrutinize as they saw fit. "That's what I have sirs." (posted by Daniel Greene) (USS Boudicca - Turbolift – Yeoman Puceanu – 1507) Meggan Puceanu had been on the starship long enough to know where the holodecks were: Decks 10 and 19. There were four on each deck. Lieutenant Trei -- the half-Klingon/half-Betazed Security Officer -- was in one of them. Odds were 1 in 8 she'd find him in any given room. While she enjoyed games of chance, this wasn't the time for one. Meggan set about searching for the 'Klingozed' methodically. Her sole concession to gambling was to pick a Holodeck as the one she'd find him in: 5. ~'Klingozed...'~ she mused. ~... or 'Betangon'~ It didn't matter what word she applied to the hybrid as both were equally nonsensical. ~I wonder how that comes about... Well, beyond the usually way...~ (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Deck 10 – Yeoman Puceanu – 1510) "Deck Ten," Meggan chimed, since the turbolift didn't announce where you were. That was almost certainly an oversight. "Deck Ten: Ten Forward, Rec Bays, Holodecks 1 through 4," she added, doing her best impression of the computer voice. "Ugh," she gasped. "Computer! Where is Lieutenant Trei?" After the computer answered, the Yeoman went to the location indicated. ~I do hope he's in a more Betazed mood....~ she thought as she pressed the button at the door to indicate to the occupant she wished to enter... In the moment she had to wait, she used Dinah the Tricorder to scan to see if the man she sought was indeed in the room. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.11) He kept the emotional wave of attack coming when he heard the door chime requesting to enter the Holodeck. He told the computer to let her in but to be quiet about so to not break his concentration. The new yeoman Pucerau had something important to tell him or it had better be important. She walked up to the device he was engaged in. He relented the attack on the beast in order to rest and find out what she wanted. "What is your purpose for me Miss Pucerau." (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room 1 - CO Captain Calvin Capps & Major Joel Kilowa - 1512) "That's what I have sirs," said Rinn as he took his seat. The marine sat at the edge of his seat with his arms folded on top of the table. His bottom mouth dropped as far as it could go. He stared at the lieutenant with amazement. "Are you telling me that you were able to put all that together in the 30 minutes you had? Hell, part of that time was locked behind a containment field." The Captain followed up quickly and sincerely, "yes Lieutenant Rinn is very much capable of doing such a task. That is why he is one of the best Starfleet officers. We are lucky to have him aboard." He said the next statement with a little bit more edge and frustration. "Can we please get back to the mission planning." (reply Rinn, iyw) Major Kilowa raised his hand into a fist and covered his mouth as he cleared his throat. "Yes, Captain. Well based on what the amazing Chief of Operations has provided I see no reason why not to follow it. I would suggest that I take a marine engineer in each of the 3 teams in case we come across any of these barriers. I would say each team should consist of 4 personnel: the engineer, the group leader, and 2 gunmen." The marine CO paused and Calvin saw this as his opportunity to jump in. "Lieutenant Rinn I have not forgotten that you have requested to participate in this rescue mission. You take the 4th and final team down to the geothermal core facility. What from me or Major Kilowa do you need?" (reply Rinn) "Can do," the major replied with a nod of the head. "Okay, when can we put this into action?" the Captain asked eagerly. He knew the longer the team waited on the planet the more danger they were in. "Well Captain putting 4 teams together would be a minimum of 30 minutes. I have to digest this information and then explain it a lot slower and in simpler terms," Joel explained. "What about you lieutenant?" (reply Rinn) "Excellent," said the Captain. "Have the teams meet at Transporter room 1 at 1600 hours. Get what you need from the each department and be ready. Unless there is anything else you are dismissed," the Captain said concluding the meeting. (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 – Yeoman Puceanu – 1513) Even before Trei acknowledged her presence, Meggan Puceanu could sense more was going on in the Holodeck than what Dinah the Tricorder told her. She was never consciously aware of surface thoughts – just feelings (including perceptions of her). Trei was struggling – not surprisingly in and of itself. His personnel file said he enjoyed exploring ‘strange new worlds’ on the holodeck and some worlds could be challenging. But in the midst of a mission would be a strange time to be making recreational use of a holodeck. Plus, Meggan felt Trei seemed to be struggling against something. There seemed to be some awareness of pain too, but there weren’t there safety protocols… The emotions stirred by all this somewhat confused the Yeoman. It was then that the Security Officer let her enter the Holodeck. He cautioned her to be quiet. As she crossed the room, her hair shifted gradually in color from her usual brunette to something more auburn. She herself took no notice of it yet, but this physical change was in response to Trei’s envisioning the Terran superhero Ghostrider with his skull in flames. Meggan had no conscious knowledge of superheroes – let alone the specific character contemplated by Trei. But the image in Trei’s mind had been a strong one – and Trei’s mental struggle equally strong. Officer Trei was imposing. Though he stood only a little taller than Megg, he was obviously part Klingon — and he massed 1.5× what she did. Yeoman Puceanu was physically fit, but Trei clearly engaged in more regular and more strenuous exercise. "What is your purpose for me, Miss Pucerau?" he asked, all-business but seemingly somewhat distracted from something. Her hair color still slowly shifting toward longer wavelengths in the visible-light spectrum, Meggan said, “The Captain sent me. He said you made some effort to contact him but the comm went out. Cap…” Megg almost referred to Calvin as ‘Cap²’ – She had her nickname for CAPtain CAPps, just as he called her ‘Midshipman.’ She continued, though, “…tain Capps asked me to check on you. Is everything alright?” Megg suspected the right answer to the question was “No,” but she had heard that Klingons didn’t always admit to having troubles. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.15) The yeoman Pucerau stated that she was sent by Captain Capps to see how he was doing. The change of her hair to a auburn shade was not lost on him. He needed to rest before trying that emotional wave attack again. It probably would take an hour to be ready again. "If you must know, I was searching for the away team telepathically. Then I found them with a beast on the surface closing in on their position and I was trying to contact Saryn telepathically to warn her of the danger because the COMM is not working as of now. The beast contacted me mentally so I began using all the emotional torture he caused the people on the surface and sending it back at him to attack him with tremendous waves of pain in order to give the away team time to get out of there.. Am I needed?" (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Cargo Bay 2 - Science Officer Lieutenant Liam Gray - 1515) This was one of the easiest days the science department had in a very long time. On a ship of exploration very rarely did the science officers have absolutely nothing to do. On this day two teams had been assigned to Cargo Bay 2 to do routine cataloging. Liam's mind was far from his task that day as he stood and daydreamed about his last date with Ensign Cavallaro. While the room was filled with crew members working diligently Gray continued to stare into a fixed position in the ceiling, totally ignoring the bustle of everyone else working. He was so immersed in his recollection that he didn't notice that the room had gotten quiet as the cargo bay door began to open. The raring sound of the Klaxxon alarms didn't even stun him and he stood in his stupor until one of the other science officers shook him back to reality. No one clearly understood why the doors were opening, but there was no sudden reactions as the safety forcefields were still in place. Once he came to he walked over to the operations panel to try and reshut the door. Liam entered the commands on the panel and it beeped in defiance and would not respond. "It won't close," he yelled out to the others in the room. Another crew member walked up and stood next to him and tried the same commands in the computer. He huffed as the computer gave the same unsatisfactory result. Many in the room returned to what they were doing seeing that the door would not close and would not interfere with their progress. Gray motioned to do the same and before he could clear the panel the lights in the room began to flicker. This again caused everyone working to pause for a moment and take in the random series of malfunctions. The incident lasted only for a few more seconds before the lights returned and remained. Again, everyone else returned to what they were doing. Gray began to walk back to the cargo bin he was working on when he noticed that he left his tricorder back on the console so he walked back over to it to grab it and resume his duties. As soon as he placed his hand on the tricorder to grab it the entire ship shifted. Everything in the room shifted as the inertial dampeners of the ship gave way. There was an uproar or screams as everyone was caught off guard and fell to the floor. The shrieks of the room suddenly ceased as the emergency forcefields shut down and the vacuum of space instantaneously ripped everything out that was not bolted down. The room emptied as cargo bins and crates rattled while banging against each other on their trajectory out. Those who were not near any structures of the room unfortunately had no chance as their bodies lifted off of the ground and were sucked out into the darkness. The others that were near the perimeter of the room grabbed onto anything they could to fight the strain of the vacuum calling them out into space. Liam managed to grab hold of the panel under his tricorder but watched as the small device fly past him, hit someone in the face, and then proceed out the cargo bay door. The person caught off guard broke their struggle for life and lunged out the door only seconds after the tricorder. With his body elavated by the suction and parallel to the ground Liam struggled to attempt to close the cargo bay door; the task nearly impossible since he was looking at the display from an upside down position. As the seconds passed the room became barron with only Lt. Gray hanging on for his life. With the last bit of strength he could muster he crawled his right hand over the panel to make a final attempt at closing the door. It only required three key strokes, each one taking longer while fighting against a vacuum. The first two key strokes were successful, but on the third his ring finger brushed the ship wide communications button instead. The next few seconds were broadcast across the ship. The pull had overcome Liam and his body was ripped from the console and shot out into space. His body bounced off the Boudicca's nacelle and continued into space scattering with the other debris from the cargo bay. Inertial dampeners came back online and the ship stabilized back into its normal orbit. The warning klaxons sounded again as the cargo bay door began to close. Once the door closed automated controls started up and began filling empty room with oxygen. The ship wide channel closed. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (USS Boudicca - Conference Room 1 - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1516) "Are you telling me that you were able to put all that together in the 30 minutes you had? Hell, part of that time was locked behind a containment field." Kilowa asked? The Captain followed up quickly and sincerely, "Yes Lieutenant Rinn is very much capable of doing such a task. That is why he is one of the best Starfleet officers. We are lucky to have him aboard." He said the next statement with a little bit more edge and frustration. "Can we please get back to the mission planning?" "Of course Captain." Deynyk replied. Joel seemed a bit embarrassed for a few moments as he outlined his needs for a mission team. His team composition seemed solid, after all, that was what Marines did, solid planning and execution of those same plans. The Captain interjected. "Lieutenant Rinn I have not forgotten that you have requested to participate in this rescue mission. You take the 4th and final team down to the geothermal core facility. What from me or Major Kilowa do you need?" Deynyk didn't have to think on it too long. "I'd like to take CEO Jacobs, as I don't know what state the facility is in down there. It could be on the verge of some catastrophic failure and I want to make certain I have someone on hand that can address that problem should that be the case. I'll need some marines, say … three, at least two of which are field medic trained. An additional engineer if you can spare one and a pair of security officers. I don't anticipate too much trouble at the facility, but I want to make certain I have enough personnel if we do run into trouble down there. so basically a team for the facility would consist of 8 personnel, we may bee to do some crowd control of some sort, or deal with a horde of nasty zombies, either way, I think that's about the optimum number of personnel for a facility crawl." "Can do." Kilowa replied. "When can we put this into action?" Capps inquired. It was Kilowa that replied, "Well Captain putting 4 teams together would be a minimum of 30 minutes. I have to digest this information and then explain it a lot slower and in simpler terms," Joel explained. "What about you lieutenant?" "30-minutes is more than enough time." Deynyk replied with a nod. "Excellent," said the Captain. "Have the teams meet at Transporter room 1 at 1600 hours. Get what you need from the each department and be ready. Unless there is anything else you are dismissed." Deynyk rose from his seat and immediately tapped his commbadge as he headed for the door. "Rinn to Jacobs" (reply Jacobs) "Henry, you've been tapped for an exploratory mission to the Geothermal tap facility. I'm leading a team down there to assess the situation and to see if there might be any survivors. Can you select another engineer from your staff and both of you join me in transporter room one at 1600 hours with whatever gear you may need?" (reply Jacobs) "Major Kilowa will leading a rescue team to search for the away team members still on the surface. He'll have three teams doing a systematic search based on some algorithms that I borrowed from some search and rescue software." (reply Jacobs) "Certainly, I can forward those results to Jericho for you. would you let him know they're coming his way?" (reply Jacobs) "Excellent chief, I'm certain the major would be happy for any additional help that your team can provide him. See you at 1600 promptly. Rinn out." (posted by Daniel Greene) (USS Boudicca, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1517) The struggle was over but Officer Trei's concern for the away team remained, even though he clearly needed to rest. "If you must know," he began, in answer to her question, "I was searching for the away team telepathically." He went on to explain the situation on the ground. Trei mentioned that his reason for telepathically contacting the away team was because of the comm problem. Meggan thought that she would have to next check in with Lt. Deynyk Rinn, the acting Chief of Ops aboard (and one of two Trill on the Boudicca). Meggan sometimes wondered if she'd gotten assigned to the Boudicca because of her friendship with its present CO or because there were two Trill aboard and Meggan could easily pass for one -- at least most of the time. As Trei went on he said, "The beast contacted me mentally so I began using all the emotional torture he caused the people on the surface and sending it back at him..." By this point, Meggan's hair had reached its peak flame color. It should have already starting to return to its natural brunette state. Images of Ghostriders no longer danced in Trei's head. But the description of Trei's strategy to attack the beast with 'waves of pain' had been inspired by the fictional character -- and the tactic maintained the 'need' for fiery hair, at least in Meggan's subconscious. "Am I needed?" Trei asked. "The Captain did not say so. He just sent me to check on you. I imagine he would also like what your original communication was. I could relay it, I you wish..." (posted by Frank) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast – 1520) The Beast marveled at the attack, A focused wave of pain, how pitiful the beast thought keeping his thoughts from his attacker for a creature such has the beast that thrived on the the emotion of fear, pain, destruction, and chaos such a attack was more akin of asking 'Hey you why don't you help me kill you?' It just didn't work. The beast wondered how such a puny creature could of with stand the first attack. But he made a fatal error thinking the battle over and won. He took his attention of the Beast but paid little attention to the connection they still shared. The Beast started his chant ::Darkness beyond twilight, Crimson beyond blood that flows.:: The Beast mental imaged focused on the image that built in his mind where all things were possible. In his mind, all his mental energy gathered with in his massive claws. :: Buried beneath the stream of time is where my darkness grows. I pledge myself to conquer all my foes that stand, by the might power that rest with my hands. May all that stand before be destroyed by the power I now possess.:: The beast mental energy grew to a fevered pitch, so much so that it threaten to tear from him and destroy the surrounding city. By shear force of will he controled all his gathered might and released it skyward into the mind that defied him, that stood against him. He imagined this power ripping though the city reducing it to cinders and ash. He imagined the mind of the one that defied him being torn asunder by the enormity of such a force. (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca - Corridor - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1522) After the short and sweet meeting with Lt. Rinn the Captain began to make his way back to the Bridge. He took a quick ride on the turbolift, but instead of taking it directly to the bridge he felt like walking around deck 1 a bit to clear his mind and think. After the lift dropped him off next to the observation room Calvin began to walk down the corridor. When he began to pass the second set of doors that lead to the observation room he fell directly to the floor. Putting out his hands first to catch his fall he felt the pain in his wrist immediately as the ship forced him to the ground. He tried with all his might to stand back up, but was unable to. He reached for his combadge and tapped it and was disappointed that it was not currently working. Moments passed when the ship seemed to level itself back out, and the Captain was able to stand again. As soon as he was able to run again, which it took a few seconds for him to gain his balance and composure again, he sprinted to the bridge. The bridge doors opened and he heard his Chief of Engineer closing out of a communication with the bridge. "Report!" the Captain exclaimed. "Sir, there was another power malfunction. It was centered around Cargo Bay 2. The outer doors began to open and then the protective forcefield collasped. Inertial dampners failed for a few moments and then everything seemed to just correct itself," the bridge officer reported to the Captain. "Was there anyone in there?" the Captain asked. "Yes sir, 11. The science department were conducting some routine cataloging," the bridge officer replied with a soft tone. He clearly hated to be the person that bared the bad. "Have the...deceased beamed back if able and contact medical. Apprise them of the situation." The Captain spoke in short chunks. He was not enjoying having this conversation and using the word deceased in such a free manner. He had just lost 11 members of his crew and as far as he knew for absolutely no reason at all. "Capps to Jacobs!" (reply Jacobs) "I am sure you are aware of what just occurred in Cargo Bay 2?" Calvin asked. (reply Jacobs) "Do you have any theories so far?" the Captain continued. (reply Jacobs) "I understand you will be going back down to the planet with Lieutenant Rinn, who will be taking over your duties in this matter?" (reply Jacobs) "Very well, I will contact him shortly. Lieutenant I don't think I have to tell you that I want every possible crewman on this problem that is able." (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca, Deck 10, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1523) Though not actually psychic nor consciously aware of surface thoughts, Meggan Puceanu could feel the entity below, on the surface. She hadn’t until now. Perhaps her proximity to Trei had something to do with her sensing it now. Meggan’s empathy was more of a ‘gut reaction’ than anything actually telepathic. She had responded to Trei’s mind’s-eye conjuration of Ghostrider without knowing anything about the character, for example. By now she’d noticed her hair was wavier than usual and flame-red. But she wasn’t precisely sure why. Trei’s own hair was red, but there seemed to be something more to this than that… But now this other gut reaction demanded a great deal of Meggan’s attention. To begin with, it made her feel arrogant. She abruptly felt bigger than Trei, and stronger, whereas she had marveled at his superior fitness just moments ago, when she’d entered the holodeck. A certain strange comfort with darkness and gore dominated her thinking. Meggan caught herself pondering things that the man before her, though half-Klingon, me quail at. Nothing specific came to mind, she just suddenly believed that she might well be able to stomach a situation that would make the Security Officer squeamish. A rather sadistic-looking grin twisted her lips while she flexed and unflexed her fingers as though her nails were massive claws. The Yeoman changed her stance to the most imposing she could must. She felt she had power and wanted to demonstrate it. Worse than that. She wanted to hurt something. That this felt good disturbed her, and she tried to use her Starfleet training to calm herself. But she really wanted to hurt something... (posted by Frank) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast - 1524) It was in the attack that the Beast felt her a easily swayed presence, He could already feel his darkness filling into her. ::Yes:: He spoke softly to her. ::Feel my power, let it sink deeply into you. Become mine and I'll let you use it to achieve your ever hearts desire.:: He opened his mind so he could appear to her, an red eyed version of her deepest fantasies, wearing the the finest of royal garbs in the most elaborate of gardens. ::Follow me and I will turn the world upside down and I will do it all for you.:: The beast beckoned the maiden. (reply Meggan) ::Just do what I say and I will become your slave.:: The beast continued to incise the girl. (reply Meggan) ::Follow me and you'll never be used, always respected, no longer one in a long line of clones I will make you so much more than what you are now.:: (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.25) He saw her change in front of him. A darkness transformed her into someone who wanted to hurt something. He suspected that the beast influenced her and is controlling her mind. He told the computer to save and end program. He spoke in a strong tone to break the beast's control. "Miss Pucerau we will report to Captain Capps on what I have learned from the beast." With that she came back to reality and left the Holodeck with him. (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1527) ::Yes… Feel my power. Let it sink deeply into you. Become mine and I’ll let you use it to achieve your every heart’s desire…:: The shock of such a primal contact made Meggan rather absently drop her normally dear pet tricorder. The device was still on, and scanning - but went unheeded even as it clattered to the floor. Not a telepath herself, Yeoman Puceanu had had little experience with someone else’s thoughts in her head. Before she could determine how to react to the foreign mindset intruding on her consciousness, it intensified. A fantastical image was the next invader… 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. 'Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!' He took his vorpal sword in hand: Long time the manxome foe he sought-- So rested he by the Tumtum tree, And stood awhile in thought. And as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came! ... “'It seems very pretty,'” Meggan said, not aware she was directly quoting a passage from Through the Looking-Glass. ”'…but it's rather hard to understand! Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas--only I don't exactly know what they are…!'” Afterward, Meggan felt as though she were literally dressed in regalia and walking in a delightful garden. A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but dripping with something red… ::Follow me and I will turn the world upside down and I will do it all for you.:: ~W-why would you do this?~ :: Just do what I say and I will become your slave.:: ~Slave!? Oh no! No, no thank you! I’ve been used before!~ ::Follow me and you'll never be used, always respected, no longer one in a long line of clones I will make you so much more than what you are now.:: ~'I--I hardly know who I am, just at present – at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'~ At this point, Detron Trei – whom Meggan had nearly forgotten – spoke in a strong tone in an effort to break the Jabberwock’s hold on her. "Miss Pucerau,” he said, pronouncing her name wrong. She hadn’t corrected him before because of his superior rank. But now, since her name was Puceanu, she could easily pretend he wasn’t addressing her at all. “We will report to Captain Capps on what I have learned from the beast." “If you require me to escort you, I can,” Meggan said, her tone somewhat distant. Her tresses were shifting back to her normal brown from the fiery red they had been. “However,” she went on, “I believe the second half of the Captain’s order to me was an implicit directive that I next check with Lt. Rinn about the comm problem.” (Reply Trei, iyw) With that, Meggan left the holodeck with Trei but let the Klingozed go a separate way. Klingozed? Betangon? “’…But do cats eat bats, I wonder?'” Meggan went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of way, “'Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?'” and sometimes, “'Do bats eat cats?'” for, as she couldn't answer either question, it didn't much matter which way she put it. She had no intention at the moment of finding Lieutenant Rinn. The things the Jabberwock had said were still echoing like music in her head. ~Yes… Feel my power. Let it sink deeply into you…~ Meggan had never felt so over-filled. The yeoman thought that the amount of energy being exorbitantly poured into her soul might oblige her to grow physically larger… “'One side will make you grow taller…'” ~Become mine and I’ll let you use it to achieve your every heart’s desire… Follow me and I will turn the world upside down and I will do it all for you…~ In the first seventeen years of her life, no one had ever made any offer of this caliber. Certainly, she had been clothed, sheltered, fed – technically wanting for nothing. But it had never occurred to her that she could want anything but what was provided by her wardens. She wasn't even particularly clear on what to want. ~Just do what I say and I will become your slave…~ Slavery. This almost brought Meggan back to her senses. One of her 'wardens' had subjected her to a rather lengthy ordeal with the Venus Drug. He had almost assuredly intended that the metamorph become his ‘perfect mate’, but he hadn’t counted on her becoming too much for him to handle. Nor had he considered that she might actually ever become addicted to the substance. (Even to this day, she required regular treatments to stave of the cravings for more of the contraband substance.) The surge of power over-generously now given, though, made the Venus addiction seem far less potent. ~Follow me and you'll never be used, always respected, no longer one in a long line of clones I will make you so much more than what you are now…~ “… a long line of clones …” Meggan said aloud. She had long suspected she was but one of several – or many – subjects of the experiment that formed all of her formative years. The ‘Jabberwock’ now seemed to confirm that, with a conviction that seemed too strong to be denied. By now her hair had shifted in color from red to her normal brunette, but it continued to change – well on its way to becoming the deepest black. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay – Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr.– 1527) Elizabeth was walking back to the CMO office when all hell broke loss. The mighty Boudicca shook violently and everyone was thrown from there position. PADD's and medical supplies went scattering across the floor. Then the ship wide communication system activated, Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears has screams of her fellow crew mates filled her mind, and lives were lost in an instant. She could feel each lose of life, the bright flame of each life being snuffed out. It was times like this that Lizzy hated being telepathic. Has Elizabeth pulled herself from the ground she locked at across her terror filled medical bay. "Prepare for wounded." she called sternly, for there was sure to be people coming in to sickbay for a variety of wounds now. "Also be prepared to take on our fallen." She continued has her voice soften. It was the hardest thing to do, to push herself past the hurt and the pain. To make herself continue the task that were continuing to mount against them. "Get to Work." She yelled at a team of nurses that had taken shelter behind a console and were loath to leave it. Under Elizabeth's harsh eye medical continued to run. Pressing her Comm-badge she spoke. "Captain, we heard, everyone heard. We're ready I have teams ready to receive...."She paused on how to put this easily. "our fallen. Also sir I want everyone who suffered some kind of injury no matter how small the wound is to report to sickbay and get it looked into. I know Captain everyone is busy and tasked, but what if medical loses power next you know what I'm baby sitting here. If we lose power and back up generators fail. You'll lose medical, so get it looked into now because you might not be able to later. I will have two medical teams heading out into the ship for one the spot medical attention and triage. One is headed your way, the other is headed toward Cargo bay 2." (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Science Officer Ensign Nickolas Romanoff - 1530) "Hey, I heard that you needed me for something." Nickolas stood waiting for Caspian to look up from her desk. Apparently she was deeply concentrating on the padds in front of her. (reply Caspian) "I have plenty of time on my hands. I'd be more than willing to assist you. What have you compiled so far?" (reply Caspian) "These cultures look prime, this should not take long at all." he replied. He took a seat at one of the molecular scanning microscope. He grabbed a culture from next to the microscope and placed it in position. The first specimen he placed up on the microscope was that of an uninfected male. What he saw was not unlike any other sample he had previously viewed. The cells were active and moved within the range of the microscope. Quickly replacing the sample with one that was infected he increased the magnification for a better view. Cell movement had been slowed and mitosis had absolutely ceased. "I take back what I previously said, looks like we may be here for a while." (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.30) He found the Captain and turned to report. "I found Saryn on the surface and sent her a telepathic message to get out of there now. From what I could feel, she didn't receive the message. The beast then engaged my mind. He is strong but emotional attacks may slow him down. I tried to do that as the Teran superhero Ghost Rider did. It seemed to slow him down. I noticed that the beast can influence beings away from the surface. Miss Pucerau was becoming dark and violent in nature. What are my orders sir." (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1532) It was definitely a busy day. The Captain was dealing with many different problems: power loss to the ship, crew lost, finding a cure for a zombie type virus, zombies, rescue mission for an away team, and to top it off a very large flying beast that has telepathic abilities that dangers all well being. The Captain was systematically working through all the problems the best he could. In most cases it was up to the respected departments to be working on each problem individually. The Captain is just the master link in the chain that connects all of them together. It was clear that none of this would be fixed any time soon. After he finished with his last report on the arm console on the Captain's chair he noticed a very large Klingon/Betazoid standing in front of him. He looked up and Lieutenant Trei began to give the Captain a report. "I found Saryn on the surface and sent her a telepathic message to get out of there now. From what I could feel, she didn't receive the message. The beast then engaged my mind. He is strong but emotional attacks may slow him down. I tried to do that as the Teran superhero Ghost Rider did. It seemed to slow him down. I noticed that the beast can influence beings away from the surface. Miss Pucerau was becoming dark and violent in nature. What are my orders sir." "Thank you liuetenant Trei. I have 3 teams of Marines headed down to the surface that will be conducting a rescue mission for the away team at 1600 hours. I believe it would be best if we followed the beast for now. We need to learn about it. Where does it stat on the planet, what does it eat, does it sleep. Do you think that is possible?" (reply Trei) "You said the beast was able to engage your mind, do you think you can find a way for it not to sense you as you follow it?" (reply Trei) "I would also suggest when you are doing these engagements you do them in quick short burst and to rest plenty in between. I don't want you to be in danger. Also you might create some type of stop measure on the holodeck device you use. Have another member of the crew with you as you do this." (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay – Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr.– 1533) "Hey, I heard that you needed me for something." Ensign Romanof spoke has he entered what Lizzy had taken over has her office, She hoped Mia wouldn't mind. The ships power systems were a great cause for concern for her already power spikes had caused the loss of test material that had to be redone. Lizzy had ordered a back up power generator to brought up to keep the resident zombie in place in case of a full power failure. The last thing Elizabeth wanted was an out break to happen on the Boudicca. "Yes thank you for coming by, I was hoping that a collaboration between our two departments could somehow find a way to cure or at the least slow down this zombie epidemic." "I have plenty of time on my hands. I'd be more than willing to assist you. What have you compiled so far?" Romanof spoke. Elizabeth motioned to a pile of PADDS next to a molecular scanning microscope with a fresh set of cultures. "These cultures look prime, this should not take long at all." She gave him a moment to look over the data and what he saw though the microscope knowing that science people always rather look and find the answers for themselves rather that be told. She waited has he looked and pondered then he responded. "I take back what I previously said, looks like we may be here for a while." "I know, it's the cellular deregulation due to the virus, this is truly nasty bug. Almost like an advanced leprosy and the flu virus genetically combined into one. Can't treat one with out treating the other, but by the time the treatment begins to take effect the molecular breakdown is already to the point that you got one undead zombie to worry about. Reanimation is due to the fact the the mind and nervous systems are left for the most point completely intact and has long as the creature continues to eat and replace lost nutrients it can continue to survive. If not it will continue to decay until it finally dies." Elizabeth had every result from every test brought to her. She had already read though every PADD and compiled the results against every piece of medical knowledge she knew. "What I need your help on and what to focus on is how to create a method to keep people from getting infected." (reply Romanoff.) "I know this is a difficult task but we are on a time clock with out many options were need to be able to beat this virus not just treat the symptoms while we allow a persons natural immune system to learn how to beat this on there own. " (reply Romanoff) She shook her head. "The biggest problem here is the rate at which the virus mutates, next to you is the research on every strand that we have been able to treat and it's mutated to overcome the treatment." Elizabeth took a step back to let the science officer absorb what she had told him. Lizzy sat behind the desk, she was tired the battle on the surface and the recent events on ship were beginning to take a toll. She sighed heavily not letting herself give up. Not has long as Mia was in danger. (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca - Deck 15 - Upper Secondary Computer Core - CEO Lt. Henry Jacobs - 1535) Henry was almost positive that he and the other engineer were not the only ones that just heard what just transpired over the ship wide communications channel. There was no doubt in his mind it had something to do with the latest shipwide malfunction that caused to the ship to spin on an axis due to what felt like an inertial dampener failure.He made a quick call to the bridge with the tap of his commbadge. "Bridge come in." The officer on duty replied promptly. "Yes, commander, I was inquiring about what we just heard over the comm channel," he continued. The answer the bridge officer gave him was as clear cut and precise. ^=^ Chief, sensors indicated that the channel was opened in Cargo Bay 2. Eleven science officers were conducting routine inventory inspections when the cargo bay door opened and the safety forcefield failed. All crew and cargo were jettisoned out into space.^=^ ~Holy shit~ "Bridge, thank you for the update. I am sorry to hear that. Jacobs out" He closed the channel and didn't have a second to think before someone else opened a channel to him. ^=^Rinn to Jacobs^=^ Jacobs was already in the motion of gathering his things to make his way to Cargo Bay 2 to begin an investigation of what had just transpired. "Go ahead," Henry replied. ^=^Henry, you've been tapped for an exploratory mission to the Geothermal tap facility. I'm leading a team down there to assess the situation and to see if there might be any survivors. Can you select another engineer from your staff and both of you join me in transporter room one at 1600 hours with whatever gear you may need?^=^ "I seem to be running low on available engineers... I will grab whatever I can find but beyond that I will have to do the job. After this last malfunction I am gonna have every available engineer working until the problem is fixed. Who else is going down to the surface?" He asked only to figure out who might be at risk going back down to the planet's surface. What really sat heavy on his mind was if the zombie hordes had gotten to the others left on the planet and what the role of the beast was that he had previously encountered. He was lost in his thoughts until Rinn cut in ^=^ Major Kilowa will leading a rescue team to search for the away team members still on the surface. He'll have three teams doing a systematic search based on some algorithms that I borrowed from some search and rescue software^=^ "Well whatever information you have I would like it to be made available to the remaining engineers onboard. Jericho will be in charge while I am away." He heard Rinn ask if it was necessary for him to alert Jericho to the incoming information. Henry did not see the reason or importance of doing so he turned down the request. "Very well I will meet you both in the transporter room when I have all that I need." He closed the channel and grabbed everything he needed. HE ordered the other engineer back to engineering to assist Jericho with the transporter modifications. He walked with her to engineering and grabbed his gear. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Science Officer Ensign Nickolas Romanoff - 1537) When he had something to report to Caspian he stood up and walked over to her. "Let me show you what I have come up with so far," he said as he slid a pad in front of Caspian. She remained seated and he basically stood over her should as he spoke. "To start, I know you know all of what I am about to tell you but please humor me as it leads up to my explanation and possible solution. Lets start with a sample of the dead security officer's skin. The cells contained within the skin are some of the strongest as they act to protect the freshness of the body and keep any unwanted foreign entities out. For the beginning of this zombifying process the cells of the skin have to be destroyed, in this case pierced in some sort of way." Nickolas paused to make sure Caspian was following along so far. It was not that he thought she could not keep up; he made sure that they were on the same page before adding any new information. He grabbed another padd and continued on with his findings. "It is safe to say that the transference of the dead cells is through the saliva, making transmission only possible by bite. The saliva is the most viable mode of transportation, I would rule out scratches as a means of transmission, unless of course there is blood changing from the infected to the victim. Once the cells of the skin have been compromised we can move on to how the cells within the body are compromised." He paused again to reread what he just reported to make sure it made sense and to ensure he had not left anything out. The time he took also allowed him to catch his breath, gather his thoughts, and move onto the next topic. He stood up tall this time and walked around the table Caspian was sitting at as he spoke. "At this point in the process the transformation of the victim is accelerated with no protective cells guarding the rest of the body. The mutation occurs when the cell wall begins to break down and the contaminated cell fuses with the cells of the victim. The two cells combine to form a hybrid cell which eventually dies. But at this point the makeup of the two cells have produced new cells that are fully mutated." He looked up at Caspian to see her eyes locked with his. "In the time it takes to say this sentence 50,000 cells are attacked by infected cells from the host, and 50,000 new cells are formed taking..." Before he could finish the sentence he started a channel broke in to cut him off. =^=Mr. Romanoff, Jericho=^= He recognized the engineer's voice but chose to finish his sentence before responding to him. "... their place as mutated cells. Essentially, the new cells are being born undead, and they take over the body at an alarming rate." (reply Caspian) "That's the how, now we just need to figure out how to reverse it, if it can be reversed." (reply Caspian) Nodding in agreement Romanoff turned his back to Caspian and slapped his commbadge to finally respond. "Romanoff here." The response was short but he at least acknowledged the engineer. When the engineer responded he went on about how his assistance was needed in another facet of of the science spectrum. Nickolas processed what was being asked of him without taking his mind off the fact that he had not found a solution for his current assignment. The engineer would continue. =^=Would boost our research if you could give us that hand. Sending preliminary geological overview over to your account.=^= Before answering he turned back to Caspian. "Understood, " he paused, "but I am currently occupied with finding a cure to something. Will not due us any good beaming up zombies we can't cure. I will get back to you once I have that minute!" (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (USS Boudicca, Transporter Room 3, ACEO, ENS Jericho, 1538) Jericho had been working on the Transporter system to strive to prevent the Boudicca accidentally beaming up any zombies. The bio-filters and stasis functions were of particular concern… (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Corridor - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1539) Jacobs had just left the Upper Secondary Computer Core and was making haste down to Main Engineering to gather what he needed for the second away mission. He didn't even have time to think because once his mind left thinking about the tragedy that just happened Captain Capps opened a channel to him. ^=^Capps to Jacobs^=^ In the time that Jacobs had served under Calvin Capps he had learned the detectable nuances in his voice. His voice this time shared that he was well aware and pissed with the latest ship malfunction and that he wanted answers and not excuses. ~unfortunately, I still don't have any answers~ "Go ahead Captain," he responded. He slapped his commbadge with so much determination that he thought he may have left a bruise on his chest. ^=^ I am sure you are aware of what just occurred in Cargo Bay 2?^=^ "Aye, Captain. These malfunctions are getting out of hand." ^=^ Do you have any theories so far? ^=^ The words started formulating in Henry's head but he knew he would not come up with an acceptable answer. He dreaded such a question. Especially when he did not have a viable answer for it. "Sir, as far as I can tell there is no physical evidence that there is anything wrong with the ship. If there is we just have not found it." ^=^I understand you will be going back down to the planet with Lieutenant Rinn, who will be taking over in your duties in this matter?^=^ By this time Jacobs had made it back to engineering. Before he could answer Jericho came into view and the words followed. "Sir, Jericho will be here in my stead, he's a very capable engineer. I am sure he will come up with something." Jacobs walked over to Jericho and patted him on the shoulder. ^=^Very well, I will contract him shortly. Lieutenant I don't think I have to tell you that I want every possible crewman on this problem that is able.^=^ "Aye, Captain," Jacobs responded. He closed the channel and addressed the room. "You all heard it from the top. I want all engineers on this pronto. As a matter of fact, anyone who knows how to read an Engineering Tricorder needs to be working on this issue. Make it happen." (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (USS Boudicca -Bridge - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.40) He heard the suggestions from the Captain. Capps asked him if he could track the beast without being detected. He thought about it for a minute then answered. "I believe so sir if I go through emotion alone then try to track telepathically back door from that. I believe I can lull the beast into seeing my searches as irrelevant if done this way. Send someone to the Holodeck in ten minutes to monitor my progress." (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1540) =/\=Short of UFP-mandated modifications of the aforementioned Principles of Cosmology, no sir. Besides, the present potential pending zombie infestation may be resolved before the Council could make a ruling. You know how hierarchies are…” said Jericho. “No offense intended, Captain, of course…=/\= The Captain of course was unsure how to respond to the last part of Jericho's statement. It seemed weird that the officer would use the word sir in word sentence and then speak so freely to the Captain in the next sentence. Calvin would much rather have his officer's speak to him in a much more respected manner. He would forget this instance as he had many more and dire needs to take care of now. "None taken Ensign, keep me apprised, Capps out." (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Councilor Ensign(jg) Elizabeth Caspian, Dr. - 1541) Lizzy listened to the man before her as he laid his thoughts on the table it was nice to get a fresh perspective on things. Sometimes it helped to bring to light something that might of been missed. "... their place as mutated cells. Essentially, the new cells are being born undead, and they take over the body at an alarming rate." "Yes, I agree with that, and that's what I essentially came up with." "That's the how, now we just need to figure out how to reverse it, if it can be reversed." "And that's that hard part, it seems since most standard medicine is derived from living tissues and DNA. It has little to no effect on something that is already dead." Nodding in agreement Romanoff turned his back to Caspian and slapped his commbadge to finally respond. Lizzy waited for Romanoff to finish is conversation with Jericho. She understood they were all busy with multiple problems on there plate. Elizabeth knew that time was running short, and if something didn't break soon they were gonna have a lot of dead people on there hands. "...but I am currently occupied with finding a cure to something. Will not due us any good beaming up zombies we can't cure. I will get back to you once I have that minute!" Romanoff finished turning his attention back to Lizzy. Elizabeth stood to stretch her legs and move her body, ~Only if we knew how this all started, how the beast came...~ She cut her thought mid sentence, it was so simple she wondered why she didn't see it before. "Romanoff," she spoke excitedly has the a plan started to form in her mind. "If a person is bitten by a poisonous snake how do you treat it?" (reply Romanoff) It was a simple enough medical question, with an anti-venom that was normally derived from the snake in question. If Elizabeth's line of thought was correct then there was a high provability that a cure could be created but not from here. "You see it's like with most animals in nature they are immune to there own poison, if the beast is the source of the plague and since he seems to exhibit a measure of control over the undead that's not a far of bet to say he is. Then it's more than likely that the information needed for a cure lies in that not so Zombie hide of his. The difficult part is getting a sample of his DNA to confirm or deny this. What do you think?" (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1542) "I believe so sir if I go through emotion alone then try to track telepathically back door from that. I believe I can lull the beast into seeing my searches as irrelevant if done this way. Send someone to the Holodeck in ten minutes to monitor my progress." The Captain was not telepathic himself and he hasn't done much study with the unique ability so he had to trust his security officer when he was given the explanation. "I will send someone as soon as I find the right person for the job lieutenant." The security officer turned on his heels and walked off the bridge to ready himself for his next telepathic search. The Captain began to ponder on who the best person would be. Another telepath might be the best idea, but again having the beast attempt to attach itself to another telepath might not be the best option. Thinking about the beast attaching to others the Captain thought back to how Lieutenant Trei mentioned that the beast had done so to Meggan. Calvin wondered why his yeoman would not have reported about this incident. The attachment could become useful or harmful to her. He needed to talk to her. "Capps to Puceanu," Calvin announced. (reply Puceanu) "I need you to report to the bridge immediately." (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca, Turbolift, Yeoman Meggan Puceanu, 1544) =^=Capps to Puceanu=^= "Huh? What?" Meggan said, her mind still a bit in a Beast-induced haze. The issue with the inertial dampeners hadn't helped her either. She was sporting a goose-egg on her forehead. "Oh, yeah, sorry to give you the absent treatment, Captain," she said. "Whatever is wrong up there just gave me the thorough Broderick down here. Plus some hinky dingus down on the farm was trying to play for for some weak sister. Tryin' to make me think he's the Big Six, y'know? Anyway, I'm still a little bit jingle-brained. I tell you, this thing - whatever it is - it's the wrong gee. Anyway, that's the whole crop, ya follow?" Meggan only spoke like a born Iotian when under stress. The Captain knew this, prompting him to say, "I need you to report to the Bridge immediately." "Alright, Jake," she said. "As long as I don't throw a joe, I'll get a wiggle on." (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck ! - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 15.45) He told the computer to resume previous program. The computer chimed that the program was ready. He entered and sat in the device. The device linked up with him and he began to send out waves of calming emotion to the beast. This allowed him to track the beast's movement. The beast still was outside the building for now. He waited until the next try to talk to the beast again. (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1548) The Captain waited patiently for his yeoman to show. He certainly was concerned for her. The last conversation the two officers had lead the Captain to believe that Meggan was under some sort of stress. It would be important for him to find out and hopefully calm her back down so she could continue her job as his yeoman. It did't take long for Miss Puceanu to enter the bridge. When Calvin heard the doors open he turned to see her and stood instantly. He walked over to meet her and said shortly, "My ready room, midshipman." (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – Yeoman Puceanu – 1548.5) Meggan wasn’t on the bridge for a full minute before the Captain approached and said, "My ready room, midshipman." “Yessir,” said the Kriosian, actually saluting – though in a nonchalant fashion. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1549) Calvin walked into his ready room and moved to his coach instead of behind his desk. He considered Meggan a personal friend and knew her well enough to keep this meeting light. He sat down at end of the coach and invited the yeoman to have a seat. As always the Captain kept it short and went right to the point. "I have been informed that you have been contacted by this beast? Do you want to share with me what he said to you?" (reply Meggan) "Meggan, I am sure he said something otherwise you would have come to me immediately. This could be very important and dangerous if you don't tell me. Help me." The Captain explained attempting to convince her to digest the information that she held. (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Yeoman Puceanu – 1551) The CO (and friend) of Meggan positioned himself on his couch rather than at his desk. Meggan felt slightly more at ease now, but she had gotten knocked into a bulkhead when one of the ship’s system malfunctioned. She rubbed at the goose egg on her forehead. And she was still somewhat in the thrall of the Beast. Her normally brown hair was still jet black, as were her usually Trill-esque dermal markings. "I have been informed that you have been contacted by this beast? Do you want to share with me what he said to you?" When the Captain motioned for Meggan to sit, she did so. In closer proximity to him, that her skin spots were now actually somewhat scaly was evident. That her fingernails were longer was also obvious. “Pos-i-lute-ly, but ’contacted’ is a bit mild, Cap2. It was like prom night in a struggle-buggy, y’know,” she offered, still using Iotian slang. “M’not sayin’ he’s a total Airedale, but the Jabberwock also ain’t the kinda fella you’d bring home to meet the ‘rents, y’know?” "Meggan, I am sure he said something otherwise you would have come to me immediately. This could be very important and dangerous if you don't tell me. Help me." The Captain explained attempting to convince her to digest the information that she held. This brought Meggan up a little short. It reminded her of the genuine friendship she shared with the Captain – prior to his being her Captain. “Cal,” she said after a long pause. “This thing – whatever it is – is a lot stronger than me. You remember when I asked you for a sedative. I thought it was ‘cuz’a the crew being on edge. I’m not so sure of that anymore. I’m not so sure of what I’m sure of anymore, if you know what I mean. That thing down there is powerful. And it can get in my head like nobody’s business. It wants me, though. Me! Not what I can do… Me! It said so! No one’s ever said that before…” (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1553) “Cal,” she said after a long pause. “This thing – whatever it is – is a lot stronger than me. You remember when I asked you for a sedative. I thought it was ‘cuz’a the crew being on edge. I’m not so sure of that anymore. I’m not so sure of what I’m sure of anymore, if you know what I mean. That thing down there is powerful. And it can get in my head like nobody’s business. It wants me, though. Me! Not what I can do… Me! It said so! No one’s ever said that before…” Calvin listened to his friend and understood what she was saying. It was important to feel needed and wanted. The Captain himself has found himself thinking these very thoughts in past situations and relationships. He looked deep into Meggan's eyes and thought back to the first time the two met. "Meggan do you remember when we saved you from the holoship that you were being imprisoned on? We didn't know who we would find in there, but we all knew we wanted each and every person we would find. And you and I have created a strong friendship for 7 years now and I can tell you that I want you. I want you to be here where you belong, where you are happy, where you can make a difference for yourself and others." (reply Puceanu) "This beast is trying to use you Midshipman. He does want you for what you can do. It might not be for the reason you think. He might not need for you to change your appearance but he needs you to drive a wedge between you and this crew, with me. Don't allow him to fool you and control you. I know that you are strong enough to do this," the Captain explained. (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room – Yeoman Puceanu - 1555) The Captain looked deep into Meggan's eyes. For an instant, the Yeoman had to remind herself he was her CO. What he said next helped her do so: "Meggan do you remember when we saved you from the holoship that you were being imprisoned on? We didn't know who we would find in there, but we all knew we wanted each and every person we would find. And you and I have created a strong friendship for 7 years now and I can tell you that I want you. I want you to be here where you belong, where you are happy, where you can make a difference for yourself and others." “Happy isn’t something I do well, Cap2, you know that,” said Yeoman Puceanu. "This beast is trying to use you, Midshipman. He does want you for what you can do. It might not be for the reason you think. He might not need for you to change your appearance but he needs you to drive a wedge between you and this crew, with me. Don't allow him to fool you and control you. I know that you are strong enough to do this," the Captain explained. Trying to struggle free of the Beast’s mental control wasn’t easy, but this ‘pep talk’ from friend-and-captain did help. She’d responded to his words – both emotionally and physically. Her appearance had softened from the severe visage the Beast’s power had wrought on Meggan. The yeoman stood at faux- attention and snapped a crisply playful mock-salute at Cap2. “Ayeayesir,” she chirped, some of her good spirits being feigned, however. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1557) “Ayeayesir,” she chirped, some of her good spirits being feigned, however. The Captain quickly stood as well. "Before you leave Meggan. I need you to go back down to the holodeck and check on Lieutenant Trei again. He is attempting to stay in touch with the beast with out the beast noticing him. If the beast does I need you to stop the mental connection. Can you do that for me?" (reply Puceanu) "Perfect. Then get to it," Captain Capps said in a playful mood. He watched as his yeoman left the room. He hoped that all was well with his friend. He didn't want to see anything bad happen to her...again. (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Transporter Room 1 - COPS Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1558) Deynyk stepped through the door of the transporter room, primed and ready to explore some deep dark section of geothermal tap facility. He had added a few extra pieces of equipment to his kit, namely a spare PADD containing the complete schematics of the facilities floor plan, as well as a package of 50- micro-flares, incase they needed to leave a path or light the way. He carried a handheld micro-generator, clipped to his added utility belt, which would produce enough power to operate a door or a small device for hours. An extra hand torch, a spare tricorder, his initial PADD containing the entire tunnel network, and a container holding three additional phaser power supplies, one for his rifle and two for the type II handheld that he was equipped with. On his Rifle, he had added, the tactical led torch for illumination, and a taccorder, similar to those used by the marines. to the butt of the rifle, he had attached a butt stock bandolier that carried one spare power supply for the weapon. He also carried a basic tool kit which included a pico plasma welder/cutter, some spanners and some testing equipment. It wasn't much, but it would be enough to seal or open a doorway, or access panel should the need arise. He noticed that his team had arrived and so he gathered them together and gave them a very quick and basic overview of the mission that they were about to undertake. "Okay everyone listen up. Here's the deal." he began. "Transporter chief Delaware has managed to gain remote access to the transporter assembly inside the Geothermal Tap facility. We will be beaming directly there, using the installed transport pattern enhancers already present." "Our mission is two fold. First is to determine if there are survivors and if so, organize them and keep them safe until such time as we can evacuate them. Secondly we need to make certain that the geothermal tap is safe and stable. We don't know it's state, which is why our engineers are tagging along to keep us all safe." Deynyk, bent over and picked up one of the mission cases that he had sent to the transporter room ahead of the team. He opened it and pulled out a small cylindrical object. "These are location transponders. They are used by spelunkers to guide rescue personnel to their location, they are pretty powerful and should be able to cut through the majority of the interference from the Geothermal magnetic coils in the power facility and the rock and dirt between us and the Boudicca. Each member of the team will wear one of these for the duration of the operation. We'll be taking a signal amplifier and a repeater with us, so that we have no worries about being detected while we're there. They transmit on frequency 206.224, so you can set your tricorders to that frequency for scanning and detection purposes if needed." He passed them out. "Lieutenant Jacobs, do you have all the equipment and gear you think you'll need?" (reply Jacobs) "Excellent. Okay then we don't know what we'll encounter so, bring extra power supplies for your weapons if you haven't already, and a spare hand torch. Be sure to check your targets carefully before firing, we don't want to hit a civilian by mistake. Any questions?" (posted by Daniel Greene) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room – YEO Puceanu - 1559) The Captain stood, quickly, saying, "Before you leave Meggan. I need you to go back down to the holodeck and check on Lieutenant Trei again. He is attempting to stay in touch with the beast without the beast noticing him. If the beast does I need you to stop the mental connection. Can you do that for me?" “Cap,” Megg chirped again, “I think you know me better than anyone. Or, under the circumstances, anyTHING. I can pos-i-lute-ly do that! Besides, I think I left Dinah down there, and I at least have to make sure she’s okay.” Meggan was referring to her pet tricorder, her mind now clear enough to remember she’d left it behind. "Perfect. Then get to it," Captain Capps surprising playfully. Megg took note that he watched as she left the room. She made a deliberate effort to make her walk somewhat more 'hypnotic' than usual. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13, Transporter - Major Joel Kilowa - 1600) Major Kilowa waited for all three teams to arrive at the transporter. His team would be the last to beam out which consisted of himself, a combat engineer from the Fallen Angels, and 2 gunmen from the Death Dealers. One of the gunmen named Drew Dewalt walked through the doors and joined the rest of the marines. He would be joining Joel on the first team. The Major had done just a few missions with Drew, but he did know that the gunmen had come full circle. The lieutenant had started his Starfleet career on the Boudicca left for a few years and then came back to the Boudicca as a 1st lieutenant. Although Joel had never heard Drew talk about it he was certain that the marine was certainly looking for his own command somewhere or possibly looking to be XO for the Wolf Pack. Either way, Major Kilowa needed to see more out of the kid before he gave him a chance on his command team. The other two teams looked very similar to team one. Both teams had marines from the alpha platoon only and was filled with 1 combat engineer from the Fallen Angels, 2 gunmen from the Death Dealers, and one command officer from the Wolf Pack company. The teams were dressed out in their field BDU's with their Pallas helmet. Heavy BDU had been talked about but the danger as the marines could see wasn't coming from energy weapons but rather hand to hand combat with teeth. The field BDU's consisted of many different types of material one of which was anti-stab. It was certain that the uniform would easily stand up against teeth and would not allow the biter to break skin. Also the teams would be traveling through tunnels that were small in nature and could lead to smaller ones as they went further into the tunnels. The heavy BDUs are a bit bulkier and would limit the teams to where they could travel. So in the end the field BDUs seemed to be the best idea for this rescue mission. Each marine would have their standard field kit which included their gun, field uniform with helmet, photon grenades and combat knife. Major Kilowa saw to it that each team would be equipped the same and to his liking. So the combat engineer and team leader would carry the standard marine rile, type III-C phaser, the front man would carry the close combat scatter gun and the rear man would carry the rare and powerful Angel Mark II. The sounds of each marine going through their gear and ensuring that all was well, the last of the men entered the room. About a quarter of an hour ago the briefing that took place in the marine staging area had taken place. Every man and woman here knew what was down on Color II and knew the possible dangers in this mission. "Alright," Joel had to yell over the chatter. "Lets get to it." The major watched and confirmed that the first two teams had successfully beamed to the correct coordinates. It was now time for Joel and his team to step onto the pad and be beamed down to Color II. (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13, Transporter Room - 1st Lt Drew Dewalt - 1600) ~Beam-in minus five seconds, area scout and secure, Beam~in minus ten seconds engage target and clearout, Beam-in minus-~ Drew's mind raced as he repeated the entire mission objective set mentally to ensure it was ingrained into his head. He had known Sky was returning to the Boudicca and was meaning to keep his own reassignment here secret, bump into him accidentally-on-purpose on the bridge, but fate it seemed had another reunion in mind for the two friends. Zombies, Kilowa had said to expect. Drew hadn't. But whatever it was, it was a chance from fighting tri-pedal monsters with the Sigurion Company. He checked his BDU, checked his loadout. Automatically, he field-stripped the heavily-customised Scatter Rifle that had been his companion for nigh of six years, and reintegrated it. His hand fell to his side. A familiar sword - the twin of one Sky carried - was belted there, and though it looked out of place with traditional combat dress, Drew would happily slice off the hands of anyone who dared try and remove it. His gaze levelled around the room. Drew was the only Marine in the room whose mind was so intensely focused on the mission at hand that he wasn't resorting to chit-chat while the MCO was preparing. "Alright," Joel had to yell over the chatter. Immediately, the transporter-room fell silent and a small grin cracked the side of Drew's lips as the MCO's gaze fell momentarily to him. ~I know what you're thinkin', pop,~ he thought to himself. ~And I know you can hear me when I say, WOOGA WHA WHA WOOLLY!!~ The grin edged a bit bigger. If only Kilowa COULD hear that. But alas, it was impossible. Drew snapped a salute as Kilowa became serious. "Lets get to it." Two teams stepped up and soon it was their turn. Drew rook his place on the pad next to Kilowa. "Bet I reach twenty first," he said, relishing the prospect of what was coming. (Reply Kilowa) "Pfft," Dewalt responded. "This archaic spar might save your life, Boss." "Five seconds to beam-in!" Interrupted the transporter tech. "WOLVES! STRENGTH OF THE PACK!" Drew yelled. "OO-RAH!" Came the rally, and the world disappeared around him. (posted by Adam) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast - 1603) Things were going has the beast had planned the presence that had been annoying him had left for now. The horde had control of the planets surface and had increase dramatically in size and strength. Now it was time to begin the conquest of the underground network of tunnels that would lead his army of the undead to the planetary power station. The only snag was the federation troops that had shown up. They would be sending people to save there trapped friends. In fact right now it was something the beast counted on. It had taken some time mind searching those in his control but he finally found it the mind of one of the engineers that worked on the tunnel complex and new them well. Now armed with the knowledge of the lay out of the tunnel network it was easy to find the entrances and exits. His horde flood those tunnels, lying in wait for the rescue that he knew would soon come. The beast waited seemingly to lazily fly around the city. The beast was taking no chances this time so he had taken the liberty of anchoring his mind to anyone who was trying to peep on him they would see his mind other than where he was. Then there it was three bright flashes of light has the troops from the Boudicca teleported into the city. ::Now, kill them all:: the command went into the minds of his horde. The horde responded pouring out of every hole infested crevice they could hide in. He opened his mind so all could watch the up coming horror. However that was not enough for the beast, the beast rolled his massive form tucked his wings and dove in on one of the star fleet marine groups. He descended faster than the mind could fathom. There would be no warning, no escape for those marines that were under him. His massive form broke the cloud bank he was using has cover. The marines were to engaged in fighting the horde to be concerned with the death that dived in from above. The marines were good at clearing a small circle were they had beamed in. The beast opened its wings wide landing heavily upon the earth. The shook has the marines lost there footing, they were quick to recover but not has fast has claws that swipe and jaws that bite. The beast comsumed one of the ill fates marines in a single closing of his might jaws. Try has the marine might hey could not escape the death that awaited him, the beast opened his maw wide then brought it crushing down, crushing the marine and spraying his comrades in a crimson froth of blood. The marines engaged the beast has phaser fire cut though the air, many of those damned beams earned deep burning lines against the beast armored hide. But in reacting to the beast the marines failed to stop the horde that quickly flanked them. Where a marine was overcome by the undead his body ripped apart in a most gruesome fashion, his screams lingering in the air long after he was dead. Another marine tried to flank the beast, coming up behind him only to the full thrashing of the beast tail. The muscled tail of the beast cracked ribs, and sent the man flying, into what remained of a wall while in a blow that forced all the air from his lungs gasping for breath he watched has the horde descended upon him, they pulled him from the wall has hands and teeth tore at his body, He lived in this hell for approximately two minutes longer just enough time to see the last of his team fall. The marines had fought bravely but they were not in number to face such odds. The final marine was by far the bravest, He lunged toward the beast. Leading the way with his phaser blasting all that stood in his way. The beast swiped at him with his tail, causing the marine to him the ground as the beast tail passed overhead. He was up again in an instant photon grenade in hand. He primed the weapon and sent it flying at the beast, before diving behind a small rise to shield himself from the blast. The weapon exploded, It tore though the think hide of the beast, and into the softer under flesh that lied under his scaled armor. The beast let out an roar that would be heard though out the city. The marine came again hell bent on finishing the job, the blast from the grenade allowed him to close the distance, his phaser no exhausted and no time to reload the rifle, his grenades wasted on the horde. He pulled his k-bar and attacked. The marine jumped onto the beast where wing meet the main portion of the body. He was close to where the blast tore away the scale armor of the beast, he scrambled for purchase has the beast thrashed trying to throw the man. Finally the man found the spot bare of scales and buried his blade into the beast side. The beast howled in pain has he bled, again the beast thrashed violently sending. This time successful of throwing the man to the ground. ::I'll show you how to stick blade into a person:: the words filled the mans mind. The marine tried to regain his footing but the horde was upon him. holding him fast to the ground. The beast rasied his clawed hand high into the air, the marine yelled in defiance has the clawed hand came down upon the man. Has claws sharper than any blade pierced his body, and made his world black. (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca - Transporter Room 1 - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1604) Henry entered the room that had to be at its maximum occupancy allowance. Henry knew that there wasn't just going to be a small group going down but the shear amount of soldiers in the room threw him off. They were all so heavily armed as if they were preparing for war and that idea was unsettling to Henry. He recanted on his thoughts once he remembered the overwhelming numbers of the zombies down on the surface. He was sure that they had not encountered all of the zombies and was sure that there would be more waiting for them once they beamed down. It was his hope that none of his remaining comrades had joined the ranks of the zombie horde; he would do his best to ensure that. This was a best a time as any for Henry to be in the shape that he was in. All the additional items he had to carry with him down to the planet taxed his muscles to the point where he mentally made note that he needed to increase his workout once the mission was over. Feeling that he was one of the more crucial members of the away team he made his way to the front of the gathered soldiers just as Lieutenant Rinn began to address everyone. "Okay everyone listen up. Here's the deal. Transporter chief Delaware has managed to gain remote access to the transporter assembly inside the Geothermal Tap facility. We will be beaming directly there, using the installed transport pattern enhancers already present." Deynyk continued on with the mission specs. Henry knew exactly what the plan was. They were going down to find everyone they left behind and hopefully any of the Color II inhabitants that had not fallen victim to becoming a zombie. It was a personal mission that Henry see what happened to the planet's lack of power. In his mind he imagined that it had a great deal to do with why there had been so many malfunctions with the Boudicca's power systems. It would actually make sense since he could not find any actual problems with the ship. He would be relieved if he had found the source of the issues and elated if he stopped it. Henry was so caught up with reviewing all of the equipment he had that he had not noticed Deynyk was talking to him. It was not until he looked up and saw everyone else in the room staring in his location that he knew he was been asked a question. "Lieutenant Jacobs, do you have all the equipment and gear you think you'll need?" Standing at full posture he said, "I do now," as he grabbed his phaser rifle and put the strap over his head. He walked over to the transporter pad and stood next to Rinn, nodding his head signaling that he was indeed ready. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (USS Boudicca - Deck 13, Transporter - COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1605) The unexpected loss of power to the ship's inertial dampeners in conjunction with the unexpected failure of the emergency forcefield had cost the Boudicca the lives of eleven members of her crew. As part of the operations department, Deynyk didn't have much time to help since he was going to be leading an away team to the planet below. he assigned an operations liaison to aide engineering with anything and everything that they may need to get to the bottom of the problem. He just hoped they got there sooner rather than later. These were the last thoughts on his mind as the transporter disassembled his molecules for transport deep beneath the surface of Color II. (posted by Daniel Greene) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1605) The Captain was now back on the bridge looking over any reports that have come in from the recent new away teams including the marine teams. So far new news hasn't come in but he expected something any minute now. While he waited it would be a good time to talk to the engineer that Jacobs had put in charge. "Bridge to Jericho." (reply Jericho) "Any update on the power malfunctions?" the Captain queried. (reply Jericho) "Keep at it, for the time being I want more safety protocols put in place in highly dangerous areas of the ship. We also need areas of the ship with outside reach off limits for the time being." (reply Jericho) "Anything you need from me?" (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, ACEO, ENS Jericho, 1607) =^=Bridge to Jericho, =^= came over the comm.. =^=Any update on the power malfunctions? =^= the Captain queried. “Captain, there’s something at work here they didn’t cover in the Principle Cosmology of the Universe. It may take some time…” said Jericho. =^=Keep at it, for the time being I want more safety protocols put in place in highly dangerous areas of the ship. We also need areas of the ship with outside reach off limits for the time being. =^= “Can do, Skipper,” Jericho said. “I can set up force fields throughout the ship, auto-triggered to restrict unauthorized access if ya want.” "Anything you need from me?" “Short of UFP-mandated modifications of the aforementioned Principles of Cosmology, no sir. Besides, the present potential pending zombie infestation may be resolved before the Council could make a ruling. You know how hierarchies are…” said Jericho. “No offense intended, Captain, of course…” (posted by Frank) (Color II - Geothermanl Tap - Transporter Room - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1608) The first team rematerialized in the transporter room of the Geothermal tap to an overwhelming temperature differential. The humidity of the room didn't allow anyone the comfort of acclimating to the room before beads of sweat ran down any exposed skin of those who just entered. It was instinctual for Henry to take his free hand and pull at his collar as if to allow some imaginary gust of chilled air into his garment to cool his body. His attempt at making the situation more comfortable was a failed one and he continued to stand there as he saw others moving off of the transport pad and into the room. He watched the marines do exactly what they were trained to do. With quick swiftness the soldiers permeated throughout the room leaving no structure or loose fixture unturned. The room was in shambles as evidence of some struggle. The only difference from what Henry witnessed on the planets surface was that there were not any visible bodies and no matching pools of blood. Henry finally made his way off of the transporter pad realizing that there was much work to be done. Once he cleared the platform Lieutenant Rinn called him over for assistance. "Henry, " Rinn called out. Henry looked up and walked over in his direction. He noticed the two consoles that Rinn was standing over and saw where his assistance was needed. One of the consoles was completely inoperable while the other flickered with little life. "Take a look, will ya? See if we can get some sort of idea whats state this facility is in?" All Henry could do was nodd in agreement. The temperature in the room was still working against him to the point where his stomach began to feel uneasy under the weight of his equipment compounded by the shear pressure he felt from the air surrounding him. His first act was to drop all the gear he brought with him and after he accomplished that tasked he droped down to the floor to access the service hatch under the console. It was loosely attached to the housing of the desk and when he jiggled it loose a considerable amount of dust filled the immediate air around him. He coughed as he inhaled, not having sutable time to turn his face in protection. Next he unhitched his tricorder from his belt and opened it scanning the interior of the console housing. ~These component have not been touched in quite a while~ Nonetheless he dusted off what he needed and made sure not to inhale during the process. The equipment was still intact just inert from a lack of use. Henry could tell the room was evidently running on emergency back ups from the low level lighting that pulsed in a monotenous fashion and in order for Henry to get anything out of the terminal he was dissecting he would need to attach one of the personal power generators he carried on his side. He opened the back of the device and pulled out twin cords in the orientation of yellow and black. In a process very similar to using jumper cables he attached the yellow cord to an exposed prong and the black to one very similar a few inches away. He typed in the power sequenced and the console resounded with beeps and clicks. Henry stood up proud of his usual resourcefulness and called over to Rinn. "I've got a hot computer." Rinned made his way back over to Henry to see what he had found. Henry was accessing the facilities power structure and pulled up a corresponding site map. " So here is a map of the facility placing us here, " his index finger pointed out a location on the third floor of the display, "that leaves four other floors for the teams to scout. Whatever we are down here looking for we will find on one of these floors." (reply Rinn) " "I have a feeling that the further down we go the closer we would get to the direct link between this facility and the raw power of the planets core. I need to make my way down there. The teams that beamed in on the surface can work their way down and scout the upper layers. Hopefully in their searches they will find the other away team members and get them back to the Boudicca." (reply Rinn) "It's my plan to do just that," he pulled the riffle from off of his back and made the appropriate settings to prepare himself for anything ahead. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- Transporter Room - COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1609) The modern transporter was an amazing piece of equipment. Besides the obvious ability to completely disassemble every molecule of an item or person, and successfully reassemble them, it also maintained the energy states of whatever was being transported. Thus brain chemistry and thereby thoughts weren't truly interrupted perceptually. In fact they were so perfect that you'd never realize you had been transported if it wasn't for the slight tingling sensation that accompanied the experience. Having been returned to his whole state once again, Deynyk allowed his previous train of thought to be subsumed by the more immediate situation that he found himself embroiled with. He and his team had arrived deep beneath the surface of Color II, standing in the transporter room of the Geothermal Tap facility that drew power from the primal forces of the planets liquid core. It was a tremendous amount of energy, only rivaled by the energy out put of a star. Yet despite this, the room that they were in appeared to be lit by only emergency lighting. A dull red throbbing strobe flashed a silent warning to the newly arrived team, as if foreshadowing a grisly discovery that was yet to be seen. The air smelled somewhat stale, and tasted slightly of lubricants and suspended metals. The air was thick with humidity and abnormally warm. The temperature was nearly 105-degrees Fahrenheit, with a 75-percent humidity. Something had gone terribly wrong. There were power relays that were torn loose from some of the machinery, and from the ceiling panels. Occasionally one of them would arc against something, sending a bright flash of light and the smell of ozone into the environment. Scorch marks on the walls, door and some of the consoles indicated that there had been some sort of firefight. The outcomes wasn't clear however as there were no bodies, or signs of injury. There was no blood, no remains or any other indicator as to who had been involved in the conflict that had taken place here. "Spread out." Rinn ordered, "stay alert, let's get a good look around this compartment before we move on." He stepped down off the transporter platform as the rest of the security and marines followed suit. It was obvious that something very desperate had taken place here. He moved across the room to a pair of consoles, one had been blasted by some sort of energy weapon, destroyed beyond function, the other flickered intermittently, it's display panel cracked by a series of sharp blows. "Henry." Deynyk said and motioned for the chief engineer to take a look at the panel. "take a look, will ya? See if we can get some sort of idea what state this facility is in?" (reply Jacobs) "Lieutenant Rinn, Over here." Some one called out. it was one of the Marines. Deynyk moved to his location, flipping on his barrel mounted tactical torch to add additional illumination to his surroundings. The Marine was crunched near what appeared to be an engineering access panel. It was a heavy metal plate set in a metal frame. beads of melted metal made it obvious that the weld was done in a hurry. "What do you have marine?" Deynyk asked. "Recent Weld sir, from the other side. Looks like whomever was in here, bugged out through this access tunnel and sealed the hatch behind them." Deynyk nodded. "Good work marine. He glanced up at his patch, "You're a CE right?" he asked. "Yes sir." the marine replied. "There's a bank of consoles over there that aren't operational. Think you might be able to get them working again? Maybe find out where that access point leads?" "I can give it a go sir." "Alright" Deynyk replied, nodding his head, "give it a go then." (posted by Darryl Greene) (Color II - Beam-in Site - 1st Lt Drew Dewalt - 1610) The transporter field cleared, and Drew's vision returned. The marines around him were all arranged in a tight defensive circle, standard procedure for a marine beam-in. Drew instinctively raised his firearm, as did the entire squad. ~Oh, sh-~ "FIRESPREAD!" Drew ordered. They had beamed - somehow - diretly into a pack of undead things. Drew had no time to concentrate on appearances - the marauding mob was braindead but no less quick to sense a target. All of those present opened up and began cutting down enemy with rains of phaser and scatter fire. "SECURE THE DROPZONE! I WANT THESE THINGS DEAD IN TEN!" A renewed volley answered him as creature after creature dropped. Eventually, it was over. Corpses - this time, permanent - littered the ground. Drew cast his gaze around. Thirty in all. He saw Kilowa likewise assessing the dropzone and picked his way toward him as the team moved to complete a perimeter. "Dropsite secure," Drew reported flatly. "And that frelling Tech is fired." (posted by Adam) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- Transporter Room - COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1611) Deynyk had just left the Marine CE to his devices when Henry called out to him, "I've got a hot computer" It took Deynyk a moment to realize he meant 'operational' and not thermally hot, although considering the temperature, the latter could have been a distinct possibility. Dey made his way back over to the console where Henry was working as the CEO of the Boudicca pulled up the facility map. "So here is a map of the facility placing us here, " his index finger pointed out a location on the third floor of the display,"that leaves four other floors for the teams to scout. Whatever we are down here looking for we will find on one of these floors." "Any suggestions on which direction we should head? I'm beginning to wonder if the loss of functionality down here couldn't somehow be related to the ship's recent issues as well." Deynyk replied, still studying the diagram. He found the welded maintenance hatch pointed out by the CE on the map and traced it with his finger to the primary environmental control room. ~That's interesting~ he thought. "I have a feeling that the further down we go the closer we would get to the direct link between this facility and the raw power of the planets core." henry explained, "I need to make my way down there. The teams that beamed in on the surface can work their way down and scout the upper layers. Hopefully in their searches they will find the other away team members and get them back to the Boudicca." Deynyk nodded silently. "I agree. Do you think we'd be able to restore power to the city? Someone or something doesn't want power up there or they wouldn't have gone out of their way to shut it down, by coming down here." "It's my plan to do just that." Henry replied as he slung his phaser rifle back over his shoulder. "Agreed. "Can we upload these maps to the taccorders we're carrying" Deynyk asked? "If so that would be a great advantage." (reply Henry) "Okay Marines, listen up." Deynyk called out loudly enough that all his marines could hear him. "We're going to descend in floors deeper into the facility, Lieutenant Jacobs needs to get into the guts of this facility to see why things aren't working as advertised. We're going to escort him. It's only going to get hotter as we descend, so everyone stay hydrated and stay alert.feel Free to strip down to tees if you desire. Jacobs is going to upload the facility schematics to your taccorder. Activate your transponders and keep them on your person at all times. If we are separated, this compartment is our rally point. We clear?" "Hu-waaa!" the marines replied. "Alright, lets get underway. Carter, Franks, you're on point." The two marines moved forward and actuated the doors to the compartment with some difficulty due to the damage they had unstained. Once they had them open, the team moved forward towards an unclear threat buried deep in the guts of a half-dead power station. (posted by Daniel Greene) (Color II - Beam-in Site - MCO Major Joel Kilowa - 1612) The Major's body reassembled in the blink of an eye, and another blink later the marine team were surrounded by a horde of the undead. Without hesitation Joel lifted his type III-C phaser and pushed the butt into his shoulder. Through the Pallas helmet Joel changed the rifle to the pulse firing mode and activated the targeting system. =/\=FIRESPREAD!=/\= Joel heard in his helmet. There was no need for the 1st Liuetenant to repeat himself because each marine was already passed their first attacker and moved on to their second. Major Kilowa kept his formation tight back to back with the other marines. His trigger finger continuously squeezed the trigger to allow the blue beam to spew out of the rifle and on to its target. As each zombie fell to the ground the upgraded targeting system moved on and was ready for more action. =/\=SECURE THE DROPZONE! I WANT THESE THINGS DEAD IN TEN!=/\= Joel heard the voice of Drew again and smiled. He was happy to see even though a higher ranking officer was present the 1st lieutenant did not waste his command abilities. Mr. Dewalt knew what had to be done and he took the initiative to do it. Maybe there was a spot on the Wolf Pack's command team after all, the Major thought. The MCO did not disappoint. The yelling by another marine just made him fight harder. The enemies that had surrounded them was now dwindling, but so was the ammo pack in the rifle. The report blinked yellow inside of the Pallas helmet. Joel did a quick assessment and believed that he would have enough to finish off the flesh eating things. He knew that if he attempted to change it out now he would quickly be over whelmed by them and that it would leave the other 3 marines flanked, so he continued to pull the trigger. As the second to the last infected fell to the ground the Pallas helmet reported that his gun was completely out. A mad and quick zombie quickly headed toward Joel and ran into the Major's body. Major Kilowa caught his balance by putting his right foot back a step and then drove his left shoulder in to the enemies chest pushing it back a bit. This movement gave the major enough time to pull his 12 inch bladed tactical knife and to bring it from his waist in an upward motion toward the body and face of the undead. The sharp end of the knife stopped the zombie in its tracks and fell to the ground. With all the infected now permanently dead Joel stopped to look around to see all was as good as it could be. He also took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Joel lifted his shield on the Pallas helmet and looked at the rest of the team. "Everyone ok?" (reply Dewalt) "Alright, Lieutenant take the CE and get that hatch open. I want behind that door before another horde shows up." (reply Dewalt) Joel watched the two turn away and began working the hatch door. While he waited he attempted to contact the other two teams. "Team 1 to team 2, report." No return came. Testing to see if his comm was not working properly he went to team 3. "Team 1 to team 3, report." Seconds later a voice came back. =/\=Team 3 here and are on the up and up. A horde of those things were waiting for us here. We were able to fend them off. Working on the door now.=/\= "Same here, team 3," Joel explained. "Have you been in contact with team 2." =/\= Negative team 1.=/\= "Continue with your main objective, team 1 out." Joel once again attempted to contact team 2 but when no reply came he assumed the worse. He would have to come back for his lost marines at a later time and he would see to it that he would, but for now he had to return back to his first objective. (posted by Calvin Capps) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1614) "It's done. Everyone check." Henry said in response to being asked if he could upload the facility blueprints to all of the marines. All of the marines' tapcorders beeped in a chorus of acceptance as all the men turned about and began heading down into the belly of the beast. Rinn had not lied when he said the further they proceeded down into the facility the hotter and more uncomfortable they would all be. Every step seamed to gradually add to the heat in the narrow tunnel. Most of the other men had chosen to partly disrobe their uniforms down to undershirts while others dealt with the heat until the end. Henry raised his rifle to lead him and activated the tactical light to shed some additional light down the walkway. He looked up and down the walk way to see strobing low level red lighting illuminating the direction in which they were headed. Henry continued his decent into what could only be described as a thickening substance. The feeling simulated walking through a body of water with body weights holding you back. The work he was doing made him think about what his personal training regiment was missing. He looked around at the others while he walked. All of the others were very much physically fit and no one seemed to slow in their march. No matter how uncomfortable they all felt they kept pushing down deeper into the compound. The group finally made their way down to a point where they could no longer proceed. In Henry's mind he did not think it could get any hotter and he would be glad to find this true. The group had come to a halt because they were faced with a door that had been sealed with phaser fire. Henry watched as the order was given to blast the door open with charges that were brought along for the mission. Everyone took cover as the three charges that were placed on the door blew it apart and made way for the team to proceed. Clearly their arrival had been anticipated because as all of the team made their way into the room zombies made haste to attack them from every direction in the room. Henry found himself laying down cover fire for the marines that had proceeded into the room before him. The marines themselves were efficient and the only fire Henry made was to cover a zombie here and there that broke past the line where a marine had turned to cover one of his comrades. The fire fight lasted several minutes before the room was contained. Henry was the one to break the silence. "I don't think this is the room we are looking for, just from here I can see this room was used for the conversion telemetry and monitoring. Plus the tact corders still show another level below us. Most likely there are more zombies waiting for us down there." (reply Rinn) "You're right. We better get moving then. Or do we need to rest up before proceeding?" (reply Rinn) He asked the question knowing very well that he himself wanted a few minutes to combat the heat and exhaustion he was feeling, but the sooner they got down to the next level the sooner Henry could try and return things to what the planet would recognize as normal. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1615) The team had moved deeper into the bowels of the Geothermal Tap facility, the heat increasing as they pushed closer towards the proverbial infernal limits. Even Deynyk whose species were somewhat tolerable of extreme heat was finding the temperature to be oppressive and obstructive at the same instance. Henry and the others were dealing with the temperature only slightly worse than Deynyk was. The teams swept the corridor, lit only by the occasional red glow, with their tactical torches as they descended. The red pulsing glow reminded Deynyk of the heartbeat of some supernatural creature that dwelt within the depths of the Earth. The heat, humidity and occasional sound of shuffling were unpleasant reminders that their mission was likely to result in complications. The CE had blasted open a door that was obstructing their path, and almost immediately they found themselves dealing with a small horde of zombies. The marines made quick work of the mindless minions, and the team moved into secure the room in question. Once the room was clear of any present danger they made their way inside and Henry went to work on the facilities computer system. Deynyk saw to the deployment of the Marines, while Henry performed his legendary magic. After a few moments, Henry was the one to break the silence. "I don't think this is the room we are looking for, just from here I can see this room was used for the conversion telemetry and monitoring. Plus the taccorders still show another level below us. Most likely there are more zombies waiting for us down there." That statement received couple of grunts from the marines and even Deynyk had to admit that the news was a bit disheartening. "Well then there's nothing to do except push on." He finally replied. "You're right. We better get moving then, Or do we need to rest up before proceeding?" Henry responded. Deynyk took a moment to scan his small collected group of personnel. Their uniform shirts were soaked with perspiration and they looked as if they could all use a moment or two of rest. The journey was only going to get more difficult from here, and they'd need every ounce of strength that they could muster. "Let's take ten. Everyone rehydrate and give your feet a short rest, but stay ready and alert. We move out in ten minutes." Deynyk replied. Deynyk happily plopped down into one of the small chairs next to henry to recuperate some of his own energy. He had to admit that he was probably as tired as everyone else. His energy levels had been waning as they moved deeper and deeper into the maw of the planet's core. Ten minutes passed much too quickly and the team passed the time in relative silence. "Okay let's get going." Deynyk reluctantly stated as he rose to his feet. (posted by Daniel Greene) (Color II - Beam-in Site - 1ST LT Drew Dewalt - 1617) "Everyone ok?" Joel's voice was flat and to-the-point, befitting of a man used to having things done immediately. Drew wasted no time in checking for casualties. Within seconds, his clipped response was given as he marched to the MCO's side. "One casualty - Arqez, took a bite to the arm." Drew nodded in the direction of the stricken Bolian, his blue skin an odd contrast with the muddy color of his damaged BDU. "Recommend we let him return to the Boudicca and move on. I saw a bunker door over there, looks pretty heavily sealed, but I reckon we could get it open with a little... creative thinking." "Alright, Lieutenant take the CE and get that hatch open. I want behind that door before another horde shows up." "Sar," Drew replied with a nod. "Mikail! Get over here." A relatively tall marine clad in full CE gear and mustachioed face jogged to Dewalt's side, his heavy weapon strapped around his chest and back. Drew nodded to the man in respect, for his weapon was a rare one that was only assigned to those gifted in wielding such powerful tools of destruction. "Skip?" The marine asked, referring to Drew by a nickname that had somehow found its way onto his personnel file during his time on the Sigurion. Drew dismissed it, mind focused on the task at hand. "Gimme a hand with this hatch, we have to get this entry way open." Together, the two marines went to work. It was a complex thing that had them both fiddling with components neither of them had quite seen before. Override codes were rejected. Workarounds were buried beneath mountains of computer jargon. The door was clearly not one to give easily. "Bugger it," Drew said, frustration mounting. "Mikail, your weapon." The Engineer reluctantly handed over his heavy rifle, aware that he was basically giving up one of the most cherished parts of the SMC Armory to a man who loved tinkering. Drew's hands flew over the rifle's control module. After a couple of deft flicks, the barrel disengaged and fell into Mikail's still-outstreched hand. A smile from Drew indicated this was what he wanted. "Stand back, this's gonna be a hell of a flare." "Sir, what are you -" But Mikail was blinded for a moment as Drew pulled the trigger and waht appeared to be a bolt of golden lightning shot out from the exposed emitter matrix and struck the control panel they had been working on. Seconds later, the door loosed from its locking mechanism with a soft hiss, and slid open with no further protest. "How the hell -" Mikail began. "Ask Skylynx," Drew responded. He keyed up the COMM in his HUD. =/\= Dewalt to Kilowa. Hatch is open. Await-=/\= (Reply Kilowa, iyw) An angry red alarm signet interrupted the Lieutenant's speech. Automatically a bearing indicator attacched to the sigil. Drew swung around on instinct and cast his eyes toward the location of the sigil - directly above them. ~Oh, Shi-~ =/\=DEWALT TO ALL MARINES, FIND COVER, NOW!=/\= He yelled over the comm as something huge and black blotted out the sky. Grabbing Mikail by the scruff of the neck, Drew dived into the doorway and scrabbled for cover in the shadowy gloom. ~What the hell was THAT?!~ He thought, bringing up his weapon over a discarded workbench to eye the white portal that was the partially-open hatchway. Drew kept one eye on the door, and one on his Pallas' HUD, desperately hoping the rest of the team had found cover before - whatever it was - had found them. (posted by Adam) (Color II - Beam-in Site - MCO Major Joel Kilowa - 1619) The aerial view of the slaughter that just took place had to look like a painting on a sand brown canvas and the painter had thrown red paint here and there. And in between, a few dark lines that could represent the dead. Joel took the view in up close and what he could see wasn't the only thing that was rank. The smell was terrible and made the Major close his face shield. After the beam out of the bitten marine and just as soon he had closed the comm with team 3 a loud voice echoed inside of the Pallas helmet. =/\= Dewalt to Kilowa. Hatch is open. Await-=/\= The communication cut short, and there was no doubt in Joel's mind that the presence of a large flying beast was the cause. Joel took no time to rack his gun again and point the barrel toward the sky. He began his way toward the hatch that he now knew was open. Before he could reach it he watched as the beast dived down toward the marine team. Joel hit the dirt belly first and felt that his reflexes might have saved his life. As Joel's body flew to the ground Dewalt's voice filled his helmet. =/\=DEWALT TO ALL MARINES, FIND COVER, NOW!=/\= The Major crawled on the ground for a few yards before he felt it was safe for him to rise again. The sand beneath his feet being kicked around as he did so. He began to run once again toward the hatch door where the two marines were now standing. With out losing any speed he rushed inside of the hatch door. "Close it!" The door closed behind him and the loud thud proved it. "Damn it, we are going to have to get rid of that...THING!" Joel yelled. (reply Dewalt) "Alright, we can talk about it all we want but the cold hard facts is we were ordered to rescue the former away team. Lets find'em," ordered Joel. (reply Dewalt) "You lead lieutenant," the Major said as he took out his taccorder and began tracking their way down the first tunnel. (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 16.20) He felt that the beast was injured but didn't want to engage with it just yet. He decided to try and find out how the away teams were doing by telepathy.. : Trei to away teams. Report on what your progress is and any information you can give on the situation. Trei out.: He thought this was a good opportunity to get through to the away team. He waited for a response. (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - YEO Meggan Puceanu - 1625) Meggan entered the Holodeck to meet with and assist Trei, as per the Captain's Orders. "I imagine I'm to follow your lead, sir," Meggan said. "And to offer help, I suppose, since the Thing directly contacted me..." The yeoman stooped to pick up Dinah the Tricorder, then returned her attention the Trei. "Is there anything you require right now?" she asked. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 1 - TAC/S LT(JG) Detron Trei - 16.30) He rested for a minute when Yeoman Pucerau entered the holodeck. She asked him if he needed anything of assistance . He remained facing the wall as he responded to her. "Yes I need you to monitor me while I attempt to wear the beast down with calming emotions." He opened his mind to the beast. :The people need to be loved. The people need to feel love. Set them free and be loved once more. You need to feel love. Let yourself feel the calming emotion of love.: (posted by Edward Engel) (USS Boudicca - Deck 4 – Ensign Mactavish - 1630) Mactavish exited the shuttle that just brought him into the USS Boudicca. He looked around deck four for the elevator. He spotted it and hasty walked towards it.As he was on his way to the elevator he noticed the VIP quarters and wondered if anyone was on board who would be using them. He reached the elevator and spoke clearly "Deck one". the elevator jumped into action and the doors quickly opened. Mactavish's anticipation was growing by the second. He was practically jogging towards the captains ready room. As he turned the corner to his surprise the door was already open. He looked inside and saw Captain Capps. He smiled towards the captain and then greeted him. " Sir Ensign Mactavish reporting in may i enter." Mactavish felt a great sense of achievement in seeing his captain for the first time. (posted by Adam Whaley) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1632) Calvin sat in his ready room digging through his PADDs sending countless communiques to those that can delegate the orders needed to fix what is happening to the Boudicca and its crew. He looked at the PADD that contained information about a shuttle craft arriving and boarding the Boudicca. The shuttle contained a new officer that the Captain was not expecting and had not received any orders. He was interested who he was and what position he would be taking. As he thought about his new officer he heard a voice, "Sir Ensign Mactavish reporting in may i enter." "Of course Ensign, please take a seat." Calvin motioned to the seats in front of his desk. He asked his standard first question, "Would you care for a piece of candy?" The Captain smiled half heartily as he was concerned for all the matters that were currently taking place. (reply Mactavish) "I am afraid I have not received you orders, do you have them with you?" (reply Mactavish) Calvin took the PADD handed over the desk. He opened it with his command codes and streams of information popped up. "Ah, Asst. Chief in Engineering. You will be very handy as we are seeing many energy malfunctions right now." (reply Mactavish) "Instead of answering your concerns I will tell you to report to Jericho in Engineering. Our Chief of Engineering is currently planet side. Jericho is in control down there right now. Normally I would ask a little bit about you and let you take some time in your room and get settled in, but we have problems right now that need to be fixed and you can help." (reply Mactavish) "Excellent, It is good to have you aboard Ensign. Before you leave do you have any question for me?" (posted by Calvin Capps) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Asst CEO - 1632) Calvin sat in his ready room digging through his PADDs sending countless communiques to those that can delegate the orders needed to fix what is happening to the Boudicca and its crew. He looked at the PADD that contained information about a shuttle craft arriving and boarding the Boudicca. The shuttle contained a new officer that the Captain was not expecting and had not received any orders. He was interested who he was and what position he would be taking. As he thought about his new officer he heard a voice, "Sir Ensign Mactavish reporting in may i enter." "Of course Ensign, please take a seat." Calvin motioned to the seats in front of his desk. He asked his standard first question, "Would you care for a piece of candy?" The Captain smiled half heartily as he was concerned for all the matters that were currently taking place. "Oh yes please its been a long journey here" "I am afraid I have not received you orders, do you have them with you?" "Indeed i have sir here they are" Mactavish leaned over the desk to hand the Captain the PADD. Calvin took the PADD handed over the desk. He opened it with his command codes and streams of information popped up. "Ah, Asst. Chief in Engineering. You will be very handy as we are seeing many energy malfunctions right now." " I hoped i could be of some help" Mactavish smiled with confidence. "Instead of answering your concerns I will tell you to report to Jericho in Engineering. Our Chief of Engineering is currently planet side. Jericho is in control down there right now. Normally I would ask a little bit about you and let you take some time in your room and get settled in, but we have problems right now that need to be fixed and you can help." "yes sir, oh and sir if you need me for an away team i have a tactical major, studied 6 months of advanced hand to hand combat 23 years of martial arts and 1 year of advanced weapons training. so i am capable." "Excellent, It is good to have you aboard Ensign. Before you leave do you have any question for me?" " No sir i will get straight to it" Mactavish left the room with a brief smile towards the captain and then headed for engineering. (posted by Adam Whaley) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - CO Captain Calvin Capps - 1642) The Captain had just finished with a new officer and on that officer's PADD Calvin noticed a second name. It would seem that the Boudicca was receiving another new officer. As he straightened his desk a little he heard the chime go off in his room. "Enter." The doors slid open long enough for an Ensign in a blue Starfleet uniform enter the room. (reply Noble) After the Ensign reported in Calvin stood from his chair. "Welcome aboard the USS Boudicca, please take a seat and a piece of candy if you wish." The Captain pointed to the bowl of candy that he always kept in his ready room. He then sat back down. (reply Noble) "Ensign Noble why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?" (reply Noble) "Excellent, I think those are some great reasons to have joined Starfleet," Calvin listened intently on why Tian decided to join Starfleet. "I can assure you that we have plenty of room for you and that you are needed." (reply Noble) "Perfect, I would normally allow you to head to your new quarters and get settled in, but there is a virus strain down on the planet Color II. Dr. Caspian and Ensign Romanoff is in Sickbay researching into this virus. Make your way there immediately and help them out." (reply Noble) "Before you are dismissed do you have any questions?" (posted by Calvin Capps) (Color ll - Planetary Capital – The Beast - 1645) The smiled mentally everything was going has planned, the beast was now in control of the surface, the federation marines had trapped themselves into the network of under ground tunnels with what remained of the survivors from the planets surface, and that deep underground teleporters were of little use. The let a might loose a might roar that shook the earth as he summoned the fullness of his horde, every last undead to his call. He gave them a simple order ::Kill them all:: The beast watched has the undead swarmed every opening into those damned tunnels. The beast knew that his lost will be high those that kept the tunnels would fight on. But with time there weapons will fail and the defenders would fall. There was only last hurdle that stood in his way. The beast looked sky ward and reached out with his mind. That annoying presence had come back to haunt him. ::The people need to be loved. The people need to feel love. Set them free and be loved once more. You need to feel love. Let yourself feel the calming emotion of love.:: ~ I'll show them my love, just you watch, you tree hugging hippie.~ It took a awhile but his mind the found the mind it was looking for. ::Hello my pretty.:: He called to Megg. ::How are you?::He asked sweetly. (reply Megg.) :: You like chess right,:: the beast asked knowing full and well the story of Alice in Wonderland, he also knew a good deal of the story was built off the game and how it was played. :: Like all good pawns you have been moved into a good position, destroy the knight and I will make you my Queen, for it is your right.:: The beast knew he was playing a delicate game with the mind of the young woman. He felt her desires he knew what she needed. :: I trust only you to bring my race to life, don't let them stop and kill me, and make me extinct.:: (posted by Matthew Locke) (USS Boudicca, Main engineering, Asst CEO, Ensign Mactavish, 1645) Mactavish entered the main engineering room and smiled, it was beautifully layed out and was a lot better then Mactavish expected. He walked over to ensign Jericho. Mactavish still had a beaming smile on his face. "Ensign Jericho? Im Royston Charles Mactavish i've been assigned to this ship as asst CEO can i help in any way?" (posted by Adam Whaley) (USS Boudicca, Holodeck 1, Yeoman Puceanu, 1647) Meggan Puceanu had entered the Holodeck with her mind made deliberately full of gibberish: First learn to be spasmodic - a very simple rule. "For first you write a sentence, and then you chop it small; then mix the bits, and sort them out just as they chance to fall: The order of the phrases makes no difference at all. 'Then, if you'd be impressive, remember what I say, that abstract qualities begin with capitals alway: The True, the Good, the Beautiful - those are the things that pay! "Next, when you are describing a shape, or sound, or tint; don't state the matter plainly, But put it in a hint; and learn to look at all things with a sort of mental squint." It was part of a poem by Lewis Carroll, and it was Meggan’s defense. She continued to muse on these things as she observed Trei, and scanned him with Dinah the Tricorder. Perhaps the poem's nonsense was why it took a while for the Jabberwock to find her again. But the Beast did ultimately find Meggan. Once he had, he said sweetly,::Hello my pretty. How are you?:: ~Oh dear,~ the young yeoman thought. ~'Beware the Jabberwock, my son!’ she recalled from Looking-Glass, ‘The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!’... Well, whoever said that wasn’t thinking of me,~ she mused. ~I’m not anybody’s ‘son.’ Come to think of it, I’m not technically anybody’s daughter either…~ The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame… These ‘eyes of flame’ had riveted Meggan’s own mind’s eye on the illusion (or delusion) the Beast wanted to create. The creature had revealed itself as a red-eyed version of something from her own fantasy life. This entity could not have had foreknowledge of the ‘Jabberwock’ image, but It now made full use of it. On the planet below the Jabberwock, as Puceanu referred to the Beast, had never let up in his 'attack-by-gifting' – even during Megg’s talk with her friend-and-Captain just moments ago. Meggan was tormentedly torn between wanting It to stop and wanting it to continue. The over-filling power was an experience Meggan Puceanu had never had. Indeed, power (of any sort) was not something with which she was very familiar anyway, but the degree to which she was being endowed now made her feel overwhelmed by elation. Another quite new experience. Yeoman Puceanu’s physical and mental transformations were usually gradual. Significant changes in her stature, in fact, could take several months. Soft tissues could change more rapidly, but bone growth normally required caloric intake. However, under the Jabberwock’s influence, Meggan could (and did) metamorphose much more quickly. Though her ‘default’ height was 6’0”, while with her Captain earlier she had dwindled down to a size shorter than Cap2’s five-foot-nine. Now, with the Jabberwock paying direct attention to her again, Megg found herself ‘nibbling on the other side of the mushroom…’ ~’You'll get used to it in time,’ said the Caterpillar… ‘One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.’ Shortly after that, of course, the Caterpillar would become a butterfly…~ Megg thought. She was aware -- and afraid -- that she was romanticizing the experience. The yeoman’s body responded to the stimulus and the flooding influx of energies from the planet below. Meggan did in fact grow taller, but not nearly so much as Alice sometimes did in that ‘fairy tale.’ ::You like chess right,:: asked the Jabberwock. The Gambit caught Meggan a little off-guard. ::Like all good pawns you have been moved into a good position, destroy the knight and I will make you my Queen, for it is your right.:: ~It's a great huge game of chess that's being played,~ Meggan thought with delight, and her heart began to beat quick with excitement as she went on. ~played all over the world… Oh, what fun it is! How I wish I was one of them! I wouldn't mind being a Pawn, if only I might join -- though of course I should like to be Queen best. Only I should’n’t want to destroy the Knight just at this moment… It seems a needless sacrifice, don’t you think? What if he should prove useful?~ ::I trust only you to bring my race to life,:: said the Jabberwock. ::Don't let them stop and kill me, and make me extinct.:: ~'But ... beware of the day, If your Snark be a Boojum! For then You will softly and suddenly vanish away, And never be met with again!~ More cautionary sentiment from a man who’d been dead for half a millennium? ~You’re sacrificing too many pieces, ‘Wocky. They’re only fighting you because you’re fighting them! You want another world? I can help you shop for one… But you absolutely have to stop killing! What happens if you keep on doing that? You won’t have anyone left to play chess with… Prove to me you're not a Boojum...~ (Reply Beast) Meggan outlined a plan: she would go to one of the ship’s computer cores. There the Jabberwock, through her eyes and with her fingers manipulating the console interface, could explore the database of a thousand thousand worlds. ~It would even work very much more quickly if…~ Meggan stopped herself from actively thinking about the Beast infecting the bio-neural gel-packs with Its zombie-ficating virus. (Reply Beast) Sensing the Jabberwock was pleased with the idea, Yeoman Puceanu snuck out of the Holodeck, without Trei noticing. The Officer’s focus was likely elsewhere anyway. From there, she made her way swiftly to the computer core where she spent much of her time. (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca, Main engineering, EO, Ensign Jericho, Day 2, 1647) "Ensign Jericho? Im Royston Charles Mactavish i've been assigned to this ship as asst CEO can i help in any way?" "Sure can!" said Jericho, not looking up from his work. He handed the new arrival a tool and said, "We can discuss your Academy specialties soon. Right now a pair of hands'd be nice." Jericho pointed at the cloest EPS tap. "That's got a 7.432 variance. Can you fix that for me? We can talk and work too..." (posted by Frank) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1650) "Taking another look at this tact map there looks like there are two different ways down to the lower level. I say we split who we have here into two smaller groups and have them breach the lower level from both entrances. " (reply Rinn) He continued to look at the map and noticed what could be used as a escape hatch in the middle of the room down to the lower level. "Make that three ways down into the lower level. I can stay here from this vantage point and provide some overwatch coverage. There is a marksman aperture installed on my rifle. I am sure O will be able to cover everyone from up here" (reply Rinn) Henry was at the best novice at marksmen shooting, but now was as good as any time to put what he knew into action. He had logged a few hours in the holodeck and after today would see the importance of increasing his skill in the sport. Everyone in the room had rested long enough and were now ready to put the plan in action. Henry walked to the center of the room and removed the floor hatch. Before he could see clear into the next room he would have to remove a secondary hatch which he did just as easily as he did the one prior. He stuck his head down into the room to see quite a few zombies lurking around monotonously without a current task to occupy their attention. At this point Henry was reminded of the heat as the beads of sweat all connected on his forehead and began to drip down into the room below him. The zombies in the room continued their march of disarray while the two groups positioned themselves to preach the lower level. Henry still laid on the ground peering down into the room and the sweat continued to rain down below him. This time the beads of perspiration landed on the face of one of the zombies and this immediately grabbed his attention. He along with the others could smell the salt in the drops that fell from the ceiling and quickly began to act as if driven by the hunger. "Umm. I think they know we are up here. Get ready" (reply Rinn) Then in the corner of the room something peculiar grabbed Henry's eyes and attention. There seemed to be four superior zombies chanting in unison around some makeshift alter. Whatever they were doing seemed to be directly tied into the power of the planet and facility as the room lights and every computer were illuminated. ~Well at least we will be able to see.~ The breach began without incident and from above Henry watched as the marines and Lt. Rinn sieged the room. Henry lined up his shots and took them carefully. He closed his prosthetic eye to concentrate aim through his natural eye. Henry appreciated his ocular implant but it was clear that his natural eye would be more beneficial. The room was filled with gore as marine after marine shot down zombie after zombie. Not every shot was an instant kill the majority of the shots caused limbs to explode and soar from the bodies they were attached to. Henry noticed the same effect from his rifle with every headshot he landed. It was clear that the shots to the head provided the most inflicted damage to the zombies and it appeared that removing their heads effectively stopped them from moving. Henry continued to sweat under the heat conditions and stress from his concentration to the point where the sweat gliding across his face began to burn his eye like a fresh spray of citrus on contact. He quickly shut his eye in reaction to the burn and consequently lost his balance and fell through the opening from which he was firing. His only saving grace was the grapple line he attached before he began laying down cover fire. (posted by Darryl McDaniel) (USS Boudicca, Main engineering, Asst CEO, Ensign Mactavish, 1650) "Ensign Jericho? Im Royston Charles Mactavish i've been assigned to this ship as asst CEO can i help in any way?" "Sure can!" said Jericho, not looking up from his work. He handed the new arrival a tool and said, "We can discuss your Academy specialties soon. Right now a pair of hands'd be nice." Jericho pointed at the closest EPS tap. "That's got a 7.432 variance. Can you fix that for me? We can talk and work too..." He looked towards the EPS tap and grinned nervously "Sure thing" he took the wrench off of Jericho and got to work carefully and slowly "So things aren't looking to great at the moment" he looked at Jericho for some sign of emotion. (Reply Jericho) "What else do you want me to do, after i finish this of course" (posted by Adam Whaley) (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Computer Core Lower Section, Yeoman Puceanu, 1651) Hoping to learn more about the Jabberwock, Megg began calling up data on various planets it might prefer to inhabit. A sequence from an old holo-vid called Russia House came up in Megg’s mind: Clive: They're preparing a shopping list for Dante. It'll be the list to end all lists. A grand-slam questionnaire. Pentagon, Defense, State... Endorsed by the president… God, this is a list of questions that could unlock all the Soviet military secrets and win the arms race at a stroke: Ned: Or lose it. I don't like lists, Clive. Lists tell you … about the people who make them. It was Meggan’s actual hope that whatever world or worlds caught the Jabberwock’s interest would tell her some things about the creature too. ‘I trust only you to bring my race to life,’ the Jabberwock had said. Clearly It had decided Megg would be part of some long-term plan. If she was going to be this entity’s perfect mate, she wanted to know what that might entail. ~What would I be like…?~ 'I shouldn't know you again if we did meet,' Humpty Dumpty said in a discontented tone; 'you're so exactly like other people.' 'The face is what one goes by, generally,' Alice remarked in a thoughtful tone. 'That's just what I complain of,' said Humpty Dumpty. 'Your face is the same as everybody has--the two eyes, so--' (marking their places in the air with this thumb) 'nose in the middle, mouth under. It's always the same. Now if you had the two eyes on the same side of the nose, for instance--or the mouth at the top—that would be some help.' 'It wouldn't look nice,' Alice objected. But Humpty Dumpty only shut his eyes and said 'Wait till you've tried.' (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, ENS EO Jericho, 1653) "So," said the newcomer, "things aren't looking too great at the moment?" "Matter of perspective, I guess," said Jericho. "Up here, apart from enough departure from the norm to keep things interesting, I'd say things are fine. Planetside, I'm guessing, not so much. Rumors and hearsay about zombies and vampires and stuff." Jericho made a hand gesture to suggest that he though some of the away-mission team members might be getting into the Saurian brandy. "What else do you want me to do, after I finish this of course" asked Mactavish. "Zombies or no, the mission needs our support. So, when you finished that, I'd like to hear about your background and specialties... Whether you think your a shipboard support member, or better off in a forward area such as a Construction Engineer. In short, input is always valuable." (posted by Frank) (Color II- Geothermal Tap- COPs Lieutenant Deynyk Rinn - 1655) They had been traveling now for a while, following the tunnels with a growing sense of trepidation complicated by fatigue. The temperature continued to rise, and Deynyk wondered if there was a dry spot among any of the away team members. He reached up and wiped a line of perspiration from his eyebrows as he followed along with the rest of the team towards what he hoped would be their final destination. They came into another room, one that seemed more functional rather than one dedicated for control systems. The room looked spartan in a way that only an unordained technical workhorse could look. "Taking another look at this tacmap," Henry began, "there looks like there are two different ways down to the lower level. I say we split whom we have here into two smaller groups and have them breach the lower level from both entrances. " "That doesn't seem like a bad plan." Deynyk replied and he set about separating the teams into two groups while Jacobs continued to study the map. "Make that three ways down into the lower level." Henry added, "I can stay here from this vantage point and provide some overwatch coverage. There is a marksman aperture installed on my rifle. I am sure I will be able to cover everyone from up here." Deynyk nodded and the two teams, minus Jacobs made their way to their breach points. Both teams had just signaled their preparedness to breach, when Jacobs suddenly voiced, "Umm. I think they know we are up here. Get ready." "ready." Deynyk and the rest of the team called out. "Breach!" Deynyk ordered. The two teams blew the doors open with brutal marine efficiency, and before the dust from the balst had even settled, the two teams were moving forward, dropping zombies left-and right. Deynyk followed the team into the compartment, firing at Zombies that had fallen but had not been killed. He began placing shots through the zombie's skulls as they tried to regain their footing. The room was a cacophony of poser blasts and undead moaning that rose to a hideous crescendo as the two opposing forces tore into each other. Deynyk watched helplessly as one of the marines fell under a horde of claws and teeth. The Marine must have pulled the pin on a photon grenade, because a moment later the writhing mass of flesh blew apart in a splatter of gore. Then just as suddenly as the fighting began it was all over. Deynyk took stock of the scene. Zombie parts were everywhere, the members of the away team looked like blood-splattered corpses themselves, with all the gore and bits plastered the their flesh and their uniforms. Henry had slipped and fallen, and was suspended by a safety catch line from the ceiling. "Marines, help Jacobs." Deynyk ordered a pair of marines. They moved through the carnage and after a few minutes of effort managed to get Jacobs loose and his feet planted firmly in the muck and gore lining the room. "Please tell me this is the room we need, Henry." Deynyk said as he made his way over to the Chief engineer. (posted by Daniel Greene) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, Asst CEO, Ensign Mactavish, 1655) "So," said the newcomer, "things aren't looking too great at the moment?" "Matter of perspective, I guess," said Jericho. "Up here, apart from enough departure from the norm to keep things interesting, I'd say things are fine. Planetside, I'm guessing, not so much. Rumors and hearsay about zombies and vampires and stuff." Jericho made a hand gesture to suggest that he though some of the away-mission team members might be getting into the Saurian brandy. "What else do you want me to do, after I finish this of course" asked Mactavish. "Zombies or no, the mission needs our support. So, when you finished that, I'd like to hear about your background and specialties... Whether you think your a shipboard support member, or better off in a forward area such as a Construction Engineer. In short, input is always valuable." "Well Really im not sure, i will tell you my specialties and education and then you can decided on whats best for me, i have a tactical and engineering major. i have 1 years advanced weapons training and 6 months advanced hand to hand combat training, ive also had 23 years martial arts training, so its up to you now" (posted by Adam Whaley) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering, Ens EO Jericho, 1658) "Well Really im not sure, i will tell you my specialties and education and then you can decided on whats best for me, i have a tactical and engineering major. i have 1 years advanced weapons training and 6 months advanced hand to hand combat training, ive also had 23 years martial arts training, so its up to you now." "With qualifications such as those," Jericho said, "I'd see you in Mission-Ops, supporting very Active away-teams, such as the situation we have now. I'll make a recommendation to the CO to that effect... If you like..." (Reply Mactavish) "In the mean time, after we finish up here, have a look around. Every ship's layout differs somewhat from the technical drawings. Took me a week to remember that 7-2-S didn't cross Jeffries Tube Alpha-1-7 at all, let alone at Junction Epsilon-2-0. Have you reviewed the plans, Ensign?" (posted by Frank) (USS Boudicca, Main Engineering,Asst CEO,Ensign Mactavish, day (2-1700) "Well Really im not sure, i will tell you my specialties and education and then you can decided on whats best for me, i have a tactical and engineering major. i have 1 years advanced weapons training and 6 months advanced hand to hand combat training, ive also had 23 years martial arts training, so its up to you now." "With qualifications such as those," Jericho said, "I'd see you in Mission-Ops, supporting very Active away-teams, such as the situation we have now. I'll make a recommendation to the CO to that effect... If you like..." "Hmm yeah i have never really thought about it but it does sound logical." Mactavish looked towards the EPS tap and then back towards Jericho " If you could recommend it i would be very grateful. "In the mean time, after we finish up here, have a look around. Every ship's layout differs somewhat from the technical drawings. Took me a week to remember that 7-2-S didn't cross Jeffries Tube Alpha-1-7 at all, let alone at Junction Epsilon-2-0. Have you reviewed the plans, Ensign?" "yes i have but as you said its not as easy as just reading it i have to live it im getting used to it but it may take a while" Mactavish looked back at the EPS tap and got back to work. "Anything else you need to know" Mactavish smiled towards the Ensign (posted by Adam W.) (Color II - Geothermal Tap - Bottom Level - CEO Lieutenant Henry Jacobs - 1705) The grapple line that Henry placed most definitely saved him from a great fall to the floor below him. Caught up in the struggle of hoisting himself up Henry heard Rinn Call for a few of the marines to safely assist Henry down to the floor. It took very little effort on their part to help him down and very soon after he stood to his feet. Regaining his composure Henry dusted himself off and walked to the major wall of the room. "Lieutenant, over here." he motioned to Rinn with his right arm. The two men intersected at the podium that hoisted up the remnants of an egg. Henry climbed up on the podium to look inside what was left inside of it. ~What the hell is this~ The thoughts floated through his head as he made his way up to get a better look. Peering inside he saw a bubbling ooze, there was nothing to explain what it actually was but Henry had a feeling this was what they were looking for. There was enough space around the shell to walk around it in its entirety and when Jacobs made it to the rear of the egg he noticed a set of fused tubes leading away from the egg down into the earth below it. There was a mixture of bioelectric and mechanical components working in unison as evident surges of power coarsed through the tubes. "Take a look at this." (reply Rinn) "This thing looks like it is sapping the raw energy straight from the planet core. I have a feeling this is why there is no power anywhere else." (reply Rinn) "Well, how do you want to proceed?" (posted by Darryl McDaniel) =============================================================== Enjoy!