USS Rosenante Compile 26 January - 29 January 2008 Compile Index: Mission: Picking up the Pieces Stardate: 2408.01.07 (USS Rosenante - CEO Office - Main Engineering ­ CEO - Lt.(sg) Bird- 1043) (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO - Captain Susan Rivers - 1431) (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CONN - Lt. Dralar- 1432) (USS Rosenante - Main Engineering – EO - Ensign T'Kron - 2114) (USS Rosenante - Main Engineering - Engineering Technician C. Anderson - 2115) (USS Rosenante - Main Engineering – FO - Lt. Cmdr. Ahmed Ibn Salid - 2116) Mission: A Fine and Private Place Day: 1 Stardate: 2408.01.15 (USS Rosenante – Transporter Room 1 – Acting 3O/COUNS - Lt Olen Rhinehart – 0903) (USS Rosenante – Transporter Room 1 – Ashes of Ivor Prime – Chairperson-Elect Dr Laura Schell – 0904) (USS Rosenante - Transporter Room - CMO Josh Caskie - 0905) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - Crewman Shadow to Sretalles - 0948) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 1015) (USS Rosenante – Observation Lounge – Ashes of Ivor Prime – Chairperson-Elect Dr Laura Schell – 1016) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - Sciences - Ensign(jg) Alba Tuk - 1017) (USS Rosenante - Trade Winds - Crewman Shadow to Sretalles - 2108) (USS Rosenante – Trade Winds – Crewman/Head Bartender – Erl – 2123) (USS Rosenante - Trade Winds - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 2138) (USS Rosenante - Trade Winds - Crewman Shadow to Sretalles - 2140) Day 2 Stardate: 2408.01.16 (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 1000) (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 1230) (USS Rosenante - Nooras Quarters - ACOUNS Ens. Dorga 'cha Nooras - 1232) (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - ACOUNS Ens. Dorga 'cha Nooras - 1236) Compile begins: Mission: Picking up the Pieces Stardate: 2408.01.07 (USS Rosenante - CEO Office - Main Engineering ­ CEO - Lt.(sg) Bird- 1043) Twisting her tail a bit, Shadow looked each way before answering, as if she was worried someone would overhear in the private office. "Does the Rosenante have a harp? I have not been able to play since I left Geneva.. I have my flute, and lute and mandolin.. but.. They do not have the reach and range.." Paul looked the yeoman with slightly envious eyes of someone who has no musical talent whatsoever , but wished they did . He lent forward muttering and keyed in a few commands in the computer before him before saying " , Arrhh , there it is . Shadow there are two harps on board , apart from personal ones ,they are an Earth normal harp and a Vulcan one both in the storage room upon deck ten .Actually it looks like we,ve got quite a large music and drama department . " Paul looked at Shadow's face and felt he needed to explain more . " This ship is designed to be away from base for a long time , so home - sickness and morale become an important consideration . Putting on entertainment to keep the crew amused is important . " Here Paul pointed out where all the equipment for putting on shows and the like where stored . " Hope that you find what you want in there , if not I think we can always use the replicator to knock something up " === (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO - Captain Susan Rivers - 1431) The chime sounded, the door opened automatically as she had told all the officers it would, and Lt Dralar stepped in and came to a halt in front of the Captain's desk. He cocked his head slightly and bowed gracefully. "Thank you War Captain Rivers for graciously accepting my request for an audience. You honour me with your willingness to speak with me." Susan smiled. "My door is always open to my officers and crew, Lieutenant." "I come here not as an officer of Starfleet, but as a Prince of Skorria and as someone who has seen your deeds and measured your worth." he replied, and launched into a speech which came as a surprise to Susan. Whatever she had expected, it wasn't this. "...These gifts I present to you as the patron of the Twenty-third Royal District of Skorria, with the permission of the High King," he finished, then stepped forward and held out the box and the documents to the captain. Susan, acutely aware how important an occasion this was, stood up and formally accepted them with a respectful bow. "You and the High King do me great honour, Your Highness," she said sincerely, addressing him as 'Your Highness' since he stood before her as a Prince of his people, not as an officer on her crew. "All the more so since I was only doing my duty, as I saw it." She opened the box and regarded the objects within, reminded by their beauty and functionality of both the decorated dagger that Tobias Spectre had given her in her early days as an ensign on the Nimitz, and of the d'k tahg that Rory had presented her with when she left the Athene. She then looked back at Dralar. "Like all of us, I lost most of my possessions with the Champlain," she said. "Including some that I had previously thought irreplaceable. I was wrong. I will, if you deem it appropriate, display these in their place, and every time I see them, I will be reminded not only of the honour you do me, but also of the growing connection between the Skorr and the Federation; a symbol of the growing understanding between our people, fostered in no small measure by your service in Starfleet. I will be reminded also that some things may change or be lost, but the important things such as friendship and comradeship and courage endure. Thank you for reminding me of that. I am proud to have you as an officer on my ship." === (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CONN - Lt. Dralar- 1432) The captain rose from her chair and came around her desk, accepting the box containing the Claws of Shanda, and her official decree that allowed her to use the official title of War Captain, as well as claim her pension. She gave a slight bow, as she spoke. "You and the High King do me great honor, Your Highness," she said sincerely, "All the more so since I was only doing my duty, as I saw it." She opened the box and regarded the objects within, for a few moments before she looked back at Dralar. "Like all of us, I lost most of my possessions with the Champlain," she said. "Including some that I had previously thought irreplaceable. I was wrong. I will, if you deem it appropriate, display these in their place, and every time I see them, I will be reminded not only of the honor you do me, but also of the growing connection between the Skorr and the Federation; a symbol of the growing understanding between our people, fostered in no small measure by your service in Starfleet. I will be reminded also that some things may change or be lost, but the important things such as friendship and comradeship and courage endure. Thank you for reminding me of that. I am proud to have you as an officer on my ship." "And I am proud to have been given the opportunity to serve under your command War Captain. Know always that I will be your ally and friend, and that you may call upon me should you ever have need of me." he said bowing slightly. "With your permission, I should like to return to my duties as a member of your crew and put aside my royal robes for another day." he requested. === (USS Rosenante - Main Engineering – Engineer Ensign T'Kron - 2114) After tapping in a few commands on the holographic console, Commander Salid said, "The phase variance on these crystals are out of synch by 0.0035 microns, unless they are attuned that way on purpose because of the dual-core synchronization equipment. Do you happen to know which is the case?" "Sir, the crystals are in fact in synchronization in tolerances for the new system," said T'Kron. "The phased particle grid has a photon regulator necessary to the crystals' particular resonance. The system is set up to control the flow of power more effectively with less waste of thermal energy." Nimbly, T'Kron used the holographic engineering interface to pull up more of the general specs of the new ship's mighty engines. "As you can see the thermal energy waste is greatly reduced and inhibitors and regulators put here and here, for maximum effect," said T'Kron, indicating with a gesture. (Reply Ahmed ibn Salid) "I appreciate the higher efficiency and ease of interface usage between the ship and crew. I hope that we all become more familiar with the new systems quickly as we move out, Sir," said T'Kron. === (USS Rosenante - Main Engineering - Engineering Technician C. Anderson - 2115) Carol was buzzed to finally be on the Rosenante and in the engine room . Due to slight mix up she had not originally been placed on the ship .The thoughts going through her head was that Paul had become uneasy with there relationship and wanted to put distance between them . In this angry state of mind she had called up the ship's CEO and launched a scathing tirade against the man , until she calmed down enough to actually here what he was saying to her . Paul really wanted her on board not only to pursue their relationship together , but mainly because he needed her in the engine room . He needed her support and her words of encouragement , she was his mental crutch . ~ Not sure if that's good or not ~ . It transpired that her promotion to Engineering Technician had meant that the orders that had been sent out never reached her . She had just come from getting her quarters sorted out , and with a bit of horse trading , verging on bullying , with one of the new fresh faced ensigns, she had swopped cabin allocations to have one next but one from Paul . ~ I'll be easy on the ensign and pick on the others ~ she mused to herself . She had discovered that at the moment that Paul was not in his quarters , but in his office , her destination . Crossing the deck , she was surprised to see FO Salid there , talking to T'Kron . trying not to be suspicious she got closer to the couple to eaves drop on the conversation . It was a purely technical one and so walked away impressed with the knowledge of the FO , a former engineer she knew . ~ It's always good to have a tech head on the bridge .~ On reaching the CEO's office she paused to make sure that he was alone , took a large breathe , exhaled , and then burst in on him , " Well hello big boy , Pleased to see me ? " She was back . === (USS Rosenante - Main Engineering – FO - Lt. Cmdr. Ahmed Ibn Salid - 2116) "Sir, the crystals are in fact in synchronization in tolerances for the new system," said T'Kron. "The phased particle grid has a photon regulator necessary to the crystals' particular resonance. The system is set up to control the flow of power more effectively with less waste of thermal energy." Nimbly, T'Kron used the holographic engineering interface to pull up more of the general specs of the new ship's mighty engines. "As you can see the thermal energy waste is greatly reduced and inhibitors and regulators put here and here, for maximum effect," said T'Kron, indicating with a gesture. "Indeed it is." Ahmed said with a deep appreciation in his voice. "I seem to be a bit behind the learning curve with the new configuration, somewhat." He paused. "But the real question is, what do you think about it all?" "I appreciate the higher efficiency and ease of interface usage between the ship and crew. I hope that we all become more familiar with the new systems quickly as we move out, Sir," said T'Kron. Ahmed nodded. It was the type of answer that he had expected to get from T'Kron. In their interactions on Cait Prime, Ahmed had come to understand a good deal about how the engineer thought. He found his logical though processes very refreshing. "Thank you for your time, Mister T'Kron. I greatly appreciate it. I think I'll leave you to your normal duties now. I have some other business I need to attend to. Keep up the excellent work." === Mission: A Fine and Private Place Day: 1 Stardate: 2408.01.15 (USS Rosenante – Transporter Room 1 – Acting 3O/COUNS Lt Olen Rhinehart – 0903) There had been much to occupy him, and for that he found himself grateful, standing stiff in his best duty uniform alongside the other senior crewmembers. In spite of his misgivings about returning to the Starfleet fold, he had settled with relative ease back into the comforting, numbing embrace of his regular work – new crew members to be sifted, weighed and measured under the trained judgement of his department; old crew members to be assessed for psychological stress in the wake of the Champlain's demise and the war's savagery; and beyond that, the one to be integrated as seamlessly as possible with the other. But as always, threat loomed on the horizon: namely his nomination to the position of third officer. It wasn't even so much the nomenclature, or the implicit responsibility, or the delicate balancing of his duties, or even the pressure of expectation that weighed on his mind, as it was the spectre of the bridge officer's exam, scheduled for two days' time. It had been ten days since his promotion to command, and he had spent each one in studious and diligent avoidance of thinking about the test. It brought back uncomfortable memories of his final academy examination, and Lt Thrall, the swarthy tellarite who had held his nose and passed him only just a year ago. He cringed inwardly at the memory, and glanced around at the others in an effort to distract himself. Most stood much as he did; stiff and formal, a sense of uneasy anticipation shrouding them all, as if the formalities – a tedious walkabout with Admiral Big-Shot plus guest – stood between them and the main event, the launch of the fleet's newest vessel, their vessel. Ever intimidated in the face of authority, Rhinehart had to sympathise, though not necessarily for the same reasons. All too soon, though, the signal was given, and like the others, he came smartly to attention as the transporter's shimmering veil drew back. He found it difficult not to stare at the figure that was revealed. His mind reached back to the abandoned prefab colony of Ivor Prime, the air thick with entropy, and that single dwellinghouse he had made his way to at her request, entrails obscured beneath its blanket of dust. It was with pinsharp clarity that he recalled the cube-encased holograph of the smiling family that he had brought back to her. Her face was much the same as it had been in that picture, he reflected, and yet somehow its planes were more angular, the shallow creases more pronounced. It was a face that told a tale, it seemed, and not one that was easy to hear. “Permission to come aboard, Captain?” said the admiral. Rhinehart had barely noticed her. “Permission granted, Admiral,” replied Rivers. He remained at attention as the captain showed the Admiral and her guest down the line of officers, the corners of his eyes watching for some glimmer of recognition from Laura Schell. “...Third Officer and Chief Counsellor, Lieutenant Olen Rhinehart...” The captain's use of his given name startled him and dragged his attention back to the admiral. “How do you do, Counsellor?” she said. “I understand you're about to take your bridge exam.” He couldn't help but grimace slightly, as his eyes slid involuntarily back toward Dr Schell. Her gaze met his steadily. If she remembered him at all from that dismal subterranean facility, she gave no outward indication. “No idea at all,” he mumbled, absently shaking the offered hand. The admiral's smile dimmed a notch, suddenly seeming painted on. She nodded politely and moved down the line. === (USS Rosenante – Transporter Room 1 – Ashes of Ivor Prime – Chairperson-Elect Dr Laura Schell – 0904) She set her jaw as the transporter deposited her once more in the belly of the Federation's beast. A new ship it might be, but to her every Starfleet vessel had come to look the same – blunt instruments wielded by a remote and corroded plutocracy, gathering lives and livelihoods into its ravenous maw and spewing out lies and shallow propaganda. Extricating the survivors of the Ivor Prime debacle from the bureaucratic tentacles of the Federation was proving far more difficult than Dr Laura Schell had ever anticipated. During the civil war, facetime with the first elected leader of the newly organised survivors' society was not a priority for any diplomat, and the Federation Council had been dead in all but name. And even after the war's end, and the supposed restoration of democracy, she'd found little success. Reconstruction and reconstitution took precedence, it seemed. Her calls were not returned, messages were not answered. Perhaps that was their plan, she mused – they planned to keep her in the wings, chasing her tail until the colonists got bored of waiting for her to deliver on her promises and came back to the fold. Laura had other ideas, though. At long last, and at no small effort, she had secured a grip on the ear of Admiral Linden, who had assured Laura that re-locating the Ivor Prime survivors was among Starfleet's greatest priorities in the aftermath of war. Laura glanced sidelong at the admiral standing beside her on the transporter pad, wondering if the promises the compact woman had made were worth anything, or if her future held only more frustration. Not that the months since the Champlain had deposited her and Hannah, her young daughter, on Starbase Geneva had been solely comprised of dead-ends and thwarted effort. The constitution of the survivors' co-operative with herself at its head would remain one of Laura's proudest moments, especially if it put Starfleet's nose out of joint. But even that was outshone by the long-awaited return of her baby son Geoffrey, trapped for nearly 35 long years in the incorporeal void that had, at her behest, enveloped Ivor Prime and enfolded its colonists in another quantum plane, mere moments before the Borg touched down. Every time she looked into the infant boy's dark brown eyes, up once again came the bitterness and rage at the insouciant Federation that had abandoned them to their fate. And even now there remained a hollow melancholy at her core, where dwelled the guilt of the desperate necessity of what she had done, an action that, it was true, had saved many of the colonists lives – but there had been those that were lost to the void, too, unrecoverable forever. No-one knew it better than Laura – her husband Max had been one of them. "Permission to come aboard, Captain?" said the admiral at her side. "Permission granted, Admiral," replied the captain. Laura's game-face was in place, the pleasant, enigmatic smile that must never drop. They ambled past the line of officers, smug and stiff in their uniforms. She favoured each with an appraising look and that smile. They all looked more or less the same to Laura, like bricks in a wall. "My aide, Captain Iain Andrews, and Ms Laura Schell," said the admiral by way of introduction. Laura blinked, and ratcheted the smile a notch higher. "Pleased to meet you too, Captain Andrews," said the captain, shaking his hand. "I'm pleased to meet you too, Ms Schell," she added, offering her hand. Laura took it, the smile suddenly feeling tight and alien, like a gag. “Likewise,” she said, eyes flashing. === (USS Rosenante - Transporter Room - CMO Josh Caskie - 0905) Susan had introduced her to the admiral and Josh smiled. The admiral small talked her about sickbay for a moment or two and Josh replied in kind. To be honest Josh had very little idea of what she had just said apart from being polite to a senior officer and when the FO dismissed them and allowed them to leave, to be honest, Josh was the first out of the door. She neither wanted to speak to anyone or be spoken to. All she wanted to do at present was get back to her quarters and make sure that both her pet carrier and her mother's rocking chair had made it there. Josh had spend extra credits making sure that both the rocking chair and her pet carrier would be transported up properly and she was in a hurry to find out how both of them did.. Ok, her mother's rocking chair would probably survive transport up to the ship, but she was worried about her cat that she was bringing on board. She had been told that because of his size that he would have to be transported aboard, rather than carried on a shuttle and Josh had had a fight with the folk on Earth about him. He wasn't a huge cat, but he was big. Ok, Josh finally agreed that he was mega big. He had somehow attached himself to Josh whilst she was in Orkney. He picked her up whilst she was there And Josh, always willing to listen to a sob story had taken him in So finally Josh had found herself with this huge bruizer of a cat. 20lbs, three feet in length, A huge amount of fur. One blue eye and one brown. A cross between an Maine Coon and a Scottish Fold. She now belonged to him. === (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - Crewman Shadow to Sretalles - 0948) "No thank you Shadow. I'm all set. I do want to let you know that I think you're doing an outstanding job with the reports and all of your other duties. Keep up the fine work." He commented with a smile. "I know you and I don't really talk much, but I thought you should know that I appreciate all of your hard work." Shadow's whiskers twitched in surprise, her ears rotating as is to absorb the words and verify their origin as well as sincerity. She nodded, human style, "Thank you, Commander." Her tail suddenly looped her amusement, "Some would say I don't talk to any often." === (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 1015) "Actually Captain, I have one" Ahmed began. Susan nodded, and he continued, "Do we have a general area where we will be starting this survey, or are there a specific series of planets that we will be exploring?" "We have been asked to check out several systems, beginning with Optima 7, which have been shown in preliminary surveys to have M-class planets. But also to do our own investigation of unsurveyed systems we might come across." She glanced at Schell, and added, "That is why Ms Schell and her companions are here. To inform us of their particular needs and desires, so do you have anything to add at the moment, Ms Schell?" === (USS Rosenante – Observation Lounge – Ashes of Ivor Prime – Chairperson-Elect Dr Laura Schell – 1016) Laura had listened to the admiral's briefing, fighting back her frustration at the woman's insistent refusal to afford her the respect she had earned and use her proper salutation. Her inscrutable smile was still in place, though her face was beginning to ache. But slowly and surely, the smile crept up to meet the eyes as she'd listened to what the woman was saying. It almost seemed as if Starfleet planned to make good on what had been promised. They would be resettled on a world of their choosing, with access to Starfleet resources and logistics support. ~And once we're established, who can say what might happen next...~ she thought, smile widening fractionally at the thought. “Actually Captain, I have one," said Salid, the first officer. "Do we have a general area where we will be starting this survey, or are there a specific series of planets that we will be exploring?” “We have been asked to check out several systems, beginning with Optima 7,” replied the captain, “which have been shown in preliminary surveys to have M-class planets. But also to do our own investigation of unsurveyed systems we might come across.” The captain glanced over at Laura, and added, "That is why Ms Schell and her companions are here. To inform us of their particular needs and desires, so do you have anything to add at the moment, Ms Schell?" The smile twitched and fell for a split-second. “Nothing in particular at this time, Ms Rivers,” she said, sweetening her voice just as much as she could stomach it. === (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - Sciences - Ensign(jg) Alba Tuk - 1017) Alba was nothing short of exceptionally energized. The Captain's announcement of their first mission being one of exploration and study left her with no doubt that that she would have plenty of things to do. The sciences department would be quite busy. And thankfully, none of the duties would include encrypting and decrypting communications. The call for questions normally would have had Alba asking as many as her mouth could form in the shortest time possible, but she decided to restrain herself. Most of the information she wanted to know would either already have been sent to the CSO or would be soon. She could wait a little bit longer for the information to be disseminated. Her enthusiasm sometimes had a tendency to get the best of her. "Do we have a general area where we will be starting this survey, or are there a specific series of planets that we will be exploring?" The FO asked. ~Oh, good question. ~ She thought. However, it did strike her as slightly funny. Of course, they would have to have an idea of where they were going to start. She didn't think the Captain was likely to point in a direction and say "let's go that way and see what we find." Though, anything was possible. And that possibility could be quite exciting. The response that they were going to begin with Optima 7 settled that line of thought. Alba wondered if the CSO would mind if she offered to take an extra partial shift to compile the existing information on the system. Her mind cycled back to wondering what would be the result of picking a direction at random and heading out to find.whatever they might find. With so many options, the destinations could be endless. Her eagerness made it seem like a possibility even though practicality knew better. Knowing that they would soon be departing for what was technically places unknown, made the past week or so even more important. Those days had consisted of taking inventory and making sure things were in order for the new ship in anticipation of disembarking. Unlike the tedious task it had been aboard the Hypatia, Alba found herself with a permanent grin plastered to her face during her shift. The holographic interfaces, while completely representative of their normal solid counterparts, seemed to be more entertaining to use. Though, she ventured that it was most likely the fact that it was new and different that drew her to liking them so much. So far they had passed everything she had come up with in the 'can it do this' category. In fact, the more time she spent aboard the ship the more she liked it as a whole. Taking up the offer to make changes to your quarters as you liked, Alba had even redone hers in varied shades of blue and green, complete with a soft blue carpet that she just adored. With just a few more shelves for her pictures it would be perfect. She nodded her head slightly because she was feeling fairly pleased with things, but was fairly certain no one really noticed. Most had their eyes faced forward and were paying attention. With the prospect of actually getting underway and all that would entail she was having a bit of difficulty holding her mind to the task of paying attention. Things were definitely set to be quite interesting in the near future. === (USS Rosenante - Trade Winds - Crewman Shadow to Sretalles - 2108) Shadow hadn't been too sure about this idea of Shun's. It seemed the stage in Ten Forward was used for music, not story telling, and she'd been happy to have brought instruments and sing a few songs, but Shun insisted he wanted a story. And since he'd been the one to provide the food, he got to choose. It was only fair. She sat on the high stool beside the microphone stand. She wasn't quite sure why it was there, there were plenty of sound pick-ups. Maybe it was an artistic thing for the poet who had been before her. She didn't need them, she was able to project her voice when needed, and tonight she was a Bard and it was needed. In a voice surprisingly normal to those who had only ever heard Shadow's usual whispers, Shadow started the tale. "This is the story of how Tailkinker to Ennien came to Sivao." She folded her hands in her lap and would normally have tried to make eye contact with her audience, but the lights prevented her from seeing who was there. It could be fifty, or it could be five. Everyone could have left in a rush, or everyone could be waiting in anticipation, the room was that silent. She could hear breathing, and could smell people, but if she stopped to count, she would be a very poor bard. You told the story for those who wanted to hear and learn, not for the glory. "Back when time was uncounted, a comet came to Sivao and caused much distress amongst Sivao's children. Dust clouds spent up into the air and many of the camps escaped to the far side of the world, but some, the stubborn and adaptable insisted on staying, to learn what their world had to teach them. Everything happens for a reason they said. Many years passed and the skies cleared and the children of Sivao came to gather at the edges of the new camps built and old ways met new. Cities had been built, diseases had swept through them, plants and animals would never be born again, and the old ways had been cast aside. The elders of the old ways said come back to our way or leave camp. The camp was Sivao and those of the cities left. Bards took songs, doctors kept medicines, and our people were split in half due to an inability to compromise. Shame and guilt held them in silence for millennia." Shadow blinked, licking her whiskers, "Our cousins, those who left to find their way amongst the star-spirits, found a world of beauty where they could build their cities and live in science instead of nature. They grew well and healthy, but the songs they had did not give them the answers they needed. They became sick, ill, and they could do nothing but die. In their pride, a pride grown on the soils on Sivao, they kept their deaths to themselves. It was karma after all, for the deaths their parents had caused to Sivao's spirits. "The cousins met other peoples who had cities and science and travelled the star's paths like they did and they made many friends. They found songs, and health, and had children. They travelled and learned and danced. But the sickness always returned, and in their shame they did not tell their new friends about their sickness until their friends became sick with the diseases they thought was karma. The cousins said 'you must fix this, you must not die with us.' The friends, the Federation said, 'No one must die, everyone should live. We will find the cure.' "A wise friend named Nyota Uhura to Enterprise knew the songs of the cousins and the children of Sivao. She knew songs were healing and knew that the cousins had come from elsewhere, even if they would not admit it. Tailkinker to Ennien found herself on the star-traveller with Nyota Uhura to Enterprise and knew she had to help. It is not Tailkinker's way to interfere or boss around, she guides and teaches as she learns and experiences. With her help Nyota Uhura to Enterprise and Vulcan Spock to Enterprise found the path to Sivao and they left their brave healers to fight the long death while they searched for a cure." Shadow's tail curled around her wrists. "Like our cousins, we were proud and stubborn. When the furless friends landed and asked about our cousins, the elders wished them thrown from camp. We could not admit we could not find a path that was not removal, that we could not reach compromise. But, a bard and a healer came to camp and you never dismiss either. We thought the women were mothers, for they were developed as mothers were," she made a gesture at her own chest, which while not of nursing size, showed it had once been. "Where you have life, song and children, you have hope. And even the most stubborn of elders would not dismiss hope. "But, instead of helping, being honest, the friends of the cousins were branded 'children' for they did not have their own names, and they had not become adults in the eyes of Sivao's children. With the help of deviousness and music, Nyota Uhura to Enterprise learnt from Distantsmoke to Sretalles of the songs of the past from our view. With the determination of Quicksand to Ennien, Captain James Tiberius Kirk to Enterprise leant the history and how it happened. But, this did not help the cousins. They needed medical knowledge and access to the memories only adults supposedly had. So, with the determination of Brightspot to Ennien and then-called Jinx now known as Another Starfreedom to Enterprise, they Walked. "They faced grabfoots and slashbacks with clawless hands. They found flashfloods and storms with spears and knife. They travelled with the long death in their midst, and one of their own was dying and they still had no answers. Vulcan Spock to Enterprise had a choice to make, if he did not hurry to the next camp, Pavel Checkov to Enterprise would die, but if he did so, then-called Jinx would fail her last Walk and she would take the other path. Vulcan Spock to Enterprise would not trade one life for another, so he pulled then-called Jinx aside and spoke with her, he extracted a promise in the old tongue that she would never walk the other path. That she would join the stars as a child if necessary, rejected by her own people, and find happiness with the friends of her cousins and her cousins if it was to be found." "Tailkinker is the fighter of death and despair, but it seemed the spirits could not hear them, or they were not singing the right song. She asked if maybe the cousins heard the songs of healing differently to the Sivaons and asked Nyota Uhura to Enterprise to sing the songs every way she knew. With startlement it was that then-called Jinx and Brightspot to Ennien recognized the song as a baby song they'd known all their lives. If this disease Pavol Checkov to Enterprise had was the same, they could cure it and easily." Shadow's tail flicked against the inside of her wrist, "And so it was, something so deadly, that had killed millions, was cured with the leaves of a plant that was populated to protect the Sivaons from such. Our elders knew science and healing, even if they did not build big buildings. A healing plant should be made for each disease and be made to be easily found. It should be known how to be taken and it should be harmonious with all things. That is the way of the Sivaon people after all. Unless it came to their ownselves." Shadow managed a sound surprisingly like a human sigh, "And so it was, Tailkinker helped bring an end to the Long Death and brought two people together through song, laughter, mewls, tears and pain. She helped two people grow up and come back together. She brought the star paths to Sivao. She reminded us negotiation is always more important that absolutes and compromise is the correct answer. Never leave an argument with friend or family festering, for you never know when you will need them for the life of a friend, loved one or child. The actions of the few often infect the many, we have to know that the choices of us few are the right ones for the many." She stood up from the stool, "And so I speak for Swifttail to Laydrake." and stepped out of the spotlight to try and find Shun. === (USS Rosenante – Trade Winds – Crewman/Head Bartender – Erl – 2123) Erl squinted into the darkness from within the halo formed by the Trade Winds' centrally located circular bar at the strange being occupying the stage. He'd long since lost the thread of what he – or was it a she? – was talking about. The audience were enraptured with it though, whatever it was meant to be, and that meant a well-earned breather for Erl. He picked up another glass from the bartop and, exhaled with some satisfaction, misting the surface. Bobbing contentedly on his cushion of low-g, he gazed around the lounge as he polished. All told, he had to admit, the brass had spared no expense when it came to the arrangements. Everything he had requested, he had got, including the variable gravity zones, the showbiz-grade holo-emitters, the self-cleaning, self-healing carpet, the nanobot glass washer and even, to his astonishment, the variable gravity zones. Right now his domain, excluding the taps and the central counter bisecting bar area and housing the optics, was set to a very pleasant 0.05g, while the bartop and the lounge that radiated all around remained at the traditional 1g. >From the large holographic control panel that was at his beck and call, he could determine to an almost infinitesimal variance the gravity in each of the lounge's zones. It raised some very interesting possibilities for themed entertainment nights, Erl thought, although he was not over-keen to try them after the disaster that Movie Night had been. Now, his Elaysian exo-skelton leaned, temporarily forgotten, against the bar's central console, and he could relax free of its constricting embrace, free of the clumsy and un-coordinated movements it had demanded of him and free to get as fat as he wanted. And with that nasty brig business, the USS Champlain – and with it, all available evidence – behind him, he was finally able to concentrate on running his bar, all legit, all straight, all narrow and all decidedly above board. He placed the glass down on the dark blue bartop, and in the darkness noticed a blonde-haired woman had taken a seat. “Apologies to ya, ma'am,” he said, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the cat-person's recital of... whatever it was. “Didn't see ya there in all this uh... gloom.” She looked at him faced shrouded in the darkness. She said nothing. “Uh... suit yourself,” he said. “What'll it be?” “Something strong,” she replied, at length. “I have the mater and pater of all headaches.” “That,” said Erl, twisting his bulk in the empty air, “I can appreciate. I got some very delicate Andolian cognac, just off the freighter. Not the usual shipboard fare, I grant ya, but I can tell yer a woman of some uh... substance. Just keep it quiet, ya heard?” The face cracked and a weary smile emerged. “Sounds good,” she said. He pushed off from the bar and drifted toward the optics, secured in an elegant framework of transparisteel. He turned back as he drew the measure. The woman seemed to be watching him with some interest. He slid a cap over the glass to hold the liquid as he pushed himself back over to the bar. Sliding the glass across the bar, he lifted the cap with a flourish as if unveiling a culinary masterpiece, and watched with interest as the woman lifted the measure to take a sip. An appraising expression stole across her angular features. “How is it, Miss...?” he said, by way of enquiry. She frowned suddenly and swallowed. He wondered whether it was the liquor or his conversation. “It's fine,” she said, her voice clipped again. “And actually, it's 'doctor'. Doctor Schell, if you don't mind.” Erl held up his hands in a gesture of surrender that caused him to bob gently in place. “I don't mind a bit, doctor,” he said. “ From the bottom of my heart, my humblest apologies. No offence, huh? I'm Erl.” He tried his most charming smile. She took up the glass again, and looked at him over the rim. “None taken,” she said at last, a smirk creeping across her lips. Taking up his polishing rag once more, Erl selected a new glass to work on, and squinted out into the dimness again. It seemed as if storytime corner was winding up. The cat-thing was pretty slender but she had a set of lungs on her, he had to give her credit for that. Vaguely, he wondered if she might be interested in a little cabaret deal. He was musing idly on the potential when the doctor broke into his thoughts once again. “I guess you know a lot of people aboard,” she said, looking at him shrewdly. “Erl.” “It's a new ship,” he answered, not missing a beat. “Lotta new faces, but most of em'll pass through here sooner or later. Prob'ly sooner.” His eyes narrowed. “I mean, I guess if you was asking, I could say I'm the kind what keeps his ear to the deck. Good for business.” “That's very... interesting,” she said, leaning forward, elbows on the bartop. He moved closer, lowering his voice. “I guess it would depend on what ya wanted to know... and what it was worth to ya.” She didn't say anything more, gave a smile that he could only call mystifyin', and turned to watch the dying moments of the performance. Erl breathed heavily into the glass he was polishing. The lounge erupted in applause. === (USS Rosenante - Trade Winds - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 2138) Susan had listened enthralled to the tale of Tailkinker to Ennien, not a little surprised at the way her yeoman came out of her shell when she donned the mantle of a performer. At the end, the captain applauded as enthusiastically as the rest of the audience, though Shun, standing up and whistling with his fingers in his mouth in a way that only Marc could have taught him (Susan, although equally capable of producing an ear-splitting whistle in the same way, had - for reasons of self-preservation and peace and quiet - refrained from teaching Shun that particular skill) probably outshone and certainly out-whistled everyone else. "I *told* you!" Shun said proudly to Susan. "I *told* you she was good!" "She is indeed," Susan said thoughtfully. She sneaked a glance at Loren, who was also smiling with the same odd, almost proprietary smile that Shun had on his face. Both her wards had taken a great liking to Shadow, and it seemed to be mutual. But this poised, confident performer was a long way from the Shadow who still almost sneaked into the Ready Room to lay PADDs on Susan's desk, and who skittered away from attention from the officers. Clearly there was a lot more to her yeoman than met the eye, even the eye of 'Captain Susan'. "There she is!" Shun exclaimed. "YOO HOO! SHADOW! OVER HERE!" he called loudly, causing those seated nearest to him to wince. === (USS Rosenante - Trade Winds - Crewman Shadow to Sretalles - 2140) Shadow had stepped off the stage, planning on retreating back to her quarters. Engineer Elder Bird had said he'd have a surprise for her and the smell of alcohol in the gathering place was really making her nose twitch. The applause almost sent her up onto the roof. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom and her nose worked past the smell of the drinks she realized it was a happy, approval sound. Her ears flicked around in surprise but she wanted to preen. Even a trainee bard liked appreciation for one's art. "There she is!" Shun exclaimed. "YOO HOO! SHADOW! OVER HERE!" he called loudly, causing those seated nearest to him to wince. Shadow's ear's found Shun's whistling and calling before her eyes, but she diffidently made her way through the tables to where the Rivers tribe sat. The boy was practically bouncing up and down on his seat. Her tail curled up in amusement watching him. "You feel I earned my tuna sandwich then?" She asked, back to her usual whispered tones, teasing Shun. (Reply Shun/Susan/Loren/any within earshot) Her tail snagged a spare chair and she sat, suddenly turning her head to sneeze as the environmentals came on and sent the scent of the neighourbour's drinks her way. "Mrrrf. Alcohol." She said with some disgust before turning back to the table, "I am but half-trained, but I try my best." === Day 2 Stardate: 2408.01.16 (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 1000) Susan steepled her fingers in thought as she regarded the assessments from Dr Tallos. Susan was the first to agree that whilst Linskens was an excellent scientist, his profile showed him to be unsuited for command track at this time. He was an asset, undoubtedly, and his abilities would no doubt earn him promotions, but as a potential head of department.... she shook her head. Not yet, at any rate. Maybe in time, but not yet. As for the others... she smiled suddenly and pressed the comm button on her desk. "Rivers to Ensign Tuk. Please come to my Ready Room immediately. Rivers out." As she waited, she walked over to the replicator and entered some commands. Walking back to her seat, she placed the items on the desk and sat down, sipping her raktajino. By the time the chime sounded and the door opened to admit Ensign Tuk, she had finished the pastry she had got herself and was half way through her raktajino. "Sit down, Alba," she said, indicating the seat on the other side of the desk. "How are you settling in here?" (reply Tuk) Susan nodded. "As you know, we have a large Science Department. Lt Tallos has made it clear that she prefers research to administration, and Lt Fiacie, whilst an able officer, cannot do all that's required by herself. So I need to find another ACSO to share the workload. I have been reading the assessments given me by Dr Tallos, and I think you would be the one for the job. You are an able scientist and, just as importantly, you get on well with just about everyone in your department. There's really only one thing standing in the way of you becoming ACSO. Your rank. I cannot have an assistant head of department who only holds the rank of Ensign (jg)." (reply Tuk iyw) Susan smiled. "Fortunately, there is a remedy. And one that I think is long overdue." She handed Alba a small box. "I hereby promote you to Ensign (sg), and the position of Assistant Chief Science Officer. Assuming you want it, of course." === (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO, Captain Susan Rivers - 1230) Susan closed the terminal link abruptly, and drummed her fingers on the desk, scowling deeply. To say she was not best pleased would be a gross understatement. However, there was nothing she could do about it. The orders had been confirmed at the highest level, and there was no rescinding them. The good thing was that her friend Dorga was getting the recognition she deserved. And that the Boudicca would get an excellent, no nonsense Counsellor who wouldn't take any cr*p from anyone. The downside was that she, Susan, was losing her friend and that Olen was losing his most experienced assistant. With a sigh, she depressed the comm button. "Rivers to Counsellor cha'Nooras, would you come to my Ready Room immediately, please." (reply Dorga) As she waited, Susan replicated some sandwiches and coffee, and took everything over to the small table by the sofa. When the chime sounded and the door opened to admit Dorga, Susan greeted her with a smile and invited her to sit down. "I thought we could have some lunch together," she said. "And I have some important news for you." (reply Dorga) Susan looked at her friend for a moment before continuing. "As you probably know, there have been a lot of transfers within the fleet. And some of those changes have affected the Boudicca. Captain Sevant has requested you as his Chief Counsellor and Second Officer, and Fleet HQ has approved the transfer. I was informed just now. There will be a transport to collect you and take you to the Boudicca tomorrow morning." (reply Dorga iyw) "Dorga, I don't want to lose you, because you're one of the best counsellors I know. Far more than that, you're my friend and I love having you here on the ship with me. But even if I could block the transfer, I wouldn't. You deserve the position, my dear, and the promotion that goes with it." She picked up a small box, opened it and took out a single gold pip. "If you'll allow me?" she asked, and leaning forward, fixed the pip next to the one already on Dorga's collar. "I hereby promote you to Lieutenant (sg)," she said formally, then smiled. "And I can't think of anyone who deserves it more!" she added, hugging her friend. "But shards will I miss you here!" === (USS Rosenante - Nooras Quarters - ACOUNS Ens. Dorga 'cha Nooras - 1232) The message from Susan was received just as Dorga was sitting down to enjoy some lunch. Fortunately the lunch was only some ham and swiss cheese (with dijon mustard) sandwiches. A delicacy that her dead husband Parami had introduced to her, and they'd become a firm favorite of her and her children. Dorga wondered what it was that Susan wanted to see her about, it had to be work related and from the Captain's tone of voice, Dorga sensed it was of importance. She eyed her sandwiches longingly and sighed. Some times sacrifices had to be made in the line of duty, but going hungry was one sacrifice Dorga always hated to give. She tapped her commbadge and told Susan she would be there directly and left her lunch on the table, there would be time to eat it later, unless something had cropped up that required her to forget about eating for a while. === (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - ACOUNS Ens. Dorga 'cha Nooras - 1236) Dorga pressed the chime of the Ready Room and stepped inside as the the door opened, looking to Susan with an eyebrow raised in question. Susan greeted her with a smile and invited her to sit down. "I thought we could have some lunch together," she said. "And I have some important news for you." "That sounds almost ominous." Dorga stated, "but lunch would be perfect, I'm starving." She sat down, made herself comfortable and reached for a sandwich. ~Wonderful, Susan remembered.~ It was swiss cheese, ham and dijon on whole grain rye bread. Susan looked at her for a moment before continuing. "As you probably know, there have been a lot of transfers within the fleet. And some of those changes have affected the Boudicca. Captain Sevant has requested you as his Chief Counsellor and Second Officer, and Fleet HQ has approved the transfer. I was informed just now. There will be a transport to collect you and take you to the Boudicca tomorrow morning." "Darn, I was looking forward to exploring the galaxy in this brand, spanking new Star ship!" A thought sprang into her head, the children on their way to rendevouz with Rosenante. "Thank goodness the kids haven't arrived yet, they'll have to be redirected to the Boudicca! But why me? Surely there are others ahead of me for promotion." The counselor was really quite irritated by the whole thing, why couldn't she just stay here, she was content enough. "Dorga, I don't want to lose you, because you're one of the best counsellors I know. Far more than that, you're my friend and I love having you here on the ship with me. But even if I could block the transfer, I wouldn't. You deserve the position, my dear, and the promotion that goes with it." Susan picked up a small box, opened it and took out a single gold pip. "If you'll allow me?" she asked, and leaning forward, fixed the pip next to the one already on Dorga's collar. "I hereby promote you to Lieutenant (sg)," she said formally, then smiled. "And I can't think of anyone who deserves it more!" she added, hugging her friend. "But shards will I miss you here!" Hugging Susan, Dorga nodded in agreement. "I will miss you too, and Olen, and your little munchkin. I was looking forward to the twins meeting her, but naturally I will always go where I am most needed, and hey, two ranks promotion, that's not to be sniffed at now is it? Still they could have given me a little more time to get used to the idea." She grinned and took a bite out of the sandwich, nodded with approval and settled back in the comfortable chair she'd taken. Now she would enjoy the short time she had left aboard the Rosenante and the few close friends she'd made while serving under Susan's command. Swallowing the bolus of mulched sandwich, she took a sip of her ratkajino. "Well at least I don't have much to pack. I can at least be grateful for that...Now tell me. What is this Captain Sevant like, do you know him personally?" === Authors: Lorna Appleby Hanspeter Bosshard Paul Foden Liz Geuken Daniel Greene Ruby Greene Sal Hammond Sheila Mayer Marilyn Work