NRPG: *blank sign* Today's Compile index is brought to you by.... Day 1 (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - CEO's Office - ACEO Jael al-Sharif -- 10.06) (USS Boudicca -- Main Engineering -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 15.23) (USS Boudicca -- Turbolift - Capt Falthgood -- 15.25) (USS Boudicca -- Turbolift -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 15.27) (USS Boudicca -- Main Engineering -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 17.00) (USS Boudicca -- Deck 20 - Cargo Bay One -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 17.15) (USS Boudicca - Bridge-AOPS Lt. Tollian Yalix-1736) (USS Boudicca - Corridor-AOPS Lt. Tollian Yalix-1740) (USS Boudicca - Corridor - ACEO Ens. Lorimar -1741) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Staff Nurse Beatrix Mason - 1900) Day 6 (USS Boudicca, Private Quarters- CIV Arania- 1317) (USS Boudicca - Private Quarters- CEO- Lt. Matthew McLaren-- 1318) Day 8 (USS Boudicca - Admiral's War Room - Admiral Sevant - 14.10) RPG: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mission: The Fires of Heaven, Day 1 Stardate: 2407.06.28 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - CEO's Office - ACEO Jael al-Sharif -- 10.06) "Come in Ensign, I want to talk to you about a couple of things" Jael stepped across the threshold of the office and regarded her superior squarely. "Yes, sir." She responded. He continued to elucidate the situation. "The intermix primary display power waveguide has burned out twice over the last twenty-four hours. As you can see from this display, there shouldn't be any level of damaging power that can get past the plasma filters and the quantum fuse buses to reach this console short of a very serious plasma cascade. There have been no other symptoms of a power cascade at al. So either the hazardous power flow is on this side of safeties, or there's an unrecorded and unregulated power flow through those lines, or the filters and fuse busses have failed. Either way, I'd appreciate if you could give this problem some of your attention and see if we can resolve it before we go back into battle." Jael nodded. "Understood sir. Absolutely. I will be more than happy to look into it." Already Jael's mind was swirling, there were so many different possibilities but it bothered her that there seemed to be no apparent cause, or that there was and that it was unrecorded. Lise was more suspicious than normal, she could see that what was done, there could have been someone mucking around -- someone who had the ability to alter such things. She was someone who could have affected that, without it being noticed. However, it hadn't been her, that left the question, who was it. As McLaren was talking, Lise was brought back into the conversation. He was stating: "On a more personal note. I wanted to tell you that we all have our reasons for our actions. I have mind, and I know that you have yours. " At this statement, Lise was somewhat uncomfortable. McLaren, however, continued. "I'm a pretty observant person and I've noticed some things that you may not realize I've noticed. I'm not about to go into details, because if you'd wanted to talk about it you would have already." ~That's for sure...~ Arianna thought to herself, hoping this wouldn't get any worse. "But...I want to tell you this one thing. I consider you a friend and a fine officer. Regardless of the face that you may put on for everyone else, you can trust me to support you if you are in the right." ~And the definition of "in the right" is... Precisely what, in this situation?~ Arianna wondered, while she dreaded what McLaren would say next. She had a feeling, and it wasn't necessarily a good one, that what was about to happen was going to hit hard, at least for her. McLaren continued, he talked about the fact that the tension that she was carrying around was unhealthy. ~Is it really that obvious? Really?~ Lise wondered to herself, and made some mental notes to revisit her posture and the ways in which she was interacting with others. Her seeming like a complete stress case surely was not what she was aiming for. "I can tell you, that one of the best Cos I ever had was a woman by the name of Lise Arianna" Instantly, the panic impulse rose from the bottom of her stomach and Lise fought the impulse to contain it. ~Don't panic, don't fight, don't flee, not yet... This may, still turn out "innocent", just act normal.~ Although, even as Lise thought that she had to act "normal", she was not at all certain what would classify as acting normal under the circumstances. She, however, chose total non-reaction as her approach. McLaren, continued "She once saw the potential that I had to be a great engineer and perhaps a good officer. I've come a long way since then, thanks to the impossible things that she once demanded from me. She instilled in me a desire to stand out and to do the best work that I could under some very adverse conditions. Once thing she did not teach me was how to just skate by and to just go with the flow" Lise resisted the urge for Jael to smile, while she continued being scared out of her wits that she had been somehow revealed. Her heart-rate quickened a little. However, she was not entirely displeased that McLaren had found somewhat of his niche and that her "impossible" demands were something that may have contributed to it. However, Lise knew, that the work had all been done on the side of McLaren, it was he who was the good officer all along, she just provided him with the arena for practise to occur. "You have some great potential in you Jael." McLaren stated. ~The potential to drop dead of heart attack due to stress in about two seconds~ Lise thought to herself dryly. "I can see a shadow of a great CO in you. You handle stress well, keep your cool. You manage to do some of the best work I've seen in a long time. Almost as if you'd had years in the field. You have command potential in my opinion. But you're not approachable. You stick to yourself. You seem to exhibit some limited antisocial behaviour. I'd like to see that change. I'd like you to start really living up to your full potential. Be seen, rather than silently standing by." ~I'm going to have to respond to this, how am I going to do that?~ Lise was wondering. Of all the crazy training scenarios that LoDona's henchmen had put her through, having someone praise her and tell her that she was possible command material was not one of them. In fact, she was beginning to consider that perhaps she had not been playing her role well enough -- the loose cannon aspect, as it seemed that she was exhibiting potential. She was somehow, supposed to walk the fine line of being in the brig and being in Engineering, and it appeared that in that respect, she had not been so successful. However, she had been quite clear with LoDona, that she would not stand idly by and watch her friends suffer in situations where she could help -- hence her being assigned as an Engineer. It would have been worse, had he actually succeeded in getting her to agree to Tactical as he had originally wanted - to keep her out of her department. No, the time was now and the need was for people who could do their job and help out. And she made it clear that she would maintain this charade but would not allow it to interfere with the lives of her friends and crew. Apparently, though, that had precipitated this situation. She had, been noticed. ~Story of my life~ Then McLaren uttered the sentence that hit Lise like a bomb: "You remind me a great deal of Lise. I want you to succeed..." McLaren carried on, and Jael stood shifting a little uncomfortably in front of him. A movement that Lise reasoned was potentially not so unreasonable, from someone who was anti-social being given such praise from a superior. Lise perceived that it was time for her to speak. She had no idea what to say. In truth, she'd been flattered by the CEO's comments and in any other situation, things would have been entirely different. Entirely different. "Um.. I'm not sure what to say.. Than-thank you sir." Jael managed. "Thank you for the advice and the compliments... Sir." She repeated. "I should best check into that situation you indicated, no? Can't waste any time" Lise waited for him to respond. She was uncertain. Everything was uncertain. It didn't appear that her cover had been blown, however, having her and the name Lise Arianna uttered in conjunction with one another made her squeamish, uneasy and very nauseous. However, Jael showed none of those signs, just a little discomfort with a superior's praise. Now she waited to see if he would dismiss her and allow her to recede back into her anti-social niche, which was apparently more conspicuous than she had originally thought. (Reply McLaren) (Reply McLaren, any) (Posted by Kat) (USS Boudicca -- Main Engineering -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 15.23) Lorimar spoke again: "Lieutenant, if I may make a suggestion?" Lise nodded Jael's head: "As always, please..." Lorimar then detailed his proposal where he felt it would be beneficial to simulate the starting protocols and diagnostics systems so as to not waste time. Lise nodded her head. "Absolutely, Ensign, excellent idea. However, we'll still shave the 18 seconds off. But the coordination of the first set of diagnostic procedures so that we know what is involved would be beneficial. My suggestion would be to start running those simulations that are found under the heavy combat section in the computer. While we may in fact be dealing with new life-forms who cause unknown damage to our systems for unknown reason, I feel that our time may be better spent dealing with the battle simulation systems. Do you agree?" (Reply Lorimar) Lise nodded. It was her command-style to gather the input from those around her. Many heads were better than one, and many hands made -- not for light work, but for work that necessitated that the ship didn't explode under adverse conditions. "We also should get a skill set together for the various engineers, figure out who is best suited to run what, and who the back up section leaders will be. Would you like to assist me in that process?" (Reply Lorimar) Lorimar did not get too much time to elaborate on his ideas when a giant man approached the scene. Jael tried not to look at the giant figure that was looming over them. She knew who it was, and from the empathic imprint that she was receiving, she had a feeling that he was coming for her. What she could not tell, however, was which "her" he was coming for. She said nothing. She did not regard him, instead, she concentrated on what Lorimar was saying. That is, until she was so rudely interrupted. "Mister al-Sharif, you're with me" The captain stated. Lise, or rather Jael turned to acknowledge none other than Captain Zachary Falthgood, compete with his sunglasses. She turned to the captain. "One moment SIR -" Then she turned back to Lorimar with whom she had been conversing. "Ensign Lorimar, it appears that my attention is required elsewhere" – that last word rolled over her tongue in a manner that expressed the slightest bit of disdain. "I am leaving you in charge of everything here until I return, and then, we will continue with the assessment?" (Reply Lorimar) Once Lorimar had finished speaking, Arianna returned her attention to Falthgood, who had already moved towards the lift assuming that Lise would just drop everything and go. She knew this game all-too-well. The two entered the turbolift, where Falthgood halted its movement. Jael took a deep breath, things were about to get interesting, of that she was certain. There was no possible way that this encounter was innocent. In fact, she suspected that he knew precisely who she was. But how would he deal with it, how would he address her? Could she continue playing Jael... Time would tell. The answers revealed themselves shortly: "Alright, Captain Lise Arianna. It's time we had a small... Chat." Lise looked around the turbolift, feigning that she knew not who was there. "I'm sorry? Captain?" She wouldn't fall into this so easily. What if, after all, LoDona had sent him to see if she would give in to the response. However, she knew as soon as she played that move, that the counter-move would prove almost futile. There was more at play than met the eye. These undercurrents were, somehow things that she sought to avoid. However, judging from her day, apparently that was a task that she failed miserably at. (Reply Falthgood) (Reply Falthgood, Lorimar, any) (Posted by Kat) (USS Boudicca -- Turbolift - Capt Falthgood -- 15.25) "I'm sorry? Captain?" Falthgood managed a weak smile. "That's right, you're just an ensign. Hmmm. In that case, LoDona wanted to mention... in case you run into a Captain Arianna, that Angel is perfectly fine. And a certain Ambassador Tane wanted to mention that you still owe him for keeping you out of prison on qo'nos." Falthgood's smile slipped slightly, "We can now drop the act, I'm perfectly aware of who you are and why, I'm a special liaison to the Admiral after all. Your name was specifically brought up." He crossed his arms before him, "You look better as you did before. Now, can we dispense with the bull?" (reply: CEO) (posted by Trout) (USS Boudicca -- Turbolift -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 15.27) The Captain continued, not at all fooled by Jael's act. "That's right, you're just an ensign." ~Well, Lieutenant actually, but really, whose counting?~ "Hmm. In that case, LoDona wanted to mention... In case you run into a Captain Arianna, that Angel is perfectly fine. And a certain Ambassador Tane wanted to mention that you still owe him for keeping you out of prison on Qo'nos." At the mention of Angel's name, a small sigh escaped Jael's lips. Angel was fine. Lise relaxed, and thought of Susan. It was she who made all things possible. The man in the shades continued: "We can now drop the act, I'm perfectly aware of who you are and why, I'm a special liaison to the Admiral after all. Your name was specifically brought up. You look better as you did before. Now, can we dispense with the bull?" "I suppose..." Arianna began, glad that for the first time in months she could be herself. "That, I have no choice. And either I comply, or end up in the brig. Captain" she said wryly. "What do you want?" She added, her voice less than impressed with the situation. She had had some dealings with Falthgood before. She had a funny feeling that the only reason that he'd pulled her away from duty and cornered her in a turbolift was because he wanted something. Something that she had a funny feeling she wasn't going to want to do: not that there would be any difference between that and her whole acting as Jael. Some days, Lise felt as if she just couldn't win. All days, Lise felt as if she just couldn't win. She regarded the tall figure in the lift with her. Her glare stern and unmoving, awaiting response. (Reply Falthgood) (Posted by Kat) (USS Boudicca -- Main Engineering -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 17.00) Jael's commbadge sparked to life: =^= Johnson to al-Sharif =^= "Go ahead" Lise responded, in truth she was in a situation that was a little precarious as she had hung half her body over a junction and was supporting her weight by her boots that were attached to an adjacent panel of deck plating. =^= Can you meet me in Cargo Bay One, I have a leak that definitely needs fixing =^= "Absolutely, just give me five -- I'm a little... Attached to something right now.." She responded as she closed the panel she had been working on and started to haul herself up to the main level. (USS Boudicca -- Deck 20 - Cargo Bay One -- aCEO Jael al-Sharif -- 17.15) Lise walked into the cargo bay, a place she had been not hours earlier and she worried about what lay before her. Immediately as she crossed the threshold her olfactory senses were assaulted by the worst of odours. This situation could turn so badly, so quickly, if it was not bad enough already. She looked around and found the officer she had seen at the meeting with the cookies. Whilst they hadn't formally met until this point, Lise was certain that was he who had called. She approached him. "Lietenant Johnson? I presume?" (Reply Johnson) "What can I do? What seems to be the problem?" She asked hesitantly, for already she knew that there was a foul smell and she worried about what was its cause. (Reply Johnson) (Reply Johnson, any) (Posted by Kat) (USS Boudicca - Bridge-AOPS Lt. Tollian Yalix-1736) Tollian was monitoring the crew reports and assigning priorities to them for the captain's and first officer's review when his commbadge chirped. =^=Lorimar to OPS. Is there someone that is available to meet me on Deck 3, section 24? I hae... something I could use a bit of help with.=^= Yalix finished the report then tapped his commbadge. "On my way Mister Lorimar. Yalix out." Tollian turned and signaled to a bridge specialist to take his station. He then turned and left the bridge. (USS Boudicca - Corridor-AOPS Lt. Tollian Yalix-1740) When Tollian rounded the corridor to Lorimar's position what he saw was the Engineer, the Iradonian woman (whose citizenship paperwork he had to file on her behalf), and a goat. More specifically a Nigerian Dwarf Goat of the order Capra Hircus Linnaeus. The Iradonian woman, whose name was Arania was speaking emphatically to the animal. "Go home!" She said, "home!" Lorimar seemed to be watching her with some level of fascination or amusement it was hard to determine which. Tollian stopped and cleared his throat, a trick he had seen many senior officers use. "Is there something I can help you with Ensign Lorimar? Miss Arania?" (reply Lorimar, Arania, goat?) (posted by Daniel Greene) (USS Boudicca - Corridor - ACEO Ens. Lorimar -1741) "Is there something I can help you with Ensign Lorimar? Miss Arania?" Turning at the sound of the voice, Lorimar took in the sight of the new arrival. ~Ah hope he isnae too annoyed at me draggin him intae this...~ He straightened to an almost-but-not-quite-at-attention pose and addressed the OPS officer. "Sir, mah apologies for disturbin' ye, but as ye can see we have found a lost soul wanderin' the ship." He gestured at the goat and continued. "Ah was hoping ye could tell us... is this wee goat cargo, passenger, or pet? Ah know that OPS would have access tae the full cargo and passenger manifest... as well as know pretty much where everyone and everything, even every goat... is supposed tae be." He studied Lt. Yalix, hoping he wasn't cut in the rigid and by the book mold. "Can ye help us sir?" (Reply Yalix) Bob looked at Arania ~dera Iradon,~ he reminded himself. "What was it that ye called her? A 'Bah-Drat?' Ah take it thats what ye call goats where ye grew up lassie?" (Reply Any) (Posted by Russ) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Staff Nurse Beatrix Mason - 1900) Staff Nurse Beatrix Mason stood up and stretched as she finished the inventory. She was, she thought grimly, getting to old to do all the bending and stooping that a full inventory required. ~About time I started handing it over to one of the younger ones~ she thought to herself. ~*if* they can be trusted, which I doubt.~ Bea could, in fact, have ordered one of the junior nurses to do the inventory, but she'd heard there was a new ACMO aboard, and she wanted to be sure it was done correctly. ~If you want a thing doing properly, do it yourself~ was her motto. She laid the PADD containing the inventory on the ACMO's desk, next to the one containing the details of patients in Sickbay, and the one with the details of all patients requiring regular check-ups due to pregnancy or other conditions. All three PADDs were laid squarely in the centre of the desk with almost military precision. Bea carried all the information in her head, as she believed any good nurse should, but Dr Gates would need the PADDs to refer to when she arrived. Bea's lips twisted into the ghost of a smile when she thought about that. She would, she anticipated, enjoy looking after this new doctor until she found her feet. It was, after all, her job to provide the doctors with a smooth-running Sickbay during her shift, and heaven help the nurse or orderly who interfered with that. She glanced at the old-fashioned-looking watch pinned to her uniform. It was, of course, not really an antique but it looked like one and it kept excellent time. It had been a present from her husband when she graduated nursing school and she always wore it. At first she had worn it because she loved it, but since he had died in one of the first skirmishes of the civil war, she wore it in his memory. Their only son was serving on one of the other ships in the 52nd and Bea was concerned she hadn't heard from him in a while. ~Still,~ she reasoned, ~It's not always easy to get messages out. Well, time to get out of here and perhaps have a cup of tea before Dr Gates arrives.~ She took a glance around the office before leaving, to make sure all was in order for the new ACMO. Everything was neat and tidy, as it had been since she had cleared it after Dr Caskie's departure several months ago. Bea nodded to herself once, then closed the door and headed for the nurse's station. Once there, she got herself a nice cup of tea from the replicator and sat herself down to enjoy it and await the arrival of Dr Gates. (Reply Gates, any other staff in Sickbay, any) (Posted by Liz) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mission: The Fires of Heaven, Day 6 Stardate: 2407.07.03 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Boudicca, Private Quarters- CIV Arania- 1317) Arania liked to sit facing the door when she wasn't tidying up or re-arranging the furniture and ornaments, that way she'd know immediately when her beloved got home, so she was in her customary seat when the doors slid open and Matthew stepped in. Had she not been playing a new melody that had popped into her head, she would have run to him and thrown herself into his arms like she usually did. But she was making music and to her that was a sacred offering to her Goddess, so she just gave him one of her most beautiful smiles of greeting and continued playing the new lute style instrument that had been replicated for her. She would welcome him appropriately when the music was done. Arania was so happy, she knew she had never been happier in her whole life than she was right at that moment. Around her she could see the various instruments she'd acquired, some were familiar but several were new to her, and she was enjoying mastering each and every one. In her hands was a familiar one, one she was already adept at playing Matthew smiled at her and she noticed the lines of fatigue around his eyes and mouth. "Hello dearest." he said smiling and bending down to kiss her on the forehead as she played. She smiled up at him, her eyes full of the love she felt for him as he went over and sat down on the couch, waiting for her to finish. He had a package tucked under his arm, it was gold colored with a bright red bow on it, and she was curious about what it was. Still she played until the melody was completed. Once the music was done, he clapped and smiled. "Very nice. Is that one new?" "Yes my love." Arania told him as she gently placed the lute aside. "It has no name as it was birthed not five minutes ago. She will bring a name to me when it is time." Unfurling from the loveseat she hurried over to him and sank to her knees at his feet. Gently, she removed each of his boots and began to massage one of his feet. "What do you carry?" She asked, curiosity getting the best of her as her fingers worked his toes and the soles of his foot. It was a very pretty package. (reply Matthew) (posted by Sal) (USS Boudicca - Private Quarters- CEO- Lt. Matthew McLaren-- 1318) "Yes my love." Arania told him as she gently placed the lute aside. "It has no name as it was birthed not five minutes ago. She will bring a name to me when it is time." Unfurling from the loveseat she hurried over to him and sank to her knees at his feet. Gently, she removed each of his boots and began to massage one of his feet. Matthew moaned with delight. "You know you don't have to do that Arania. Although I freely admit I really enjoy it. " (reply Arania) "What do you carry?" She asked, curiosity getting the best of her as her fingers worked his toes and the soles of his foot. It was a very pretty package. "Oh this." he said smiling down at her. "It's a gift for a very special person in my life." He held the box out to her. "for you, my dearest." (reply Arania) Matthew watched as she opened the box. He could see her excitement. It was a pure and wonderful feeling, dazzling her with new gifts and knowledge on a daily basis. Her inquisitive nature was amazing and didn't seem to know any bounds. It was just one of several aspects about her that he loved with every fiber of his being. She finally extracted the curled rubber mat for the box. She looked perplexed. (reply Arania) "Let me show you." he replied and took the mat from her. He untied the drawstring and unrolled the mat on the floor. A full function flexible keyboard was revealed. "You turn it on, by pressing here." he told her. " then touch a couple of the white or gold keys and you'll know exactly what it's for." Matthew watched as Arania experimented with the device (reply Arania) (posted by Daniel Greene) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mission: The Fires of Heaven, Day 8 Stardate: 2407.07.05 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (USS Boudicca - Admiral's War Room - Admiral Sevant - 14.10) Sevant looked at the holomap with his arms crossed behind his back. It was now being updated by the minute from every Task Force and Fleet in the area, thousands of ships, tens of thousands. Millions of men. Every ship was ready to begin. Smaller battles were already taking place on some outlying regions, the Paladin's Task Force was being hit by several smaller battle groups, trying to take back the strategically important planet of Betazed. Falthgood was beside him, for once not wearing any shades, and looking more solemn then the Admiral had ever witnessed. They were, for now, the only two left in the room. He'd chased the rest of his planning staff out so he could have a few moments of silence before they began. He pushed a button on the table. =^= Yes Admiral?=^= "Send a message to the entire 19th and to Admiral LoDona. 'Cross the River Acheron.'... and send in my staff." "Yes Sir." The aide said just before the line went dead. Sevant looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Stratops had already cut the appropriate orders. Once they received this message, all the CO's would move into pre-planned positions for warp into the Terran Solar System. The battle command would put into motion everything they had worked for up to this point. He looked at Falthgood, "Are you ready?" The larger man only smiled. ~Strange individual.~ Sevant thought as the doors opened and the rest of his planning staff stepped in to take their places. "The battle begins soon, lets be ready." Sevant said to nobody in particular. "Open up a constant link to Strategic Operations." (reply: Various CO's) (posted by Trout) NRPG: Hey, wait a minute. What's..... -USS Boudicca, NCC 49901 Star Trek: Freedom - http://www.startrekfreedom.com