~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: To Live and Die in Starlight, Day 1 - 2 Stardate: 2407.02.01 - 2407.02.02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List of Headers: (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 2 - Sevant(s)- 19:48) (USS Boudicca - Science labs- CSO- Dr. Maddison Munroe - 1958) (USS Boudicca - Science labs- ACSO- Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 2000) (USS Boudicca - Sarrik's quarters - ACSO - Sarrik - 0500) (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - Capt Sevant- 0510) (USS Boudicca-Personal Quarters-Lt. Victoria Sevant-06:05) (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - Capt Sevant - 06:05) (USS Boudicca, Goat Locker - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 0730) (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, Captain Grailik, 0751) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0752) (USS Boudicca - Officer's Mess- CSO- Dr. Maddison Munroe - 0800) (USS Boudicca - Officer's Mess- ACSO- Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 0801) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1009) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:10) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1015) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:16) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1017) (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Security Department, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 11:10) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-11:22) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 11:26) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-11:27) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 11:29) (Type-9 Shuttlecraft 'Smith' - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1129) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1255) (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Ensign Samantha Chandler - 1256) (USS Boudicca - Science Lab, ACSO's Office - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1305) (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1306) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1306) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1306) (USS Boudicca - Marine Center, MXO's Office - Lt Major Drizzt - 1306) (USS Boudicca - Science Lab, ACSO's Office - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1306) (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1307) (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1307) (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1308) (USS Boudicca - Jefferies Tube AE35 - Engineering Crew - Chief Petty Officer {2nd} Jason Miller - 1309) (USS Boudicca - Emergency Shaft - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1310) (USS Boudicca Sickbay - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1310) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-13:11) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1311) (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Security Department, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 1315) (USS Boudicca - Security Office - TAC/SC Stolev - Day 2 - 1315) (USS Boudicca, Marine Armory, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1315) (USS Boudicca - En-route to Helldeck - Lt Major Drizzt - 1328) (USS Boudicca - Corridors - Lt(jg) Walker Isengard - 1335) (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Phaser Range, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 1350) (USS Boudicca, Deck 7, Sickbay, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 1403) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1403) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1404) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:05) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Stolev - Day 2 - 1405) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-Lt. Victoria Sevant-14:05) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 14:06) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1406) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:08) (USS Boudicca - Deck 22, Corridor - LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1408) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1409) (USS Boudicca - Corridor - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1409) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Stolev and TAC/ASC Rivers - Day 2 - 1409) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:10) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 14:10) (USS Boudicca - Deck 22, Maintenance tube - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1411) (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:11) (USS Boudicca - CPO Miller Tube - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1413) (USS Boudicca - Security - TAC/SC Stolev and TAC/ASC Rivers - Day 2 - 1415) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Sevant and TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - 1430) (USS Boudicca - Security Department - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Rivers - Day 2 - 1430) (USS Boudicca - Security Department - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1431) (USS Boudicca - Security Department - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 1432) (USS Boudicca - Training Holodeck, "Bridge" - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1510) (USS Boudicca - Training Holodeck, "Bridge" - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 1515) (USS Boudicca - Training Holodeck, "Bridge" – SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1525) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Start of Compile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: To Live and Die in Starlight, Day 1 Stardate: 2407.02.01 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Holodeck 2 - Sevant(s)- 19:48) ==================================== Victoria sat next to Caladryll, her husband, at least in her eyes. She knew of the battle he waged inside himself over the past few weeks. In a small way, she was waging one of her own. However she understood his point of view and she did all she could do to silence his fears and put them to rest. If anything at all, she at least wanted him to be comfortable around her....especially if he never found the answers to all his burning questions. Still sitting, it felt like an eternity as he had not spoken a word yet. Looking up at the sky, she remembered what it was like the day they had came here in the original sense. Though only a recreation, she still felt as if she were feeling her reattachment to the place. Then finally, she heard Caladryll say something... "We've both been through hell in the last year," he said quietly. "For one reason or another. Would you do it over again, if you had the choice knowing it would turn out like this?" Looking down at the sand this time, she was quiet as he once had been. She honestly didn't know if she could answer this question to his liking. Sighing, she thought for a moment before answering. "There are many paths and choices in life to take. Though this particular path is the one I'm on now....I'm not sure I would have chosen this path. But then again I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't chosen this path." Sitting still and closing her eyes, she paused as she felt the wind brush through her hair. "Do I regret this decision? No, I do not. But I believe there are also forces in life that sometimes you just can't control. I believe that the bond we share is one of them." Sevant chuckled slightly at that, "That makes it sound like you would give up the bond if you could. We can, don't you know?" He looked at her, "It can be snapped by both of us, a vulcan divorce as it were. If you feel tied to me for it..." Eyes going wide, she turned to her 'husband' and said, "No, that's not what I meant at all. I'm sorry." She had to admit though, he was right. She did make it sound that way. Smiling a bit and joining in on his chuckle, she continued. "I wouldn't want to give up the bond for anything in the world." Turning towards him, she took his hands in her own, and wondered if she would instantly regret it. Caladryll hesitated for a fraction of a second before wrapping his arm around Vicki and pulling her close. It was easier now then it was the first time, not even a week ago. His doubts argued with less vehemence then they did, though for the life of him, Sevant couldn’t figure out if that was good or bad. She meant him no harm, that was all he could be sure of. Besides the bond, of course. "When this war is over," he said. "We should go to Vulcan and see what the Masters say..." he broke off, "Or not, odds are neither of us will live that long." Cutting into that sentence, Vicki said sarcastically, "Well there's one way of looking at this positively." She knew her husband was only meaning this because of the war and it was indeed a possibility, but she did not prefer to think in such ways. "So lets try this a different way, what is it you want, right now?" he said, slogging on. Looking into her husband's eyes, she said, "Right now....I..." At first she wasn't sure she would be able to voice her emotions. Sometimes it was always just easier to do so with the bond they shared. "I....want to be here with you, now, like we used to be." "Mmmm, like it used to be." He said, mostly to himself. He lifted his head and looked around them at the recreation of the nexus, but didn’t voice his thoughts that nothing could be quite like they used to be. The children were gone and nothing could erase the memories of death from either of them... there would always be that spark that something wasn’t right, that she was from an alternative universe. Even so... "You could always start by moving into my quarters." He said, taking a mental jump and looking back at her. Not knowing what to do Vicki thought about this carefully. Yes, she would want more than anything to do that. But no, she couldn't face going through losing him again, especially since the war was going on. But if she didn't she would risk losing him forever.......with that in mind, she made her decision. Looking into his eyes, she said, "When can I move?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Science labs- CSO- Dr. Maddison Munroe - 1958) ==================================== "Yes, M'am. What time would you like to meet?" Sarrik asked. Before she could answer Engtamn-Jensi joined them. "Hello Doctor Munroe, who do we have here?" Maddie smiled at her friend. "EJ, this is Ensign Sarrik. He'll be joining the science team." "Very nice to meet you Mr. Sarrik, I am Doctor Engtamn-Jensi. I do work on theoretical energy sources and related work. What is your area of expertise?" asked Engtamn. "Astrophysics, specifically dealing with wormhole theory and tachyon emissions from them. I also deal in metaphysics as it relates to travel through wormholes." Sarrik put his hand out in human fashion at the meeting of a new colleague. He had picked this up on Earth and was now used to it. Maddie almost laughed at the two trying to shake hands, and noticing that neither of them were comfortable with the action. Then EJ turned to Maddie. "Doctor Munroe, I'm just going to get some dinner. Apparently I lost track of time. I don't suppose you'd be interested in a meal?" Maddie was confused as she had left EJ at dinner just a while ago. "Ummm... EJ, didn't you eat your dinner when I left. I mean, I'd love to still join you, I just assumed that you ate when the captain called me." (reply EJ) She looked at Sarrik. "Ensign, I'll see you tomorrow morning at, let's say 0800 hours, in the officers mess hall?" (reply Sarrik) She nodded to the Vulcan then hooked her arm around EJ's as they walked down the hall together. "You're so silly EJ. Come on, let's go finish dinner. Then I have something to do before I see the CO again." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Science labs- ACSO- Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 2000) ==================================== "Doctor Munroe, I'm just going to get some dinner. Apparently I lost track of time. I don't suppose you'd be interested in a meal?" "Ummm... EJ, didn't you eat your dinner when I left. I mean, I'd love to still join you, I just assumed that you ate when the captain called me," said Dr. Munroe. She looked at Sarrik. "Ensign, I'll see you tomorrow morning at, let's say 0800 hours, in the officers mess hall?" "Yes, sir. That will be fine. It wil give me a chance to settle in and figure out the lay of the ship." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: To Live and Die in Starlight, Day 2 Stardate: 2407.02.02 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sarrik's quarters - ACSO - Sarrik - 0500) ==================================== Sarrik woke up at his usual time. Changed into simple Vulcan robes and began his usual 1 hour kata practice. Things did not seem right as he went through the practice. Maybe it was the gravity, maybe it was just his first assignment on a starship, he wasn't sure. ~I'll have to talk to the Captain about being getting a copy of his practice area program on the Holodeck. Everything felt just right there yesterday.~ After an hour of practice, he began his cool down with his mental exercises. This lasted about 30 minutes and he knew that he needed a shower, so he got up and showered. He then put on his uniform and meditated for about 30 minutes. Not the ususal time, but he had other things that needed to be done today. He would continue later this evening. He finished his meditation and headed for the Officer's mess to meet his new department head. ~This will be an interesting assignment,~ he thought as he headed out. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - Capt Sevant- 0510) ==================================== It was morning. And as always, Sevant snapped awake without any aid. He'd long since trained himself to wake at this time on those times when he chose to sleep rather then simply meditate. He took a moment to look around, his quarters were slightly brighter then normal owing to passing a close star... though that didn't last long, they warped passed it in seconds. But that wasn't the most unusual thing. Curled up next to him, with her hair lying chaotically around the pillow, was his wife. Caladryll quietly stepped from the bed, being careful not to disturb her, and sat gently in his desk chair. He quietly folded his hands together and simply watched her; much as he had the first night he had ever slept with her. Only now he didn't need to memorize the details of his face. Now, he had to convince himself it was really real... that she was really here. He leaned back in his chair and folded his fingers behind his head, deep in thought as he watched her sleep. And for the life of him, he didn't know if he should be cheering madly to whatever Gods there might be for a second chance, or berating himself for a fool. In the end though, he didn't think it would matter. He wouldn't have changed anything for the world. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Personal Quarters-Lt. Victoria Sevant-06:05) ==================================== Turning over in bed, Victoria absently threw her arm out to where Caladryll once lie. Not feeling him beside her, her mind started to come more into reality as she opened her eyes, but just barely enough to actually see he wasn't there. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed, if only to see him sitting at his desk with his gaze focused in her direction. She didn't say anything, but got out of bed and moved towards her husband's location. Wrapping her arms around him from behind, she asked, "Sleep well?" <> At his usual answer to that question, she wished that moment in time could have been saved, or rather held for all eternity...that this war they were about to fight would go away and neither one of them be placed in any imminent danger. But of coarse she was wasting time by wishing this, as she knew they both had a duty to perform and she knew this was his preferred lifestyle, otherwise neither would be here. "I'd better get ready," she said. "I have a duty shift coming up at 07:00." She then bent around him and kissed his cheek, giving him a squeeze as her arms were still around him. <> Reluctantly letting him go, she then drifted about her morning routine getting ready for her duty shift, all the while letting her thoughts drift a million miles away... ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Personal Quarters - Capt Sevant - 06:05) ==================================== Caladryll's eyes followed the mostly nude form of his wife up until she moved out of his peripheral vision, and he didn’t move so much as an inch as she slipped up behind him and wrapped him up in her arms. "Sleep well?" He turned his head a bit and laid it back, "Well enough love." Sevant put one of his hands gently on hers and straightened his head again, though kept his head laid back. "I'd better get ready," she said after a few moments. "I have a duty shift coming up at 07:00." She gave him a squeeze and a kiss, and Sevant found himself reluctant to let her go... but there was little choice. Neither of them could afford any more distractions, what had already transpired was enough... they had a battle to fight in none-to-long. He didn’t move for long minutes, listening to the sound of her moving about the quarters. The sounds were comforting, in their own way, just the meaningless things that he had come to love so long ago. He had never realized until now just how much he'd come to miss them. Sevant stood slowly once she was in the shower and pulled out a uniform. She was right, there was duty. His bridge shift didn’t start until 8, but he was almost always there early. ~How do I ever get myself into these things?~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Goat Locker - Warrant Officer Jerral Revan - 0730) ==================================== Jerral sat in the Goat Locker's lounge area eating a small breakfast. He wasn't quite sure he wanted to eat to much, he had woken up with a fairly pronounced head ache and he wasn't quite sure why. He took an pain reliever before breakfast and it had taken the edge off the headache. He was going to chalk the headache up to the drug they were all being given. It was very very strange and very unsettling to not hear the regular background hum of thoughts that was always present on a starship. It was seriously bothering him to have absolutely no mental noise, every noise was making him jump, he just wasn't used to people being able to walk up behind him without him knowing. Outside of telepaths (and even with them sometimes), almost every mind 'leaked' some surface thoughts, and emotions. He had gone through his entire career and most of his life he had lived with this noise, and to suddenly not have it, was, to say the least, setting his nerves on edge. Eating the last of his food he took the plate to the replicator and grabbed his tool kit and headed off to engineering, hoping that putting his mind to work in a busy place would help distract him from the lack of 'noise'. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, Captain Grailik, 0751) ==================================== "You don't think it leaves the same taste in mine?" Sevant said focusing hard on Grailik. "We don't have a choice, child or not. There are few on this ship as well trained as she is, it could be all our necks if she's not on the line. We can inquire with Sickbay about getting some hormonal therapy or some such to calm her down during combat, if necessary. But the needs of the ship must come first, no matter how cold it might sound. Colonel Straton will be on the front line for this mission, there is no other alternative." Grailik was silent for a few moments. ~He's right of course, as much as I don't like it. We can't succeed at this mission without her, and it's too late to abort the mission now.~ "Your right, of course," Grailik finally answered, "Still doesn't mean I like it. It's too late to abort the mission, and we can't complete it successfully without her." Grailik leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "On the bright side, maybe we will all survive this mess. Eva will have her baby and she will ask Robert to be God Grandfather. Then I can call *him* grandpa for a change." Grailik chuckled. "May whatever gods there may be forgive us for sending a pregnant woman into a giant kill zone." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 0752) ==================================== "Your right, of course,. Still doesn't mean I like it. It's too late to abort the mission, and we can't complete it successfully without her." Sevant folded his hands together as he continued with, "On the bright side, maybe we will all survive this mess. Eva will have her baby and she will ask Robert to be God Grandfather. Then I can call *him* grandpa for a change." Grailik chuckled. "May whatever gods there may be forgive us for sending a pregnant woman into a giant kill zone." The Captain narrowed his eyes slightly as he considered Grailik's words. Grailik had always been an aide to LoDona, and Sevant had never known anyone -but- him to use the Admiral's Christian name. It was interesting, most interesting, considering Grailik's record and background. "There are some questions I was meaning to ask earlier, but the time never presented itself." Sevant said, leaning back in his chair again. "Like why a doctor and psychologist would be leading a covert mission to destroy one of Doenitz's pet projects." He quirked his head and watched the man carefully. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Officer's Mess- CSO- Dr. Maddison Munroe - 0800) ==================================== Maddie stepped into the officer's mess. There was a general hum of conversation. She liked to come here by herself and just watch the officers interact. Habits of an anthropologist, especially a cultural anthropologist, were hard to break. You tend to wind up being a people watcher. Looking around she didn't see Sarrik yet, so she went to the replicators and ordered up breakfast. French toast, with bacon and orange juice, and hot coffee. The aroma of the food hit her nose, reminding her how hungry she was. She found a fairly secluded table and sat down. She picked up the coffee and held it under her nose. Closing her eyes she breathed in the fragrance and sighed. ~Ahhhh.~ Then she opened her eyes and took a sip. She looked over the top of the cup, and watched the crew as they interacted over breakfast. There was a general sense of tension in the air. She watched as lovers touched more than usual, and friends had more serious conversations. There was a lot less laughter than usual. Apparently, the Jansens were having a tiff, as they sat quietly. Allison looked as though she'd been crying. She took another drink of her coffee and then put the cup down. To her surprise, Sarrik was standing at the table. She was surprised since she hadn't seen him arrive, or even heard steps coming towards her. However, she managed to smile through her shock. "Ensign," she said invitingly, "please, have a seat. How was your evening?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Officer's Mess- ACSO- Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 0801) ==================================== Sarrik Walked into the Officer's Mess and looked around. It took a few minutes but he finally say Dr. Munroe sitting at a table with a cup in her hand. He walked over and arrived at the table just as she took another drink of her coffee and then put the cup down. She seemed starttled to see him standing there but she gave him a smile. "Ensign," she said invitingly, "please, have a seat. How was your evening?" "Very restful, thank you. I am ready to get started in my duties. Is there anything special that needs to be done? Is there anything specific that you need me to do?" Sarrik questioned. He was sure he sounded like a child getting a present, but he really was anxious to get started. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1009) ==================================== Brian wondered which one of them would be the first to say good bye, but then she sighed aloud, stopped for a moment and hugged Brian. Brian was a bit thrown off, but he didn't refuse it and 'returned the hug'. After a few seconds that seemed like a century, they both mutually released the hug. Brian finally said, "Well, good bye, Kaitlyn," (reply Mackenzie) Brian then turned and left the doctor's office. Trying to keep his mind off his emotions on what just happened, he grabbed his two bags near the door and headed out. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:10) ==================================== After a few seconds that seemed like a century, they both mutually released the hug. Brian finally said, "Well, good bye, Kaitlyn." "...good bye," she mumbled after he turned and left. Sighing, she shut her eyes to shove away any emotion she felt because of this. She didn't need this now, after all, she had patients to treat. ~Patients to treat....patients to treat.....~ Taking a big breath in, she put her 'mask' back in it's place and headed out in the main area of sickbay to the patient she had left. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1015) ==================================== Matthew was on his way to his next job when he remembered that he hadn't gotten his injection yet so he took a brief detour to sickbay. As he stepped through the doors he noticed how busy the sickbay was with patients coming and going for their injections and for other reasons. He saw DR Mackenzie finish up with a patient and he intercepted her before she moved away. "Um, I was just wondering where I go to get the telepathy shot?" He asked her. (Reply Mackenzie) "Thanks DR." He turned to go where she had told him but hesitated. She had seemed distracted and he figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. "Sir, is everything ok you seem to be a thousand light-years away?" He asked ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-10:16) ==================================== Finishing up with Ensign McMiller, she went to walk away, whilst reading her chart, when someone stood directly in her path. Looking up, she saw that it was Lt. McLaren. "What can I do for you Lieutenant?" "Um, I was just wondering where I go to get the telepathy shot?" He asked her. "I must say I'm suprised you people are coming to me on your own," she said, as she lead him to the triage center. "Here we are, let me get a hypospray..." "Thanks doctor." There was a long pause, and then she was suprised at McLaren's next question. "Sir, is everything ok you seem to be a thousand light-years away?" Shrugging it off, she answered, "Oh I'm fine, just working a lot as usual..." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1017) ==================================== Shrugging it off, she answered, "Oh I'm fine, just working a lot as usual..." Matthew nodded. He felt a bit embarrassed at asking the question but he usually got a pretty good idea how someone was feeling and he thought the doctor had seemed a little bit distant. Shrugging it off he said: "Yeah I know that feeling." She touched the hypo to his neck and he turned to go. "Thanks for that." (Reply Mackenzie iiw) With that he walked out of sickbay and rode the turbo lift down to the lower decks to continue his work. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Security Department, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 11:10) ==================================== Having finished unpacking and tidying away, Susan had decided to make her way to the Security Department in the hopes of meeting Stolev there. An attempt to contact him before she left her quarters had been met with a standard 'unavailable' response, but as Sevant (she still found it hard to think of him as 'the captain' instead of 'Sevant' when they had been through so much together in the past) had said that the TAC/SC would be busy for about another two hours, and it was now 11:10, she hoped he might be free now, or that someone in the department could give her an idea when he would be free. Entering she noticed two NCOs at their workstations. On seeing her, one got up and approached her. "Can I help you, Lieutenant?" Susan nodded. "Lieutenant Rivers, new TAC/ASC. Is Lt Commander Stolev available? I should report in to him." "Petty Officer Skelton, sir, and this is Petty Officer Crane. I'm sorry, lieutenant, I'm afraid the Chief is unavailable at the moment and I don't know when he'll be back. But perhaps you'd like to have a look around, familiarise yourself with the department?" Susan thanked him, and Skelton gave her the grand tour, eventually finishing up back in the main area. "That's the Chief's office over there," he finished. "And I guess this would be your workstation, next to Ensign Chandler's. Any more you'd like to know, just ask me or Crane." "Thank you," Susan smiled. "I will." She went to sit down in her chair then turned back to Skelton. "I don't suppose you could show me where the coffee machine is?" she asked, suddenly aware that by now it was at least three hours since she'd left the transport that had brought her to the Boudicca and that she hadn't had anything to eat or drink for at least an hour before that. "I can do better than that, Lieutenant. It's about lunchtime and I'm going to get a sandwich for Crane and me, I can easily bring you something as well." "Thank you, Skelton. I'd appreciate that." "Anything in particular you're partial to?" Susan thought for a moment. Replicated hasperat was usually pretty bland, so after some thought she opted for bagels and latkes, with a strong black coffee. "Double strong, no cream or sugar." "Right you are. Back in ten minutes!" As he left, Susan sat down and tilted the viewscreen towards her so that it was less easily seen by anyone standing near her. She didn't want any awkward questions about the access codes she was about to use, given her by Ohlsson. It was time to start reviewing crew records to see if she could find any hint as to where to start looking. On an impulse, she pulled up Vicki Sevant's record first, if only because she was curious about what Sevant had told her. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-11:22) ==================================== "Alright, and next time get here before it reaches the point of infection...." Kaitlyn said to one of her patients. She absolutely hated it when some people let things ride and then call 'doctor' when things go desperately wrong. "And, um, where do we go for that telepathic shot?" Watching the junior crew member leave, she turned to then face Haverstaad. Directing her to the triage center, Kaitlyn said, "Come with me." As they reached the triage center, there were a few others getting the shot as well. Thanks to Mor'rel helping out, Kaitlyn was able to get more things done around sickbay. "Hop up here and I'm going to run a scan of you first," she told Haverstaad. Since Straton and her surprising pregnancy, Kaitlyn was taking no chances.....which brought another thing she hated to mind. People who didn't regularly show up for their exams. Running the tricorder over her, she found no abnormalities within Haverstaad. With that, she then reached for the hypospray containing the special formula. "Everything looks normal," she said, as she injected Haverstaad. <> Sighing, she said, "Alright, that's it. If you have any problems after you leave here, please come back so I don't have to scoop you off the floor," she said, partially referring to the patient who had just left. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 11:26) ==================================== Melody fidgeted a bit while the doctor, one of the Geneva transfers, ran a tricorder over her. This was why she hated sickbay and doctors, they couldn't just give you what you asked for... they had to attach all the usual to it and turn a simple visit into a production. If security was run in the same manner, then they would declare war every time someone asked for a phaser from the armory. There was simply no logic in it. "Everything looks normal," the Doc finally said before pushing a tricorder against her neck. "I could have told you that," Melody said in a low growl, mostly to herself, as she rubbed the spot on her neck she'd been injected. The Doc sighed, the sigh of the righteous and long-suffering. That sigh almost made Melody roll her eyes, though one did -not- roll their eyes to a Lieutenant Commander... even a Medical one. So she controlled herself and rubbed absently at the injection spot as she took note of how the drug responded. "Alright, that's it. If you have any problems after you leave here, please come back so I don't have to scoop you off the floor," That gave Melody pause as she took note of a slight buzzing in her head, "Hrm, right... so this would be the time to say that I'm getting dizzy?" she asked, shaking her head back and forth once and keeping her hand on the injection spot. It wasn't bad, but she could feel the room spinning a bit... it would be more then an annoyance once she was in battle. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-11:27) ==================================== "Alright, that's it. If you have any problems after you leave here, please come back so I don't have to scoop you off the floor," she said. Madison hated, absolutely hated, when people never reguarded her warnings. What was it with these security people? Yes, she used to be in command once and understood more than most doctors would, but still... After the injection, Madison raised her eyebrow as she thought something looked different with Harvarstaad than usual. She wasn't making any rhetorical comments, but then again, that mood seemed to have been transfered to Kaitlyn. She was about to walk away when she heard, "Hrm, right... so this would be the time to say that I'm getting dizzy?" Turning around, she said, "Already? That's odd..." Doing her thing once more, she snapped open the tricorder, ran it over her, then snapped it shut. "I can give you something to counteract the dizziness, but I want you to know you seem to be extremely sensitive to this drug. It may present more problems with you as time passes." <> Giving her a second injection of a different medication, she stepped away then asked, "How's that?" <> "Good. Same warning as usual, don't make me come after you," she sighed out as she went on to her next patient. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 11:29) ==================================== "Already? That's odd..." ~Oh Gods Above.~ Melody thought. Not only did she have the typical melodramatic doctor, but it never made her feel good to hear a doctor say anything along the lines of 'that's odd' The Doc passed a tricorder over her, looking all the world like her mother. "I can give you something to counteract the dizziness," she finally said, "but I want you to know you seem to be extremely sensitive to this drug. It may present more problems with you as time passes." "Oh wonderful." She muttered, "What kinds of problems, and will they be bad enough to affect my duties?" (reply: M'k'nzie) The doc loaded some new hell-brew into her hypo and pressed it to Melody's neck. "How's that?" Melody took a couple breaths before shaking her head experimentally. No dizziness. "Better." She allowed. "Much better." "Good. Same warning as usual, don't make me come after you," Haverstaad shook her head as she hopped off the bed, "Aye, Sir." She said without any kind of enthusiasm. ~How wonderful, I'm sensitive to this drug.~ she thought as she left the bay. ==================================== (Type-9 Shuttlecraft 'Smith' - COUNS - Lt. Brian Rogers - 1129) ==================================== Brian rushed into the shuttlecraft, roughly 10 minutes after the time that Captain Sevant recommended he left by. Brian dropped his two bags at the rear of the shuttle, and sat in the pilot's seat, and began the pre-flight checklist. Four or so minutes later, the shuttle was ready for departure. Brian entered a few commands that closed the rear hatch and set the thrusters to stand by. When that was completed, he opened a channel to the bridge. "Shuttlecraft Smith to USS Boudicca, requesting departure clearance," Brian said. (reply any on bridge) NRPG: *sighs* The Boudicca would have to drop out of warp and lower shields to allow my shuttle to leave, which I know is risky in enemy space, not to mention the task force off all the other ships, so I'll make it quick. ;-) RPG: "Understood," Brian said and felt the Boudicca to drop out of warp to allow him to leave.and he worked quickly on the controls, the shuttle lifted off the pad, spun to face the shuttle bay doors, and slowly glided out on thrusters. Once the shuttle was clear of the shuttle bay and outside of the Boudicca's shield range, Brian entered a command and the shuttle stopped. "Shuttlecraft Smith to Boudicca, I have departed and am clear of the shield radius," Brian reported. (reply bridge, iyw) "Good luck, Boudicca. Fair well," Brian commented, has he closed the channel. Brian watched via sensors has the Boudicca jumped to warp, taking most of his friends with her. Brian set in the coordinates of the resupply fleet, and the nimble shuttle jumped to warp. Brian watched on long-range sensors has the Boudicca and her fleet moved further and further out of sensor range, until she was gone all together. Alone by himself in the shuttle, Brian quietly whispered, "Godspeed, Boudicca, Godspeed." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1255) ==================================== Matthew climbed the last few rungs of the emergency ladder up to deck one with an antigrav platform following closely behind him with the replacement pices of conduet on it. They were too big to fit in the turbolift and when he had called the transporter room to have it beamed to the bridge he found that the transporters were undergoing diagnostics. So he had to do it the old fassioned way and clime the 16 decks up to the bridge. He had had every intenssion to do this job last night but with the other diagnostics and phaser training he just hadn't got around to it. His stomache rumbled once again reminding him that he hadn't eaten since yesturday morning. ~Will have to get around to that one of these days~ Finally he pushed up the hatch in the bridge floor and crawled out much to the surprise of the bridge crew. He must hav looked pretty pathetic crawling out of the floor, covered in greece and soot, hair all over the place and an antigrav platform following his every move. He noticed a few of the bridge crew looking at him with amusement. He just grinned and gave a little wave in their direction before walking over to the tactical station we're Sam was working. nrpg: I'm assuming Sam is still on the bridge, if not i can repost this part. rpg: "Hey Sam," He said with a smile. "Sorry to interrupt you but I hav some conduets to replace underneath you and i'll hav to take your station ofline.. Could i possibly get to them please? It'll only take a few minutes." He said motioning hoping that he wasn't interrupting anything important. (Reply Sam) "Thanks Sam." He said and proceeded to lift up the floor panneling just like he had yesturday. He deactivated the power flow to the tactical station and the TIHS and proceeded to lift out the primary conduet again. Turning to the cart he lifted up the new conduet struggling under the weight. He had decided to replicate this conduet from another material that was stronger and would be more resistant to damage, however the problem was it was bloody heavy and he staggered under the weight. With a grunt he heaved it over the lip of the hole and proceeded to lower it into the correct position. Unfortunately as he was doing so he slipped slightly and the conduet fell the reaming distance into the hole and came to rest with a crash that echoed around the bridge. He poked his head out of the hole and looked around meekly at the bridge crew. (Reply any with reactions etc iiw) He slipped back down into the hole and maneuvoured the conduet into place before taking out a laser welder and melting the ends to the correct points. He ran a scan of the conduet and found everthing to be in order. He than gave the hole system another quick look before crawling back out onto the bridge satisfied with his work even if he had made a fool of himself in front of the bridge. But he rarely cared what other pelple thought of him so didn't give it another thought. Replacing the floor pannel took only a few seconds and he loaded the defective conduet onto the antigrav cart. "Ok, your station is all good to go now sorry about that." He said to sam powering on the console for her. (Reply Sam) "I'll see you later then." He said and walked back to the emergency hatch followed by the antigrav cart to make his way back down to engineering. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Bridge, TAC/ASC Ensign Samantha Chandler - 1256) ==================================== Sam had been on the bridge since early that morning, working on weapons diagnostics that would make sure everything was in working order and ready for battle. She heard a hatch opening on the bridge. She looked to where it was and surprised to see Matt coming out of the floor hatch, covered it soot and grease. Matt walked over to her station, "Hey Sam," He said with a smile. "Sorry to interrupt you but I have some conduets to replace underneath you and I'll have to take your station ofline.. Could I possibly get to them please? It'll only take a few minutes." "Sure thing," Sam said, stepping back to give him room to work. Matt began working to replace the conduit. Sam watched as he lifted the conduit into the hole. It had to be a very heavy piece of equipment. It wasn't long before she heard a crash inside the hole. Sam had to smile at the look on Matt's face when he poked his head up after dropping the conduit. After a few more minutes, he finished his work and came back onto the bridge. "Ok, your station is all good to go now. Sorry about that," he said powering her console back up. "That's alright," Sam replied with a smile. "I'd prefer to have my work interupted than a non-functioning console." "I'll see you later then," Matt said, going back to the hatch that he came out of. Sam turned back her console and went back to work. A few minutes later, her combadge chirped to life. "Major Drizzt to: Doctor McKenzie, Doctor Alizara, Doctor Mor'rel, Commander Stolev, Lieutenant Rivers, Ensign Chandler, Senior Chief Haverstaad, Lieutenant McLaren, CPO Miller, Doctor Monroe, Dr. Engtamn-Jensi, Ensign Sarrik. You are all requested and required to join the Marines and Security forces in Holodeck 1 at 1800 hours tonight for prelim training for the upcoming raid. If there is a conflict in schedule you will please let me know immediately. Otherwise, I will expect you in the holodeck geared appropriately at the appointed time. Drizzt out." Sam made a mental note of the session and went back to work. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Science Lab, ACSO's Office - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1305) ==================================== Sarrik had spent a lot of the morning getting settled into he new office and working on a list of items that he needed fot his lab. He had just sat down behind his desk and turned on his view screen and terminal when a message popped up. <> announced the computer. ~What is this?~ wondered Sarrik. Just as he was getting ready to head to sickbay, =^=MajorDrizzt to: Doctor McKenzie, Doctor Alizara, Doctor Mor'rel, Commander Stolev, Lieutenant Rivers, Ensign Chandler, Senior Chief Haverstaad, Lieutenant McLaren, CPO Miller, Doctor Monroe, Dr. Engtamn-Jensi, Ensign Sarrik. You are all requested and required to join the Marines and Security forces in Holodeck 1 at 1800 hours tonight for prelim training for the upcoming raid. If there is a conflict in schedule you will please let me know immediately. Otherwise, I will expect you in the holodeck geared appropriately at the appointed time. Drizzt out.=^= ~This is interesting,~ he thought. He tapped his commbadge. "Ensign Sarrik to Major Drizzt, message received. Sorry, but I am new to this. Can you please explain the 'geared appropriatly' request? What gear would you like?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1306) ==================================== Eva had entered the Ready Room followed by Sasha. She walked up and stood in front of Sevant's desk, Sasha at her side. She looked at Sevant, who was seated behind his desk. "After a long talk with Lt. Alizara," Eva said, without preamble, "as well as Commander Stolev, and after some serious soul searching on my own; I have decided to keep them. I'm going to have my babies." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1306) ==================================== "After a long talk with Lt. Alizara," Eva said, without preamble, "as well as Commander Stolev, and after some serious soul searching on my own; I have decided to keep them. I'm going to have my babies." Sevant steepled his fingers as he looked at both Straton and Stolev. At this point, he wasn't sure if that surprised him or not. From her personality, it might have... but war did strange things to a person. It was no wonder that so many marriages were consecrated and children conceived on the eve of battle. "We will deal with the results then, later, when there is time to consider them." He took a breath, "You will still be on this covert team." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1306) ==================================== Eva and Sasha had made the trip to the ready room in silence, both auditory and telepathic. Sasha had been thinking more about what their decision would mean for both of them, and he had come to the realization that he didn't know the first thing about being a father. That was something that he would have to remedy, he told himself, as they entered the ready room and came to attention in front of Sevant's desk. "After a long talk with Lt. Alizara," Eva said, without preamble, "as well as Commander Stolev, and after some serious soul searching on my own; I have decided to keep them. I'm going to have my babies." Sevant steepled his fingers as he looked at both Straton and Stolev. "We will deal with the results then, later, when there is time to consider them." He took a breath. "You will still be on this covert team." "Absolutely," Eva said without hesitation, her voice hard and cold. "In fact, I'm looking forward to it. With your leave, I will go start to prepare. Fallen Angels preformed beneath expectations last night. They need some....motivation. I plan to give it to them." As if on cue, Straton's comm badge chirped, and Major Drizzt's voice issued forth. =/\= Drizzt to Straton. Colonel, I'd like to invite most of the senior officers into our little... training scenario. It gives the marines something more to fight for, and it gives our crew a bit more training before those selected go on the away mission. Do I have your permission? =/\= Eva looked at Sevant with a slightly raised brow before she tapped her comm-badge to reply. "Indeed you do Major," she said. =/\= Thank you Sir, =/\= came the curt reply then the line closed. Eva moved her eyes to look at Sasha as they waited Sevant's reply. Sevant quirked his head slightly. "Permission granted, liaise with Grailik about it." Suddenly Sasha's badge chirped as well, and again it was Major Drizzt on the other end of the line. =^= Major Drizzt to: Doctor McKenzie, Doctor Alizara, Doctor Mor'rel, Commander Stolev, Lieutenant Rivers, Ensign Chandler, Senior Chief Haverstaad, Lieutenant McLaren, CPO Miller, Doctor Monroe, Dr. Engtamn-Jensi, Ensign Sarrik. You are all requested and required to join the Marines and Security forces in Holodeck 1 at 1800 hours tonight for prelim training for the upcoming raid. If there is a conflict in schedule you will please let me know immediately. Otherwise, I will expect you in the holodeck geared appropriately at the appointed time. Drizzt out. =^= Sasha looked at Eva. "He doesn't waste any time, does he? I guess we'd better get moving." He turned back to Sevant. "Permission to return to duty, sir?" (reply Sevant -- assuming permission granted) "Thank you sir," replied Sasha. He then turned to Eva. "Shall we?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Marine Center, MXO's Office - Lt Major Drizzt - 1306) ==================================== Drizzt listened to the basic replies coming in; thankfully there was only one question to deal with. =^=Ensign Sarrik to Major Drizzt, message received. Sorry, but I am new to this. Can you please explain the 'geared appropriately' request? What gear would you like?=^= Drizzt rolled his eyes skyward for a moment, as if it ask 'why me?' "Whatever you would wear in combat, Ensign." Drizzt said, locating his name on the list real quick. Sarrik was a Scientist. "Meaning for a member of the science department, you, your uniform and your phaser. The rest you will receive here." (reply: Sarrik) His terminal beeped while he was still on the line with Sarrik, Drizzt did nothing more then turn it on the desk and call it up. A simple confirmation by text that Lt Rivers had received his message. He shrugged, "You'd better have." He muttered as he shut the monitor down. There was just one person left to talk to... ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Science Lab, ACSO's Office - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1306) ==================================== =^=Whatever you would wear in combat, Ensign. Meaning for a member of the science department, you, your uniform and your phaser. The rest you will receive here.=^= "Aye, sir. Acknowledged," replied Sarrik. ~This will definitely be interesting,~ thought Sarrik as he closed the commbadge connection. He turned and shut down his terminal and headed to sickbay for his required injection. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1307) ==================================== "We will deal with the results then, later, when there is time to consider them." Sevant said then took a breath, "You will still be on this covert team." "Absolutely," Eva said without hesitation, her voice hard and cold. "In fact, I'm looking forward to it. With your leave, I will go start to prepare. Fallen Angels preformed beneath expectations last night. They need some....motivation. I plan to give it to them." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Ready Room, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1307) ==================================== =/\=Drizzt to Straton. Colonel, I'd like to invite most of the senior officers into our little... training scenario. It gives the marines something more to fight for, and it gives our crew a bit more training before those selected go on the away mission. Do I have your permission?=/\= Eva looked at Sevant with a slightly raised brow before she tapped her comm-badge to reply. "Indeed you do Major," She said. =/\=Thank you Sir.=/\= Came the curt reply then the line closed. Eva moved her eyes to look at Sasha as they waited Sevant's reply. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1308) ==================================== "Absolutely," Eva said without hesitation, her voice hard and cold. "In fact, I'm looking forward to it. With your leave, I will go start to prepare. Fallen Angels preformed beneath expectations last night. They need some....motivation. I plan to give it to them." As if on cue, Straton's comm badge chirped, asking for permission for just what the Colonel was talking about. If the Captain hadn't known better, he'd say it was planned. Sevant quirked an eyebrow and nodded slightly to her. "Indeed you do Major," she replied immediately.. =/\= Thank you Sir, =/\= came the curt reply then the line closed. Eva moved her eyes to look at Sasha as they waited Sevant's reply. Sevant quirked his head slightly. "Permission granted, liaise with Grailik about it." It was his Security Chief's badge that beeped this time, and the list of people called was almost amazing. The MXO had chosen just about every officer not required to stay on the Boudicca. "He doesn't waste any time, does he?" commented the Chief. " I guess we'd better get moving." He turned back to Sevant. "Permission to return to duty, sir?" "Absolutely." Sevant said, "And check your roster, we've had a new Assistant Chief join in the interim. Dismissed." "Thank you sir," replied Sasha. He then turned to Eva. "Shall we?" (reply Eva) Sevant stood up as they left and stepped onto the bridge after them, and he waved down the replacement officer that piped him as being 'on the bridge'. He took the command chair and looked over at West, "Report." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Jefferies Tube AE35 - Engineering Crew - Chief Petty Officer {2nd} Jason Miller - 1309) ==================================== Jason was laying in a jefferies tube, in front of a opened service panel, taking apart a large ODN node, one that working fine, but never the less, needed to be checked for failure. After working for 25 minutes, carefully taking the node out. Examined it with his bare eyes. He set it down and reached for a tricorder to scan it, when suddenly the comm badge went off. =/\= Major Drizzt to: Doctor McKenzie, Doctor Alizara, Doctor Mor'rel, Commander Stolev, Lieutenant Rivers, Ensign Chandler, Senior Chief Haverstaad, Lieutenant McLaren, CPO Miller, Doctor Monroe, Dr. Engtamn-Jensi, Ensign Sarrik," a pause, "You are all requested and required to join the Marines and Security forces in Holodeck 1 at 1800 hours tonight for prelim training for the upcoming raid. If there is a conflict in schedule you will please let me know immediately. Otherwise, I will expect you in the holodeck geared appropriately at the appointed time. Drizzt out, =/\= said a voice that Miller had never heard. His mind raced, ~Major Drizzt? Marines? Training?~ Miller became worried. He tried to claim himself, but grabbed the node and fuzzed with it before dropping it. ~Oh darn!~ He grabbed it and looked it over. There was no visible damage to it. Miller grabbed the tricorder and ran it over the node, and, it was functioning normally. Miller replaced it in its socket and began the process of "plugging it back in". ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Emergency Shaft - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1310) ==================================== Climbing the 16 decks back down to engineering was not one of the highlights of Matthew's career and he silently complained about it all the way down. The antigrav platform that was obediently floating above him was really not worth the extra effort. He wondered if he had just tossed it down the shaft if anyone would notice. =/\=Major Drizzt to: Doctor McKenzie, Doctor Alizara, Doctor Mor'rel, Commander Stolev, Lieutenant Rivers, Ensign Chandler, Senior Chief Haverstaad, Lieutenant McLaren, CPO Miller, Doctor Monroe, Dr. Engtamn-Jensi, Ensign Sarrik" There was a brief pause and Matthew mused that he could have just addressed it to everyone. "You are all requested and required to join the Marines and Security forces in Holodeck 1 at 1800 hours tonight for prelim training for the upcoming raid. If there is a conflict in schedule you will please let me know immediately. Otherwise, I will expect you in the holodeck geared appropriately at the appointed time. Drizzt out.=/\= Matthew took one hand off the metal rung and tapped his badge. "McLaren confirms and will be there." He said before tapping his badge twice to close the channel and open a knew one. "McLaren to chief Haverstaad. The replacement conduits have been installed on the bridge and your at 100% efficiency. Just thought I'd let you know." ==================================== (USS Boudicca Sickbay - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1310) ==================================== Sarrik walked into sickbay and asked the first person he saw, "Who do I see for the required injection?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-13:11) ==================================== "Who do I see for the required injection?" Turning around, Kaitlyn saw Sarrik standing before her asking much the same general question she had heard all day long. Being with another patient at the moment, she said, "Go see Mor'rel, he's in the triage area giving the injections." <> Watching as he went, she turned her attention back to the patient she was currently with. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Ensign (jg) Sarrik - 1311) ==================================== The CMO turned around and said , "Go see Mor'rel, he's in the triage area giving the injections." "Thank you Doctor," Sarrik said and proceeded over to see Mor'rel for his injection. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Security Department, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 1315) ==================================== Engrossed in what she was reading, Susan only gradually became of the flashing message indicator at her workstation. With a sigh she flipped the screen to show a standard schematic of the ship, and activated the message. =/\=Major Drizzt to: Doctor McKenzie, Doctor Alizara, Doctor Mor'rel, Commander Stolev, Lieutenant Rivers, Ensign Chandler, Senior Chief Haverstaad, Lieutenant McLaren, CPO Miller, Doctor Monroe, Dr. Engtamn-Jensi, Ensign Sarrik. You are all requested and required to join the Marines and Security forces in Holodeck 1 at 1800 hours tonight for prelim training for the upcoming raid. If there is a conflict in schedule you will please let me know immediately. Otherwise, I will expect you in the holodeck geared appropriately at the appointed time. Drizzt out.=/\= Susan's eyebrows drew together in the beginnings of a frown. She found the tone of the message rather high-handed to say the least, and she wondered what Sasha would make of having his staff ordered around like that. But then again, Drizzt, if she remembered what she had read of him rightly, was an Andorrian and they were notoriously arrogant, in Susan's experience at least. Well, if he could be arrogant and high-handed, so could she. "Computer, send a standard acknowledgement to Major Drizzt that his message has been received and read by Lt Rivers. No additions, no signature." <> In reality she knew that the situation they were in would require close co-operation between the tactical and marine departments, and she approved of the joint training. Whatever else this mission might be, a cake walk it was not. She signed out and turned off her terminal. There was no sign of Stolev yet, and she knew she could better use her time preparing for tonight's training than pursuing her sub-rosa assignment from Ohlsson. She stood up. "Skelton, I'm going to the phaser range to get in some practice for a mission training scenario tonight. If anything comes up, or the Chief comes back, you can reach me there." "OK, Lieutenant." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Security Office - TAC/SC Stolev - Day 2 - 1315) ==================================== As soon as Stolev entered security, Petty Officer Skelton hurried around the desk and handed him a PADD. "Commander, I... uh.. didn't expect to see you today, sir. We have a..." Stolev held up his hand to silence the enthusiastic NCO. "Not now, Skelton. I have a lot of work to do. I'll be in my office. Unless there's a red alert, I am not to be disturbed. Understood?" Skelton looked blankly at his superior. "But..." "Understood?" repeated Stolev, this time with a slight edge to his voice. "Yes, sir," replied Skelton. Stolev nodded to him and then headed for his office, locking the door behind him. He walked around to his desk, tossed the PADD that Skelton had handed him onto it, then let himself collapse into his chair. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and let out a long, slow breath. He glanced at his desk and noticed that there were several other PADDs piling up there. Sighing, he turned to his console and activated the display. He started to bring up his electronic inbox, then changed his mind and instead accessed the reference database. "Computer. Bring up a representative cross-section of articles on fatherhood." After a moment, the computer beeped, then the console displayed a list of articles from various authors; some medical, some anecdotal, and some psychological. There were entries from a wide variety of planets, and some planets even had multiple subcultures represented. Stolev picked a few for Earth and a few for Betazed, then started reading. He found some of them very accessible, while others were highly technical and difficult to follow. None of them mentioned anything about being a father to twins, however. Perhaps he needed to narrow his search. He was about to do so when he glanced at the chronometer and noticed that it was already 1400. He had spent 45 minutes reading these articles, when he had only intended to skim a few. He quickly shut off the computer console and stood up. He mentally ran down the list of things he still needed to attend to today, and decided that the first thing he ought to take care of was to get that shot over with. As he walked out the door and through the lobby, he focused on isolating the brief flicker of Eva's presence in the back of his mind. He kept that thread in the forefront of his mind, knowing that he wouldn't have access to it for much longer, during his entire trip to sickbay. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Marine Armory, MCO Lt. Colonel Eva Straton, 1315) ==================================== Having left Sasha to get his department ready, Eva had returned to the Marine deck to get hers ready. She had headed immediately to the armory. She nodded to the two armed guards, entered her access code then put her eye up to the scanner for a retina scan. Her identity confirmed, the doors to the armory slid open and she walked into the neatly maintained room. She moved over to the locker with her name on it. She entered a different access code and pressed her thumb against a scanner on the door. A second latter the door slid open revealing her BDU armor laid out with the tools of her trade. She began to put the armor on starting at her feet and moving upward. Lastly, she picked up her Pallas helmet and slid it on. [Cerberus Online.] Her helmet AI said as it brought itself to full operation mode. "Full suit diagnostic," Eva said, as she picked up her combat knives and slid them into their sheaths affixed to her armor. As the results of the diagnostic began to appear on her HUD, Eva opened a comm-channel with a flick of her eyes. "Colonel Straton to Major Drizzt. I want Fallen Angels, Death Dealers, Mighty Thunk. and Troubled Minds all on the Helldeck in 20 minuets. Full gear load." She said, sliding the locker door closed and turning to leave the armory. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - En-route to Helldeck - Lt Major Drizzt - 1328) ==================================== Drizzt sighed as he slung the helmet under his arm and cracked his neck. It had been a very long day, he'd only managed a few hours of sleep so far, and his days were not likely to get shorter anytime soon. He pulled out a small canister from one of his pockets and popped a stem into his mouth, letting it fizzle on his tongue with his eyes closed. Within moments he felt his heartbeat pick up and a new rush of awareness fill his senses. He couldn't do this much, but it wasn't dangerous or detrimental on a short-term basis. But he'd need at least one good night sleep before combat; else he would be as much a danger as the enemy. A tired CE was one that made mistakes. Drizzt slid into the helldeck quietly, looking around at the grid and most of the Marines... he was just about the last to step in, there were only a couple missing with only a minute or two left. He quietly slipped his helmet on and secured it, waiting. ==================================== {USS Boudicca - Corridors - Lt(jg) Walker Isengard - 1335) ==================================== Walker suppressed a small shudder as he passed two crewmen passed by. For all his life he'd had to consciously filter out the thoughts and emotions of everyone around him... but now everyone was taking drugs to inhibit their telepathic centers, and Walker was in a very rare position of being forced to work at feeling anything. It was decidedly odd and more then a bit uncomfortable. ... it made him feel as though he were walking on a ship crewed by ghosts. What was really strange about it was that he'd thought it would bring him peace, not having to fight the combined thoughts of an entire ship. Some things were just too unnatural to be comfortable with, he supposed. It was even worse while patrolling the halls as part of the anti-boarding protocols. In his quarters he could shut the thought out, imagine he was alone and be at peace. But while on patrol he was constantly passing officers and crew. And he couldn't feel them, not under all his shields. Each time rammed the fact home to him and accentuated the unnatural condition. He had dropped his shields once, briefly, earlier in the day... and only in order to get a good feel for what it would take to scan someone fully in the drugs grip. It had taken some serious effort, though it was still possible. He'd thrown his shields up again after that and hadn't touched them since, mostly so he wouldn't be taken unaware should they come within range of one of those telepaths. And to guard against Straton, of course. Walker turned his head a bit when an officer stepped up beside him from a branching corridor. There were few Andorian's on the ship, he'd read that in the records, and only two of them were Marines. Of course, both of them were Combat Engineers (NRPG: Al's Character), but only one had the pips of this guy. Drizzt wasted no time in saying, "We are holding a combat simulation at 1800 for all prospective members of the combat force." "And?" Walker said, disinterested. "You are one of the guests of honor." "Ah." The Security guard said. "And I suppose this is a command performance?" The Andorian walked in silence with him for long moments, long enough that Walker's partner caught the hint and backed off a few feet. Isengard cracked an ironic grin that lasted only a few moments, apparently either Walker or Drizzt had a reputation. After yesterday's performance, Walker would lay a bet it -wasn't- the MXO. "Lieutenant." Drizzt said, "I don't know why you're still on this ship, and I have no idea why you're not in irons after that stunt you pulled yesterday. None of it is relevant, we've got a fight coming and if we're going to survive..." "Stow it," Walker said in a lazy tone, followed after a heartbeat with, "Sir." He considered leaving it at that, but he decided he didn't want to be pulled in front of Sevant for lese majesty. "I know why I'm here, and I can assure you that the telepaths will be taking more of a beating then ever you grunts could imagine. In either case, I'll be at your test and you'll get my full cooperation. As you say, we've got a fight coming." Walker had been around enough Andorians to know that the way his antennas were twitching was not because Drizzt was over-come with happy feelings. However, the Andorian apparently ignored his statement and continued with, "Good. Be there ten minutes early." The Marine turned on his heel and headed back the opposite direction, leaving a space for Walker's guard-partner to step into again. "Eh, Sir?" the Ensign said hesitantly. "I don't care if I just broke the rules of conduct, I don't' care if I just insulted a senior officer. And I don't care if I just stepped on toes. Does that about cover it?" He looked to the side at the face of the young ensign, a face which was clouding with anger. That almost put him in a good mood again. ~Some things,~ he thought, ~Don't require telepathy at all.~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Deck 12, Phaser Range, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 1350) ==================================== <> Susan frowned. That was not, in her book, acceptable. The time spent traveling from Geneva with no practice sessions possible had affected her accuracy. The fact that her accuracy was already considerably above the minimum requirements made no difference to her. NRPG: Did I mention she could be a bit of a perfectionist? ;-) RPG: "Run level 25 again." <> Her commbadge beeped. "Computer pause countdown!" <> She activated the commbadge. "Rivers here." =/\=Skelton here, lieutenant. We've received a reminder that all officers and crew are to report to Sickbay for those anti-telepath jabs. I wasn't sure if you had been yet?=/\= Susan sighed. She had forgotten, or at least pushed it to the back of her mind. "No, I haven't been yet, Skelton. I'm on my way. Rivers out." Closing the link, she continued, "Computer, end session and send all results to my file." <> Susan returned her phaser to the storage unit and reluctantly made her way to Sickbay. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Deck 7, Sickbay, TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers, 1403) ==================================== Sickbay was busy but not overwhelmed. Susan couldn't avoid a shudder at what she suspected the case might be not so many hours from now, once they were actually in real not simulated combat. She'd seen too much of the real thing to expect anything else. She stopped a passing nurse. "Excuse me, where do I go for this jab thing?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1403) ==================================== Miller had finished his routine manual inspection of the ODN node and returned to Main Engineering. He looked around, Chief Fredericks was gone, but he spotted the next most senior Engineer on duty, Lt. McLaren. Miller approached him. "Lt. McLaren," Miller asked nervously has he felt his sweaty hands get the handle of the engineering kit wet. (reply McLaren, iyw) "I've finished my inspection of the ODN node, there is no problems with it," Miller reported. (reply McLaren, iyw) "Is there any other things you'd like me to do, sir?" Miller asked. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1404) ==================================== Matthew sat at his console reading over the final reports on the status of the weapons systems. The knew weapons specialist certainly knew his stuff. His work was interrupted by a timid voice. "Lt. McLaren," He looked up to see Jason Miller, another of the transfers from Geneva that had accompanied him on the flight from the starbase to the Boudicca. "How can I help you?" He said pleasantly. He noticed that the young CPO seemed incredibly nervous. "I've finished my inspection of the ODN node, there is no problems with it," Miller reported. "Fantastic, thanks for that." Matt replied. "Is there any other things you'd like me to do, sir?" Miller asked. "Well, I was just about to head down to deck 22, they're having a few minor glitches in the environmental controls and I was going to go check them out. You can come along and give me a hand." (Reply miller) Matt felt sorry for this young man, he was only 18 and had had a pretty rough ride over the last few months. With that Matthew stood up and they headed out of engineering and to the nearest turbo lift. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:05) ==================================== Brushing back a strand of loose hair, Kaitlyn looked over at the triage center to see how many people had come in that day and were still left standing...or laying down for other reasons. Mor'rel had been quite useful to her in helping out. She almost wondered why she never had an assistant before. Then again this was a bigger ship... "Excuse me, where do I go for this jab thing?" "I'll assume you're talking about the injection for the mission, in which case right over here," Kaitlyn instructed her. Looking at her face, she could've sworn she'd seen her before. Shrugging it off, she took her like she took everyone else back to the traige center and got a hypospray ready. "You won't feel a thing," she said, as she pressed the hypospray to her neck and injected Rivers. <> "The usual warnings...you may feel dizzy which is the most common side effect. If you should feel that way at anytime, please come back." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Stolev - Day 2 - 1405) ==================================== Stolev walked into sickbay and noticed that he wasn't the only one to have put off getting his innoculation; several other people were either receiving their shots or waiting to do so. He approached Dr. MacKenzie and waited for her to finish with her current patient. "The usual warnings...you may feel dizzy which is the most common side effect," she was telling the patient, who was facing away from Stolev. "If you should feel that way at anytime, please come back." "Oh, I will," the patient assured her. "So how long is this stuff effective for?" Stolev stoped dead at the sound of that familiar voice. He blinked a couple of times, and his jaw dropped open as he stared in disbelief at this person who had no business being where she was. "Captain Rivers? What are you doing here?" he asked incredulously. His disbelief turned to puzzlement as she turned towards him and he noticed that she had many fewer rank pips than she ought to have. "-Lieutenant- Rivers?" He looked around, wondering if someone were playing a practical joke on him. Susan span around at the sound of the familiar voice, almost knocking over a tray of prepared hypos. "Sasha!" she exclaimed, then noticed the doctor looking at them. The doctor and everyone else in sickbay who had heard Sasha call her 'Captain'. "Yes, it's me and yes, I'm a lieutenant," she said, blushing slightly and hoping he wouldn't ask for the whole story right here. Stolev stared at his former CO for a minute, then broke into a sly grin. "Ok, Murtagh, you got me. You can turn it off now." Back when they were both Ensigns, he and Murtagh MacRannon had reprogrammed the sickbay EMH to appear as a rabid selat. Their Vulcan CMO had not been amused, and only some quick talking on Stolev's part had prevented them from getting an official reprimand. Susan looked around. "Murtagh?" she asked, puzzled. What was Murtagh - whoever he was - supposed to turn off and how had he 'got' Stolev? She looked back at the TAC/SC, and took in the grin on his face. It was an odd grin, not exactly as if he was pleased to see her. "I'm your new TAC/ASC," she said. "Umm, Sir." That felt odd. Odder than calling Sevant 'Sir'. "Riiiiight," replied Stolev, although his amusement was slowly giving way to irritation. "Computer, deactivate emergency medical hologram." [Emergency Medical Hologram is not active.] Stolev blinked, then proceeded to turn several different shades of red. "Cap...er Lieutenant. My god, I am so sorry." He looked around at everyone staring at them, some clearly supressing laughter. He then burst into laughter himself. "I'll have to make sure those security recordings are deleted later," he said with a grin. (reply any) Stolev then turned to the CMO. "Doctor, I guess I'll need that shot now." (reply MacKenzie) As the doctor was prepping the shot, Stolev turned back to Rivers. "Don't you go anywhere, Lieutenant. After this, we're going to get caught up, and that's an order," he said with a grin and a wink. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-Lt. Victoria Sevant-14:05) ==================================== Walking into sickbay, she had almost forgotten to get her injection before this mission took off. In fact, she was only reminded because she saw several crewmembers on their way to sickbay before their morning duty shift...but she didn't want to stop then. Instead, she decided to wait until her break. The doors to sickbay opened and a crewmember walked out hastily, almost knocking her over. Stepping aside just in time, she thought, ~I hope it's not that bad....~ Going through the open door, she walked up to Mackenzie as soon as she spotted her. "Excuse me sir, I'm here for my injection," she stated bluntly. However there was also something else nipping at her mind she just didn't want to discuss outloud. In fact, she wasn't even sure she'd bring it up or not since they were going in to war. "Mor'rel is right over there," Mackenzie said, pointing at another biobed. "He can give you your injection," she directed. It was obvious Mackenzie was already busy as Rivers and Stolev were both in line for her to get their injections. On the other hand, it looked like Mor'rel had caught up with his work, so she thought nothing of it and headed in his direction. "Sir, I'm here for my injection," Victoria repeated. <> In Mor'rel's usual stoic voice, he responded in a way that still made her question whether or not she wanted to bring up the next question she had. ~This is silly, I've gotten these before and there's nothing embarassing about asking!~ She scolded herself. As he got the injection ready, she then said, "I'd also like to recieve a pregnancy control booster shot." <> She noted the way he stopped if only for a second and then continued his work per normal requirements. ~Just get this over with so I can get out of here...~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 14:06) ==================================== "I'll assume you're talking about the injection for the mission, in which case right over here," the doctor instructed Susan. As Susan obeyed, the doctor seemed to take a close look at her, almost as if she half-recognised her, then she seemed to decide sh didn't. For her part, Susan had been in and out of so many sickbays in her career that she couldn't honestly have said if she had seen this doctor before or not. NRPG: Sorry, but I can't remember if they've met before - on Geneva possibly? RPG: "You won't feel a thing," the doctor said, as she pressed the hypospray to her neck and injected Rivers. "You all say that," Susan pointed out, "Whether it hurts or not. Should I expect any side-effects?" she asked, rubbing her neck which as usual briefly felt a little cold where the hypospray had entered. "The usual warnings...you may feel dizzy which is the most common side effect. If you should feel that way at anytime, please come back." "Oh, I will," Susan assured her. The last thing she needed was to go into combat with a muzzy head. "So how long is this stuff effective for?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1406) ==================================== Miller watched the assistant engineer with interest has he explained where they were going. "Well, I was just about to head down to deck 22, they're having a few minor glitches in the environmental controls and I was going to go check them out. You can come along and give me a hand," McLaren said. "Oh, of course, sir," Miller answered, looking nervously at the floor. They both stood up and headed towards the turbolift. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:08) ==================================== Working with Rivers, she had just dispensed the telepathic resistant drug into her. "The usual warnings...you may feel dizzy which is the most common side effect," said Kaitlyn. "If you should feel that way at anytime, please come back." "Oh, I will," the patient assured her. "So how long is this stuff effective for?" Kaitlyn was about to answer her question when she heard another familiar voice. "Captain Rivers? What are you doing here?" he asked incredulously. ~Captain Rivers? Why does that sound so familiar?~ Kaitlyn just couldn't put her finger on it like the other crew members could. It seemed to be either they knew her or they didn't. But in her case, she swore she did somehow... "Sasha!" Rivers exclaimed. Standing back, she watched as a whole story unfolded before her eyes. From what she gathered, Rivers used to be his former CO, and now having apparently been busted down to lieutenant....well... Listening on, she noted how Stolev though someone was playing a practical joke. He even went as far as telling the EMH to disengage, which gave Kaitlyn a silent chuckle. She really wanted to do so outloud, but at the sake of embarassing Rivers, held it in. As quietness fell around sickbay, she then heard him say, "Doctor, I guess I'll need that shot now." Raising her eyebrows she said, "At least this doesn't effect memory..." and left it at that before picking up another hypospray and injecting Stolev with it. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Deck 22, Corridor - LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1408) ==================================== The turbo lift deposited them on deck 22 and they began walking along the corridor. "So how are you finding the Boudicca?" Matthew asked Miller. (Reply Miller) They're conversation continued easily as they rounded a bend and came upon a access panel in the wall which Matthew pulled off and tossed to the side. "Ok, I've localised the problem to one of the junctions along this tube. There's 16 in total so if we take 8 each we'll get it done pretty quickly." Matt said as he climbed into the tube. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 1409) ==================================== "Doctor, I guess I'll need that shot now," said Stolev meekly to Dr. MacKenzie. He idly wondered if too many shocks in one day could turn someone into a complete fool so quickly, or if was just him. Raising her eyebrows, MacKenzie said, "at least this doesn't affect memory..." and left it at that before picking up another hypospray and injecting Stolev with it. "So how long does this last?" asked Stolev as he felt the cold metal of the hyprospray against his neck. He mentally reached out for Eva's presence as he heard the hiss of the spray being injected into him. It was almost as though someone had grabbed her and yanked her out of his mind. (reply MacKenzie) Stolev began to feel disoriented, but he couldn't tell whether it was due to a side-effect of the drug or the sudden loss of the telepathic link that he had become so accustomed to over the past week. He reached out briefly to steady himself against a nearby table until the dizziness passed. "Thanks, doctor," said Stolev once he felt his usual steadiness return. He then turned and headed for the doorway, where Lt. Rivers was standing waiting for him. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Corridor - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1409) ==================================== They continued their walk down the corridor, and McLaren started making conversation. "So, how are you finding the Boudicca?" he asked. Miller looked nervously at the floor. He was never good at conversing with people when it wasn't engineering related. "We'll... I've been in sickbay with the injuries I got in the runabout crash. I was only released a few hours ago," Miller explained. (reply McLaren) "Ok, I've localized the problem to one of the junctions along with tube. There is sixteen in total, so if we take eight each, we'll get it done pretty quickly," McLaren explained and then climbed in. "Yes, sir," Miller said, and climbed him after him. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Stolev and TAC/ASC Rivers - Day 2 - 1409) ==================================== As the doctor was prepping his shot, the TAC/SC turned back to Rivers. "Don't you go anywhere, Lieutenant. After this, we're going to get caught up, and that's an order," he said with a grin and a wink. Obediently Susan crossed her arms and leant against the doorpost and waited for the doctor to go through the usual litany about side effects and coming back if Stolev felt any. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she listened to the words again: 'you may feel dizzy which is the most common side effect'. Now why did she get the feeling it wasn't the only side effect? She sighed slightly. ~Need-to-know, I guess. Or needs must when the devil drives~ She was fast discovering that she hated to be out of the loop, and mentally cursed all admirals with their stupid ideas about sub-rosa investigations and the need for a proper cover-story. Sasha walked up to where Susan was standing, still feeling somewhat disorientated from the shot and trying not to dwell on the fact that he could no longer feel Eva's presence in the back of his mind. "So, shall we head back to security now? You can get me caught up on the way, although I'm sure it will take a little while longer than that," he said with a smile. Susan didn't appear to have heard him -- she was still looking off into space, apparently lost in thought. "Hello? Anybody home?" asked Sasha. Susan became aware that Sasha was looking at her as though expecting an answer. "I'm sorry, I was lightyears away," she apologised. Sasha chuckled. "I know the feeling, believe me." He gestured to the door. "Walk with me to security, won't you?" Susan nodded, appreciating the lack of questions which she supposed must be buzzing in his mind. "After you, Sir," she said, standing to one side to let him go first. They walked out into the corridor and down to the turbolift in silence. Sasha had all kinds of questions, but he figured they were best asked in a less public setting. For a moment, he thought they might at least have the lift ride to themselves, but at the last minute a harried-looking ensign burst into the lift just before the doors whooshed shut. "Engineering," said the breathless ensign. Sasha looked at Susan and shrugged while they waited for the lift to deposit them on the security deck on its way to engineering. For her part, Susan spent the lift ride wondering what to tell Sasha, or more accurately how *much* to tell him. It went against the grain to lie to him, but her orders had been explicit. Trust no one. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:10) ==================================== "So how long does this last?" asked Stolev. "The side effects or the injection? The injection itself should be enough to wait out the war unless something goes wrong. The side effects can last a number of hours to a number of days. Since this is still in it's experimental stages, all I can tell you is what I'm provided with." ~Thank Grailik for that one,~ she thought. "Thanks, doctor," said Stolev. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - Day 2 - 14:10) ==================================== "So how long does this last?" asked Stolev. "The side effects or the injection? The injection itself should be enough to wait out the war unless something goes wrong. The side effects can last a number of hours to a number of days. Since this is still in it's experimental stages, all I can tell you is what I'm provided with." Stolev stared at the CMO for a second. "Enough to wait out the war? You mean... months, or even years??" Sasha could hear the tinge of hysteria creeping into his voice, but he didn't care. He could bear to go without Eva's presence in his mind for a few days as it was vital to the mission. He didn't think he could bear it for an indefinitely long period of time, which was how long the war seemed destined to last. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Deck 22, Maintenance tube - ACEO LT/JG Matthew McLaren - 1411) ==================================== Matthew pulled the covering off the first junction and got to work noticing that Jason was doing the same thing down the tube at a similar junction. "So, do you know anything about this training simulation tonight?" He asked. ==================================== (USS Boudicca-Sickbay-CMO Lt. Cmdr. Kaitlyn Mackenzie-14:11) ==================================== Stolev stared at the CMO for a second. "Enough to wait out the war? You mean... months, or even years??" Dropping her head a level, she said, "Relax Mr. Stolev, I was only being sarcastic." She could see a sigh of relief sweep through him. ~Maybe paranoia should be added to this list of effects?~ She thought sarcastically to herself. "You will need routine injections for however long we're in direct line of danger from these...telepathic invasions, per Captain's orders of coarse." <> "Once we're in the clear, then you don't have to have them anymore. Don't worry, your abilities won't be cut forever." <> Kaitlyn couldn't wait to get out of the mad and rampant sickbay. She'd had so many people come to her over the coarse of the day and she couldn't remember anyone being so testy in her life...except for her now. Now she was the testy one because she was getting tired of the routine. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - CPO Miller Tube - Engineer - Chief Petty Officer (2nd) Jason Miller - 1413) ==================================== A few minutes later, with both Miller and McLaren at the the various junctions, working. McLaren asked, "So, do you know anything about this training simulation tonight?" Miller stopped and thought about it, "Uh, no, sir. I was just asked to show up. I'm not really sure," Miller stopped. Then, "Didn't they tell you, sir? Aren't you a senior staff member?" Miller asked. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Security - TAC/SC Stolev and TAC/ASC Rivers - Day 2 - 1415) ==================================== A few moments together they entered security. Skelton stood up as if to say something, and Stolev pre-empted him. "Again, unless the ship is on fire, we're not to be disturbed." "Aye, sir," replied Skelton. Then Sasha led Susan to his office. Once the door shut behind them, he turned to her. "So... as you might understand, I have so many questions, I don't know where to begin." He gestured to one of the chairs as he sat down in another. "So what are you doing here anyway?" he asked. "It's kind of a long story," Susan began a little tentatively, "And somewhat complicated. The short version is, I'm here as your TAC/ASC. The longer version is, I guess I upset one too many of the top brass one too many times and they busted me down to Lt(jg)." Sasha's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Wow, whatever you did must have been really bad." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered her. "Busted from Captain down to junior Lieutenant. That's quite drastic. What could you have possibly done to merit that?" Now that the initial shock, and then happiness, of seeing his former CO had worn off, he was feeling a little wary of the odd circumstances of her return. ~There's more to this than meets the eye,~ he thought as he awaited her explanation. She paused. Sasha knew her well; she doubted he would be content with so sparse an explanation. Lying didn't come easily to her, and it particularly went against the grain to lie to someone she both liked and respected. The fact that the basic facts of the court-martial were true didn't change things; by not telling Sasha the whole truth she was betraying his trust in a way she herself would have found hard to forgive if it were the other way around. "After I left the Nimitz," she continued, her eyes not quite meeting his as she felt her way, "I was transferred to another section of the fleet. I worked there until - " she shrugged. "Until the court-martial." She was reminded suddenly of Nishi telling her that he was working for SFIntel. He hadn't been supposed to break silence on that but he had reasoned that she had a right to know the whole truth of one of her crewmembers. It was all very well for Ohlsson to lay down the law but he didn't know these people and she did. But still.... trust no one. She watched Sasha carefully, trying to gauge his response. Sasha narrowed his eyes as he regarded Susan carefully. She hadn't made eye contact, which was one thing that bothered him. She also had told him hardly anything. "I see," was his only response. He knew her well enough to know that if she wasn't telling him something, she had good reason not to. Still, it bothered him that an officer assigned to be his subordinate was clearly hiding something from him. "So," he said, deciding to leave it for now, "you are working for me now, eh?" He shuffled through the PADDs on his desk until he found the one that he hadn't looked at earlier -- the one that contained her assignment information and service record. "Hmm..." he mused as he perused her service record, "so you don't have any formal tactical or security experience..." More alarm bells started to sound in Sasha's head. "Well, I'm sure you at least know the basics. What sort of duties would you feel comfortable with?" "I have plenty of training," Susan stated, a little nettled. "And some of my duties recently have involved what you might call security work." She knew it wouldn't be listed in her service record, so she added, "I suppose my record isn't quite up-to-date yet. But you can check with Admiral Ohlsson's department, I'm sure they can reassure you. If it helps, I practised on the phaser range this afternoon before going to Sickbay. You can check my scores on the computer-record. I'm afraid I'm a little out of practice, but I'm sure I can bring them up to scratch." ~damn~ She knew she'd let her confidence in her abilities and the perceived implication that she might not be up to the job run away with her. She sighed. "I'll be content with whatever duties you choose to assign me until you are confident in my abilities," she added lamely. Sasha chuckled. "Well, to be honest, I am absolutely confident in your abilities. But I don't want you in a situation where you are not confident of your abilities. That's a recipe for mistakes, and in this case, mistakes are a recipe for disaster. So, I want to know what duties you would be confident performing." Susan considered. To have the opportunity to trawl through the records wold be useful, at least for now. On the other hand, it might look a little odd if the new TAC/ASC was never to be seen outside the office. But for the moment, she did need to familiarise herself with the crew records. She forced a smile. "Well, maybe if you allowed me time to familiarise myself with the systems?" she said. "I could spend the rest of the day doing that, at least until we have to report to the MXO for the training session. After tonight, perhaps we could review the situation? Once I've got an idea how things work? Sasha nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds like a good plan. Oh, you should also talk to Chief Haverstaad about getting trained on the holographic tactical interface. It's pretty tricky, but quite powerful once you get used to it." "I'll do that," Susan agreed. She flicked a shrewd glance at Sasha. She knew she had made a bit of a mess of it, and she wondered how much he had swallowed of what she had told him. But she couldn't tell from his expression what he was thinking. Sasha stood up and held out his hand. "Welcome aboard, Lieutenant," he said formally. "If you find you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. If there's nothing else, you're dismissed." Susan rose to her feet. "Yes, Sir," she said. She made her way to the door then impulsively turned and looked him directly in the eyes. "Commander Stolev? There is one more thing I'd like to say. I -" She broke off. It was no good, she couldn't tell him. Not yet. "It's a pleasure to be serving under you, sir." As soon as the door closed behind her, Sasha locked the door and went around to sit at his desk. "Computer, engage monitoring program Stolev alpha-bravo-33. Target is Lieutenant Susan Rivers. Record all terminal usage of subject and record output to file. Lock file to authorization level eight, and encrypt with algorithm 39-omega." After a moment, the computer beeped. [Monitoring activated.] Sasha leaned back in his chair and mulled over what Susan had told him, and wondered about what she had not told him. Finally, he decided that there was only one person aboard who would be able to give him any answers. He stood up and strode purposefully out of security, bound for the bridge. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Sevant and TAC/SC Lt. Cmdr. Stolev - 1430) ==================================== The turbolift opened and Stolev saw that Sevant was still on the bridge, surveying operations from the command chair. Stolev walked directly down to stand in front of him, a little to the side so that he wasn't obstructing the viewscreen. "Sir, may I have a word with you in private?" With a quick glance around the room, he added, "don't worry, it's duty-related." Sevant looked around for a moment, all was running smoothly. "Absolutely, Commander." he said as he pulled himself out of his seat. "First Officer has the bridge." He stepped forward and into the Ready room, then off immediately to his desk. Sevant mused for a moment that he seemed to be spending a lot of time in this room today; it was a far cry from the smooth operation he desired on the eve of battle. He slid into his seat and folded his hands together, "Commander?" Stolev came to attention in front of Sevant's desk. Now that he was here, he had to decide how best to approach the conversation. He considered for a few moments before deciding that directness was the best way to go. "Captain, I would like to know what Susan Rivers is doing aboard this vessel. You and I both know that she's not just here to be my caddy. Sir." "No, she's not." Sevant said with a hint of a frown, "She's here to be your Assistant Chief." He quirked his head slightly, "There are few ships in the fleet, even one in our desperate situation, where such a dishonored officer would be welcomed. The Boudicca has as many of her old friends as any, and she's a warrior... whatever her political concerns. We'll be able to use her, and her knowledge." Sevant mentally cursed, they just -had- to send Rivers, one of the few people that would cause nearly every eyebrow on the ship to raise. They couldn't have picked someone more visible had they put an Admiral from JAG onboard. The fact that Stolev had picked up on it first wasn't surprising; Sevant wouldn't have had anyone in his position who wasn't inquisitive and intelligent. "It is her knowledge that troubles me, sir." Stolev chastised himself for such a poor choice of words earlier -- he knew it was wrong to refer to Rivers as his caddy, but he was still feeling frustrated at what he perceived to be a conspiracy to conceal information from him. "She is keeping something from me, I know it. And I believe I have a legitimate right to know what it is, especially about someone under my direct command, -especially- my senior assistant, who I must be able to trust as much as, if not more than, anyone else on this ship." Stolev sighed. "I don't care what she did, Captains just don't get busted down to junior Lieutenant. They get sent to Pluto or Tholia or something, knocked down to Commander maybe. Something's being withheld from me, and I believe I have a right, and a duty, to know what that is." "We're in something of a unique situation Commander." Sevant said logically. "We can't send anyone to Pluto, or drum them from the fleet... a drummed out officer could easily turn to the other side. In eithercase, there is nothing for you to know. Or rather, if there is, I am not aware of it either." He tapped his fingertips together, "Your job is to obey orders and keep this ship safe, and Lieutenant Rivers is not a threat to us." Stolev narrowed his eyes at Sevant, although he began to consider the fact that it was possible, however unlikely, that Sevant was equally unaware of whatever Rivers was up to. Maybe she was here to spy on the ship for LoDona; perhaps Sevant's performance or loyalty was being questioned. He hadn't considered that possibility. Naturally, if that were the case, Sevant would be unaware of it. "Aye, sir," he finally said, rather unconvincingly. He thought for a moment before he added, "if you become aware of something that I should know, please notify me at the earliest opportunity, sir." "I will take it under advisement. If that is all... dismissed." Sevant said, leaving no room for debate. Stolev opened his mouth to object, then shut it again. His first loyalty had always been to his Captain, after all, and it would take some damn strong evidence for him to be swayed otherwise. Now, as to which Captain that loyalty lay with... that was a different question altogether. He nodded curtly and turned on his heel to leave the room, his visit having raised more questions than it had answered. Sevant watched him leave with narrowed eyes. Now he would dig quieter, one didn't raise to the position of Chief of Security without being dogged, and curious. He'd have to have a quiet word with Rivers later, odds are she would be watched closely from here on out. He sighed and leaned back in the chair, he didn't need this on the eve of battle. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Security Department - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Rivers - Day 2 - 1430) ==================================== Susan sat in front of the terminal at her work-station, tactical systems schematics displayed on the screen in front of her. She wasn't looking at them though; she had found that there was remarkably little change from when she had commanded the Boudicca herself. The TIHS was a different kettle of fish though and she would have to ask Haverstaad to take her through it, as Sasha had suggested. In the meantime what took up most of her thoughts was trying to work out just how big a mess she had made of talking to Stolev. He hadn't pushed the matter, which had initially surprised her, but now she wondered if he were trying to find out more from the CO, who, she was fairly sure he would reason, would know if there were anything untoward going on. and if not then it was his TAC/SC's duty to inform him. That was how she would have reasoned anyway. She was sure that she could rely on Sevant not to give anything away, and possibly to tell Stolev to forget it, so she pushed the matter to the back of her mind and instead brought up Haverstaad's details and read them closely. What she read sparked her interest and respect, and she glanced around the department. There couldn't be many fitting Haverstaad's description, and indeed there was only one. Susan flipped off the screen in case anyone dropped by her workstation and saw the level at which she had access to the files, stood up and made her way over to the SCPO's workstation. "Excuse me, SCPO Haverstaad? I'm Lt Susan Rivers, newly-arrived TAC/ASC. Commander Stolev suggested I should ask you to take me through the TIHS system?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Security Department - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1431) ==================================== "Excuse me, SCPO Haverstaad? I'm Lt Susan Rivers, newly-arrived TAC/ASC. Commander Stolev suggested I should ask you to take me through the TIHS system?" Melody had managed to get to her feet and snap to attention by the time Lieutenant Rivers had finished speaking. "Sir, welcome aboard Sir!" (reply: if desired) "If you have a free hour or so, Lieutenant, I can run you through the basic training program for the Interface now?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Security Department - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 1432) ==================================== Haverstaad had managed sprang to her feet and snapped to attention by the time Susan had finished speaking. "Sir, welcome aboard Sir!" "Thank you, Chief. As you were," Susan added with a smile. "No need for ceremony." She wasn't used to looking up at many people, particularly not other women, but Haverstaad was a good four inches taller than she was. "If you have a free hour or so, Lieutenant, I can run you through the basic training program for the Interface now?" "That would be good," Susan said. "From what I've heard, the sooner the better so I can begin getting some practice in!" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Training Holodeck, "Bridge" - SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1510) ==================================== Melody stepped out of the primary holo-ring after her battle scenario and looked at Lieutenant Rivers, who was just turning her attention from Melody's holographic representation off to the side. Melody liked that particular invention, the first version of this program hadn't had it and the trainee was always bumping into her at the most awkward of times for a better look. Whomever was watching could pump into a holographic dummy all they wanted without causing a problem. She wiped her brow and crossed her hands behind her as the 'bridge' reset itself from the battle damage that had been incurred during the simulation. "As you might have noted from my go, I loaded my own set of settings for Interactive system before going 'on duty' inside it. It takes approximately ten hours of practice to find and become reflexive with your choice of settings, and anywhere from twenty to fifty hours for everything to become second nature once you've decided on your settings. I would suspect that stress and need will help you, we're going to battle in days, but until you are comfortable I would stick with the traditional tactical panel." She stepped away from the ring, "Your turn, Lieutenant." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Training Holodeck, "Bridge" - TAC/ASC Lt(jg) Susan Rivers - 1515) ==================================== Haverstaad stepped away from the ring, "Your turn, Lieutenant." Susan looked at the settings and considered for a moment what configuration to go with. She entered her height and reach, as she assumed that would affect the operation of the TIHS, and Haverstaad was a few inches taller than she was. "I'll go with the standard settings for now, configured to my height and reach, and see how that goes," she said, as much to herself as to the SCPO beside her. "As I run through it a few times, I'll get a better idea of what adjustments need to be made. The rest, I guess, is practice as you said." She flicked a glance at Haverstaad. "If - no, *when* - you notice me making a mess of things be sure to tell me where I went wrong. That way I'll learn faster." (reply Haverstaad iyw) Taking a deep breath, Susan stepped into the ring and the scenario began. At first she found it a little disorientating to be apparently in the middle of the battlespace but rapidly appreciated the difference it made to her perception of what was going on. Unfortunately appreciating the difference and being able to harness all the resources literally at her fingertips was not the same thing, and she made several serious mistakes. Forgetting she had a 360 degree field of vision for one, and being caught unawares by ships coming from behind her. The targeting she managed a little better, though the instinct to look down for a screen and key in her orders slowed her considerably and on at least one occasion lost her the shot she was trying for. At the end of the scenario, which came rather quicker than the end of Haverstaad's, Susan stepped away from the ring and surveyed the wreck of the Bridge. A gaping hole where the viewscreen should have been testified how successful (or rather, unsuccessful!) her first attempt was. "OK," she said to Melody, "What were the most glaring mistakes?" She listened carefully to the SCPO's comprehensive list and tried to take them all in. Then she stepped up to the ring again, first making a couple of alterations to the settings. "If at first you don't succeed, keep at it 'til you do," she muttered. "Only ten hours to find and become reflexive with the settings, hmm? I'll take your word for it, Chief!" she added aloud as she stepped inside for another go. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Training Holodeck, "Bridge" – SCPO Melody Haverstaad - 1525) ==================================== Melody crossed her arms and nodded as the Chief noticed she would need time to learn, that boded well. She almost smiled when Rivers said, "If - no, *when* - you notice me making a mess of things be sure to tell me where I went wrong. That way I'll learn faster." "No worries on that Lieutenant, it's my job anyway." She said. She watched Rivers disappear into the holoring before stepping to the side and activating the observation double. A perfect image of Rivers in a ring appeared, giving Melody a perfect view of what the Lieutenant would be doing. "Computer, begin program." All around them the simulation began. It wouldn't affect Melody, who was there to watch and instruct, but Rivers would feel all of the inertia and such. Only many dozens of times in this basic scenario allowed her not to duck as a science panel exploded and a body flew -through- her on its way to the front of the bridge, where Sevant loudly called for a medic before barking more orders to Tactical. Melody carefully noted the mistakes that Rivers was making, she had no intention of interrupting her first immersion into the system. This session would be a trial-by-fire. Finally the Boudicca was disabled, knocked out of the fighting completely and on a short-count for a core-overload. That ended the simulation. The Senior Chief turned with her arms crossed behind her and watched as Rivers stepped out of the ring and looked around. She bided her time as the Security Chief looked around the bridge and almost winced. "OK, What were the most glaring mistakes?" Melody lifted her hand and gestured to the bridge, "Total destruction, for one." She pulled up one of the science-console seats and said, "Reset simulation." The destruction of the bridge immediately disappeared and was reset to pre-battle conditions. She gestured to another of the seats for the Lieutenant, if she do desired. "First off, your two biggest problems are your settings and your pre-conditioning. We're all trained to use panels by Starfleet, to input coordinates and hit 'enter'. And further, this test wasn't exactly fair since you were trying to learn the pre-set commands for weapons at the same time you were trying to put aside your preconditioning, this is why each users controls are customizable... there is a certain psychology to what every race will find comfortable in terms of touch-combat. Your reaction times will improve when you are able to choose your own rig." Melody didn't have to add that combat wasn't fair, that was just a fact of life. She folded her hands together over her knee, just so her hands had something to do. "Your next problem is also common, you have to spin around, look up and down. This is more physical then standing at a panel and you have weapons command over a total sphere around you. You can program something like a mirror in the TIHS, but beware of doing that, it leads to a blind spot AND it can be highly distracting... though I know some who like it anyway, it allows them to look behind them on the quick. That is a basic setting you might want to play with sometime." Melody continued on, addressing the issues she had seen from worst to least and offering suggestions as she went. When she was done, however, she said. "And now that you know your failings, Lieutenant, take them with this grain of salt. This was your first time and nobody passes the first time. Just set aside some time every couple of days for practice, I won't grade you on the system until you are comfortable with it. You have plenty of time to adjust your user settings and become reflexive." (reply: if desired) Melody watched the Chief walk back into the ring, and a quick glance at her double showed that she was resetting the basic rig to suit her tastes. That was good, it said this woman didn't just give up, Melody liked that already. "Only ten hours to find and become reflexive with the settings, hmm? I'll take your word for it, Chief!" "That's average." Melody agreed. She stood up and pushed the stool back into place so she could watch the Lieutenant's doppelganger again. "Computer, start simulation!"