~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission Requiem, Day 3 Stardate 2406.07.03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List of Headers: (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - TAC/ASC Ensign R Skylynx -1114) (USS Boudicca - Jefferies Tube - ACEO Enaj-1114) (USS Boudicca - Secure Science Lab 1 - Capt Sevant - 1115) (USS Boudicca - Engineering- TAC/ASC Ensign Skylynx-1116) (USS Boudicca - Jefferies Tube -ACEO Enaj -1116) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Tactical Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad -1116) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - ACEO Enaj - 1118) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara, 1120) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 1121) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - ACEO Enaj - 1121) (USS Boudicca - Outside Sickbay - Kyle Rin - 11:25) (USS Boudicca, Outside Sick bay,CO Captain Sevant & MCO Major Straton, 1125) (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Captain Sevant - 1132) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara & ACSO Kyle Rin, 1145) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO, Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1150) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, ACSO Kyle Rin & CMO, Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1150) (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Captain Sevant - 1202) (USS Boudicca, Battle Bridge, FO, Commander Grailik, 1203) (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Capt Sevant 1203) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara, 1210) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1215) (USS Boudicca - Sick bay - ACSO Kyle Rin - 1215) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara, 1218) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt.Kestra Troi, 1220) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara, 1220) (USS Boudicca, Floor of Deck 15, Lt jg Trevan West, 1225) (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Captain Sevant - 1226) (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - Captain Sevant - 1228) (Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Sevant - 1228) (Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx - 1228) (Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/ASC Ensign John Fredericks - 1228) (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara - 1229) (USS Boudicca – Bridge observation lounge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1230) (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - Capt Sevant - 1232) (USS Boudicca – Battle Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1233) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1235) (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - Capt Sevant - 1238) (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx - 1238) (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - Capt Sevant - 1238) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACSO Kyle Rin - 12:40) (USS Boudicca, Observation Lounge, Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1246) (USS Boudicca, Observation Lounge, 2O/CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1248) (USS Boudicca - Observation Lounge - ACEO Enaj - 1248) (USS Boudicca, Brig- TAC/ASC Ryko Skylynx- 1248) (USS Boudicca, Brig- TAC/ASC John Fredericks- 1248) (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - 2O/CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi - 1255) (USS Boudicca - Cargo bay 2 - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1300) (USS Bodicca, Battle bridge, Ensign (jg) John fredericks 1330) (Boudicca - Brig - Capt Sevant - 1330) (USS Boudicca - Battle-Bridge - Capt Sevant - 1400) (USS Boudicca – battle bridge Ensign (jg) John C Fredericks 1400) (USS Boudicca - cargo bays 1 and 2 - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1400) (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Capt Sevant - 1428) (USS Boudicca – Battle Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1430) (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge, Ready Room - Capt Sevant & Commander Grailik - 1436) (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge, Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1455) (USS Boudicca - Sick Bay - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1500) (Boudicca- John’s quarters-deck 9- TAC/ASC Ensign (jg) John Fredericks – 1500) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Tactical Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 1502) (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Lt jg Trevan West-1503) (USS Boudicca - CMO Office - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1510) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Start of Compile, Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - TAC/ASC Ensign R Skylynx -1114) ==================================== Ryko smiled as yet another spider fell. He winced as a shower of sparks from one of the engineering consoles singed his face and he ducked as an explosion wracked the room. ~Damn plasma fires, it's too hot in here.~ he thought to himself as he wiped his brow while catching his breath behind one of the consoles. He looked at Haverstaad, she was injured. Her leg was profoundly bleeding. He hoisted his rifle, shot a glance over his shoulder and blasted round after round into thin air, hoping it would hit the cold metal of the invaders. He managed to crawl beside Melody as she too fired her weapon at the decreasing sea of spider creatures. "Report," Ryko said as he dropped his rifle again. "There seems to be less of em, Sir," she said over the din of battle. "Good news, chief. Within a week, things'll be back to normal, Ryko joked as he shot another two spider creatures. He looked around. There were carcasses everywhere, like some grotesque sea. He didn't have time to dwell on this thought as his badge chimed. =^=Major Drizzt to Security forces in Engineering, who's highest ranking?=^= Haverstaad let a breath out slowly, then looked over at Ryko. "Showtime, Sir." "Ensign Ryko Skylynx here, what can I do for you, Major?" Ryko asked, breathing quite heavily from his exertions. The Major talked to Haverstaad first. =^=Chief, I've got two squads inbound to help clear you out. What's your status, and how do you want us?" "There's at least fifty..." Ryko started, then shot another alien, "...make that 49 left, major. We need some heavy firepower. Divide your teams into mini-squads, come in in waves. That will give us time to get as many of our remaining people out, withtthe added benefit of taking them off-guard. I would suggest using ballistic settings on your weapons." (Reply Drizzt) "Acknowledged. We'll try and hold out until you arrive," Ryko said. He wiped his brow with his sleeve and looked at Haverstaad. "Let's go make this shit hot," Ryko smiled at the Chief. (Reply Melody, if desired) Ryko stood, set his weapon to rapid-fire and began to fire at the remaining aliens, waiting for the relief to arrive. ~I just hope they get here soon,~ he thought as he continued to rain hell on the invaders. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Jefferies Tube - ACEO Enaj-1114) ==================================== Having started the gun emplacements shooting at the spiders Saim thought she should probably report in. "Who is in charge in engineering?" (reply Ryko) "This is ACEO Enaj. Could I do anything for you?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Secure Science Lab 1 - Capt Sevant - 1115) ==================================== =^=Major Straton to Captain Sevant. Majority of the invaders have been destroyed. Sending mop up teams to Main Engineering and through out the ship looking for any lurkers. Sickbay has taken heavy damage. Commander Troi and Lt. Alizara are both in pretty bad shape. Could use a doctor down here.=^= ~That explains the mind-call.~ "Round a doctor or two up, Major, most of them would be in your area still." He looked at the Operations Chief, still engaged in testing. "Ill be down shortly for a report." (reply: if desired) Sevant walked over, to the Lieutenant, but stayed far enough away that he wouldn't be a sudden distraction. "The ship is mostly cleared, I'm going to leave you now. Report immediately if you have a problem." (reply: Ops) With that, the Captain exited the double-sealed doors of the secured lab and looked around. So many things became clear now that he knew the Boudicca's forces had been fighting a major action near sickbay. Still, there was cleanup to do, and it wouldn't do to fall into a trap between here and sickbay, even if it was only a deck away. He careful traced his path back to the Jefferies tubes and made his way through them down to sickbay. He wanted answers, and he wanted them bad. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Engineering- TAC/ASC Ensign Skylynx-1116) ==================================== Ryko glanced over his shoulder and shot another three of the spider invaders. ~Where the hell are these things coming from?~ he thought as he continued firing. His phaser rifle battery went dead just as he was about to fire another shot. "DAMN!" he yelled, throwing the spent weapon to the floor. He ducked behind the console again, and looked around. There was a scatter gun lying in front of him. He grabbed it and set it to maximum. Turning around, he rolled sharply to his left and fired into nowhere. Two mechanical screams told him the manoeuvre had worked. He crouched behind a stansion beam. His badge bleeped. =^=Who is in charge in engineering?=^= came Enaj's voice. "Ensign Skylynx here, and this isn't a good time for small talk," Ryko said, casting a glance around the bend. He spotted a large plasma conduit near the remaining aliens. It was a clear shot. =^=This is ACEO Enaj. Could I do anything for you?=^= Ryko thought. Bush would have hated him for doing what he was about to do if he had been there to see. ~Got to minimize our casualties, but take out as many of those things as humanly possible,~ he thought. Blasting the conduit was out of the question. Then it hit him. There were anti-heat systems directly above the aliens. One shot at the venting gas would vapourise them all, but leave the starfleet officers mostly unharmed. But someone would have to stay on the other side of the safety doors to trigger the blast. Him. "Actually, there is," Ryko said as he swallowed a lump in his throat. "In about...three minutes, I want you to close the blast doors in engineering," Ryko instructed the CEO. (Reply Saim) "No questions, ensign, just do it!" he yelled, as he began bellowing retreat orders to the battered remains of the marines and security officers. Immediately the starfleet personnel began moving to the protection of the ACEO's office. Ryko spotted one person who hadn't retreated. Haverstaad was still leaning against the nearby wall. He approached her. "Can you walk?" Ryko said as he knelt beside her. (Reply Haverstaad) "Good. Take the marines, get behind that blast door," Ryko said as he ducked a shower of sparks. (Reply Haverstaad) "Tell Drizzt to hold position behind the blast door, in case this idea fails. Have a medical team waiting, I'll be coming out with severe plasma burns. nder no circumstances should you come inside, and that is an order, chief," Ryko said as he looked at her. (Reply Haverstaad). "I said, GO!" Ryko said. Haverstaad began to claw her way to cover, as Ryko took hold of the scatter gun again. He fired at the grotesque machines. He thought of his son and all the flights he had taken, wishing that he was in a dogfight instead of inside a ship. ~I had hoped I'd never have to do this,~ he thought as he stared at the remaining horde. He tapped his badge. NRPG: Someone in the marines, either haverstaad or someone else would do well to be monitoring me. It'll help. RPG: "Close the doors, ensign Enaj," Ryko said in one monotone. He looked at the safe crewmembers as the doors closed. He was alone with the invaders. He sighed, looked at the far roof, and took aim. With one squeeze of the trigger, a bolt of energy shot out of his weapon, severing the gas pipe, engulfing all the spiders in the deadly freezing gas. He shot at the head of the pack, and instantly the spiders burst into flames. The air became thick with smoke and fumes. Ryko's vision blurred and he stumbled through main engineering towards the blast door, choking, and collapsed against the hard metal of the foot-thick door. His last blurred sight was the blue luminescence of a transporter beam, taking him to god-knew where. Ryko blinked and scoffed smoke from his lungs, and passed out as sickbay loomed into black. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Jefferies Tube -ACEO Enaj -1116) ==================================== =^=Who is in charge in engineering?=^= came Enaj's voice. "Ensign Skylynx here, and this isn't a good time for small talk," Ryko said. =^=This is ACEO Enaj. Could I do anything for you?=^= "Actually, there is," Ryko said . "In about...three minutes, I want you to close the blast doors in engineering," Ryko instructed the CEO. "I can do that sir but what are you planning?" "No questions, ensign, just do it!" Ryko yelled. Saim tapped into the controls for the blast doors, an action of moments. "Close the doors, ensign Enaj," Ryko said in one monotone. "Aye," Saim said as she initiated the command. A few minutes later, up in the tubes Saim felt a blast of heat. Looking quickly down at her jacked in monitor to see what was up Saim saw that a roiling ball of heat was only seperated from her be the debris in the tubes. When the heat died down, leaving Saim unhurt she breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Time to get out of here I think," said Saim outloud. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Tactical Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad -1116) ==================================== =^=Chief, I've got two squads inbound to help clear you out. What's your status, and how do you want us?" "There's at least fifty..." Ryko started, then shot another alien, "...make that 49 left, major. We need some heavy firepower. Divide your teams into mini-squads, come in in waves. That will give us time to get as many of our remaining people out, with the added benefit of taking them off-guard. I would suggest using ballistic settings on your weapons." =^=Got it, Ill be moving the bulk of them through the Jefferies Tubes, all main access points into Engineering are heavily damaged. Five minutes, no more.=^= "Acknowledged. We'll try and hold out until you arrive," "Let's go make this shit hot," Melody pulled herself to her feet with a grimace of pain, and nodded. "Help's enroute," she bellowed, "Make it hot, lets blow em a path!" After that, she ignored everything but the mechanical aiming and firing of her weapon. The pain in her leg and side were fierce, and she had lost enough blood to make her dizzy. Whatever else could be said about these mechanical monsters, they certainly had a rough touch. The TAC/ASC bellowed various orders to engineers and security. After a few more minutes someone stepped up beside her, the glint of metal caught her eye and she very nearly wheeled to fire, before she caught sight of the Federation BattleDress Uniform. She blew a breath as the figure knelt and took aim with a scattergun. "Chief," a dry voice said from hidden speakers in the armor, "Two squads are moving into position." "Good," she said. "Cover me for a few." she continued as she turned and put herself against the panel again, out of the direct line of fire. There weren't many of the beasts left, but what ones WERE around were learning and staying out of the open for easy shots, the occasional scream of a crewman filled engineering. She took a breath and looked down at herself, blood soaked through her uniform in three places, though the blood on her side was fairly old after being patched up by the CEO. She wondered, briefly, if the CEO was still alive back behind her somewhere. Melody took a breath and slid down, the Marine was busy taking shots with a scatter-gun at the remaining spiders. She noticed, with heavy irony, that the stencil mark on his arm said 'Spider Drizzt'. That would be the MXO, a spider fighting a psi-der. "Can you walk?" Melody turned her head and looked at the TAC/ASC, who had knelt beside her. She looked down at herself again, "As long as I don't have to walk the entire ship," she said truthfully, "I can make it for a ways though." "Good. Take the marines, get behind that blast door," She frowned and looked over, the door was open again and had been for a while, but what would be the use in sealing themselves even deeper into engineering? She put her rifle-butt down and began to stand up again. "Sir, yes sir." "Tell Drizzt to hold position behind the blast door, in case this idea fails. Have a medical team waiting, I'll be coming out with severe plasma burns. under no circumstances should you come inside, and that is an order, chief," The Marine who was sitting next to them turned slightly, "Drizzt heard you just fine, Chief." was the dry reply. "MXO to all Tactical Forces, withdrawal by squad!" The Andorian's phaser kept firing, giving the retreating Marines and Security forces a measure of cover as they pulled back. "I said, GO!" Melody frowned, then pulled herself fully to her feet with the help of the MXO, who was backing up slowly with one arm slinging the scatter-gun. She launched herself off the Marine and hobbled into the deepest bowls of Main Engineering with others following closely behind. She put herself against a Warpcore monitoring console once they were inside, and barely heard the command for the Blast Door to be closed. "Watch him!" she hissed, to no one in particularly. "The muscle bound oaf is likely to get himself killed!" The Marine pushed a couple security officers away from one of the consoles and typed a few commands into it. She watched him for a few moments, he certainly knew his way around engineering! Then, the memory that he was a Combat Engineer filtered into her brain. ~Of course he would know his way around a console, he *is* an engineer.~ "The idiot," Drizzt hissed himself a few moments later. The Combat Engineer spun on his heel and hit a few buttons, "Computer, initiate emergency shutdown on all coolant systems except the warp-core, reroute emergency coolant into affected areas." [Done] "CE's, on the bounce, get ready for this!" he said loudly as he looked at he monitor. "Any engineers in here that AREN'T about ready to die, ready yourselves for some emergency repairs, our esteemed Assistant Chief just popped a hole in various engineering subsystems." The Marine paused, "Drizzt to Transporter Room, emergency transport on Ensign Skylynx's badge!" Melody looked at the screen while he was barking orders at the Combat Engineers and the Engineers to hustle, she didn't notice anything on the screen. Drizzt yelled "Is there an Engineering Chief around here anywhere?" (reply: Enaj, any) The Security Chief didn't follow much more then that, despite all her willpower, the sheer loss of blood from her leg finally got to her and she slid down the console for the last time, and gently closed her eyes and fell into unconsciousness. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Engineering - ACEO Enaj - 1118) ==================================== Saim had just crawled out of the jefferies tube into a hive of people. While looking around and brushing the dust off her Saim heard someone yell, "Is there an Engineering Chief around here anywhere?" "What do you need sir?" Saim instantly chirped out. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara, 1120) ==================================== Domini vaguely remembered Eva supporting her into sickbay. She vaguely remembered being placed on the table, and people bustling around her. The ship had taken such heavy damage, and the people.... would there be a Boudicca after all this was over? Would she be transferred somewhere else? She felt a hypo placed against her neck. One of the nurses said something about it being a suppressant, that she had overextended her telepathic abilities and that they needed to heal. She took the nurses hand, and felt nothing. It was strange, she looked around the room and it seemed oddly two dimensional to her, there was none of the richness of life that she was so used to seeing. Domini hopped down off the biobed, and went over to Kestra, to holdher hand. Domini smoothed back the tangles of curls from Kestra's head, and leaned down to whisper in her ear "You didn't tell me that your hair curled when it got wet." She tried to chuckle, but it came out sounding somewhat hoarse. Domini glanced over to see Rin on a table. It wasn't surprising.... he was partially empathic...she guessed that anyone who was mildly empathic or psychic was going to end up here. Domini squeezed Kestra's hand, and moved over to Rin. "Hi, hun." She said, taking his hand and looking down at him with her impossibly dark eyes. "How are you feeling ?" She looked up at the medical chart, displaying his vitals. "How did you break a rib ?" She wondered aloud. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 1121) ==================================== "Is there an Engineering Chief around here anywhere?" "What do you need sir?" someone said. Spider turned his gaze, "Get'ur butt down here!" he said, not caring if he was only a peon in Engineering hierarchy, this was an emergency and he was a trained Combat Engineer. "We've got problems!" (reply: Enaj) Spider waited as the Engineer climbed down, keeping his eye on the monitors. He had already cut off all the affected subsystems and had turned up life-support to clear the room, the Marines would be the first through since their BDU's would protect them from anything residual in the area. He didn't look over at the Engineering Chief when he heard the Enaj come up behind him. "Alright, Chief." he said with his eyes still on the monitor, "This is your show, get ready to start directing." he waited a few seconds, "All hands, clear the blast door!" After exact five seconds he slapped the monitor, engaging the door so people could slip through. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Engineering - ACEO Enaj - 1121) ==================================== "Is there an Engineering Chief around here anywhere?" "What do you need sir?" Saim piped up. A fellow in BDU turned towards Saim, "Get'ur butt down here!" he said, "We've got problems!" "Yes Sir. Is the fight over now?" (reply Spider) "Alright, Chief." the major said with his eyes on a monitor, "This is your show, get ready to start directing." he waited a few seconds, "All hands, clear the blast door!" Saim turned towards the engineering staff. With the CEO nowhere in sight Saim started marchelling the troops. "Alright people," Saim barked out, "If engineering is anything to go by this ship is a great deal of a mess than when we pulled out of dock, which is some feat. I want everyone working on this. One crew should go to every section. The rest can stay here and patch engineering up. First order of the day is to patch up any plasma leaks. Go to it!" Having given the orders Saim felt she should find the CEO to report and consolidate. (reply CEO (sorry I've forgotten your name :-))) After reporting to the CEO Saim got to work herself, making her engineering working again. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Outside Sickbay - Kyle Rin - 11:25) ==================================== Fighting around a near-by corner Kyle finaly came to a turbolift and charged at it with all his might. The doors slid open and Kyle hunched himself against the wall "Sickbay..". The lift began it's journey towards the planned destination, after a few minutes the doors slid open. Kyle removed his com badge and threw it to the floor as he walked out of the turbolift it would be of no use now since it was damaged from the fall besides the fact he made it to his destination. Rounding the corner towards sickbay he saw a squad of marines cleaning up what seemed like thousands of spiders. The MCO & MXO stood by over-seeing the clean up as fire continued off in the distance, Kestra as well as Domini stood or sat he couldn't tell the diference near-by as well. About this time Kyle felt his weakest but he did make it to sickbay his back continued to burn and his mind was completely if not entirely gone. With his last breath he gazed toward the MCO, MXO, CMO, & the Counselor collapsed onto the floor and said.. "Kyle Rin.... Reporting for treatment....." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Outside Sick bay,CO Captain Sevant & MCO Major Straton, 1125) ==================================== Eva and her team had taken up position outside Sickbay, giving the remaining medical staff room to work. Wounded and dead where being tended to by the medical staff. Eva and her team had set up a defensive perimeter around sickbay in case more of the spi-ders decided to show up for an easy snack. Eva was sweeping the corridor, looking for enemy targets, her scattergun at the ready, when her tac-corder detected a new contact approaching through one of the jeffries tubes. It was white, meaning friendly, but Eva wasn't taking any chances. These things had shown a knack for adaptation. It was possible, even if remotely, that they had managed to find a way to hack the fried and foe recognition subroutine. The target appeared to be carrying a ship com-badge. Eva motioned for two of her team to take up flanking positions on either side of where the target would exit the tube near Sickbay. She too lifter her scattergun. The target would exit into a very deadly crossfire from 3 different directions. As the target approached the exit point, Eva reached out with her mental senses and brushed the targets mind. She suddenly knew who was behind the panel. She lifted her scattergun and ordered her marines to stand down. She approached the exit point and offered Sevant her hand. "Sir," She said simply. Sevant looked out at the MCO, took her hand and crawled out. "Major," he said quietly as he looked around. The place was a mess, bodies were still laying out in the positions they had fallen, and piles of broken mechanical bodies were everywhere. It was a slaughter, worse for them since the enemy were nothing but Machines. Machines could be rebuilt, lives could not. "Report," he said in an even tone. Eva, rested her scattergun on her shoulder as she motioned her men back to their previous positions. "We've secured this area and have set up a defensive perimeter around sickbay. I've dispatched Major Drizzt with two squads to Main engineering to help clear it of enemies. The remainder of the marine contingent and security forces are scouring the ship looking for any remaining psi-ders. We've taken heavy losses. Preliminary numbers are 43 marines dead. Don't have a number on regular crew yet. The medical department is working on it. Ensign Rin showed up just before you did with some severe injuries. Medical is working on him now." Sevant put his hands behind his back and looked around. "And the story on this scene?" The spiders, psi-ders as she called them, were thicker here then anywhere else he had seen. "And is this," he gestured, "The reason for your earlier mindcall?" "Yes," She said, simply. "I discovered on the Backtron that they were drawn to tellepaths. Upon our return to the Boudicca, I saw that our forces were drawn too thin. We had to re-enforce our lines. Sickbay was already being over run. So, I laid an ambush for the things. Using myself as the main bait, along with the CMO and Counselor. The Counselor had been broadcasting uncontrollably for some time." The Captain considered that for several moments, he wasn't sure he liked having such a major action planned without even his knowledge. He took a breath, "Very well, clear the ship and liaise with Security to prepare the ship for another invasion, if necessary." He looked over, "And, good work." "Yes sir," She said, "We will be going after them, right?" "If my ship can handle it," he temporized. Eva nodded, moving back toward the main entrance to sickbay. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Engineering - Captain Sevant - 1132) ==================================== Sevant grabbed hold of a lip on the door and swung his legs through the access panel into another section of the Jefferies Tubes. He was but a single man, and though all communications seemed to point to all the invaders being destroyed, he was taking no chances. The crawl through the Jefferies tubes was slow, but it was steady, and he had made his way past several obstructions into the upper Main Engineering section. NRPG: Sadly, Kerry's post is an hour hence, so he will have to be crawling in pain for another hour before anyone can get to him. RPG: He finally swung into the main Engineering section, and popped his head out to a phaser pointed in his direction. "Belay that," he said in an even tone. The phaser immediately disappeared, "Sorry Sir." Sevant waved the man off and stood to his full height. Engineering was a mess, there were biological and metal bodies lying everywhere, in some cases stacked several high at the sites of the most resistance. Sevant took a few moments to look around, watching various members of Engineering running around madly, fixing various systems in a chaotic dance. "Where is Ensign Enaj and Lieutenant West?" A Marine turned, "Enaj is over there, Sir." he said through the dry metallic voice of the BDU as he pointed to the side. "We have lost track of Lieutenant West, we have internal sensors down over various parts of the ship and haven't been able to pick up his comm badge." The Captain frowned slightly, then nodded that he understood. He slowly made his way around the broken bodies of crew and invader, trying hard not to get in any of the Engineers way. Finally, he came up to the ACEO, "Ensign Enaj." he said. "Status?" NRPG: I'm assuming we are pretty broken up here, the last stand of the TAC/ASC saw to that. Ill let you think up some techno babble to say as much ;o) (reply: Enaj, any) The situation was not good, he couldn't go back into battle until this damage was repaired, and with so many people killed it would take days to get back together again. That was going to lead to serious problems, he would have to think it over for a while. "Very well Ensign, keep me informed." (reply: Enaj, any) ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara & ACSO Kyle Rin, 1145) ==================================== "Hi, hun." She said, taking his hand and looking down at him with her impossibly dark eyes. "How are you feeling ?" She looked up at the medical chart, displaying his vitals. "How did you break a rib ?" She wondered aloud. Turnning his head slightly towards the direction of a voice he knew all too well and looking upward. Kyle saw Domini looking down at him with a smile on her face. "Rib?..i broke a rib?" he said as he tried to sit upwards but to his avail sure enough his rib was broken. He must have done more to himself then his injured back. "Are you ok?.. what has been happening?" Domini frowned down at him, then looked up at the nurse, who nodded in indication that she had shot him full of suppressant. "Well, the nurse says that you have been pumped full of telepathic suppressant. Apparently, you, like everyone else, psychic, tended to becoming meals for these spiders. All of the psychic screaming, tended to jump start our abilities, and burn them out." She finished, holding his hand. "Is that why I wasn't able to contact either of you?" Kyle said slowly with a frown on his face. He reached for Domini's hand and continued. "Maybe i'm not ready yet.. I guess your right even if i wanted to use my telepath there would be no way since it was burned out." Letting go of Domini's hand Kyle sighed and took a glance around the room his eyes focused on Kestra across the room. "Is Kestra ok?" He asked looking back deep into Domini's eyes. Domini smiled and took Rin's hand back. "Yes, she's just exhausted, from all the shouting. And we had to help the MCO attract some of the spiders... " She finished, frowning slightly. "Do you hurt ?" She asked, looking at the spikes in the vital readings that indicated pain. "The nurse only told me of the burn I have across my back. At first I thought maybe one of those prod things touched me. I didn't know about my rib." Kyle's eyes began to water deeply as he closed his eyes to cover his emotions. "I do hurt physicaly Domini, but my emotions for Kestra are a pain i've never had before. Please don't tell her what i've told you just now." Kyle opened his eyes and tears rolled down his face. Domini backed up two steps. "You and Kestra?" She said, somewhat horrified. "Yes.. she was there for me when I first arived aboard the Boudicca. I've been afraid to tell her my feelings or open up to anyone since my parents death. Maybe my telepathy is opening that door I wouldn't know for sure I never was able to control it." Kyle wiped his eyes and continued. "But my feelings for her I'm sure of I know that much is true." Domini shook her head in disbelief. "Well, then, I suggest you tell her, Ensign." She said, rather formally. "I'm sure that she will be receptive." Kyle focused his attention back on Kestra and returned his gaze to Domini. "I'll try my best Counselor.. that much i'm sure of. If you wouldn't mind could I see you in private later i've been meaning to ask you for help with my parents death. Until then please stay with Kestra i'll be fine for now." Kyle motioned Domini in close for a small hug as he whispered into her ear. "Thank you." Letting go he waited for any reply she might have before he went back to resting. Domini blinked suddenly. SHe hadn't realized that she had nay feelings for Mr. Rin until he had mentioned that he loved another. And Kestra..... Domini didn't know how Kestra was going to take that one...she had been through so much already. "Kestra is resting, and I guess I should be too." She said with a small grin. "I wanted to make sure I wasn't needed before I did." "Unless you want to comfort me Counselor.. I'd suggest you get some rest too." Kyle said with a smile on his face. Closing his eyes he went back to resting knowing he was safe for now. Domini backed away, a look of hurt on her face. She took herself into the CMO's office and sat down at the desk there, holding her head in her hands. She looked up as one of the nurses entered, almost ordering her to go and rest. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO, Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1150) ==================================== From some distant corner of her being, Kestra could feel that the battle had turned, at least for now. The pain from using her over use of her ability caused her vision to be swimming inside her head just behind the eyes. She could not focus on any one thing that did not make her head ache even more. Concentration was all but impossible at the present time. On the edges of her nerves, kestra could feel someone helping her up. She held onto her thin consciousness as if it meant her life. She indeed thought that if she lost consciousness, it would be her death. Her mind was switching between her time against the alternate Vanyssa and the current against the creatures. Kestra did not know when she finally started to succumb to the pain in her head, but, she thought she heard someone say something just before she passed out on what she knew was something other than the floor. "You two stay put," was all that Kestra made out before she passed out. Kestra slowly awoke from her pain induced slumber, feeling that someone had squeezed her hand, which, had started her back on the road to consciousness. Her mind slowly began to clear until she found that she could hear no one even ones that were close to her. Suddenly, she could not decide whether or not she was glad that she could not use her ability until she understood that it was only her tightest shield that had closed down. Her shield had closed before and had since opened back up, which, she knew would happen this time, once again. Staring up at the ceiling, she started to recognize that it was Sick bay that she was in and sighed in relief that she was still alive. She raised herself onto one elbow so she could survey what sick bay looked like and how many people where being cared for. She noticed with a sick feeling that there were not that many of the crew there, which meant that more survived than she thought or more were dead. She did see that Ensign Kyle Rin was in a bed not far from hers and she was happy that he had survived so far. It did look as though he had been in a one on one fight with a few of the creatures and at least was still alive. He looked as though it had been a really rough battle, which, she had hoped he had won. She looked around for Domini to see how she faired, but, she did not see her and started to became worried that she might have come to a tragic end. She did notice that Major Straton had taken up a position to make sure that sick bay was safe for the moment. Kestra was happy that the Major had survived and was still functioning in her capacity. She and Kestra had not gotten off on the right footing, but, the Major had not let that stop her from doing her duty. Kestra was glad that the Major had come to their rescue when she did. Feeling better, she stopped a nurse that had wondered by, "Where is the Counselor?" She asked a bit worried at what she might be told. "The counselor awoke a bit ago and walked around talking to various people and the last I saw she walked into your office after talking to the Ensign over there." The nurse said as she indicated Ensign Kyle Rin. "Thank you, you may continue your duties." Kestra said as she dismissed her. Kestra was relieved to hear that Domini was fit enough to leave her bed, which, was probably against the doctors wishes. Kestra slowly started to sit up in bed as she was going to attempt to get out of bed also. After sitting up, she swung her feet over the edge and sat there for a few minutes trying to catch her breath as it had taken a bit of exertion to get that far. It felt that her whole body had been run over by a starship and then wrung out to dry. She could feel every muscle in her body scream as she tried to move. A nurse must have seen her trying to move and came over to give her a shot of stimulant which made her feel a bit better. After a couple more minutes, she felt a bit less stiff and could move a little better. In feeling so, she got up on her feet and made her way over to Ensign Rin's bed to check on him. She looked at his vital signs, which, showed he was good overall, but, he had a burn on his back and a broken rib. She knew that he would recover from those injuries with no problem. Looking up she saw that Kyle was looking at her, "Well Ensign, it looks like your battle with the creatures was successful and you will survive your encounter. How are you feeling otherwise?" She asked smiling down at him. (Reply Rin) "Me? I will be ok, I am a little sore from my encounter with them and my abilities have shut down, which, has done that before. Other than a really bad sense of two dimension, I will survive. But, enough of me. I am here to see to my patients, now tell me if there is anything I can do for you before I head to the others." She answered him and still wanted to know if there was something he needed. Actually, he was the closest thing she had as a friend on the ship other than Sevant. She also wanted to appear strong for her patients to give them all hope. She and Rin talked for a few minutes then she excused herself to go check in on Domini. She walked over to where Domini was laying in bed and looked at her vital signs. All seemed normal to her, but, she also knew that Domini's abilities had to have suffered as hers did. Kestra sat down on the edge of Domini's bed looking at her when she opened her eyes. "Well well Counselor, looks like we have survived so far." Kestra said as she smiled. Her smile dropped as she saw something in Domini's look that was not good, but, she could not tell what it was. She then thought that maybe it was because of all the crew that must be dead. "I know my dear, I know, there are a lot of crew that are probably dead." Kestra said with regrett. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, ACSO Kyle Rin & CMO, Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1150) ==================================== Looking up she saw that Kyle was looking at her, "Well Ensign, it looks like your battle with the creatures was successful and you will survive your encounter. How are you feeling otherwise?" She asked smiling down at him. "Doctor..." Kyle began with a faint voice as his eyes were still watery from previous tears that he held back. "I'm glad to see that your up and about. Are you going to be ok? You didn't suffer any major injury did you?" He asked sitting up and gazing into Kestra's eyes as he held his chest from the injured rib. "Me? I will be ok, I am a little sore from my encounter with them and my abilities have shut down, which, has done that before. Other than a really bad sense of two dimension, I will survive. But, enough of me. I am here to see to my patients, now tell me if there is anything I can do for you before I head to the others." She answered him and still wanted to know if there was something he needed. Actually, he was the closest thing she had as a friend on the ship other than Sevant. She also wanted to appear strong for her patients to give them all hope. "Anything you can do...." Kyle paused for a second and continued. "Maybe.. maybe i could do something i should have a long time..." Catching himself midsentance and laying back down he shook his head slightly. "Nevermind... if the pain should get any worse i'll let you know." ~I'm sorry Domini I can't do it.. at least not yet.~ He thought to himself as he dried his eyes from tears he continued to fight back. Looking up into her eyes once more he smiled and waited for anything the doctor might have to say. Kestra could see that there was something that was bothering him and without her abilities she could not tell what. Without him telling her what he was talking about, there was nothing much she could do for him. “Ok Ensign, make sure you do. Is there anything else you need from me before I head to the other patients?” Kestra asked thinking that talking to Domini might shed some light on what was bothering Kyle. "No ma'am i'll be fine.." His voice fading as he said it, giving her one last smile and watching her smile back at him he closed his eyes as she turned to go check on the other patients. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Captain Sevant - 1202) ==================================== Sevant walked through the heavily guarded doors of the battle bridge and looked around for a moment. A Marine came to attention, "Captain's on the Bridge." Sevant nodded and walked down the cramped causeway to the command chair, where Commander Grailik still sat. "We have issues, Commander, the Boudicca is bleeding badly." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Battle Bridge, FO, Commander Grailik, 1203) ==================================== Sevant nodded and walked down the cramped causeway to the command chair, where Commander Grailik still sat. "We have issues, Commander, the Boudicca is bleeding badly." "Yes," Grailik said, standing, he nodded toward the main viewer. A tactical display appeared. "I've moved us away from the Backtron and reengaged the cloak, though I doubt it will be much help against this enemy. We are currently inside a very dense asteroid field that was not too far away from the Backtron. This should force our adversary to slow down before coming into weapons range. Giving us time to react." Grailik typed in a command the viewer switched to from a tactical read out to a technical one. "Warp drive is off line. We still have full impulse and the cloak, though I'm sure there is leakage through the cloak at this point. Weapons and shields are both at 76%. With the last of the boarders destroyed, now we can start to fully asses the damage to the ships sub-systems. Looking like we are gonna need some more time at space dock to patch up after this one, sir." (Reply Sevant) "With the fighting over, and if you don't need me for anything else, I'd like your permission to go help out in sickbay. After the fire fight in engineering there are bound to be many wounded that need medical assistance. I'm sure Commander Troi could use all the help she can get." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Capt Sevant 1203) ==================================== "We have issues, Commander, the Boudicca is bleeding badly." "Yes," Grailik said, standing, Sevant took his seat as the Main Viewer came into operation. "I've moved us away from the Backtron and reengaged the cloak, though I doubt it will be much help against this enemy. We are currently inside a very dense asteroid field that was not too far away from the Backtron. This should force our adversary to slow down before coming into weapons range. Giving us time to react." Grailik typed in a command the viewer switched to from a tactical read out to a technical one. "Warp drive is off line. We still have full impulse and the cloak, though I'm sure there is leakage through the cloak at this point. Weapons and shields are both at 76%. With the last of the boarders destroyed, now we can start to fully asses the damage to the ships sub-systems. Looking like we are gonna need some more time at space dock to patch up after this one, sir." "Certainly," Sevant said in a mildly angry tone, which told loads about just how angry he really was. "Lt Schafio thinks she can upload remote commands to the ship and whatever is on it, I have her perusing the option. One way or another, we can end this soon." he said, his face a mask. (reply: if desired) "With the fighting over, and if you don't need me for anything else, I'd like your permission to go help out in sickbay. After the fire fight in engineering there are bound to be many wounded that need medical assistance. I'm sure Commander Troi could use all the help she can get." Sevant nodded briefly, "With all due speed, take a security guard with you, just in case there are elements we missed in the cleanup." (reply: Grailik) ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara, 1210) ==================================== "Well well Counselor, looks like we have survived so far." Kestra said as she smiled. Her smile dropped as she saw something in Domini's look that was not good, but, she could not tell what it was. She then thought that maybe it was because of all the crew that must be dead. "I know my dear, I know, there are a lot of crew that are probably dead." Kestra said with regrett. Domini sighed. "Too many that will need my mind-healing abilities in the weeks and months to come." She shook her head. "So many of them dead, and some of them dead because of me," She said, thinking about the security officer and his sacrifice to save her. "And not a good first tour of the newly refitted Boudicca." Domini looked over at Rin. "What's going on between the two of you ?" She asked, not being very subtle. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1215) ==================================== "Too many that will need my mind-healing abilities in the weeks and months to come." Domini returned sighing as she shook her head. "So many of them dead, and some of them dead because of me," Kestra listened to her with shared feelings as Domini continued, "And not a good first tour of the newly refitted Boudicca." Even though Kestra could not use her abilities, she could feel the intensity of what Domini said. Kestra reached over to Domini and pushed the hair that had fallen into her face. "Of course it is not your fault." Kestra was not far from feeling the same as Domini, but, she knew that she could not fall for that. Too many people needed their help, they could not fall into self-recriminations. "Dom, I can fix their bodies, but, you can do something I can not, you can heal the mind." Kestra said as she looked intently into Domini's eyes. "We have to work together to get through this and we can pull on each others strength." Kestra could see that Domini was thinking of what she had said. Then she looked over at Rin and straightforwardly asked, "What's going on between the two of you ?" Kestra was stunned at what Domini had said. At first Kestra could not think of what to say and just sat there staring at Domini. She had never thought about what went between her and Kyle since they met on Starbase Geneva. Now she had to reflect back at what went down between them and really could not see anything out of the ordinary. "Dom, I really don't know what you mean, why do you ask a question like that?" Kestra honestly asked wanting to know what caused her to ask such a thing. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sick bay - ACSO Kyle Rin - 1215) ==================================== The dreams were so real as if by touch or thought. Kyle took to his feet and started to look around everything was wasteland sand and mountains as far as he could see. He brushed himself off a few times and noticed he wasn't in sickbay anymore. "Hello... Kestra?...Domini?..." His voice echoed back towards him letting him hear only what was said. "Where am i?" Kyle felt someone grab his arm he flung whoever his attacker was away and spun around only to see his mother face to face with him. "Mom?.. is it really?..." The image focused it's attention onto Kyle and began to speak. "NO!" Jumping from the ground onto a near-by rockface the image spoke again. "You, must seek her out and ask for help. I can not help you anymore then i have boy." Finaly the image pulled out what seemed like a knife and leaped for Kyle with it held towards his chest. Springing up from the bio-bed Kyle rose to his feet and yelled at the top of his lungs. "MOTHER!!!!!" Kyle collapsed onto the floor and began to fall into a deep coma-type state as nurses ran over to him. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara, 1218) ==================================== "Of course it is not your fault." Kestra spoke. Domini looked at her friend, somewhat angry. Of course it was her fault, hadn't the marine commander said that her projection was what brought the things here ? "Dom, I can fix their bodies, but, you can do something I can not, you can heal the mind." Kestra said as she looked intently into Domini's eyes. "We have to work together to get through this and we can pull on each others strength." "No, Kestra, you are wrong. It is my fault. Eva said so. My projection brought the things to me. Some mind-healer I am, if I can't maintain control of my abilities in an emergency situation. I've been tested on Betazed, in the mad-houses... and I could there. We have an empath there that is so sensitive that we train with, that any kind of projection, any leaking outside our shields is enough to send that poor person into a mask of whatever the emotion is. Then we are put with that person, under stress.... directed stress, not this mindless stress...and I passed it...passed it all with flying colors. But here ? Here I failed in the first few minutes of the attacks." (reply) "What's going on between the two of you ?" Domini watched the play of emotions so transparently cross Kestra's face, settling on denial. "Dom, I really don't know what you mean, why do you ask a question like that?" Kestra honestly asked wanting to know what caused her to ask such a thing. Domini shook her head. "My friends on Earth called me Dee." She said simply. "Dom sounds...i don't know..strange." She settled for strange being a good enough word to describe how she felt. Then Domini settled into the question. "Let us just say that I have it on good faith that the boy is interested in you. The question, however, remains, what are you going to do about it ?" And then Domini grinned for the first time in a while. It was amusing to her that they were in the middle of crises situation, and she felt comfortable enough with this person to ask such a question. ~Testament to the insanity of Betazoids~ She concluded, mostly to herself. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt.Kestra Troi, 1220) ==================================== "No, Kestra, you are wrong. It is my fault. Eva said so. My projection brought the things to me. Some mind-healer I am, if I can't maintain control of my abilities in an emergency situation. I've been tested on Betazed, in the mad-houses... and I could there. We have an empath there that is so sensitive that we train with, that any kind of projection, any leaking outside our shields is enough to send that poor person into a mask of whatever the emotion is. Then we are put with that person, under stress.... directed stress, not this mindless stress...and I passed it...passed it all with flying colors. But here ? Here I failed in the first few minutes of the attacks." "For one thing.... Don't worry about what the Major said in the heat of battle. She could have meant that in a variety of ways and not necessarily in a negative connotation." She knew that from her time on the Nimitz that being a counselor or even a betazoid in a controlled situation and a full fledged starship is totally different. "Also, there is a big difference between that controlled situation and being on a warship in the midst of a battle. Believe me I know, I have been on the Nimitz during many battles. I was also an acting Captain during one where we lost a lot of lives and I had to make a decision as to whether or not to withdraw. Nothing can really prepare you for the uncertainty of battle or the horrors of it. You did, we all did what we had to do when it was needed." (Repy Dee, any) "My friends on Earth called me Dee." She said simply shaking her head. "Dom sounds...i don't know..strange." Dee paused as if pondering over the word strange. Then she seemed to put it aside to return to what Kestra had asked her. Kestra was not so sure she really wanted to hear why Dee had asked what she did. "Let us just say that I have it on good faith that the boy is interested in you. The question, however, remains, what are you going to do about it ?" After Dee had said that she grinned as if catching Kestra off guard was funny. Kestra sat there in total silence trying to figure out why she had not caught on how he had felt about her. Maybe it had been that she wanted to keep from reading anyone since her time on the Nimitz, but, then after her talk with Commander Grailik, she opened up or she thought she had. Even after that, she had not totally opened herself up unless she had to. "I don't know, what should I do about it?" Kestra asked Dee as she was at a total loss at the moment. She had not been looking for a relationship since the death of Sky and what happened because of that. Then she started to get close to Sash, but, that had happened as she was leaving the nimitz. Now this! She was just not prepared to answer what she was going to do about it. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara, 1220) ==================================== "For one thing.... Don't worry about what the Major said in the heat of battle. She could have meant that in a variety of ways and not necessarily in a negative connotation. Also, there is a big difference between that controlled situation and being on a warship in the midst of a battle. Believe me I know, I have been on the Nimitz during many battles. I was also an acting Captain during one where we lost a lot of lives and I had to make a decision as to whether or not to withdraw. Nothing can really prepare you for the uncertainty of battle or the horrors of it. You did, we all did what we had to do when it was needed." Domini sighed. "Running away to hide was the right thing to do ? Nearly losing my mind ?" Domini realized that she was severely depressed. Things just didn't feel right. The conversation continued. "I don't know, what should I do about it?" Kestra asked Domini. "Maybe talk to him ?" She asked, holding her head in her hands. The brief bout of hilarity had passed, and now she was running on empty. The adrenaline was gone, the stimulants had worn off, and she realized she was hungry. No, not just hungry. Starving, in fact. (reply Kestra?) A few minutes later, Domini got up, picking her way across the sickbay to the food replicator. "Computer, I want something sharp, like cheese. But in soup form. With some of those little green trees that they make on Earth." =^= Please restate your selection =^= "Computer, one order of brocolli and cheddar cheese soup." A voice behind her said. Domini turned around to see a human standing there, a blood soaked, make-shift bandage on his arm. He was wearing a yellow uniform, and that meant multiple departments. "Thank you." She said as the food appeared. Domini picked up the tray of soup, made her way back across sickbay and perched on one of the bio beds, sipping the soup. It was very very good, and did little to counteract the fact that she was starving, but it did begin to warm parts of her that were very very cold inside. After she finished the soup, she began to help in the sickbay. It gave her some purpose other than sitting around moping. She ended up right back at the person who had helped her order the soup. "I'm sorry." She said with a grin. "I don't know who you are, but that was wonderful soup." ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Floor of Deck 15, Lt jg Trevan West, 1225) ==================================== Trevan had managed to make it this far but was unable to make it any further. With a trail of blood on the walls and floors, he was sure someone should have found him by now. Perhaps they are all dead, he thought to himself. "Now there is something grim to think about. If I am the only one left alive, I can pass the time by talking to myself and stepping over dead bodies until we get back to dock in a few decades." Trevan tried his comm badge one more time in a last ditch effort to get help, "West to any personnel. I am in need of major assistance, I am somewhere on deck 15 I believe and I am about to pass out. Please, help." With that Trevan slumped to the floor against the wall, bleeding to death. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Captain Sevant - 1226) ==================================== =^=West to any personnel. I am in need of major assistance, I am somewhere on deck 15 I believe and I am about to pass out. Please, help.=^= Sevant's head shot over to his bridge monitor, deck 15 was dark, it's sensors had been cut somewhere in the battle for Engineering. He tapped a button on his chair, "Bridge to Transporter room, lock onto Lieutenant West's badge signal and beam him directly to sickbay." (reply: any, if desired) He sighed as confirmation was sent and slumped back into the chair. It had been not quite an hour, but no new enemies had been sighted on the ship, and the enemy vessel hadn't come back into range. "Maintain Red Alert, battle stations." he intoned, "All senior Officers able, report to the Bridge Observation Lounge in twenty minutes with status reports." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - 1228) ==================================== Sevant sat in a seat and looked at the status report. He had left command on the battle-bridge, there was damage to consoles on the primary which required repair before it could be fully used again. After a couple minutes the door opened. "Lt Schafio here!" Sevant looked up at the Operations officer, and nodded sharply. "I manage to gain control mechanically of them but not how that brain scan system work. I know the basic, but after that... the technology is too advance. If we had spiders on board, I'm not even sure if I could control them. They might work on different frequencies." "Can you implant commands into their network?" he asked, "Can we destroy them en-masse?" ==================================== (Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Sevant - 1228) ==================================== =^=Kyle to Sevant... Sir I know this goes against Starfleet regulations and I'm probably braking millions of rules and laws. But you can take your meeting and shove it down your throat. I'm going to take a much needed rest in holodeck 1 if you want my station report meet me there. Rin Out=^= Sevant's jaw worked, though his first response was not the one he used. Rather, he tapped his badge and calmly said., "Sevant to Security, pick up Doctor Kyle and place him in the brig for insubordination. Ill find him there later." (reply: Security, or anyone wanting to play the guard that takes Rin to the brig) ==================================== (Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx - 1228) ==================================== Ryko groaned as he regained consciousness, he knew he was in sickbay, but it may as well have been a hole in the ground for all he cared, his head was still spinning. He felt a hand push him back to the biobed, and lay there until his eyes focused. A medical orderly swam into view. "How are you feeling, ensign?" the orderly inquired. Ryko rubbed his forehead. The burning feeling was gone, thanks to a dermal regenerator. "Like I've been shot," Ryko said, smiling, but still keeping his eyes closed. He looked at the orderly, who injected him with a hypospray. "This should clear up the pain," the orderly said as Ryko sat up. He did feel markedly better. He looked around sickbay and noticed someone in a security uniform coming towards him. He tidied his hair back into its familiar lock as the man approached. "Ensign Skylynx, I am ensign (jg) Frederickson, recently assigned to the Boudicca." He handed Ryko a padd. "How can I help?" Ryko still wasn't fully alert and near missed this question. "I see we share a few passions," Ryko said as he read Frederickson' s profile. "Weapons, and flying," Ryko said. He looked at the ensign. "Out of curiosity, ensign, what is your Starfleet marksmanship rating?" (Reply Fredrickson) "I see," Ryko said, "It appears we've got the same skills," Ryko said as he stood up. "We'll have to have a game of Velocity at some point," he said as he dusted himself off. The medical staff had been kind enough to replicate a fresh uniform. "Well, as to helping out, you may know we're fighting some sort of alien idiots," Ryko said, restraining his use of language. "Mop up is the basic outlook now, but since you now a thing or two about weapons, you can accompany me to the armory, we need to reprogram our phasers so they'll be more effective." (Reply Fredrickson) Ryko headed towards the door, when his badge chimed. "Sevant to security, please escort Dr. Rin to the brig for insubordination. I will meet him there." Ryko smiled amusedly at this prospect, considering he was standing right behind the doctor as he left sickbay. He looked at Fredrickson. "You heard the captain," he said, and the two promptly arrested Dr Rin. Ryko tapped his badge. "Skylynx to Sevant, Dr Rin is in custody," he said. He had a firm hold of the doctor's arm, as did John. (Reply Sevant) "Just fine, sir. I will be there in a few moments, once myself and ensign Fredrickson have detained the doctor." (Reply Sevant) "Acknowledged," Ryko said. He turned to his new co-worker. "Let's take the good doctor on a relaxing little walk, shall we?" Ryko said, evidently amused by the situation Rin had gotten himself into. He saw John smile. He was obviously enjoying his new post. Ryko failed to stifle a small laugh as the party headed to the brig. ==================================== (Boudicca - Sickbay - TAC/ASC Ensign John Fredericks - 1228) ==================================== "Ensign Skylynx, I am ensign (jg) Frederickson, recently assigned to the Boudicca." He handed Ryko a padd. "How can I help?" Ryko still wasn't fully alert and near missed this question. "I see we share a few passions," Ryko said as he read Frederickson' s profile. "Weapons, and flying," Ryko said. He looked at the ensign. "Out of curiosity, ensign, what is your Starfleet marksmanship rating?" “I have a sharpshooters rating in both rifle and pistle with averages in the upper 90%” said John “I would rather be on the range than anywhere else other the flying” While talking to Skylynx, John was checking him out with a professional curiosity. He looked like death warmed over but was still going . "I see," Ryko said, "It appears we've got the same skills," Ryko said as he stood up. "We'll have to have a game of Velocity at some point," he said as he dusted himself off. The medical staff had been kind enough to replicate a fresh uniform. "Well, as to helping out, you may know we're fighting some sort of alien idiots," Ryko said, restraining his use of language. "Mop up is the basic outlook now, but since you now a thing or two about weapons, you can accompany me to the armory, we need to reprogram our phasers so they'll be more effective." “Velocity sounds like fun” replied John. “I haven’t played in a while”. What can you tell me about the alien borders, I have seen the results but have not been briefed on them as of yet. Maybe you can fill me in on the way to the armory. (reply Skylynx) Ryko headed towards the door, when his badge chimed. "Sevant to security, please escort Dr. Rin to the brig for insubordination. I will meet him there." Ryko smiled amusedly at this prospect, considering he was standing right behind the doctor as he left sickbay. He looked at Fredrickson. "You heard the captain," he said, and the two promptly arrested Dr Rin. Ryko tapped his badge. "Skylynx to Sevant, Dr Rin is in custody," he said. He had a firm hold of the doctor's arm, as did John. I will be there in a few moments, once myself and ensign Fredrickson have detained the doctor." He turned to his new co-worker. "Let's take the good doctor on a relaxing little walk, shall we?" Ryko said, evidently amused by the situation Rin had gotten himself into. He saw John smile. He was obviously enjoying his new post. Ryko failed to stifle a small laugh as the party headed to the brig. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara - 1229) ==================================== Domini managed to slink into the meeting after Yalta and the others, taking a place in the back of the room. She folded her hands in front of her, looking down at them. She felt rather guilty over the Security Chief's death, it had been to protect her. Domini knew, at least part of her knew, that this man had wanted to die. It was the only reason that he had taken them on. But still, it hurt her, a lot, to know that she had been the cause of his death. She had lost control over her abilities, and that meant that people had gotten hurt and killed. Not only had she lost control over abilities, completely, but she had been worse than useless, caught in the pain of others, and reprojecting it out. She knew, now, intimately how these things destroyed those it ate. She didn't know if she could heal any of them. She would certainly try, and keep trying. ~It won't do any good, though~ She thought to herself, giving in to the black depression that had been haunting her all day. She hadn't slept in days, and even though she had eaten recently, the food just left a sour spot in her stomach. ~There are times that I hate my life.~ She thought, looking out the observation lounge's window. "Can you implant commands into their network?" he asked, "Can we destroy them en-masse?" The Captain asked the Ops officer. Domini shook her head, this wasn't the borg, it was more sophisticated than that. And it would be back, very soon, to finish it's meal. With the amount of damage, both externally, internally and in personel that the Boudicca had suffered.... the pessimistic side that was inhabiting Domini didn't really give them much of a chance. She continued listening to the meeting, wondering when Eva would speak up. She was a brilliant tactician, and with the lack of a Security Chief at the moment, she was all they got. ==================================== (Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Sevant - 1229) ==================================== "Sevant to Security, pick up Doctor Kyle and place him in the brig for insubordination. Ill find him there later." Several seconds passed, then, =^=Skylynx to Sevant, Dr Rin is in custody,=^= The Captain paused for a few moments, "Very well." he thought for a few more seconds, "Are you healed enough to attend the meeting?" =^=Just fine, sir. I will be there in a few moments, once myself and ensign Fredrickson have detained the doctor.=^= "Very well, keep me informed." =^=Acknowledged,=^= ==================================== (USS Boudicca – Bridge observation lounge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1230) ==================================== "I manage to gain control mechanically of them but not how that brain scan system work. I know the basic, but after that... the technology is too advance. If we had spiders on board, I'm not even sure if I could control them. They might work on different frequencies." "Can you implant commands into their network?" he asked, "Can we destroy them en-masse?" “I don't know, they are heavily shielded in that tritanium casing. I can make an adaptive program, to change frequencies quickly if the one I have doesn't work. It's not a 100% plan... let just say fifty, fifty. I put a simple plan to have them freeze up, we will quickly know if it works. Considering that they are attracted by empaths, was there any weird reaction from them in certain members of the crew? I was thinking of Ferengies... no telepaths can read them. How did they react to them.” ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - Capt Sevant - 1232) ==================================== "Can you implant commands into their network?" he asked, "Can we destroy them en-masse?" "I don't know, they are heavily shielded in that tritanium casing. I can make an adaptive program, to change frequencies quickly if the one I have doesn't work. It's not a 100% plan... let just say fifty, fifty. I put a simple plan to have them freeze up, we will quickly know if it works. Considering that they are attracted by empaths, was there any weird reaction from them in certain members of the crew? I was thinking of Ferengies... no telepaths can read them. How did they react to them." Sevant frowned, "They responded well enough to non-telepaths as well, they seemed to like draining anyone they could... Like food." He mused for a few seconds, "We will have to study that, but get to work on implanting commands." (reply: Ops) NRPG: Anyone who wants to go before the Doc can do so here. RPG: After several minutes, the CMO finally spoke up. "Sir, I have set up my staff into two crews, one in sickbay and one as a mobile team. Sick bay and triage center are over full, but my staff are hand ling it the best they can. My mobile team has had to set up an alternate sick bay in the cargo bay two, deck twenty and they are almost where they may have to flow over to cargo bay three on deck twenty one." She paused as she was about to give the grime facts and she wished it was someone else not her. "Sir, right now we have seventy five crew dead and nearly fifty wounded. These numbers are continuing to rise as we speak, but, they are slowing down. What disturbs me the most are the numbers that have accompanied the backtron members in cargo bay one on deck 20 that are mindless. These are the ones that had any connection to telepathic abilities which the creatures had zeroed in on. There are only a few crew left that are telepathically able and that includes the Betaziods onboard." She looked around the room as she finished and saw what she felt in every face that looked back at her. "Sir, I would guess that we are hurting in crew members just as bad as the ship itself is hurt." Immediately, the CEO said, "And the ship is in a very bad state. I have teams all over the ship. The worst hit seems to be engineering. There is a lot of damage in sickbay but that is mostly structural and a luxury for later. I have my people round the clock but I will need some time to get this ship back together. Also I have wondered whether there is any information about CEO West. He seems to have disappeared." Sevant, his face now set habitually in a frown, leaned forward. "West is in Sickbay, you can seek him there later." He looked over at the CMO, "What you both are telling me, in short" he said as he turned his gaze to the ACEO, "Is that I would be foolish to send the ship into combat again?" (reply: any) Sevant didn't like that, it meant they only had two choices as he saw things. He held up a hand and closed his eyes in thought, "Alright, get to work on Engineering and do whatever you can to our battle systems, I want to know where we stand in two hours and if anything has changed." He looked at Ops, "You have those two hours to work, working through their network would mean we don't have to go into combat again regardless." He looked over at the CMO, "Let me know when you have the injured crew stabilized, I'm afraid our priority will be those that still have their minds with them, those that became zombies are on the back burner for now. Ill have you work with Science and Ops and these robots once we've gotten over the worst of this, to see if there is a way to revive them, or if they are lost forever." (reply: CMO) Sevant took a breath as he looked around, "Anyone else?" (reply: any) ==================================== (USS Boudicca – Battle Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1233) ==================================== “I don't know, they are heavily shielded in that tritanium casing. I can make an adaptive program, to change frequencies quickly if the one I have doesn't work. It's not a 100% plan... let just say fifty, fifty. I put a simple plan to have them freeze up, we will quickly know if it works. Considering that they are attracted by empaths, was there any weird reaction from them in certain members of the crew? I was thinking of Ferengies... no telepaths can read them. How did they react to them.” Sevant frowned, "They responded well enough to non-telepaths as well, they seemed to like draining anyone they could... Like food." He mused for a few seconds, "We will have to study that, but get to work on implanting commands." “I will continue to tweak at it... I got lucky on some part but this might take months to figure out... I will do my best.” has she return to her seat and unloaded her equipment and the spiders parts. Yalta was working quietly, she pull out the panel underneath her console to work on the systems. She didn't want to turn it upside down inside out but she might have to do that, and wasn't sure of the end result, Yalta could only test it on the spider that she partly put together. She didn't watch time, just work, then the captain came with a bit of news. "You have those two hours to work, working through their network would mean we don't have to go into combat again regardless." He kept going talking to the CMO. When the Captain gave the possibility to talk or add something Yalta said. “Great Sir!” ~How about 2 yrs... I'm not sure that I'm moving forward. “I made a few connection through out the ship but there are parts of the ship I can't get through from here. Engineering, medical and marine... they must have cut a few systems has they work their way through. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1235) ==================================== "Maybe talk to him ?" Domini had asked, as she held her head in her hands. The conversation had come to a point where Kestra could see several things that need to be done. The most important one was that Domini needed more rest, there were injured that needed tending and wounded that needed help getting to sick bay, then there was the problem with Ensign Rin that needed to be tended. "I guess I should before it gets too far, but, I need to take care of a few things first." Kestra replied sighing. "Anyways you need to lie back and rest a bit more to gain your strength, thanks." Kestra then moved over to where she saw Lieutenant Butan, as all of her staff from each shift had arrived. "Ensign Aldrin, you take your crew and part of Lt. Butan's and go out over the ship helping the injured. Take care of what you can and send the rest to us. Also, stop by Major Straton to get a couple of her marines to accompany you." Kestra instructed the capable Ensign. "Aye Sir" was Ensign Aldrin's only response as he immediately gathered the personnel he needed to accomplish his task. The mobile team consisted of Ensign Aldrin MO, Ensigns Rayles, Eren, crewman Chell, nurses, Ensign Dltor, MT, Ensigns Baeril, McCoy, and Arlin, Orderlies. Kestra then started making her rounds to the patients that she had already making sure they were being tended. The staff that stayed to help her included, Lt. Butan, MO, Lt. Fala, Ensigns DeSoto and Rix,nurses, Ensigns Luvana and Mcdonald, MTs, and Ensigns Wu, Belar, Dra, Orderlies. Kestra also noticed that Domini had gotten up and was doing what she could to help a crewmember that she thought was Ensign Skylynx, the TAC/ASC. Kestra could not fathom how Domini was managing it in her state, but, she was. She made a mental note to mention that when it was time to report to the captain. As more crewmembers where arriving, her staff made initial assessments then placed them in the area most needed to be seen. She watched as her team was the epitome of efficiency and she decided that she had a few moments to devote to another matter. "Ensign Rin, I have been talking to the Counselor and she said something that I think we need to talk about." Kestra said as she approached him. "Is there something you want to tell me?" (reply Kyle, any) NRPG: More could be added iyw. RPG: Kestra had talked to Ensign Rin for a few moments when it seemed that the CEO Lt. West was beamed to Sick Bay. Some of her team that could, went to him to stop the bleeding that seemed to come from everywhere. "Sorry, Ensign, but, I must cut our conversation short as I am needed elsewhere. I do want to continue this discussion at a later time please." she said as she moved over to West to see what she could do. Kestra found that West was bleeding from just about every limb and he had some very bad burns that was going to take some time in mending. The bio scanner also showed that he was suffering form intense radiation poisoning. She started by removing all of his clothing that was contaminated and threw it in the contamination ben. She injected him with anti radiation medicine and started to clean his body of all fluids in addition to the blood that was caked on and leaking. Her assistants were also tending to his many cuts and abrasions. "Make sure he gets to our decontamination area and keep an eye on him." Kestra said just as the comm channel chirped. =/\=All senior Officers able, report to the Bridge Observation Lounge in twenty minutes with status reports.=/\= Kestra knew it was Sevant and she sighed as she really did not have the time to attend a meeting. She looked around and the arrival of wounded had trickled down to a slow train and the staff could handle it she thought. She walked over to Domini, "Are you able to join me in the meeting?" She asked (reply Domini, any) ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - Capt Sevant - 1238) ==================================== "What you both are telling me, in short" he said as he turned his gaze to the ACEO, "Is that I would be foolish to send the ship into combat again?" The CMO spoke first, slowly, as if she didn't want to say what she was going to say. "Sir, if we have lost this many crew members on just the first of what could be many battles, then yes I believe it would be futile at this time." Siam responded with, "Well sir, I would strongly advise against for the near future." Sevant didn't like that, it meant they only had two choices as he saw things. He held up a hand and closed his eyes in thought, "Alright, get to work on Engineering and do whatever you can to our battle systems, I want to know where we stand in two hours and if anything has changed." He looked at Ops, "You have those two hours to work, working through their network would mean we don't have to go into combat again regardless." He looked over at the CMO, "Let me know when you have the injured crew stabilized, I'm afraid our priority will be those that still have their minds with them, those that became zombies are on the back burner for now. Ill have you work with Science and Ops and these robots once we've gotten over the worst of this, to see if there is a way to revive them, or if they are lost forever." "Yes, Sir. I will keep you informed and we shall see if we can help the others." the Doctor replied. Sevant took a breath as he looked around, "Anyone else?" The Operations officer spoke up, "Great Sir! I made a few connection through out the ship but there are parts of the ship I can't get through from here. Engineering, medical and marine... they must have cut a few systems has they work their way through." Sevant nodded, "Very well." He looked around, waiting for anyone else. NRPG: Lets wrap this up. One way or another, I will be bringing this to an end within the next 5 days. I warn everyone now, we will be doing a multi-month jump. We will be moving to 10.07.10 or so, so the ship will be fully repaired and upgraded. I will also be doing the promotions and such then. RPG: (reply: any) Sevant nodded again and stood, "Alright, go to work." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx - 1238) ==================================== Ryko dusted his lapels off, they looked a little bobbled, and stepped onto the bridge. He glanced over at the Tactical Station, and noticed there was an officer standing in. He seemed happy, so Ryko left him be. He headed straight to the observation lounge. As he entered, he didn't bother introducing himself. There were various nods and curious gestures, but no one dared interrupt the captain mid-sentence. Sevant took a breath as he looked around, "Anyone else?" Yalta spoke up."Great Sir! I made a few connection through out the ship but there are parts of the ship I can't get through from here. Engineering, medical and marine... they must have cut a few systems has they work their way through." Sevant nodded, "Very well." He looked around, waiting for anyone else. "Yes, actually." Ryko said as the others became quiet. "If I could make a suggestion." (reply: Sevant) "Sir, I've seen hell in space, but nothing I've ever seen is as bad as this. Not from a damage point of view, but from morale. I've looked around and seen the crew beat. I have no idea whether this incident is a one-off or if other ships have suffered this fate. But one thing goes without saying. As soon as we get to Geneva, the rest of the squadron must be warned. The crew need downtime too." Ryko paused, feeling distinctly like a counselor instead of a tactical officer. "In the meantime, I would like to return to my station, unless I am needed elsewhere." (Reply Any) Sevant nodded again and stood, "Alright, go to work." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - Capt Sevant - 1238) ==================================== "Yes, actually." Ryko said as the others became quiet. "If I could make a suggestion." Sevant nodded. "Sir, I've seen hell in space, but nothing I've ever seen is as bad as this. Not from a damage point of view, but from morale. I've looked around and seen the crew beat. I have no idea whether this incident is a one-off or if other ships have suffered this fate. But one thing goes without saying. As soon as we get to Geneva, the rest of the squadron must be warned. The crew need downtime too." He paused, then said, "In the meantime, I would like to return to my station, unless I am needed elsewhere." Sevant leaned back in his chair, "We are going to have plenty of downtime, Ensign." he finally said. "More then we want." Sevant nodded again and stood, "Alright, go to work." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - ACSO Kyle Rin - 12:40) ==================================== Having been injected with a few more hyposprays Kyle gave Kestra a few smiles. "Thanks, i'm sure i'll feel better soon." (reply Kestra) =/\=All senior Officers able, report to the Bridge Observation Lounge in twenty minutes with status reports. =/\= Kyle watched as Kestra took leave for the observation meeting. Kyle took to his feet and tapped his com badge he had recieved when he arived at sickbay. "Kyle to Sevant... Sir I know this goes against starfleet regulations and i'm probbly braking millions of rules and laws. But you can take your meeting and shove it down your throat. I'm going to take a much needed rest in holodeck 1 if you want my station report meet me there. Rin Out" (reply Sevant) NRPG: Yeah, i know this is really mean but i couldn't stop laughing everytime i thought about it. RPG: Closing the com channel Kyle left sickbay and headed towards the nearest turbolift. As he entered, the doors slid shut behind him pausing for a moment as he thought about Kestra. ~I should have never signed on for starfleet in the first place. To be honest with myself it was really the only thing i have left.~ "Deck 10." The lift accepted the command and began it's decent. All the while Kyle began to forget about everything that had happen in the last twelve hours. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Observation Lounge, Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1246) ==================================== As tired as she was, Kestra managed to make her way to the Observation Lounge. As she entered she noticed several people already there and she walked over to her normal seat to sit down heavily. She tried to complete the report she had already started on her padd before the meeting started. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Observation Lounge, 2O/CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1248) ==================================== Kestra was in dire need of rest and she knew it. Her mind tended to wonder to things that were not needed at the meeting and back. She still had a headache and her ability to scan minds had still been shut down. She knew that she probably was not the example of a Starfleet Officer in her wrinkled uniform and unkept hair. ~Well, at least most are the same way after what we have been through.~ Kestra thought to herself as she scanned the room. Their faces were just as ragged as hers and all looked like that were ready for some rest. Kestra listened to what was being said in the meeting as she sat in her place. She had set the PADD in her hands to accept updates as her team sent new information to her. Occasionally she looked at it and she the numbers of wounded and dead continually rising. It hurt her to see so many and so many of the numbers that were telepaths or had telepath abilities counted as comatose. She looked over at Domini's face and could see that she was still having problems. She could see that the counselor still was having problems with what she felt was her failure in the face of the enemy. Kestra felt for her and had tried to tell her that she had nothing to feel ashamed about, but, Domini had basically ignored her. Kestra sighed and knew that Domini would have to work it out by herself and with a little sleep she would. Sevant had asked for reports from all the departments and she listened to the ones that had survived to come. Then it came to be her turn to report the grime stats that she was carrying. Looking at Sevant and sighed she started. "Sir, I have set up my staff into two crews, one in sickbay and one as a mobile team. Sick bay and triage center are over full, but my staff are hand ling it the best they can. My mobile team has had to set up an alternate sick bay in the cargo bay two, deck twenty and they are almost where they may have to flow over to cargo bay three on deck twenty one." She paused as she was about to give the grime facts and she wished it was someone else not her. "Sir, right now we have seventy five crew dead and nearly fifty wounded. These numbers are continuing to rise as we speak, but, they are slowing down. What disturbs me the most are the numbers that have accompanied the Blackton members in cargo bay one on deck 20 that are mindless. These are the ones that had any connection to telepathic abilities which the creatures had zeroed in on. There are only a few crew left that are telepathically able and that includes the Betaziods onboard." She looked around the room as she finished and saw what she felt in every face that looked back at her. "Sir, I would guess that we are hurting in crew members just as bad as the ship itself is hurt." She finished and leaned back. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Observation Lounge - ACEO Enaj - 1248) ==================================== "Sir, I would guess that we are hurting in crew members just as bad as the ship itself is hurt." Saim hearing this piped up, "And the ship is in a very bad state. I have teams all over the ship. The worst hit seems to be engineering. There is a lot of damage in sickbay but that is mostly structural and a luxury for later. I have my people round the clock but I will need some time to get this ship back together. Also I have wondered whether there is any information about CEO West. He seems to have disappeared. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Brig- TAC/ASC Ryko Skylynx- 1248) ==================================== Ryko escorted a struggling doctor Rin into a holding cell as Fredrickson emplaced the forcefield. Ryko stepped back and looked at Rin, who was protesting at his incarceration. (Reply Rin, IFW) "I'd save your reasons for the Captain, doctor," Ryko said. "They won't work on me." He turned and looked at the Ferengi prisoner, still imprisoned in a cell of his own. He sighed. "We have got to offload him sometime," Ryko said. His mind drifted back to when he had caught the stowaway, with Lt Bush's assistance. Now Bush was gone, and in all possibility Ryko would have to fill his boots. "Are you okay to wait here for the captain?" Ryko asked John as he looked back at the doctor. (Reply Fredrickson) "Good. I'll see you at, I dunno, maybe...1800 hours, on the holodeck. I'm gonna kick your ass at Velocity," Ryko said, smiling. (Reply Fredrickson) "Great. See you then." Ryko said, as he left his new co-worker in charge of the doctor. He headed to the bridge. ~Maybe he's not as green as I originally thought,~ Ryko thought as he stepped into the turbolift. He gave the command and was on his way to the meeting. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Brig- TAC/ASC John Fredericks- 1248) ==================================== Ryko escorted a struggling doctor Rin into a holding cell as Fredrickson emplaced the forcefield. Ryko stepped back and looked at Rin, who was protesting at his incarceration. "I'd save your reasons for the Captain, doctor," Ryko said. "They won't work on me." He turned and looked at the Ferengi prisoner, still imprisoned in a cell of his own. He sighed. ~A Ferengi!~ John thought to himself. ~I haven’t seen one of them in a while~. "We have got to offload him sometime," "Are you okay to wait here for the captain?" Ryko asked John as he looked back at the doctor. “No problem” replied John hefting the rifle and assuming a position of attention "Good. I'll see you at, I dunno, maybe...1800 hours, on the holodeck. I'm gonna kick your ass at Velocity," Ryko said, smiling. “It’s been kicked before, but not very often” John replied aloud ~not very often at all~ he laughed to himself. ~I hope those burns aren’t as bad as they look~, Thought John ~If I take him I wouldn’t want it to be because of them, although he doesn’t seem to be letting them bother him too much~. "Great. See you then." Ryko said, as he left his new co-worker in charge of the doctor and headed to the bridge. ~I can’t wait to meet whats left of the crew~ said John to himself ~If what I have seen so far is any indication this is one hell of a ship~. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge observation lounge - 2O/CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi - 1255) ==================================== "West is in Sickbay, you can seek him there later." Sevant replied, his face now set habitually in a frown as he leaned forward. He then looked over at the Kestra, "What you both are telling me, in short" he said as he turned his gaze to the ACEO, "Is that I would be foolish to send the ship into combat again?" Kestra thought for a moment on what she should say then looked at him, "Sir, if we have lost this many crew members on just the first of what could be many battles, then yes I believe it would be futile at this time." she answered him knowing that he would not like what she said. Sevant did not like to leave loose ends like this that could come back to haunt him later. Sevant held up a hand and closed his eyes in thought, "Alright, get to work on Engineering and do whatever you can to our battle systems, I want to know where we stand in two hours and if anything has changed." He looked at Ops, "You have those two hours to work, working through their network would mean we don't have to go into combat again regardless." He looked over back at Kestra, "Let me know when you have the injured crew stabilized, I'm afraid our priority will be those that still have their minds with them, those that became zombies are on the back burner for now. I 'll have you work with Science and Ops and these robots once we've gotten over the worst of this, to see if there is a way to revive them, or if they are lost forever." Kestra never liked to arbitrarily give up hope on anyone, but, she was almost positive that there would be no way to revive them. She did have a slim hope that if they could get one of the robots working for them, they might be able to find out what happened to their minds. "Yes, Sir. I will keep you informed and we shall see if we can help the others." She replied to Sevant. Kestra once again leaned back into her chair to let others talk if they wanted. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Cargo bay 2 - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1300) ==================================== Kestra could understand the frustration that Sevant had in having to back away from a fight. That means the enemy would be there getting ready for them once again and next time things might not turn out the same way as it did today. But, then again, if she knew Sevant and she thought she did to some extent, he would be better prepare the next time he met them. She shuddered to think what the causalties would be when next the Boudicca meets up with this new enemy. Sevant would undoubtedly inform the fleet of them and what type of tactics they use at least this time. She walked into cargo bay 2, she saw row after row of beds that had injured of every kind laying on them. She saw her mobile team moving amongst them tending to them or making them more comfortable. She saw a line of injured over at what looked like a triage area where they figured out what the injury was classifying them in the order of need. Walking over she saw Ensign Aldrin working steadily trying to get control of the injured as fast as he could. She set her jaw and waded in to help him. ==================================== (USS Bodicca, Battle bridge, Ensign (jg) John fredericks 1330) ==================================== John picked up the pip from the desk and held it in his hand for a second before remembering to salute and to thank the Admiral. “Thank you sir”, said John “I will do my best to live up to yours and LT CO Sharam’s expectations. After being giving the new assignment John again saluted, Turned and left the room. Barely containing himself John walked to the nearest men’s room and pinned the pip to his uniform. Then strutted to his room to begin packing. This being a common thing, no one paid any attention, John didn’t care though he was on his way to his first Starship. And the Boudicca, a ship already ripe with history. John entered his quarters and started packing tacking only enough time to send off a couple of quick messages to his friends at the academy and one to his parents telling them he had graduated and where he had been assigned to. Just as He was getting ready to contact the Star base and find out which shuttle he would need to catch to get there as fast as possible when the door chimed. “Enter”, called John. The Door opened revealing a cadet with a small box. “Sir, complements of the Academy”. “Thanks cadet”, said John accepting the translucent box noticing that there was a comm. unit inside. The cadet turned and left. John sat down and opened the box and pinned it to his chest. This even above the pip made him feel like he had finely made it. Then he remembered he had to catch a shuttle and made the call to the star base. Finding the shuttle time was easy, making it to the platform would not be. John left the academy the same way he had come into it bags in had and racing for the door. He caught a hover cab and headed to the shuttle port only to find that the shuttle had left early. ~Damn~ Thought John, ~this day was going so well too~ . John jogged over to the shuttle dispatch and explained the problem and was reassigned to the next shuttle. John had time to grab a few things from the gift shops and the book store before the shuttle left although he planned on being the first in line this time, As he checked out the gift shop John found little that really interested him but found a few odds and ends that his little brother would like. At the book store John found some that “now” did interest him. All through his scholastic history John had had a disinterest in languages. When coming to the academy though he had had to pick a language for study and had chosen Klingon (although later he would wonder at what time he had apparently become a masochist). Although John did pass he did not do well enough to suite either his instructors or himself and vowed to continue the lessons until he could at least understand some of the things that were being said in conversations. John now found himself picking up intermediate and advanced Klingon lesson discs and books. ~About time~ Thought John as he heard the first call for the shuttle to station run. John hurried over two the loading door and waited while the line started to form, he decided to pass the time by reading one of his new books. When the door slid open to allow passengers to board John hurried in and sat in the back row to allow others the window seats and went back to reading his book. John had just cleared the chapter on Klingon greetings (there were not many) when there was a slap against his shoulder and the words “Move Human” came to him. John looked up and saw three large Klingons. “Did you not hear me Human? I said move”. Said the first Klingon loudly, “we wish to sit”. John first looked to the other side of him and noticed three empty seats. Quickly trying to decide the best option John remembered something in the book and stood up and looked the first Klingon in the eyes and said “Why should I move for you, what are you to me that I should give way?” This produced a few gasp from the surrounding passengers but only a few laughs from the two Klingons behind the first. The first Klingon looked at John with a challenging look for a few minutes making John think maybe he had misunderstood the book. The First Klingon finally stopped Starring at John and said “when did Federation cubs start showing backbone”? “I will tell you who I am and then you will tell me who you are, then we shall see if there is a reason to continue this in a more personal way”. “I am Klataw son of Kordock weapons officer enroot to the Klingon currier ship D’orch. And who are you”? “I am John, son of John, assistant Tactical, ensign of the Boudicca, enroot”. Klataw studied John for a moment and then said,” A fresh from school ensign if I read you correctly. One, who is a Star Ship weapons specialist, studies Klingon and even though outnumbered stands up to Klingons. I do not consider my honor tainted and ask you to join us”. John feeling somewhat lost at this point decided to continue the front. “I am honored to join you” he then stepped aside allowing the Klingons a chance to take the seats down the row. John and the Klingons spoke quite a bit on the trip to the station, they seamed impressed that a human would know anything about a Bat'leth let alone own one and train with it. They also corrected him on some pronunciation problems he was having. After the shuttle arrived John found that he was indeed honored to have met the Klingons. John checked in at the station and arranged to catch a warp shuttle to the Geneva Station. It looked like it had been a good thing to have picked up the language disks because he was in for a long ride. He still had time to catch a meal before his shuttle took off and he was thinking about trying a traditional Klingon meal but after thinking about it again he decided that hungry as he was he really didn’t want to have to chase his food down when it tried to crawl off his plate. Raw food was one thing live food was something else entirely. John hit one of the eating establishments that promised food just like home, evidently they had meant their home since mom had never cooked anything like that before, not that it wasn’t good and he was sure he could have skin grafted back on the roof of his mouth later. =/\=BORDING CALL FOR GENEVA SHUTTLE=/\= ~This was it thought~ John. The last leg of his trip to his ship. He checked to be sure his meager luggage was on board and hopped into his seat and waited for the rest of the passengers to board. He noticed that there weren’t too many on this trip. There were a couple of officers towards the front and a few civilians. He noticed a few from the Academy but they were from different classes and seemed to be wrapped up in their own conversation. He did notice a young blond woman sitting a few seats behind the officers and had there not been any other Star Fleet members present he thought he might have tried getting to know her but decided against it just now. The trip was supposed to be about six hours and John thought he would kill off the fist few with sack time, it had already been a long day and he wanted to be in top form when he presented himself to the Capt on the Boudicca. After waking up, John decided that it was time to go through the disk he had bought and spent the rest of the trip immersed in Klingon. After reaching the Geneva base John discovered that things had changed and that he wouldn’t be boarding the ship as planned. But would be running out with a line ship to take the Boudicca a new runabout. Fortunatly John had trained on every ship that the academy had access to and was at least familure with the runabout in question. John presented himself to the cargo master of the line ship and was told he didn’t need to see anyone senior sense he was himself “cargo” this trip. Asked for and received permission to re-familurize himself with the runabouts controls. The trip was pretty uneventful and John soon found himself readying the Runabout for its trip to the Boudicca. =/\= Ensign JC Fredericks requesting permission to debark.=/\= =/\= permission granted, safe trip=/\= ~It’s a milk run~, Thought John, ~what could go wrong~? After a couple of hours John was in the area the Boudicca was supposed to be in and he ran a sensor sweep with the vessels somewhat limited sensors. ~There she is, Guess I should give a shout~ John said to himself. =/\= This is Ensign John C Fredericks in the Runabout “Chaser” requesting permission to dock=/\= Only static replied to his call. John repeated his request. Still only static. John checked the sensors again and noticed that the shields were down and that he did detect life forms although there were fewer than he expected. John took the Chaser to the rear of the ship and tapped his comm. badge again. =/\= Chaser to Boudicca, requesting docking permission, please respond, Chaser to anyone on the Boudicca please respond. After a while a faint response came through with a lot of static and said to dock in bay one then cut out. John eased the Chaser into the docking bay and waited for the readings to show that the force field was back up and the atmosphere was back up. ~Some things not right~ Thought John and ran through a Betazoid empathic search in the area around him fir the first time wishing his reach was further or that he had trained this facet of himself further. Pain, fear, anger, despair and elation were the emotions that John was “reading” from the surrounding area. =/\=Chaser, this is the communications on the battle bridge; we are limited to intra ship communications right now. I know these sounds odd but pull a weapon from the runabout and get up to the battle bridge quick; we’ll try to send someone to you but try to make it on your own. These sounds odd too I know but if you see something that looks like a big spider, shoot it. Bridge out=/\= John went back to the armory of the small ship and pulled a phaser from the rack. Feeling his adrenalin level start to raise John headed for the door and stopped as it slid open. Pieces of what looked like the afore mentioned spiders along with several bodies were scattered across the deck. John looked down at the small hand weapon and went back to Chaser and pulled a phaser rifle from the rack but holstered the type II as well. ~The feelings are starting to make sense now~ thought John. He began making what turned out to be a nightmarish trip to the battle bridge, fortunately the small interfaces in the corridors were intact since he never met the hoped for escort. The feelings he was able to read from around him had starting to become too intense so he stopped for moment and formed the empathic shield that was so necessary to empaths. As John continued couldn’t help but notice a few burn marks here and there on the walls and decks and areas where it was obvious that sections had been replaced. ~Damn, what has been going on here~? Thought John he also noticed that there were indeed fewer people around than he thought he would find. What ever had befallen this ship it had been through hell? When he got to the doors to the bridge he stopped and ran through a few calming exercises he had learned when studying on Betazed and stepped out to the bridge when the doors opened. As he stepped out looking somewhat lost an ensign looked up and caught his eye and gestured to an officer at a consol. John walked up and cleared his throat. As the officer turned and revealed that she was indeed the Capt. John saluted and said “Ensign (jg) John C Fredericks reporting to the Capt as instructed. SIR”. ==================================== (Boudicca - Brig - Capt Sevant - 1330) ==================================== Sevant nodded to the single guard at the brig and walked in. There were many cells here, but only one of them showed the blue glow of a force-field. Sevant put his hands behind his back and walked slowly to the cell. Inside was the ACSO Rin, looking none-to-happy about cooling his heels in one of the most uncomfortable parts of the ship. "Ensign," he said after several long moments. "We have to have a talk." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Battle-Bridge - Capt Sevant - 1400) ==================================== "Ensign (jg) John C Fredericks reporting to the Capt as instructed. SIR". Sevant looked up from his chair, and noted the new officer. "I don't know how you got aboard, but you have nothing if not a good sense of timing." He took the PADD from the Ensign and checked its marks, ~Security, good.~ "Our Security Chief was killed this morning, Ensign," Sevant said in harsh tones as he looked back up. "As you can see, we are in something of a situation. Niceties aside, report immediately to Ensign Skylynx, who was in Medical last time I checked." He handed the PADD with orders back. "Questions?" (reply: if desired) Sevant nodded, "Dismissed." ==================================== (USS Boudicca – battle bridge Ensign (jg) John C Fredericks 1400) ==================================== “Yes Sir” Said John as he took the PADD back from the Captain, turned and headed for the bridge’s door. Once outside the bridge John accessed the ships computer for directions to the sickbay. He loved being on board but the lost feeling he had when trying to find someplace. John headed for the turbo lift and gave the instructions for deck 7. While dropping the 4 decks to get there he worked on his empathic shield. He had not had to practice it much since leaving Betazed but it looked like he was going to need it for a while here. As the lift stopped John hoisted the Phaser rifle and followed the directions given to him by the computer eventually arriving at the sickbay. As he walked into the sickbay John noticed far more people there than it was originally designed to hold and that the med personnel looked to be stretched a little thin. John stopped a somewhat healthy looking person that seemed not to be a medic in passing. “Excuse me, I am looking for Ensign Skylynx”. The Yeoman pointed towards a tall dark haired man and walked off. ~Looks like she wasn’t quite as well off as I thought~ Thought John as he walked over to the Ensign. “Ensign Skylynx, I am John C Fredericks, Ensign (jg) newly assigned to the Boudicca. I was told to report to you. How can I help?” ==================================== (USS Boudicca - cargo bays 1 and 2 - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1400) ==================================== Kestra had visited Cargo bay 3 also to see the crew that had been sent there as Sick bay was full and they had to put them somewhere to keep an eye on them for the time being. These had already been treated and were not the most extreme injured. She then walked over to Cargo bay 1 to check up on the zombies. She could not hold back the tears as she walked through the mindless crew of the Backtron and the increasing number of Boudicca crew. She hoped that they could find a way to use the reprogramed creatures to return the minds of the crew, but, for some reason she did not think that would be possible. She also knew that however much Domini wanted to, she could not help them even if she was a mind healer. The creatures had taken the minds of the crew members as if they had just sat down to dinner. But Kestra wondered if that was the right way to think of what they did, what if it was just the creatures way of sustaining there lives. She wondered if it ever would be possible to have a dialog with them to see if there is a possible way to help them find another source or if there was a cure. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - Capt Sevant - 1428) ==================================== Sevant tapped his fingers against the arm of the command chair as he looked at a PADD with a preliminary report on the Engineering section. They were blasted to hell, and a day or two of emergency repairs weren't going to do a thing for them, not if he took them right into combat again. Him and his crew would end up as footnotes in some history text at the Academy, as casualties of War in a rebellion. It was not, he decided coldly, how he wanted to be remembered. "I did everything that I could, manage to find a link to sickbay but nothing else, nothing more. I can't promise that it will work in real action, even if it works in test." Sevant nodded, "Very well, resume your station." he said quietly. He drummed his fingers for a moment, then tapped a button on his chair. "Commander Grailik to the Battle-bridge ready room." ==================================== (USS Boudicca – Battle Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1430) ==================================== Yalta was getting tired, one circuit was starting to look like any other. She was running out of ideas on what else to do. It was too advance for her to keep going. She got up and walk up to Captain Sevant. “I did everything that I could, manage to find a link to sickbay but nothing else, nothing more. I can't promise that it will work in real action, even if it works in test.” ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge, Ready Room - Capt Sevant & Commander Grailik - 1436) ==================================== Sevant gestured to the chair when the First Officer came in, his face grave. He didn't mince words, and immediately began with "We can't go into combat again, not for several days at least, and then we would not be near top-shape. Lieutenant Yalta is also highly unsure as if planting any commands with work, this is beyond her abilities. We have a problem." Grailik sipped his fresh cup of coffee, thankful that at least the replicators where still working. He nodded in agreement. "A tactical withdrawal is in order," He said, between sips. "Indeed." Sevant said, "Much as I dislike it, we haven't a choice." He folded his fingers together, "Usually this wouldn't be a problem, but the 52nd has all but pulled out here. Meaning, we are left with Starfleet to cover this area. I especially hate this, but there are still civilians in the area. We might have to send a general distress call to Starfleet and all ships in the area detailing our problem." "We can give the sector and a concise report of what we encountered. We need not give away anything that would jeopardize the safety of the 52nd. This enemy reminds me too much of the Borg. They will be back. Best we be ready for them. It may indeed come to pass that we have to put aside our ideological differences to combat this new enemy united." Sevant nodded briefly, then put a hand to the bridge of his nose and massaged it with his eyes closed. "We can include a scan and full tech specs, so that anyone coming into the area will do so prepared. I'm not going to give our movements, two hundred ships leaving into the river was enough of a clue to follow." He paused rubbing, just holding the bridge of his nose as he thought. "In the mean time we can continue to study them, should then find their way to our new location." He opened his eyes again and looked over, "We don't have much in the way of choices. We will be dead the first time we get into combat, with no assurances we could even hurt them, much less end their threat." "Also it would be foolish to think that the one craft we encountered is the only one. There are most likely more. It would be foolish not to. We should also recommend that all civilian crafts leave the area as soon as possible for their own safety. If the Boudicca was hard pressed to fight off just that one ship, a civilian craft is helpless." Sevant nodded his head, "I can't think of anything else to do, besides high-tailing for the river and heading to Geneva for essential repairs once our message is out. We have enough sensor data and bodies to study these things forevermore." Grailik nodded. "Don't be surprised if our MCO dislikes the idea of turning tail and running. She dislikes running from any fight, but I think even she will agree that it is the prudent thing to do in this instance." Grailik allowed himself a small smile. "She'll prolly start drilling the marines for a rematch." "Good, we might need that training." Sevant said in a distracted manner as he sat back in the chair. "Alright XO, prepare the ship for departure." He folded his hands together, "We leave immediately for the river." Grailik nodded and rose, taking his coffee with him. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge, Ready Room - Capt Sevant - 1455) ==================================== Sevant leaned back in the chair again, his hand absently around a mug of tea as he looked at the monitor and all the information he had assembled. This would not usually be a problem, had he been this out-gunned a year ago, he simply would have called in support without a second thought. Times were different, now. He tapped a button on the console, "Computer, send this information to all Starfleet ships within ten parsecs, and aim a copy straight at Starfleet Command, Science Section. And record a message to all ships, Starfleet and Civilian, within fifty light-years." [Ready] "This is Captain Sevant of the Boudicca to all ships within distance of my message. This is a general distress call and warning to all craft. If you find yourself within distance of the maps I have attached to this message, I suggest you stand clear. We've encountered an enemy of machines that has horrible destructive potential. I recommend Starfleet approaches with extreme caution, no less then three combat ships. This force has already caused the destruction of at least one Civilian ship, and has nearly destroyed my own as well. They have strong Tactical capabilities, but it seems they prefer boarding parties of mechanical spider-like creatures. I repeat, they are extremely dangerous and I recommend extreme caution. This message ends." He paused, then took a breath. "Send it all." [Sent] Sevant stood slowly and walked out of the ready room. He paused just outside the door and looked around. "Is the ship ready for departure, XO?" (reply: Grailik) Sevant nodded and walked to the command seat. "Captain to all ships personnel. We are pulling out, but we are remaining at Yellow Alert until we clear the immediate area and the threat of force has passed. All defensive forces will remain standing at alert." He paused, his face a mask. "We've been beaten for now, but the score will be evened at a later time, we will be better prepared. Sevant out." He sat down in the chair, "Set a course for the river, best speed." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sick Bay - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1500) ==================================== Kestra finally entered sick bay to find that there also the place had been over run with injured. The influx of new injured did seem to have come to an stop, however and for that she was grateful. She nodded to Lt. Butan then headed to her office. ==================================== (Boudicca- John’s quarters-deck 9- TAC/ASC Ensign (jg) John Fredericks – 1500) ==================================== After having been relieved of guard duty in the brig John located his cabin on deck 9 and moved his few possessions in. It had been an interesting first day John thought. First arriving to a ship that had been under attack, completely unaware of what had been going on. Seeing the carnage still in the passageways, briefly meeting his new Captain and then fellow Tactical officer, Skylynx. (who it seemed was going to be quite a character). Then off to Guard duty on the CSO. ~I still haven’t found out why “he” was in the brig~ John thought to himself, ~Or why there is a ferrengi there~. John took a few minutes to access the ships computer to see what kind of information he could get. “Computer, please list charges filed if any on the prisoners in the Brig on Deck 12. Specifically DR. Rin and the Ferrengi. Also list all information obtained on the “Psiders” that had boarded the USS Boudicca” John figured that he would probably see these things again and wanted to learn all he could. ~I should probably check back in with Skylynx as well~ he thought since our meeting had been interrupted with the meeting and guard detail. ~I guess I can work out the fine points in assignments and other things after our Holo deck excursion~. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Tactical Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 1502) ==================================== Melody opened her eyes slowly, a small smile on her face. "Ahhh, blessed morni..." She suddenly went wide-eyed, it wasn't morning, and she wasn't feeling good because she had a full night's sleep. She jerked up suddenly, her hand already flailing for the phaser-rifle she knew she had dropped. She nearly overbalanced and tumbled though, only jerking herself back again kept her from falling out of the bed. This time, she became aware of her surroundings. She lifted her head again and looked around, and noticed she was in sickbay. Her body felt drugged, looking down she realized why. Her uniform, what hadn't been removed anyway, was in tatters. She ran a very careful hand over her side, noted that it was tender but that the large gash there had been healed. With the slow moves of someone testing if they are going to die, she moved her hand down her leg to where that gash had been, and noted it too was tender but healed. ~Healed, in sickbay, and drugged still. Must have been in a rush when they drugged me up, prob'ly from engineering, and left me here to sleep it off.~ The ship had been degraded to yellow alert, she noticed that too. Meaning they were not in the midst of an invasion. Still, she had work to do. She was just starting to spin her legs around when she saw a hand reach around from the other side and hold them in place. She turned her head and was met by the quirked-eyebrowed face of a rather ragged looking orderly. "You aren't going anywhere, Chief." he said in a no-nonsense tone. "If you try again, Ill break your legs and re-rip these holes in you." "Great," she said, "I needed a vacation, might want to get to it." She started working up energy again to turn. The orderly, however, was having none of it. He pushed a small button on the bed, and the bio-sensors immediately shot themselves over her. Half a second after that he hit another button, and a small stasis field formed over her, keeping her absolutely immobile (as if for surgery.) She turned her eyeballs (her neck was included in the field) and glared at him. His expression, again, didn't brook any arguments. He leaned on the bio-bed for a moment, just looking at her. "If I have to, Ill keep you in this chief. We've lost a lot of people and I can't afford to sit here arguing with you. And I assure you, you are staying put for at least a few hours while we make the thread and nails we used on you are going to hold with no issues." He stood up again, "So, your choice. Are you going to behave, or do I leave you in the iso-field?" Melody cursed, for long moments, to the unflinching aide. Finally, she blinked and said "Fine, Ill stay put." "Good." was his only reply as he hit another button. The field disappeared and the bio-sensor package retracted itself into the bed. Without further ado he walked over to the next bed, doing his job and recording lifesigns. She sighed as she looked over, then frowned when she noticed who she was looking at. "Chief," she finally said to Lieutenant West. "We Held." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Sickbay - Lt jg Trevan West-1503) ==================================== Trevan wasn't feeling all that great, but at least used to being in a sickbay. He even thought of joining the medical ranks once since he spent all of his free time there from being injured from something or another. Trevan was lying on his back, staring up at the sensor dome above the bed when he heard a great sigh and the voice spoke to him. "Chief," she finally said to Lieutenant West. "We Held." It was Melody, wow. Did she ever get banged up. In all of the firefights he thought she was a goner. Trevan turned his head and flinched at the burning pain shooting down is back and spoke almost in a whisper, "Mel....Melody, you're....alive. You sure did hold it. I can't....talk yet." he said, "I'm...(cough)....proud." and with that, Trevan rolled his head back and flagged down the nurse. "Is....anything......my.....voice?" Is all that he managed to get out. The nurse gave him a hypospray and within moments he was feeling sleepy, "Melody....I owe you a drink." Then Trevans eyes fluttered a few times and then he fell back asleep. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - CMO Office - 2O/CMO Lt. commander Kestra Troi - 1510) ==================================== Kestra had entered the office and sat down behind the computer console to look at the stead stream of injuries trying to see if there was a pattern to them. There did not seem to be any amongst the walking injured. It just seemed that they were injured in the battle amongst the creatures and the fact that they had tried not to get touched by them. Next she turned to the mindless injured to see if there were anything she could find there. She tried to have the computer to analyze the information that they had been able to collect to see if there was anything that could possibly show something that would help. But, the computer kept telling her that there was not enough data and that frustrated her. She had strecthed all of what she knew to ask or do, so, the only thing she could think of is to send her info to the science department and see what they can make of it. "Computer send copy of all information on the zombies to the science department." Kestra then walked back out into the main area to help take care of patients. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Compile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~