Compiled by Calvin Capps ======================================================================================================================== Mission: Interlude Mission Day: 3 Stardate: 2407.01.22 ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, Chief of Operation office, COPS/3O Ensign (sg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1000) (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - ACTO Ensign(jg) Detron Trei - 13.00) (USS Paladin - Sickbay - Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1324) (USS Paladin, Gunnery Sergeant's Quarters - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1330) (USS Paladin - Sickbay - CMO Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1336) (USS Paladin - Sickbay - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1337) (USS Paladin - Sickbay - Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1339) (USS Paladin - CMO's office, Sickbay - Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1449) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, Chief of Operation office, COPS/3O Ensign (sg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1000) Michael sat at his large desk, in relative quiet, and sipped his third coffee of the morning. The to their patrol area was going smoothly, and for once, life was relatively quiet on the Paladin. It was amazing the amount of tension and stress a crew of nearly 9,000 people could generate, and he genuinely worried about the less controlled Betazeds on board, under constant bombardment and unable to find a simple quiet moment, he was sure their level of stress was rising faster than any other contingent. Even the Vulcans, with their vaunted emotional control were beginning to show the stress in their own ways, drawing ever more inward in an increasing effort to suppress the rising levels of stress and anxiety. Michael did his best to keep the Rec deck fully active at all hours, and the holodecks in full working order, but there was only so much stress those distractions could alleviate. What the crew really needed was an end to the war, and time with the family they all so dearly missed. The reports read the same every day, another fight without a cause in one of the mess halls, sick call growing in numbers by the day, slips in efficiency, and rises in careless mistakes. It was happening slowly, but it was noticeable and to a degree understandable. Section heads were doing their best to keep people in line, grant a day off from time to time, counsel their crews, and referring those who needed more than simply an ear. The other reports he continually received were requests for more personnel, a request that Michael just couldn't fill. Attrition was taking a major toll on the taskforce and from what Michael could see, the rest of the fleet as well. It wasn't just a lack of bodies, it was a lack of training. Most crewmen went back to Earth or one of the major worlds to receive further training in a specialty, something that just wasn't possible anymore. They were beginning to lack the right specialties in Engineering, Science, Medicine...just about every department, had some specific role that needed to be filled. If the war lasted any longer Michael was going to approach the Captain and ask that he be allowed to set up rating schools for the enlisted crew. Until the time that he was going to need to come up with a stop gap measure, and a project he had been thinking about a few years might do just the thing...if he could get it working. "Computer display a copy of the EMH's program in full, on my main screen, and open a new work project, titled, 'Athena Reborn'." Michael said as he spun around in his chair to examine the EMH's code. If he could just figure out what he needed to change to make the EMH an astrophysicist instead, he would be mighty happy. It would take a lot of reprogramming, but he could manage to create a new Emergency Holographic Specialist, he could repeat the process for every specialty that they needed. (posted by Patrick) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - ACTO Ensign(jg) Detron Trei - 13.00) After some replicated lunch, Detron went to test his new virtual game program. Detron walked up to the computer pannel. "Computer. Is the program ready for testing. (Yes Ensign Trei. Proceed when ready) Thank you Computer. Run Program Dungeon Dice World -Testing Stage. The computer made a signal that the program is ready. Detron entered to see the layout as he described. Detron stepped on one of the pdiums. He pressed some buttons to activate his character. His character appeared on the game board. Detron chose an open grassy plain for the teraain. He gathered the set of 3 dice and rolled. The roll produced 2 movement crests, 2 attack crests, and 1 magic crest. Before he could move, a evil fur ball appeared 6 blocks ahaead of Detron's mystic knight. The furball moved 2 spaces closer to his knight. The furball set a box in front of its position and ended its turn. Detron rolled the dice. The roll produced 3 defense crests, 2 movement crests, and 1 magic crest. Detron moved his knight 2 spaces north facing the box. He used 2 defense crests to acivate double defense protection. Then he used 1 attack cest to attack the box. The box revealed a fireball trap. The fireball attacked his knight. His double defense deflected the fireball at the furball causing damage . Detron ended his turn. The furball moved 1 space south facing Detron's knight. The furball attacked the knight. The knight's defense blocked the attack and allowed for counterattack. The resulting counterattack destroyed the furball removing it from the board. The knight gained experience and saved the information. Detron rolled to produce 1 movement crest, 2 attack crests, and 2 magic crests. He used 2 magic crests to activate a defensive force field. A small plant appeared in front of the knight. The plant shot out vines that wrapped around the knight. The plant ended its turn. Detron rolled to produce 2 attack crests, 1 movement crests, and 2 magic crests. Detron used 1 magic and 1 attack crest to activate a flame sword attack. The knight scorched through the vines and burned the plant to a crisp. The plant vanished from the board. With the gained experience, The knight moved to level 2. He saved the information. Two small plants appeared 2 spaces north. The plants moved to both sides of the knight and ended their turn. Detron rolled to produce 2 magic crests, 2 attack crests, and 1 defense crest. Detron used 2 attack crests and two magic crests to activate a newly gained special attack. Detron attacked the plants with spiral flame sword attack. The sword covered in flame attacked in tight circle around the knight. the sword destroyed both plants in its attack path. The plants vanished from the board. He saved the information and status. Satisfied at a successful test, Detron stored his character in the computer. He stepped down from the podium. He said, "Computer. Save program and end." With that command the Holodeck cleared to its normal gridded appaerance. Detron left Holodeck 4. (posted by Edward) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Sickbay - Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1324) "I find it highly unlikely that you sustained this break falling off a mountain, Private." Looking at the image before her as she spoke to the Marine that had arrived in her Sickbay around twenty minutes ago with a broken arm, Nissa turned back to face the young woman. "I had the Holodeck safety protocols off, Doctor. I find it more challenging that way." The Marine looked over at the tray and nurse to the left of Nissa as she spoke. "Which would be believable if it was the sort of break that one obtains from a fall and not, say, from someone twisting and yanking on an arm until it broke." Nissa replied, holding up her hand as she examined the PADD that her other nurse just handed her. "Don't bother coming up with another holodeck explanation, since I checked the computer and you haven't even been on a holodeck in the last three days." She said, taking a dermal regenerator and using it on some of the lacerations on the Private's face. "It's funny, actually, since I had another Private arrive just a few minutes ago that this nurse was tending to. He had bruising on his neck and abdomen consistent with choking and sharp kicks, respectively." Nissa finished, waiting for the Marine to respond. The Private remained silent, giving Nissa a furious glance and then finding the nearby to be deserving of her undivided attention. "Fine. Since the other Marine isn't talking either, I will have to call a higher ranking Marine down here before I can release either of you, since I know that both of you are lying to me and I don't feel comfortable releasing you under those circumstances." Nissa said as sh hit her combadge. "Doctor Whetari to Gunnery Sergeant Tam." (Reply Tam) "I have two Privates here in Sickbay, Gunnery Sergeant. They arrived separately but nearly at the same time, both having sustained injuries from a serious fight. Both have lied to medical personnel and I can't get the truth out of either one of them.I would like you to come to Sickbay to speak to them and accompany them back to their quarters." (posted by Sarah) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, Gunnery Sergeant's Quarters - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1330) =/\=Doctor Whetari to Gunnery Sergeant Tam.=/\= Rellam put his rifle down on his work bench and tapped his comm badge calmly. "Tam here, Doctor," he responded, wondering what the Doctor could need him for. =/\=I have two Privates here in Sickbay, Gunnery Sergeant. They arrived separately but nearly at the same time, both having sustained injuries from a serious fight. Both have lied to medical personnel and I can't get the truth out of either one of them. I would like you to come to Sickbay to speak to them and accompany them back to their quarters.=/\= "Understood Doctor, I'll be there presently. Tam out," Rellam stood up and closed the connection, strapping on his side arm and placing his rifle back in it's storage locker. Walking over to the squads bunk room he stuck his head in the door and looked to see who was dressed and able to accompany him. "Shon'Tar, grab your side arm and come with me," Rellam told the Andorian Corporal, one of his Riflemen. "On my way Gunny," The tall, thin Andorian said as he strapped the holster around his upper thigh. "What's going on, Sarge?" He asked as he caught up to Rellam who was moving towards the turbo lift. "Ship's Chief Medical Officer has two privates there she suspects of fighting, wants me to come and give them a talking to, and bring them back to their quarters." Rellam said as they boarded the turbo lift. "Main Sickbay," Rellam told the lift when the doors closed. "Not any of our privates, are they?" Shon'Tar asked. "Not that I know of. I was on the Doctor's protection detail when we were down on the planet, probably just called me cause we know each other," Rellam said with a shrug. (USS Paladin, Sickbay - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1335) Rellam walked into sickbay and looked for the Doctor, Shon'Tar two steps behind him. Once he spotted the familiar face he walked over to her and snapped to attention. "Reporting as requested, Doctor." (posted by Patrick) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Sickbay - CMO Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1336) "Reporting as requested, Doctor." Gunnery Sergeant Tam said as he and an Andorian Marine arrived in Sickbay. "Thank you, Gunnery Sergeant Tam." As she nodded to one of the nurses and handed a PADD back to her, Nissa realized that you should have called a different Marine, since Tam wasn't the squad leader for the two in Sickbay. "I apologies for calling you, but you were the first Marine that came to mind." She explained, turning to see a nurse accompanying the male Marine from the other side of Sickbay. "These are the two that I spoke to you about. They appear to have gotten into a serious altercation - far more than I would expect from training. He had bruising around his neck that was consistent with being choked, as well as abdominal bruising and two broken ribs. She had a broken arm, along with cuts and bruises on her face and shoulders." Nissa explained. (posted by Sarah) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Sickbay - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1337) "Reporting as requested, Doctor." Gunnery Sergeant Tam said as he and an Andorian Marine arrived in Sickbay. "Thank you, Gunnery Sergeant Tam." As she nodded to one of the nurses and handed a PADD back to her. "I apologies for calling you, but you were the first Marine that came to mind." She explained, turning to see a nurse accompanying the male Marine from the other side of Sickbay. "These are the two that I spoke to you about. They appear to have gotten into a serious altercation - far more than I would expect from training. He had bruising around his neck that was consistent with being choked, as well as abdominal bruising and two broken ribs. She had a broken arm, along with cuts and bruises on her face and shoulders." Nissa explained. "Don't worry Doctor, neither they nor any other Marines will be bothering you again, I'll have a talk with them and sort things out, their CO's will be given a full report, if you could file the necessary reports with the Ships command staff, we'll make sure these privates learn their lessons," Rellam said. (Reply Whetari) Tam nodded and turned to Shon'Tar, giving him a glance and a nod that easily conveyed the order to gather the Private on the far side of the room while he got the other one. When they were both gathered together Tam stood in front of them. "Company, Platoon and Squad," Rellam said, his tone conveying that it was not a optional question. "2nd Company, Gamma Platoon, 3rd Squad, the Roughnecks, Gunny," the female Private said as she stood there her back straight as a board. "3rd Company, Alpha Platoon, 1st Squad, Harrison's Harriers, Gunny" the male said. ~~Great, Heavy Weapons and Recon, why do the old fueds always crop up at the worst times?~~ Tam thought as he turned to fact the Male. "All right, did she insult your whole squad or just your sniper?" Rellam asked. Since the inception of the sniper, there were those who hated them as cowardly and without honor, because they hid and killed the enemy from behind and the shadows. In Rellam's experience the Heavy weapons squads were the worst when it came to disparaging remarks about snipers and their spotters they were the front line and considered themselves be the ideal Marines, standing up in the face of the enemy and giving as good as they got. "My Sniper, Gunny." The male said. "I simply mentioned that his sniper might try and be a real Marine and stand on the front line with the rest of us." the female private said. Shon'Tar cleared his throat and stepped forward. "You do understand, Private," Shon'Tar began, putting an emphasis on her current rank, "what the symbol on the Gunny's chest means, don't you?" The corporal asked with a rather sarcastic grin, referring to his sniper patch. The Private, who had been so caught up in her own world, hadn't looked very closely at the Gunny's uniform before now, visibly swore under her breath. "You know, I don't care who started it, nor do I care who won. You got your arm broke, and you got your ribs broke then nearly choked to death. The Major does not look highly on fighting, especially during this war, so you are both going to have to learn to get along. And don't worry private, I won't be showing your friend here any slack just because you decided to shower your hate upon a fellow sniper, but I am going to give you a little word of advise. Don't for a second think that snipers aren't real Marines, we take more risk than just about any other individual Marine, we fight behind enemy lines and we are by ourselves. We need you and you need us, deal with the fact that not everyone needs to stand up and decimate an area to kill their target, take a long hard look at the reports from past battles really look and you'll notice snipers and recon squads saved your life more than just a couple of times." Rellam said, hoping that she might see the light soon, he doubted it, Marines were known for being fairly stubborn. "Corporal, take these two back to their Platoon commanders, and wait while they relate the whole story, if it differs from what you heard here, inform their COs, I'll finish up with the doctor." Shon'Tar nodded, gathered up the offending Privates and lead them out of sickbay. Rellam went and found the doctor. "Doctor, I want to apologize once again for this, they let an internal...disagreement boil over, their respective CO's will deal with this, although any extra punishment that can come down from Captain or the XO will be useful as well for driving home the point that we are on the same side in this." Rellam said, standing at-ease. (posted by Patrick) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Sickbay - Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1339) "Don't worry Doctor, neither they nor any other Marines will be bothering you again, I'll have a talk with them and sort things out, their CO's will be given a full report, if you could file the necessary reports with the Ships command staff, we'll make sure these privates learn their lessons," Rellam said. "I will do so right now, Gunnery Sergeant. Thank you for your assistance." Nissa replied, glad that someone would be talking to the Marines. While all incidents had been escalating in the last day or two, she'd seen more Marines in the last two days than Dr. Keller had record of seeing in the last two weeks. As she wrote up her reports, Nissa was sure to include special notes to Ensign O'Connor and Commander Capps to let them know that she had seen a slight escalation in the last six hours, with more serious injuries. Several minutes later, Tam appeared again. Nissa could see the Andorian Marine escorting her two patients out of Sickbay and nodded at the Marine in thanks. "Doctor, I want to apologize once again for this, they let an internal...disagreement boil over, their respective CO's will deal with this, although any extra punishment that can come down from Captain or the XO will be useful as well for driving home the point that we are on the same side in this." Rellam said, standing at-ease. "I will be contacting Commander Capps and Ensign O'Connor about this and other incidents and will be sure to relay that message. Thank you for your help, Gunnery Sergeant." Nissa assured him, wondering about this internal disagreement that he spoke of. ~Must be some sort of Marine thing,~ she thought, noticing that Tam was still standing there. "Dismissed...and thanks again." (posted by Sarah) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - CMO's office, Sickbay - Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari - 1449) After the Marine incident earlier, Nissa was rather tired of feuding patients. That hadn't deterred any of them, though. Over the last hour, Nissa treated four more crewpersons for injuries sustained during fighting. Since Ensign O'Connor had asked her to report any escalation, Nissa figured that now was as good a time as any. "Ensign Whetari to Ensign O'Connor and Commander Capps." (Reply O'Connor, Capps) "I wanted to report that Sickbay has seen an increase in injuries from fighting on the ship. I saw two Marines earlier today - you will find that I have sent you a report on the incident already. We are no where near a crisis level and I hope it doesn't get any worse, but I wanted to be sure to inform both of you what was happening." Nissa explained. (posted by Sarah) ======================================================================================================================== Hope you enjoyed!