Compile#29 September 13-19 (USS Rosenante & USS Boudicca Joint) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mission: Once More Into the Breach Day 5 Stardate: Age of Makto Compile Summary ?Captain's Log Supplemental (USS Rosenante - Main Sick Bay – Combat Nurse – E’Mpak - Day 5, 1012) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1022) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CEO, Lt. Steven Matrix, Day 5 - 1025) (USS Rosenante - Somewhere Else on Deck 28 - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1035) (USS Rosenante - Somewhere Else on Deck 28 - Volus - Day 5- 1037) (USS Rosenante - Somewhere Else on Deck 28 - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1040) (USS Rosenante - Duct on Deck 28 - Science Officer Ensign JG Joseph Willowbrook - Day 5 - 1041) (USS Rosenante - Deck 15 - CTAC/SEC LT. jg Ben Soma –1132) (USS Rosenante - Deck 15 - Lieutenant jg Sanok – 1135) (USS Rosenante - Deck 15 - CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma – 1137) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1216) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - near hard docking port. ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel, Day 5, 1217) (USS Rosenante - Corridor - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - Day 5 –1220) (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1235) (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel, Day 5 - 1236) (USS Rosenante - Corridor - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - Day 5 –1242) (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - aFO- Cmdr Jennifer (Josh) Caskie - Day 5 - 1240) (USS Rosenante - Hard Docking Port. ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel, Day 5, 1242) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - ACEO Ensign(jg) Henry Jacobs - 1244) (USS Rosenante - On Way to Engineering - ACEO Lt JG Eian O'Neill - Day 5 - 1245) (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1250) (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 1255) (USS Rosenante - Deck 10 Lieutenant Tom Jackson - 2O/COPS - Day 5 - 1258) (USS Rosenante - Main sickbay - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - Day 5 –1259) (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 13.00) (USS Rosenante - Hard Docking Port - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 13.05) (USS Boudicca / Rose - Hard Dock Defensive - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos- 1310) (USS Rosenante - Sickbay - ACEO Ensign(jg) Henry Jacobs - 1311) (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CEO Lt. Steven Matrix - 1312) (USS Rosenante - Docking Port - Science Officer Ensign(jg) Nickolas Romanoff - 1313) (USS Rosenante - Deck 10 - Lieutenant Tom Jackson 2o/COPS Day 5 1315) (USS Rosenante - Bio Hazard Lab - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 1325) (USS Rosenante - Deck 9 - SO Ensign Mike Rosenbauer, Day 5 - 1745) (USS Rosenante - Sick Bay - SO Ensign Mike Rosenbauer, Day 5 - 1800) --------------------------------------------------------------------- ?Captain's Log Supplemental There was a time where even I thought that the mission was lost. The Borg that boarded the ship immediately after we made our way through their time vortex made quick progress for a while. Communications are disrupted and I've had to disperse and relocate the Bridge already three times. There seems to be some malevolent force in the form of this Volus character, driving the collective. He shows signs of individuality, which means that our normal methods of dealing with the Borg are nullified by his ability to think outside of the collective. Sullivan is missing, and now with Durand seriously injured and resigned to sickbay, I find myself thankful that Commander Caskie is once again acting as my second. Her aplomb is a welcome respite from the stress of commanding a decaying mission, but I have confidence, despite all the signs, that we will prevail. Modifications to the ship's gravity plating in critical sections have significantly slowed the advance of the Borg. In addition Commander Caskie's Innovative, although primitive acid bomb have also taken their toll. For all our achievement and technological know-how, we are reduced to fighting like savages against a technologically superior and uniquely determined foe. Lieutenant Signos has proposed an innovative concept in dealing with our Borg infestation. I won't mention it here in case the Collective manages to crack the encryption on the computer banks. I will only say that we believe that it may actually have a chance at success, although the risks are exceptionally high. Regardless of the outcome, I am resolved to do whatever it takes to deny the Borg their ability to achieve their goals. Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Main Sick Bay – Combat Nurse – E’Mpak - Day 5, 1012) "Welcome E'Mpak we can surely use a good warrior" Tom told her. E’Mpak nodded. “Yes Lieutenant you can count on me.” She turned away from Jackson and Dr Ichijo as they went back to their conversation. She remembered a saying that her father had taught her many years ago. ‘When going into a fight you can never have enough weapons’ She moved over to the large replicator in the sickbay wall. “One type 54 Bat’leth. With battle harness” The replicator hummed as her order appeared in front of her. She quickly put on the harness and fitted the Bat’leth tightly across her back. When he was satisfied she picked up a phaser rifle and headed for the sickbay doors. It was going to be a nasty fight. Once the drones had adapted to the phasers it was going to be hand to hand all the way. This was why she had her Bat’leth, Mek'leth and her personal d'k tahg as a weapon of last resort. She gave a toothy grin as she reached the sickbay doors. ~This is the kind of battle worthy of song~ (Reply any) (Posted by Robbie) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1022) Time, it was the ultimate enemy and not one that was willing to show him any mercy at all. There was no way to know truly how bad the situation was. Communications were so shoddy that he was lucky to get anything useful at all, so he'd resorted to recon patrols for information and data. Ironically it was the officers who'd been forced to displace from their positions that brought him the best intel. Case in point, Lieutenant Matrix. "Lieutenant Matrix reporting in sir." said Matrix as he did his best to gather his uniform and look presentable. "You're a sight for sore eyes lieutenant. what do you have to report?" Ahmed asked. "We fought the Borg as long as we could, my engineering teams along with Sergeant Conrad's security team managed to destroy or incapacitate nearly two dozen of the drones, but their numbers were just too great. We lost six people there sir." Matrix paused. Ahmed shook his head. It was the same story that he was hearing over and over again, only the details were different. "Engineering resources were secured, encrypted so the Borg cannot use it in any capacity. We've secured the warp core as well with a level 3 force field. The warp center has been sealed as well. Unless they bring in some sort of heavy cutting gear, they won't get in there. Redundant power feeds to the major systems have also been secured at this time." continued Matrix. "Excellent work." Ahmed said genuinely pleased. "That's something that probably just salvaged any chance that we have of coming out of this fight on top lieutenant. Excellent work, indeed." "Sir, I've ordered Conrad, his security team and my engineers to report to sickbay, get some rest and to report when ordered." replied Matrix. "That's excellent, you should do the same. As soon as you've grabbed some rest and some food, I'm certain I'll have something else impossible I'll need you for, lieutenant." Ahmed placed his hand on Matrix's shoulder. "You've done well lieutenant. No matter the outcome here, you remember that." (reply Matrix) Ahmed glanced past Matrix and noted Ensign Jacobs waiting patiently waiting to report in. "Ensign Jacobs reporting in, Sir." the man stated solidly, despite the obvious injury to his eye. "Ensign Jacobs, I think it would be a good idea to make your way along with Lieutenant Matrix to Sickbay for treatment on that eye. Once that's done, report to Commander Caskie." (reply Matrix, Jacobs) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CEO, Lt. Steven Matrix, Day 5 - 1025) The Captain gave Matrix a great complement, and he tried to look grateful. The loss of life and engineering didn't sit well with him, but it was the best they could do. Perhaps retreating and living to fight another day was a worthy endeavor. The fight wasn't over, just postponed briefly. Matrix knew that ultimately the Borg would not prevail. They could always destroy the ship, further denying the Borg isn't use. It would undoubtedly cost more lives, but in the end it would likely save more too. Matrix conjured up a smile, "Thank you sir." replied Matrix. There was nothing more he could say. The loss of six crew was something, but the ship and the entire crew was at stake. Matrix felt uneasy and he wasn't entirely sure why. The pit in his stomach was growing. Matrix turned away from the Captain and glanced at Ensign Jacobs. ~I hope he has better news to report.~ thought Matrix. Matrix found a duty nurse and had his shoulder looked at. It wasn't serious, but he hoped that the Borg drone hadn't planted any nanites. He didn't think so since such implants took over rather quickly and it had been over the course of a half a day since the incident happened. Other than being dehydrated, sore and tired he felt fine. The cuts were not deep and the blood loss was at a minimum. The duty nurse cleaned up the wound nicely and gave him a shot. He wasn't entirely sure what was in the shot. The nurse looked at Matrix directly sensing his curiosity, "Vitamin D, an antibiotic and a pain reliever Lieutenant. It will help you get back on your feet and fight the fatigue." said the nurse. "Thank you." replied Matrix Finding a fairly quiet spot within the observation lounge Matrix settled in for a short nap. As he lay on the makeshift bed he quickly dozed off. Sleep was most welcome. (Reply any, none) (Posted by Steve) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Somewhere Else on Deck 28 - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1035) Andrew's hearing came back first. He heard the sounds of machinery and computers that he did not recognize. He also heard heels striking the deck with clockwork precision. ~ I was on deck 28, and then captured by the Borg, have they brought me deeper into their seized territory?~ His sight returned, or at least he thought it did, but all he could see was a blinding light. The light was so bright that his eyes began to tear up, he attempted to wipe his eyes but his hands were held palm facing forward by some sort of plate, that with effort he could not free himself from. He attempted to move all of his limbs and all of them were secured in some fashion. When he experimented with his range of motion he noticed something on the side of his head some kind of cable or cord. The lights dimmed enough for Andrew to realize that he was in an area controlled wholly by Borg. The area no longer had the brushed-metal finish common to starfleet corridors, now it had a flat black color to it and conduits snaking everywhere. The table for lack of a better word that he was on was slanted 75 degrees from the floor. The lights dimmed again or his vision cleared, Andrew couldn't tell which, and he was able to see clearer. The blurrs walking by were now Borg drones. Andrew noticed that the drones walking into and out of the chamber gave the center of the chamber and himself a wide berth. It was now very clear to Andrew that every joint but his neck was completely secured to the slab he was on. Once he got his bearings a figure came out of the shadows that he hadn't noticed before. (Reply Volus) "I can't say that it's a pleasure to meet you Volus." he responded. (Reply Volus) The Borg in front of him was not like any other he had seen or heard of. The closest approximation was Locutus the Borg who was an assimilated Star Fleet Captain from when his father was young, Picard, Andrew remembered his name. He must have been a formidable man, because his father had told him it was one of the few people to change his mind about anything. ~Why don't they just assimilate me? I don't want it to happen, but I never heard of Borg interrogating anyone. They would assimilate and gain all the knowledge they wanted.~ "Why do you have me here then?" Andrew asked. He was completely oblivious to what Volus was leading into. (Reply Volus) "I'm what? You're lying to me, I haven't figured out why yet, but you are lying to me." (Reply Volus) {{ 100101100110110001000101110101001001}} screamed into Maddox's head. It was an audible series of tones of varying notes, all very loud, so loud it was painful. "NNNGG" Andrew grunted at the pain in his temple, as if someone shoved a hot poker in his head. {{sljdfoan asldfjonlsdofjal asdljosjdfn.}} came through a moment later, not screaming, but just a gibberish of vowel and consonant sounds. "What? Did you say something?" Maddox asked, looking at Volus, knowing full well he didn't vocalize a thing. (Reply Volus) {{We are the Borg. Your technological distinctiveness will be adapted to service Us.}} Andrew's eyes opened wide as he realized, he heard the Collective. Why weren't they controlling him? (Reply Volus) (Posted by Todd) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Somewhere Else on Deck 28 - Volus - Day 5- 1037) Volus watched with a near morbid fascination as the artificial lifeform, designated Maddox reinitialized it's systems and mimicked the biological acts of regaining consciousness. When the process appeared to be complete, the Borg leader stepped forward so that he could more clearly be seen by the prisoner. "I am Volus of Borg. I am pleased to make your acquaintance." He greeted, hoping to begin their conversation on a friendly note. "I can't say it's a pleasure to meet you Volus." he responded. A typical biological response. Even the timbre of the vocal module replicated a harmonic of contempt. The bio-mimicking subroutines possessed by the unit were exceptionally impressive. "You are an extraordinary specimen. I had no idea that Bruce Maddox had advanced so far within his lifespan. But do not fear Andrew. I do not intend to force you to submit to assimilation. You are unique, just as I am unique." He explained. "Why do you have me here then?" Andrew asked naively. "Are you unaware of your true nature then?" Volus asked rhetorically, already aware that the being on the table was completely shielded from this aspect of personal discovery. "But of course you are unaware that you are an artificial lifeform. To know would ruin the purpose of the elaborate bio-mimicking systems that your creator went to such trouble to create." "I'm what? You're lying to me, I haven't figured out why yet, but you are lying to me." Andrew exclaimed. "I have no need to deceive you Andrew. You are nothing more than you are. You are also nothing less. You are unique. You even vary significantly from the Soong-type android that we have previously encountered. Your systems are more advanced, although I fear that your creator saw a need to cripple your ability to achieve your full potential." Volus paused. "You are capable for example of comprehending the truest languages of the collective." {{Show him}} Volus listened as the most raw form of communication available to the collective flowed into Maddox's Positronic brain through the relay interface. "What? Did you say something?" Maddox asked. "Indeed, perhaps you can hear us, but like every other language you will need time to assimilate the syntax and to comprehend the meaning. Let us try again, this time in a language that you can comprehend." {{We are the Borg. Your technological distinctiveness will be adapted to service Us.}} The effect was exactly what Volus had expected. A sense of sudden realization that he was attached to the collective, but not controlled by it. "You have a unique opportunity to serve your Federation Andrew. We, the collective are merely misunderstood. We do not wish the needless destruction of your culture, species or science, we seek to enlighten all those that we encounter worthy of the gift of knowledge." Volus explained. "Through you, because of your artificial brain, we can finally have an ambassador to the Federation that can make our position known. Perhaps we can come to an understanding between our species. Maybe we can even have peace in our time." "We have connected your brain to a portion of the Collective. So that we can communicate through you. With you acting as an intermediary, we can stop the needless conflict on this ship and we can begin the process of mutual cooperation and growth that has long characterized our two species." "You will remain autonomous. You will only serve us in the capacity in which I have described. It was not my desire to assimilate your crews, but you left us no choice. Had you not interfered with our mission, we would not have been forced to defend ourselves against your naked aggression." "When we attempted to withdraw, you pursued us. You persecuted us, and forced us to board these ships and to assimilate crew in order to insure our survival. It is you who are the aggressors here, not the collective. I came on a mission of peace. To acquire a device which was vital to the continued survival of our species." "But your Federation, sees only the threat of the old collective. They do not think we are capable of adapting, changing our methods. They would see us exterminated, because they do not understand us. Because they fear us." "I beseech you, Help us bring this bitter conflict to an end. you are uniquely positioned to aid us. you can carry my message of peace to come to your captains. You can then take our promise to your Federation Council. You would become a hero of the Federation and a Hero of the Collective. You would have the Best of Both Worlds." (reply Maddox) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Somewhere Else on Deck 28 - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1040) "I beseech you, Help us bring this bitter conflict to an end. you are uniquely positioned to aid us. you can carry my message of peace to come to your captains. You can then take our promise to your Federation Council. You would become a hero of the Federation and a Hero of the Collective. You would have the Best of Both Worlds." ~He still could be trying to trick me some how.~ "Volus, for all I know you are trying to trick me. Perhaps if I had evidence that I am an artificial life form like you say I am, then I might be inclined to believe the rest." he stated. (Reply Volus) Volus mentally comanded the release of Andrew's right arm. Andrew moved it around to get the cramps out, and then tentatively offered his hand as requested. Volus reached out with his hand and grasped Andrew's. The injection tubules shot into Maddox's wrist, and Andrew recoiled wresting his hand free from Volus' grip. ~I've been betrayed.~ (Reply Volus) The leader Borg's answer was coincidentally in response to what Maddox had just thought but essentially correct, his intent was not to assimilate his human raised guest. The nanites worked quickly and efficiently, clearing away the flesh distal to the wrist. Even ensuring that Maddox didn't loose any blood by blocking off the circulation and rerouting it through other capillaries restoring proper circulation. To Andrew it looked like microscopic arthropods clearing away the flesh from a long dead corpse. The imagery sent a chill up Andrew's spine. What he saw was a white alloy hand, crisscrossed with nanoscopic circuitry and blinking lights. "What am I looking at?" Andrew asked. (Reply Volus) As the Borg had explained it, it was a calcium-ion alloy with embedded control units and sensors, all autonomic controlling the same functions a biological body would, but also sending the false sensor reading to ensure that scans showed him as completely human. "Fascinating. I had no idea." he said in all honesty. He flexed his hand a few times, and it still responded to his commands. (Reply Volus) ~Maybe he is right. Have the Borg changed?~ (Reply Volus) "Ambassador, huh? Are you sure I'm up to the task?" Andrew asked, pride creaping into his words. (Reply Volus) "I'm glad you have such faith in me, but I can't represent both peoples with this," he said raising his now boney hand. "It might cause unease." (Rely Volus) "Well, then you may proceed." Maddox said. More drones were called over. Maddox was fitted with a "proper" appendage, and the cable was replaced with a transmitter/reciever that did not require the optical cable. (Reply Volus) (Posted by Todd) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Duct on Deck 28 - Science Officer Ensign JG Joseph Willowbrook - Day 5 - 1041) He had always hated noise. Even after the surgeons had fixed the auditory defect he was born with so that every pin dropping didn't sound like an orchestra, Joseph had still preferred quiet and secluded himself whenever he could. When he was twelve, his parents were very close to getting a divorce. He remembered being on "vacation" one summer, hiding in the master bedroom closet in a small Myrtle Beach, NC cabin they had rented for a week. He had been trying to escape the screaming and the profanity. This reminded him of that time. He had "escaped" from the crowd of patients and taken a phaser rifle and climbed into a Jeffries tube. It was some small miracle, or perhaps the fact that a human by himself was of no threat, that Joseph was able to crawl from Sickbay to this spot where he now stopped. Injured, exhausted, hungry and thirsty, and afraid for his life, he felt ready to collapse. He didn't understand why he had run away. Down on the planet when it was time to fight the incoming Borg, he had stood up and led the charge down the hill, fighting hand-to-hand with the attitude of a Klingon warrior. He could hear voices, and he looked through the slot in the vent beneath him. He gasped, but remained otherwise silent. His friend Maddox was down there, strapped to a table and talking to some Borg. ~They're interrogating him...~ Joseph thought. ~Why?~ The Borg had just made his friend a job offer as ambassador. ~What the hell?~ He felt like he should do something, but at the same time, he felt frightened to move a muscle. It was exactly like he had felt at age twelve in that closet. He remembered his mother threatening to burn his father's movie collection...he had *loved* that movie collection...he felt as if he had to do something. But in an eerie parallel to that moment, everything went downhill very quickly. Years ago, he had sneezed. And the closet door opened. And his father, furious with him, had dragged him out by the arm and practically thrown him onto the master bedroom, and proceeded to scream at his mother. In the present, the Borg must have spotted him with infrared vision. The panel directly to his left opened, and a cybernetic arm grabbed him before he had the chance to fumble with his rifle and shoot. He was dragged out of the duct painfully, and thrown onto the floor. Strangely enough, he was not immediately assimilated. Breathing heavily, he awaited his fate. (reply Volus, Maddox, or others) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Deck 15 - CTAC/SEC LT. jg Ben Soma –1132) Ben and Sanok were making their way back to the command center to report what they had found. They hadn't spoken much during the return trip, which wasn't really strange. They had served together long enough to trust each others movements and could read what the other was intending to do from body language. Ben was moving into position to open a hatch so they could step out to move to the next junction to take them up, it didn't respond to the command Ben entered so he removed the magnetic handle and placed it on the door. Glancing back at his friend he said. "Looks like the Borg or someone else disabled the controls on this deck." He pushed against the handle and the door began to slide open. Just when there was enough room to him to pass through a hand shot in, grabbed him and began to pull him out. Before Ben knew what was happening he hit the wall and fell to the deck as a half a dozen drones advanced on him. Sanok was still in the Jeffries tube. "Sanok keep moving." He yelled as he drew his phaser and dropped one of the drones. "I'll find another way around." Sanok would have to back track a little but it was better to avoid engaging the drones, he wasn't sure how many shots they had between them but he didn't want to waste them here without backup. (reply Sanok, any) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Deck 15 - Lieutenant jg Sanok – 1135) It had been a quiet trek through the Jefferies tubes for Sanok and Ben. Once they had expressed to one another the way each viewed the other; as friends and brothers, silence had befallen their journey. Upon reaching their objective, Sanok watched the rear, while Ben manually opened the hatch. Sanok's Vulcan hearing caught the sound of a Borg servo, but before he could warn Ben, his friend was grabbed and dragged into the corridor. There was a thud, as Ben crashed into the opposite wall. Sanok found that he was admiring the strength of a drone that could pull a man from the tube and toss him like that. "Sanok, keep moving!" shouted Ben. Sanok heard the sound of a phaser and a heavy body hitting the floor. "I'll find another way around," said Ben. Sanok moved towards the open hatch to help Ben, who was telling him to go another way. That, of course, wasn't going to happen while his friend was in trouble. As Sanok reached the hatch, a Borg appeared there, blocking his way. Sanok fired his phaser, dropping the drone in a flash of sparks. As Sanok covered his face with his arm, he heard the drone hit the floor, and the sounds of someone running. Ben had escaped, but the Borg were most likely following him. Ben had told him to go another way, but Sanok wasn't leaving Ben alone. He reached out to slide himself from the tube, but another Borg stepped in front of him. Sanok fired his phaser, but the Borg had adapted, blocking the beam with its shield. "Typical," said Sanok in a flat tone. Quickly sliding the hatch door, he realized he had no choice but to go another way. Ben was resourceful, so it was logical to expect to see him at the new command center. Sanok changed his facing and began moving by way of another route. (reply Ben iyw) (posted by Bob B.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Deck 15 - CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma – 1137) Ben turned to run down the corridor, further down there was another jeffries tube that he could take to make his way back to the command center and hopefully meet up with Sanok somewhere along the way. He heard a phaser fire behind him and turned back in time to see one of the drones hit the floor as another moved towards the opening of the jeffries tube he just left. Another shot was fired but Ben didn't hear anything hit the floor, they had adapted quicker then he had anticipated. He heard the hatch close, for now Sanok was relatively safe. Glancing back he saw three drones following him while another attempted to open the hatch. Turning the corner Ben saw the access hatch and ran to it. Its controls were also deactivated so he had to force it open as well. He grabbed both halves and began to pry them apart, he could hear the drones approaching but he had a couple seconds before they arrived. When he had the doors opened far enough to squeeze through he turned in time to see the first drone round the corner. Hoisting his phaser rifle he took quick aim and nailed the drone center mass, sparks flew and the drone feel back into it's companions knocking them to the deck. Ben climbed into the hatch and closed it, then he took his hand phaser and welded the doors closed. It wouldn't stop the Borg but it would slow them down, he could loose them in the jeffries tubes along the way. He began moving deeper into the jeffries tube making his way up when ever possible. He wondered whether or not his friend was safe, he knew Sanok was a capable fighter and resourceful so chances are he was fine. He swung out onto a ladder and climbed up to the next deck, if he could contact Sanok they should be able to meet up on the next deck. Tapping his comm badge he attempted to contact his friend. "Soma to Sanok." He said. (reply Sanok iyw) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1216) Jessica and Salid were on their way to the Docking point when Caliel arrived and reported in. “Uhh.. Captain?” she asked. "Yes ensign?" “Captain Durand has asked for all of his crew to get back on board. Tom Jackson is in sickbay here still, keeping it secure, but it looks like the Borg have left it alone for now. Permission to leave, sir?” she asked Ahmed considered her request and then inspiration struck him. Actually Ensign I'm heading for The Boudicca now. You're with Lieutenant Signos and myself." (reply Caliel) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - near hard docking port. ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel, Day 5, 1217) “Captain Durand has asked for all of his crew to get back on board. Tom Jackson is in sickbay here still, keeping it secure, but it looks like the Borg have left it alone for now. Permission to leave, sir?” Isra asked Ahmed paused for a moment before speaking. "Actually Ensign I'm heading for The Boudicca now. You're with Lieutenant Signos and myself." "Sir." she said, in affirmation, following behind. She wondered if he'd noticed her broken wrist. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Corridor - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - Day 5 –1220) Narvak stepped back and looked at his handiwork. After the railgun, he had meet with failure with his other projects. The molecular wire didn't penetrate their shielding, the repurposed lift shattered against the shields of a lead Borg barely staggering him and the chainsaw...well it was better not to think about the chainsaw. Now it is time to step up the game. It was his duty to neutralize any intruders on his ship and that is what he was going to do. ~Well, actually that is security’s job~ He thought, vaguely guiltily. ~Well, when they are slacking, its up to any officer to pick up the slack.~ One more phaser blast and a scan later, Narvak pronounced his masterpiece ready. ~Now it is time to round up some Borg~ Narvak thought to himself as he checked his tricorder and walked off whistling a march called 'The Liberty Bell' Within short order he located three work parties; it wasn’t as if they needed to keep a low profile like certain Starfleet officers like himself. It was odd; they were starting to ignore him, almost as if he was an insignificant intruder on their ship. The party had just finished installing some sort of recharging station or something and moved a short distance down the corridor, where they were now ripping out another section of paneling. ~This ought to get their attention.~ Narvak thought as he leveled his phaser and loosed a blast at the station that Borg has just constructed. The group turned as one and the chilling dead eyes stared as they moved towards him. It was something that he needed to explore later, why there was no such thing as a Borg sprinter. “Don’t check a Gorva’s toenails, just be glad there isn’t or they would catch your slow butt.” Narvak said to himself as he jogged towards the next party. It was unlikely that the destruction of just one of their precious chargers would stir the hornets’ nest, but two or three….. Narvak smiled evilly. He skidded up to the door of general lab five that he was planning to take a shortcut through and waited for the unusually slow door to open. The Borg behind him must have been some sort of speed walker champions, because they were moving a hell of a lot quicker than any Borg had a right to. The door started to slide open and the Tellerite stepped back as he noticed that there were bodies behind the door. “Grellox” Narvak blurted, as he saw a massed group of Borg. ~Definitely not in the plan. Well, you got their attention genius. Now what?~ He thought derisively as he tore down the corridor, his finely wrought plans lay in tatters as more Borg joined the ‘chase’. ~Great, some more of those stupid speed walkers~ Narvak could feel himself tiring as he quickly mentally flipped though the layout of the deck for another way to the “Foot”. ~If I cut through enviro three and main physics, I could make it. If that work party is still at bus twelve, I’m done.”~ Navak thought as he looked behind him. That was a mistake, not only did he now know how many Borg were chasing him -which were a lot more then he planned- but his foot caught. Bouncing off the bulkhead; Narvak pirouetted and crashed to the deck. In a oddly graceful fashion, the science officer rolled to his feet and charged headlong towards the environmental lab. A few minutes later, Narvak was barreling though the main physics lab and, of course, the party was still there and waiting for him. Narvak raised his phaser towards the Borg blocking the door and fired over the shoulder of the enemy. The door disappeared in an incandescent flash and Narvak grunted as he slammed into the Borg and spun around, he completed the spin and disappeared through the doorway. Two turns later, he was running down a corridor towards his geophysics lab and dove through the open doorway, he looked behind him. The Borg were very unhappy with him and produced a large hammer in which to smack him with. There was a large force of Borg heading down the corridor; they knew, as he did, that was no other exit out of this lab. ~Well, not though conventional means, but it was amazing what a fully charged phaser will do to walls.~ Narvak thought as watched the force march down the corridor. Narvak flicked a few keys on the station closest to him, launching a command to increase the gravity within the corridor to ten gravities. The science officer had yet to hear of any pseudo-being that was able to move though gravity field of seven gees much less ten. Narvak tried for fifteen, but the stubborn computer maxed out at ten, stating something about structural threshold. Narvak watched the display as the gravity shot up in the corridor and held at three gees. “Huh?” Narvak checked the output, it seemed that the Borg had caught on to this particular trick and limited the power to area. He watched as the Borg slowly waded towards him. “This isn’t good” Narvak declared as the lead Borg was within three meters of the threshold of the lab. “This, Ensign, is why you keep to simple, overwhelming uses of directly applied force.” Narvak had always made a show of not being afraid of the inevitable, but right now he was more than a little afraid. The gravity was not enough to active the second part of his ‘great’ plan and right now he was about to become Borg bait. “Crap” Narvak stated as the first Borg reached out towards him. There was a loud creak as weakened overhead gave way to the increased gravity. The science officer looked up as one and half tons of overhead decking met with the deck and the intervening Borg. The resulting explosion of air and shrapnel propelled the science office across the lab and slammed him against the bulkhead, knocking him unconscious. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1235) Ahmed was so pleased that Caskie was still around and in charge. The Doctor turned First officer of the Boudicca was someone that he trusted implicitly. With his own first officer still missing and Captain Durand out of action with an injury, they were the only members of the command staff of two ships who truly understood the depths of what was happening and the severity of the decisions that they were going to have to make. Of course Ahmed in his own way was a rock. His faith was unshakable, his idealism equally so. He had pulled himself out of more scrapes by refusing to compromise his principles and through the requirement of finding another solution so many times, that he almost expected it to happen of its own accord. He refused to show any weakness, fear or doubt here. His strength was the crew's strength. His ability to keep calm kept them calm in the face of the overwhelming problems that they were all facing. He waited for her to consider the contents of the PADD that he had handed her. He knew her well enough to see that her mind had moved away from the reading aspect and into the consideration aspect of the PADD's contents? "Well?" "Clever. I don't see why not. I think it's doable. I think it's more than doable. I think that it's crazy enough that it might just work if we can get our hands on a live Borg drone, which won't be easy. "That will be the least of our worries though. The tough part will be severing him from the collective so that they don't immediately figure out what we are planning. That is the bit that is going to be hard. Go find me a Borg drone, get your people together and I'll start organizing mine." Josh waited for a minute before adding another thought to the pot. "Captain, exactly where do you want to do this? Your place or mine. To be honest, the Biohazard Lab on the Rose would be the perfect place if you are sure it's secure since the whole module can be jettisoned if necessary." "Captain, If I may, let me go... isolate and capture a drone. You know my abilities..." Jessica, no Lily, Ahmed noted, interjected. "I'll consider it Ensign. There's a few additional details to work out before we decide who is going to make the attempt." He turned to Ensign Caliel. "Mister Caliel, you made your way here from sickbay. In your opinion is it reachable again?" (reply Caliel) Ahmed nodded. He then returned his attention back to Jennifer. Make it happen Commander. "Grab as many of your best and brightest as you can find to put on this project. Add to that Matrix, Narvak and anyone in the Rosenante Sickbay, We'll put together a grab team. Signos, Soma and Sanok, along with any security you want to add from the Boudicca. I'll shift Rosenbauer and Nunez to coordinating the defense for both ships. You will need to make this your top priority. Stopping the Borg is critical at this stage, our situation is slowly disintegrating and if we don't have a breakthrough soon, there won't be a situation to deal with. I don't plan on joining the collective as a slave and I'll be damned if they take either of the ships under my command and use them to spread their cybernetic disease across the quadrant." "I see three steps. First we have to isolate and capture a drone- cut him off from the collective." He ticked off his first finger then moved to the second. "Then we'll need to work out the anti-assimilation nanoprobes." Then he ticked off the last finger. "The last is testing and deployment." He let out a deep breath. "I also want you to know that while I would like to recover anyone we can that has been assimilated, their recovery or even survival is not a priority. Safeguarding the remaining members of our crew is. Their recovery is a preference, but if it proves to be too elusive..." he trailed off, he knew that she understood what he was saying. (reply Caskie) "Excuse me, Sir... I know this isn't necessarily a good time to ask." Her blue eyes were wide with concern. "But, by any chance do you know the fate of Lt. O'Neill?" Ahmed gave her a solid look. His eyes locked hers and he said simply. "I've heard nothing from him since the Borg boarded us. Engineering has been overrun and I have to realistically assume that he's been captured and assimilated." That said he grabbed a nearby security officer. "Sir?" The officer asked. "I want you to find two more security people. Then I want you to locate Lieutenants Soma and Sanok. They should be reconnoitering the Borg positions and strength on the lower decks. Find them and have them report to The biohazard Lab aboard the Rosenante and report in directly to Commander Caskie there." "Yes sir." The just like that the man was gone, moving quickly to fulfill his orders, seemingly oblivious to the danger that the captain had just ordered him into. (reply Signos, Caliel, Caskie, Soma, Sanok) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel, Day 5 - 1236) Isra followed along behind all the way to the hard docking port, where the Captain handed over a PADD to Caskie, a doctor and First Officer of her own ship. She was pleased to see someone that she recognised after all that she'd been through. "Well?" Ahmed asked Caskie. At this point, Isra didn't know what was going on, what the plan was, or even what details the PADD held. She could only listen in. "Clever. I don't see why not. I think it's doable. I think it's more than doable. I think that it's crazy enough that it might just work if we can get our hands on a live Borg drone, which won't be easy." "That will be the least of our worries though. The tough part will be severing him from the collective so that they don't immediately figure out what we are planning. That is the bit that is going to be hard. Go find me a Borg drone, get your people together and I'll start organizing mine." Josh paused for a moment, obviously everyone was getting in the habit of thinking before speaking by now. "Captain, exactly where do you want to do this? Your place or mine. To be honest, the Biohazard Lab on the Rose would be the perfect place if you are sure it's secure since the whole module can be jettisoned if necessary." "Captain, If I may, let me go... isolate and capture a drone. You know my abilities..." Signos spoke up, another face that Isra recognised. It appeared that she'd recovered from her injuries on the planet rather faster than anyone else. "I'll consider it Ensign. There's a few additional details to work out before we decide who is going to make the attempt." He turned to Ensign Caliel. "Mister Caliel, you made your way here from sickbay. In your opinion is it reachable again?" "Sir, The only way to get there is by jeffries tubes, as there is at least one deck completely overrun with Borg. I nearly walked out into a patrol of them. Someone who knows the ship better would be better off. My injury held me back, so it took a good hour and a half for me to get here." she said, indicating the cast on her wrist. The hypospray took that opportunity to fill her wrist with another dose of painkillers, removing the slight expression of pain from her face. ~i could get used to this~ she commented in her mind as the painkillers removed the feeling from her injury. Ahmed nodded. He then returned his attention back to Jennifer. Make it happen Commander. "Grab as many of your best and brightest as you can find to put on this project. Add to that Matrix, Narvak and anyone in the Rosenante Sickbay, We'll put together a grab team. Signos, Soma and Sanok, along with any security you want to add from the Boudicca. I'll shift Rosenbauer and Nunez to coordinating the defense for both ships. You will need to make this your top priority. Stopping the Borg is critical at this stage, our situation is slowly disintegrating and if we don't have a breakthrough soon, there won't be a situation to deal with. I don't plan on joining the collective as a slave and I'll be damned if they take either of the ships under my command and use them to spread their cybernetic disease across the quadrant." "I see three steps. First we have to isolate and capture a drone- cut him off from the collective." He ticked off his first finger then moved to the second. "Then we'll need to work out the anti-assimilation nanoprobes." Then he ticked off the last finger. "The last is testing and deployment." He let out a deep breath. "I also want you to know that while I would like to recover anyone we can that has been assimilated, their recovery or even survival is not a priority. Safeguarding the remaining members of our crew is. Their recovery is a preference, but if it proves to be too elusive..." he trailed off, he knew that she understood what he was saying. (reply Caskie) "Excuse me, Sir... I know this isn't necessarily a good time to ask." Her blue eyes were wide with concern. "But, by any chance do you know the fate of Lt. O'Neill?" Ahmed gave her a solid look. His eyes locked hers and he said simply. "I've heard nothing from him since the Borg boarded us. Engineering has been overrun and I have to realistically assume that he's been captured and assimilated." That said he grabbed a nearby security officer. "Sir?" The officer asked. "I want you to find two more security people. Then I want you to locate Lieutenants Soma and Sanok. They should be reconnoitering the Borg positions and strength on the lower decks. Find them and have them report to The biohazard Lab aboard the Rosenante and report in directly to Commander Caskie there." "Yes sir." The just like that the man was gone, moving quickly to fulfill his orders, seemingly oblivious to the danger that the captain had just ordered him into. "Sorry sir, I assume you want me in the biohazard lab also?" she asked, though part of her knew that would be the case. The chance to modify Borg Nanoprobes was a mix of engineering and science, and something that Isra would jump at a chance to be part of. "I actually have some ideas on a modification or two..." she added quietly. She remembered back to some of her academy training. They'd been given a sample of dead nanoprobes to analyse and test as part of her 2nd year exam. She'd been top of the class that year. A grin of innovation, and what some might call malevolence spread across her face. It was a good job that malevolence was going to be directed at their enemy. (reply any) Written by Andy Jones --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Corridor - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - Day 5 –1242) Narvak slowly roused himself, the lab was dark and the doorway was faintly lit with an illuminated intersection beyond the newly remodeled corridor. The Tellerite’s ears rang load enough that could hardly hear the chirp of the communicator. An unfamiliar woman’s voice spouted off some meaningless dialogue, After the channel closed, aside from the ringing, the lab was silent. ~My head hurts and I can’t hear a thing~ Narvak thought. ~I think I got my quota, so it is time to retire to sickbay. I’ll find out what the other message was later.~ Narvak slowly picked his way over the exposed beams of the bulkheads as he made his way out of the lab and corridor. His mind going over ways that he could blame the Borg for the resulting destruction. (Reply any) (Posted by Jack) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - aFO- Cmdr Jennifer (Josh) Caskie - Day 5 - 1240) Josh waited whilst Captain Salid spoke to Ensigns Signos and Caliel and finally he turned his attention back to her." Make it happen Commander. "Grab as many of your best and brightest as you can find to put on this project. Add to that Matrix, Narvak and anyone in the Rosenante Sickbay, We'll put together a grab team. Signos, Soma and Sanok, along with any security you want to add from the Boudicca. I'll shift Rosenbauer and Nunez to coordinating the defense for both ships. You will need to make this your top priority. Stopping the Borg is critical at this stage, our situation is slowly disintegrating and if we don't have a breakthrough soon, there won't be a situation to deal with. I don't plan on joining the collective as a slave and I'll be damned if they take either of the ships under my command and use them to spread their cybernetic disease across the quadrant. "I see three steps..." Josh listened as he outlined the steps he thought needed, nodded in agreement and smiled at him. "No worries Captain, I'm on it now." She had also listened as Caliel had described her journey from the Rose's Sickbay and turned to her first. "Not a problem Ensign, I know both of these ships like I know my own home. I started my Fleet career on the Boudicca and I had the good fortune to serve on the Rose not too long ago. I know all of the ways to skirt around the Rose without being seen and I'm glad that you have already come up with some ideas about this solution. The first thing I need you to do however is pop your head round the Boudicca link and bring Ensign Vanik back here since we are going to need him too. He is just down the corridor guarding the dock." (Reply Caliel) That done she turned to Ensign Signos. "Ensign, I have no objections to you go finding us a drone, however I have strong objections to you doing so on your own. There are a number of Rose security personnel guarding the dock on their side. As soon as Rosenbauer and Nunez report here and take charge I want you to take any two people that they can spare and hook up with Soma and Sanok and go get us our drone and bring him to the Biohazard Lab on the Rose." (Reply Signos) That done she tapped her comm badge "Caskie to Jacobs, Narvak and Matrix. Please report to me in the Rosenante Sickbay. Lts Trei and T'Rillian please report back to me at the docking port. (Reply Jacobs, Narvak, Matrix and Trei) Josh then attempted to contact Lts Jackson and Ichijo but didn't get an answer. She knew that comms were spotty at best at present and since Ensign Caliel had said that the Borg seemed to have abandoned their plans to take the sickbay over Josh fervently hoped that it was only the comms that were out otherwise everyone would simply be walking into an ambush. NRPG: Bill, you said that you could not contact the Captain so I am working on the premise that you cannot get a comm signal out. People will be there shortly. RPG: Just after that Lt T'Rillian reported to her and Josh updated her on what was happening. "Rosenbauer and Nunez will arrive here presently to co-ordinate the defense of both ships and I want you to report to them when they arrive and follow any orders they give you. Whilst you may indeed rank them they both have far more experience that you do." Josh finally looked around. Ensigns Vanik and Caliel had arrived as had Lt Trei. Ensign Signos had already left to pick her team so all that remained was for Josh to update Lt Trei about where they were headed and why. Having done that she smiled at them and toldLt Trei to take point but not to get too far ahead of them since he was responsible for getting them all safely to the Biohazard Lab on the Rose. Nothing else honestly needed to be said so she simply nodded to Lt Trei to lead the way, gathered up Vanik and Caliel with a glance and followed Trei as he walked through to the Rose. (Reply more or less everyone who has been tagged in this post) Cmdr Jennifer (Josh) Caskie --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Hard Docking Port. ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel, Day 5, 1242) "Not a problem Ensign, I know both of these ships like I know my own home. I started my Fleet career on the Boudicca and I had the good fortune to serve on the Rose not too long ago. I know all of the ways to skirt around the Rose without being seen and I'm glad that you have already come up with some ideas about this solution. The first thing I need you to do however is pop your head round the Boudicca link and bring Ensign Vanik back here since we are going to need him too. He is just down the corridor guarding the dock." Isra listened as Josh spoke, trying to concentrate on her instead of the throbbing pain in her wrist. She could feel the pain dying as time went on, the medicinal chemicals in the hypospray were obviously doing their job at keeping pain down and helping the bone repair itself. ~Why didn't I stay home this summer?~ "Yes sir." she said, turning towards the docking port. ~Vanik... that sounds vulcan...~ She looked through the docking port, and headed towards the first vulcan she saw on the Boudicca side of the dock. "Ensign Vanik?" she asked, hoping she wasn't putting her foot in it. If she was, she just hoped that Vanik was close enough to hear, and intervene before she said anything more. (Reply Vanik) "I'm Isra Caliel, we've been given a job to do. Commander Caskie wants us on the other side of the dock. We're going to a biohazard lab on the Rose." she said, turning to head back through. (Reply Vanik) It was only a few metres walk before they rejoined the group on the Rose side again. Isra gave Caskie a nod as they approached to say that she was as ready as ever. Isra listened in as Caskie asked Lt Trei - a well armed klingon - to escort them to sickbay on the Rose. "So, just to make sure I'm on the same page here..." Isra said, "We're going to modify borg nanoprobes to attack other borg nanoprobes, and return them to normal?" she asked, formulating plans in her head. She could see an ionisation field on the modified probes in her head, using her firm grip on physics to generate a field enough to attract healthy red blood cells, and drive away the metallic and enemy nanoprobes. ~what if we modify the probes to attack the red blood cells as they do already, but not do anything to them?~ she thought, merely following along with the others while her mind worked out the details. Her mind picked up on the fact that she was back in the jeffries tubes already, heading back to the deck she'd just come from. Her mind flashed back to her trip in the opposite direction, getting away from Sick bay. She'd opened the hatch, and seen the Borg as they took over the ship. It was a frightening experience that had first caused her mind to think about the nanoprobes themselves. If she'd opened that hatch moments later, the Borg she'd seen would have been directly on top of her, and probably assimilated her in one movement. If they got her now, they'd learn what they were doing, and would know of her ideas to counter the nanoprobes. ~I hope this works...~ "do you think we'll have any time to analyse the current program in the nanoprobes?" Isra asked anyone in the team, not really targetting it at anyone in particular. (reply any) Written by Andy Jones --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - ACEO Ensign(jg) Henry Jacobs - 1244) With a nod Jacobs acknowledged his orders to report to sickbay. He made an about face and proceeded to walk out of the observation lounge and head to sickbay. Before he made it to the door Commander Caskie also commanded him to report to sickbay along with Lt. Matrix. Henry turned around to address Matrix. "I'll see you down there sir, its gonna take me a little longer. The pain from my eye is somewhat distracting." (reply Matrix) "Very well he replied as he continued out the door." With his one good eye he preceeded to take in the gore of war around him. Deactivated borg drones and crew members alike covered the corridor floors as Jacobs made his way to sickbay. The more he thought about it he realized that it had been quite some time since his eye was injured. With the passing time he knew that the damage was becoming permanent. ~I dont want to loose an eye. I like my eye, it helps me see!~ The thought continued in his mind every time he passed a drone which reminded him of the drone that swung and cut his face. With every junction he passed he relived the experience and his injured eye socket would sting with pain. He had spent very little time out of the academy and was on his first assignment. The wonders of being in active duty on board one of the fleets toughest ships was always appealing until lately. For days the crews of both ships had no rest and constantly dealt with the increasing threat of Borg domination. Jacobs began to remember all the stories he heard while still in Starfleet Academy. Of all the Borg were the most feared entity in the universe. Henry was experiencing first hand the amount of destruction the Borg could produce. If he ever made it back to academy grounds he would have his own stories to tell. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - On Way to Engineering - ACEO Lt JG Eian O'Neill - Day 5 - 1245) Eian was hanging on. Or rather, what was left of Eian was hanging on. Just before one falls unconscious after receiving a blow heavy enough to cause serious damage but not enough to cause immediate unconsciousness, one feels the world closing in on them. Peripheral vision disappears, color vision ceases to work properly, the world becomes blurry, and thoughts become jumbled. For some reason, the body reacts similarly to hearing extremely bad news. Eian was in class when he received the news that his mother died. Perhaps the physical effect was amplified by the fact that the news struck him so suddenly, so unexpectedly, that he had no way of formulating a response. His body simply took over. The professor received a notice to dismiss Cadet O'Neill, and after Eian entered the hallway of the Academy Technical Center 15, a Starfleet Captain and a counselor greeted him. He knew the news wasn't good, but he assumed that one of his parents had been injured. Despite the fact that there was a serious conflict going on, that his mother commanded officers from the front lines, he hadn't truly thought about the fact that she could die. So when the blood rushed to his head and he could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears, when his vision blurred and the world closed in on him, only one thought penetrated the jumbled mess of youthful pictures and memories of better times that flashed through his mind. That thought was, quite simply, ~*No*~ And now as Eian was buried underneath layers and layers of commands, trillions of voices speaking at once, a philosophy that he didn't agree with, and suicidal, sorrowful emotions, what was left of his consciousness clawed its way up through that rubble and clung to those blurred images of the world. ~*No*~ his mind commanded, beating down the sorrow and suicidal wishes, fighting against that philosophy of death, ringing through those trillions of voices, protesting those layers of commands. He had almost been completely killed, his spirit completely squashed, but the Borg had turned on his optical implant and restored feeling to his nerves, and although the other constraints remained, the stimulation was enough to keep a tiny piece of him alive. He still existed, but could do nothing to thwart 2 of 5's actions. He only needed something to cling to besides those images of the familiar world that his subconscious mind saw, but couldn't process. The charred corridors that he knew of, but couldn't truly recognize. His recognition was more like that of a place one hadn't been to for decades, but vaguely remembered from childhood. He knew that with only charred corridors to cling to, he could not hold on. He would slip away. Somewhere in the caverns of his mind, a phrase from a hymn came to the surface. "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." He didn't know how his mind managed it, and wasn't able to contemplate the question in the first place. But it would no doubt be something that he later would analyze. In the mean time, he attempted to cling to that phrase. To get some residual joy from the thought of God. Some kind of comfort. He couldn't feel a thing. Why were sorrowful emotions possible, but joyful ones not? Why could he contemplate suicide, but not the afterlife? These too, were questions that Eian could not answer or even begin to ask. But a familiar hymn line was better than a familiar charred corridor. And so he clung to that. Meanwhile, 2 of 5 dragged him along like a crushed bug on the sole of a shoe, with each step obliterating a bit more of what was left of his consciousness. (no reply necessary) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - CO, Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid, Day 5 - 1250) The situation, for the first time since the mission started, was beginning to look like something other than a complete and total disaster. Now Ahmed understood how captain Sash had felt while acting as fleet captain during the Battle at the Mars Defense Perimeter. The responsibility that he held for a single ship was crushingly heavy at times, but two, well... Ahmed was surprised that he hadn't been squashed flat under the emotional and physical load of such a weighted responsibility. Now Jennifer, one of the few people that he trusted without question was agreeing with him; that this plan that Signos/Lily had devised was not only doable, but actually worth attempting. She, like he, had rated the chances of success for the plan high enough to warrant an attempt. The end result would make or break their ability to fight the borg effectively. I it failed, there wouldn't be time to come up with another attempt and Ahmed would be forced to take drastic and final action to stop the Borg. If he was forced to do so, he'd crash the Rosenante into the sphere while it was still on the planet. He'd deny them their victory at all costs. He genuinely believed that the fate of the Entire federation hinged on their success here. He was once again confident that the crews of the two ships under his command would come through, after all, they had beaten the odds so often that it was almost a requirement for them to be stacked against them in order for them to truly succeed. "Sorry sir, I assume you want me in the biohazard lab also?" Caliel asked. Ahmed snapped out of his thought and gave her a good look. He allowed his eyes to take in her measure, and they lingered for a moment on the flex cast that someone had applied to her broken wrist. "Yes Ensign, I think your knowledge of what is between here and sickbay is critical to the success of the mission. I'm certain that you have the ability to contribute to the development stage of things as well. We should have quite a few engineers in Sickbay as well, I see no reason to exclude you, unless Commander caskie has some other task for you?" The last question was directed at Jennifer, whose coolness under stress helped reinforce his own calm demeanor even when the entire universe was about to collapse. (reply caskie iyw) "I actually have some ideas on a modification or two..." Caliel added quietly. "Good, I'm certain that any and all idea will be considered. I have no doubt that you understand the severity of the situation. It's one hell of a first mission, but I think you've done remarkably well. You'll make a great command officer someday, heed my words." (reply Caliel, Caskie, Signos, Any Other) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 1255) After Detron did some extended scouting to see if the area was clear, he returned to the Boudicca side of the port. Signos was there talking to Captain Salamid. Detron approached the two and offered his services for the upcoming action. "Captain. I am volunteering to join your next action sir." (Reply Salmid, Signos) (Posted by Edward) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Deck 10 Lieutenant Tom Jackson - 2O/COPS - Day 5 - 1258) Tom walked through sick bay assessing their ability to defend themselves. He hung his head and sighed deeply. They had plenty of phased weapons as well as knives. Tom remembered close quarters combat with the Borg. It was in no way easy. The number of wounded worried Tom Jackson. He knew they were some walking wounded. They could be pressed into use should they be attacked again. The remainder of the wounded were in no shape to do anything other than try and heal. Tom's face clouded over as he dwelled momentarily on the perks and costs of command. Nothing at the academy had prepared him for what he now faced. Jackson's repeated attempts to contact the skipper had went unanswered. This gave Tom no one to consult with or ask what he should do. Never in Tom Jackson's thirty years of life had he felt so alone. People were depending on him to save the day. What was he to do? He decided on a three fall back defense plan. First position would be just as the door's opened to Sick Bay. He hoped E'Mpak was up to running that line. The second line would be back by the bio-bed area. The number of people here would more than the first line. He had no one to lead this one that had combat experience so he picked the one person he knew, Emily Graatz. Shaking his head he walked to Emily and explained what he wanted done. She was floored as he explained his plan. Emily looked up at her boss and mentor. "I'll try Sir" she stammered. " Good, that is all I can ask" Tom replied. They looked at each other and Tom continued. " Emily we all come to a time when circumstances force us to grow up before we are ready". Emily wasn't sure where Tom was heading. She simply didn't reply. " Emily, I wanted to be an explorer not a warrior. Life hasn't let so I became a warrior" Jackson said sighing. " I want you to do the best you can and God will take care of the rest - now go organize your line" Tom ordered. Tom Jackson would handle the last line personally. He'd go down fighting ! (Reply; any) (Posted by: Bill W.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Main sickbay - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - Day 5 –1259) Narvak made it to deck ten without incident, a knife sharp piece of decking had sliced into his foot and now his ankle was killing him with the unnatural way of walking with all of of his weight on his heel. He accepted the gash philosophically after all he wounded the ship; it was only karma, that in turn he was wounded by the ship. The ringing in his ears had not stopped and his headache was still make its presence known. Humorously, the only injury that was done to him was by him. There was a lesson in that, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure it out. ~If it doesn’t come to me, then it is not important or I am not ready to learn~ Narvak thought as he came to the door of sickbay. The door didn’t open for him, which didn’t put in a better mood. Narvak started to pry the doors apart and it seemed that someone of the other side was assisting him. After he slid though, he glared at the nearest medical staffer. “YOUR DOOR IS NOT WORKING” he stated matter-of-factly He left the crewman to close the door and singled out a doctor. The doctor looked at him and asked him what was the wrong. at least that is what Narvak assumed that he asked since he could not hear a thing. “I HAVE A HEADACHE AND CUT MY FOOT OPEN.” The science officer replied The doctor silently said something else and motioned towards an empty bed “OH, AND I CAN’T HEAR A THING.” Narvak added. “I KNOW IT’S KINDA OF MINOR BUT THE WHOLE RINGING THING IS GETTING ON MY NERVES, I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND.” The doctor smiled weakly and motioned for Narvak to lay back as he removed the fabric wrapped around the Tellerite’s foot. (Reply any in sickbay) (Posted by Jack) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Hard Docking Port - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 13.00) Detron reported to CDR Caskie. She heard what he did on the Rosenante side of the dock. She heard that the dock was clear. She then called him over to brief him on the next action. She gave him orders to lead a team to the Bio hazard Lab on the Rosenante. He turned to CDR Caskie. "Understood Sir. Lets go team." Detron moved on to the Rosenante side with Vanik and Caliel behind him. He held his Battlaff in front to handle any surprises. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Hard Docking Port - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 13.05) Detron forged ahead a fair distance from the Dock and waited for the team to keep pace with him. (Reply Vanik, Caliel) (Posted by Edward) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca / Rose - Hard Dock Defensive - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos- 1310) Jessica left has she went about to full fill her orders. First she needed to locate the two people she would choose for this mission. One was which was one of the security officers from the Boudicca, the second was a combat medic from the Rose. She assembled her group and started issuing orders. "Alright people, grab your kit, fresh phasers, and whatever weapon your familiar with. Other than that we travel light. Petty Officer Lance you have point, we are to move and evade the Borg force till we link up with the command security force we are being sent after. " The security officer from the Boudicca nodded glad he was to be leaving the security of the docking port and seeing some action, but he was also glad that he wasn't going to be expected to engage every Borg group they came across. By now they all had heard the rumors from what happened on the surface of Dovek ll and Lance knew if he wanted to see action with Ensign Signos was the person to go with. "Petty Officer Cole." Jessica turned on the woman that towered a good head over Jessica, but still flinched when Jessica called her name. "You have a good working knowledge of the Rose. I need you to be my guide. We need to find who we are going after and in a hurry." Elisabeth Cole would of been happier sitting at the docking port healing the injured that came her way other than a wild goose chase throughout the Rose, trying to find two people that would be needed to accomplish some task that Ensign Signos was keeping quite about. Jessica continued, softly for the rest was for the ears of her small team and only. "I am sorry I can not tell you more of what lies ahead of you both. I can not take the chance that what information that has been pasted to me falling in the hands of the Borg collective. The details of this mission are need to know and if it becomes apparent that you need to know those details I will tell you at that time but not before. With that being said if any of us fall to the Borg you are under orders to kill me or any other member of the team before they can assimilated... Is that Clear..." Lance and Cole both responded with a somber "Yes, ma'am" those were not the kind of orders that one wanted to hear before heading out into the unknown. Soon the team was off leaving the safety of deck eight and diving deeper into the bowels of Rose and into Borg held territory. (reply none needed) (posted by Matthew Locke) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Sickbay - ACEO Ensign(jg) Henry Jacobs - 1311) Jacobs entered sickbay to see many injured crewmen. The numbers were great and for the moment it appeared that the Federation was loosing the battle and the Borg were pushing foward in taking over. Eventhough pain had occupied his attention the first thing he did when he entered sickbay was walk over to Commander Caskie and report in. "Reporting in as commanded, sir" (Reply Caskie) "Doctor can you take a look at this?" Jacobs called out as he turned his body in the direction of the Rosenante physician. (Reply Medical) "Earlier while I was engaged with the Borg one of the drones swung a talon and connected with my right eye. Its been quite some time and I have not been able to stop and assest the seriousness of the injury. Please tell me what can be done." (Reply Medical) (Posted by Darryl) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Observation Lounge - CEO Lt. Steven Matrix - 1312) With a nod Jacobs acknowledged his orders to report to sickbay. He made an about face and proceeded to walk out of the observation lounge and head to sickbay. Before he made it to the door Commander Caskie also commanded him to report to sickbay along with Lt. Matrix. Henry turned around to address Matrix. "I'll see you down there sir, its gonna take me a little longer. The pain from my eye is somewhat distracting." Matrix smiled, "You'd better get that taken care of Ensign. We wouldn't want that pain in the eye to turn into a pain in the ass." replied Matrix. (Reply any, none) (Posted by Steve) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Docking Port - Science Officer Ensign(jg) Nickolas Romanoff - 1313) It was clear that because he was a science officer there was little need for Romanoff's expertise at the current moment. He had composed a report in the Astrometrics lab which had information on their current time and location after coming out of the vortex. It appeared that it wasnt the most important information at th time because it was overlooked when presented to Captain Salid, but that wasnt enough to detour Romanoff from doing his part. He had plenty of time to catch his breath and collect his thoughts after crawling through jeffries tubes to make it to the observation lounge. He unholstered his standard issue phaser with one hand and reached and picked up a rifle with the other. ~ill just stand here until someone comes along and needs my help. Or ill just shoot any drones that come by, either way something is about to get done and its gonna get done by me.~ (reply any walking by the docking port) (posted by Darryl) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Deck 10 - Lieutenant Tom Jackson 2o/COPS Day 5 1315) Tom's nerves were taught. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing up. His gut was knotted tight. This was the 'calm before the storm' Jackson had always heard about. Emily and M'e pak had done wonders and they as ready as they could be. NRPG; Robbie sorry I couldn't for the life of me remember the correct spelling of your nurse's name. RPG: Tom double checked his weapons. His hand ran over the dagger his evil twin carried. Jackson didn't get to meet his evil self. In an odd twist of fate he had met the mirror of his close friend the CO. The relationship between that Ahmed and Tom Jackson shared mirrored his with the CO. ~Funny how things never really change~ Tom thought. Tom wasn't usually a meditative type but as time passed he seemed to grow more so. It had begun when he married Dahlia. Dahlia ! The mere thought of Jackson's soul mate caused him to smile. She was so good for him. He had been plodding along in his life and career. He now had purpose and a reason to live. Tom wondered once again if his mom and Pez had planned it all along? Again, he thought how blessed he was. His friends were those of character - true and loyal to the death. Sighing again he turned back to the here and now. (Reply: none) (Posted by: Bill W.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Bio Hazard Lab - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei - 1325) Detron rounded the corridor to the Bio Hazard Lab when he spotted 3 drones guarding the lab. He stopped to give orders to Vanik and Caniel behind him. "Three drones guarding the door. I'll handle the drones. You two secure the lab. I'll be there after I take out the trash. Move when I make my advance on the drones. You have your orders now lets go." Detron took a vial of acid from his belt. He broke the top of the vial and sprayed the acid around the drones eyes. He used the temporary blindness to bash the drone heads with his Battlaff. He made another bashing pass to be sure they were dead then removed the drones from the lab entrance. Vanik and Caniel entered the lab just as he took out the trash. He tapped his COMM. ^= Trei to Caskie. I encountered 3 drone at the lab entrance. I killed all 3 the area is clear. Vanik and Caniel are securing the lab. I will join them now. Trei Out.^= Detron entered the lab. (Reply Vanik, Caniel, Caskie) (Posted by Edward) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Deck 9 - SO Ensign Mike Rosenbauer, Day 5 - 1745) "Move it Ranger!" Mike was shouting above the noise of disruptor fire and phaser fire that was zipping up and down the length of the corridor that they were currently contesting control over. He was trying hard to make it back to the security checkpoint where Eva and T'Vyr along with a cluster of battle-hardened Security Officers from the Rosenante's compliment were holding their position against a renewed Borg offensive action. This would have been easy enough, except for the fact that he was all but dragging Tyrone alongside him as he made his way towards safety. The big man, the executive of the Squad, wasn't an ounce short of 265 pounds of solid muscle. An asset when brute strength was required, but not so much so when that muscle was fundamentally dead weight. They had run into a Borg patrol who had been attempting to access a primary Jefferies tube access point. As a result, a firefight had ensued and then quickly devolved into a free-for-all melee for survival slugfest. Tyrone, although an expert martial artist, simply couldn't match the heavy cybernetic enhancements that the tactical drones had been equipped with. He had taken a disruptor hit at near point-blank in the left knee. An injury which normally would have made him easy pickings for any borg Drones that followed through with the assault. They forgot one small detail though... Rangers never leave a man behind. Mike and Mosh had charged the position, they had managed to push the Borg back enough for mike to get his arm around the big man and head for safety. Mosh followed behind, performing a desperate covering action as Mike and Tyrone struggled to make it to Saint Jean and T'Vyr. The pair had just crossed the dividing section between Section 3A and 3B when all the hairs on the back of Mike's neck stood up. The sudden crackle of energy filled the air and Mosh, already in motion slammed into a class three force field that had suddenly and unexpectedly snapped to life between him and salvation. Mike staggered to a quick stop, dropped his injured comrade onto the deck and fired two quick shots into the forcefield to confirm it's existence. "Eva, shut down the forcefield!" he called out. "Working on it. It looks like the Borg have taken control of the security subsystems." She called back. "Holy Mother of God!" Mike cursed as he watched the four tactical drones converging towards his team mate and friend, who was just now getting back to his feet after the unexpected impact against the force field. Mosh spun to face the Borg, and raised his rifle. Mike knew as well as he did that there was no chance of it doing any good, but he also knew that Mosh would never give up without a fight. The Bolian fired three short bursts into the advancing drones, and as expected, a series of brilliant green energy shields blossomed to life around them. They continued to advance rather than fire their disruptors, they knew that they had him trapped. "Eva!" Mike screamed backwards. "I'm working on it! They've overridden the security lockouts!" "I don't care if they've rebuilt the entire ship into a Borg Cube!" Mike spat. "Get this shield down yesterday!" The tactical drones advanced slowly, enough so that the moment seemed to stretch onward forever. Mosh worked quickly. He was carrying demolition charges and it didn't take Mike a genius to realize what the Bolian ranger was about to do. As if in apology, the blue-skinned warrior looked up at Mike, their eyes locking through the energy of the shield and Mike knew then that his comrade and friend was resigned to his fate. MOsh mouthed one word silently, "Go" Despite his desire to see things through to the end, to hang on to the final thread of hope that dangled before him, Mike knew that the Bolian had made his choice. He knew that Mosh would stop the advance with his life. "Fall Back!" Mike ordered and he reached out and pulled Tyrone off the deck. "You can't leave him!" Ty complained. "Not like this. Not here." Mike nodded as he pulled the man's arm over his shoulder, "He's made his choice Ty. There's no better way." The two men struggled forward in silence, until some of the security men broke their position to take Tyrone to the fall back point. Mike looked back one final time to see Mosh, charging forward into the throng of borg drones, waving a satchel charge and apparently screaming at the top of his lungs. A moment later, there was a massive explosion and a portion of that corridor decompressed, blowing chunks of Borg out into the depths of space. The advance for now had been stopped. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Sick Bay - SO Ensign Mike Rosenbauer, Day 5 - 1800) It was a sullen Mike Rosenbauer that accompanied his security force into sickbay. Six of his ten remaining men were injured, some of them like Tyrone, seriously so. They shuffled into the compartment, glad for a respite from the fighting. Mike spotted Jackson. He finally had located a member of the senior staff. There was a report to give, then he could have his minor wounds attended to by the doctors. "Lieutenant sir." Mike said as he reached the third officer. He didn't bother to stand at attention, he was just too beat to care about protocol at the moment. (reply Jackson) "I have a report for you, sir. We've encountered heavy Borg resistance on deck nine. It looks like they are attempting to assimilate the primary subspace communications node. If we can regain control of it, we can restore communications back to both ships. They're also showing signs of adaptation, where moving about the ship is concerned. They've begun to consider using Jefferies tubes, although I'm not sure if they are yet doing so. In addition, they must have cracked the security secondary command station in main Engineering. They're starting to use the security forcefields to isolate and control movement of our tactical teams throughout the ship. We lost two men on our way here, when they isolated them from the rest of the team using those shields." (Reply Jackson, Sickbay) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- End Compile ---------------------------------------------------------------------