Compiled by Calvin Capps ================================================================================= Mission: Piercing The Iron Curtain Day: 1 Stardate: 2407.01.10 ================================================================================= (USS Paladin, Ten-Forward, ACEO Lt JG Matrix, 1758) (USS Paladin, Ten-Forward, ACEO Ensign Alura Rathyn,1800) (USS Paladin, Personal Quarters - CMO Lt. (jg) Jared Keller - 1840) (USS Paladin - Calvin's Quarters - FO Lt. Cmdr Capps - 20:00) (USS Paladin, O'Connor's Quarters - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 2200) (USS Paladin - Deck 5, Joran's Quarters - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 22:37) ================================================================================= (USS Paladin, Ten-Forward, ACEO Lt JG Matrix, 1758) Matrix had been sitting alone at one of the far tables, he briefly looked up as Alura walked in. He smiled inside, then looked again as she walked toward the bar. Alura spoke, "Lieutenant." Matrix stood up as she walked to the table, "Ensign, I'm happy you could make it, please sit down." Alura was probably the closest thing to a friend on board the Paladin, or in Star Fleet for that matter. He was growing to cherish time with the Bajoran. She took the proferred seat across the table and faced him taking a quick sip of her drink then used the provided napkin to wipe away the foam from her lips. "How're you doing?" It felt a little awkward talking to her former CEO in an informal setting. Matrix dropped the formalities as soon as he saw her enter the room, "Not well Alura, but coping." Matrix sensed she wasn't all that comfortable, but he relaxed too, hoping she would do the same. Tact wasn't her strong suit, so she returned to form and said what was on her mind. "I'm sorry that you lost the CEO position. I've been slapped with that scourge before, and it stings for awhile." Matrix motioned the bartender to come over. "I know, being in Star Fleet things like this happen, but I didn't care for how it was played out. I did meet with the Captain and she said it was news to her to. I can understand in a way since we're at war. The best people need to be in the key roles. At the same time I'm a bit relieved." The bartender walked up to their table, Matrix looked up. "Please another...thank you." (Reply Rathyn) Matrix drank the rest of his tea, "I'll take this as an opportunity to learn and grow. If we survive this mission and the outcome of the war I might be a better officer, not to mention a better person." (Reply Rathyn) Matrix sat up and leaned into the table elbows first. "Alura, can I speak freely with you?" (posted by Steve) ======================================================================================= (USS Paladin, Ten-Forward, ACEO Ensign Alura Rathyn, 1800) "Cardassian magrun tonic," Ensign Rathyn said to the bartender. Few Bajorans drank anything of thier old enemies, but she did have a taste for some of the beverages developed by her grandfather's people. A frothy glass mug filled with a creamy orange liquid was set before her. She took it up and moved toward Matrix' table. Drawing near, she announced her approach. "Lieutenant." Matrix stood up as she walked toward him, "Ensign, I'm happy you could make it. Please sit down." Alura was probably the closest thing to a friend on board the Paladin, or in Star Fleet for that matter. He was growing to cherish time with the Bajoran. She took the proferred seat across the table and faced him taking a quick sip of her drink then used the provided napkin to wipe away the foam from her lips. "How're you doing?" It felt a little awkward talking to her former CEO in an informal setting. Matrix dropped the formalities as soon as he saw her enter the room, "Not well Alura, but coping." Matrix sensed she wasn't all that comfortable, but he relaxed too, hoping she would do the same. Tact wasn't her strong suit, so she returned to form and said what was on her mind. "I'm sorry that you lost the CEO position. I've been slapped with that scourge before, and it stings for awhile." Matrix motioned the bartender to come over. "I know, being in Star Fleet things like this happen, but I didn't care for how it was played out. I did meet with the Captain and she said it was news to her to. I can understand in a way since we're at war. The best people need to be in the key roles. At the same time I'm a bit relieved." The bartender walked up to their table, Matrix looked up. "Please another...thank you." "So what's your next move?" she asked him. Matrix drank the rest of his tea, "I'll take this as an opportunity to learn and grow. If we survive this mission and the outcome of the war I might be a better officer, not to mention a better person." "Don't sell yourself short," she told him. "You're already a good man. I don't know what happened, but in my experience, command officers sometimes forget they're dealing with real, breathing sentient beings." Matrix sat up and leaned into the table elbows first. "Alura, can I speak freely with you?" She was a little surprised at hearing that question from a higher-ranking officer. "I prefer it that way. I may not always agree with what someone tells me, and I don't mind rebutting, but I prefer people tell me what they think ... straightforward and undiluted." (posted by David) ========================================================================== (USS Paladin, Personal Quarters - CMO Lt. (jg) Jared Keller - 1840) Jared walked through the door with a mournful _expression on his face, the weight of the days revelations was beginning to weigh on him. ::How are you my love?:: Her looked up to see his beautiful wife smiling at him with her long red hair done up in the back with a band and an oven mitt on her right hand holding a transparent dish of lasagna... just as she had promised. He sighed. ::I don't like what's happening Talinna and I'm not sure my new ACMO is going to cut it, there was some problems down in cargo bay 3 and he went ballistic, I had to send him to his quarters to cool down. I know a lot of it is this damn war and he's fresh out of the academy but I'm worried about him.:: ::Come into the dining room.:: She sent as she turned around with a wink and walked ahead of him to the table. "Daddy!" Before he knew it Yssandra and Lyara were draped around him hugging him. ::What's wrong daddy? You're so tense.:: Lyara sent. Jared forced a smile. ::I'll tell you about it after dinner.:: He sat down with relish upon noticing a large piece of lasagna, piping hot garlic bread and steamed artichoke hearts had already been dished for him. Talinna finished pouring him a glass of red wine and handed it to him as he sat. ::Don't worry about what happened, just eat your dinner.:: She projected as she gave him a kiss. ::Thank you my love, what would I do without you?:: He asked as he took a sip of the rich wine and then gave a great sigh. ::A few of these and I'll forget anything bad happened today. How would that look? CMO forgets a war is on schedule and is shocked to find casualties in sickbay?:: He laughed then, half mirth and half sarcasm then looked her in the eyes. ::I'm so lucky to have you.:: ================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Calvin's Quarters - FO Lt. Cmdr Capps - 20:00) Calvin was tired, and all he wanted to do was eat and go to bed. He wasn't expecting anyone to come over as everyone was up to their heads with work to do. The First Officer had plenty to do, but he wanted to start with a fresh mind in the morning. If he continued to work any he wouldn't even been able to comprehend what he was doing. He brought his hand up to his mouth and yawned as he walked to the replicator. "Capps favorite cuisine number 1," he said as he waited for his food. He moved away from the replicator as he knew that the food would be too hot to eat. He liked his food to cool down from being hot instead of it being the perfect temperature when it materialized from the replicator. He moved to the bedroom where he dis-robed and put his sleeping clothes on. A blue cloth long sleeve shirt that had 5 buttons on the front with matching blue pajama pants. It looked plain for there was no design on it. After he finished putting it on he walked back into the kitchen to earth his food. Calvin reached the replicator and took the tray out of the replicator. On the tray was a plate, glass, eating utensils, and a single napkin. He placed the tray on the glass table in front of his chair that he normally sat in. As he was about to sit down his door chime rang. ~Mmm~ Calvin simply thought. He wasn't expecting anyone, so he decided to play it safe. After all he was in his sleeping clothes already. Calvin then heard the chime again. "Computer hear is at my door." [Ensign Elizabeth Knightley] "Come in," Calvin said. He stood up and walked toward the entrance door. "Elizabeth, I had no idea you were coming over tonight. I thought you were busy." "I was busy, but I worked as fast as I could to come see you," Elizabeth said. She elevated herself on her toes to reach Calvin's lips and gave him a kiss. Calvin kissed back with equal passion. "Are you hungry?" "Very." "Well, I made dinner for one. But I don't see why I can't make or should I say order one more for you." Calvin smiled while looking at Elizabeth. "I cannot help but see that you are already in your pajamas." Elizabeth joked. "Well I was ready for bed." Calvin replied. Elizabeth smiled. "Lets forget dinner, lets go to bed!" Calvin didn't argue he stood up and walked into the bedroom with her. (posted by Calvin) =================================================================================== (USS Paladin, O'Connor's Quarters - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 2200) Michael had gone over what he could in his office, checking systems, and locations and power levels. Finally tired enough to quit for the day, he retired to his quarters. Walking into the room, he really looked at it for the first time. He hadn't been in the room other than to drop his gear before. The suite looked rather empty, the walls were bare, the furniture was spartan to say the least. He had a couch and a couple of chairs, and an end table and coffee table that came with the living room, a desk, computer terminal, and chair were in the small office, and his bedroom had a bed, dresser, and that was about it. He opened the hard sided case that he had shipped some of his belongings in, and started unpacking the few items he owned that came with him where ever he went. Gathering up the pictures and holos he had of his family, he placed one of his sisters on the end table in the living room and one of his whole family on his desk. He missed his family a lot, being stationed so far away from Earth, it was unlikely that he would see his sisters or parents for a very very long time, at least not unless something very very strange happened. He quickly placed his clothes in the dresser and stashed his personal PADDs and memory chips that had all of his personally designed programs and various sub-routines he had found useful over the years, in his desk. He recorded a message for his family, letting them know he had been transferred and letting them know how to get a hold of him, and saved it to send after the mission was over, as he didn't want to risk sending a comm message all that way and have it give their position away. After he was all done, he got ready for bed and set the alarm to wake him up a good two hours before his shift as he wanted to be on the bridge early the next morning before the rest of Alpha shift got on, so he would be up to speed and ready for his first full day. Turning out the lights, Michael laid down and closed his eyes, wondering what the next day would bring his way. (Posted by Patrick) ============================================================================= (USS Paladin - Deck 5, Joran's Quarters - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 22:37) Joran settled into his favorite chair and curled up under an ancient blanket that one of his ancestors acquired in the Mexican region of Earth 400 years ago. As he began to zone out, he remembered he had forgotten to feed Ranger. He woke himself back up, and walked over to the replicator. "Mixed chicken organs," he said, and a bowl of chicken innards shimmered into existence on the pad. He carried it over towards the eagerly waiting dog, and set it down. He went back over to the chair, and noticed that he left the book he was reading over at the replicator. Feeling too tired to go get it, he walked over to his bed. On the way over, however, he saw in the mirror that the book was floating in the air towards his bed along with him! Shocked, he woke to full alertness and the book fell to the ground. He tapped his communicator and said, "Lt. Brownlee to Sickbay." (reply Sickbay) "I have just witnessed something odd in my quarters, and I believe that it is my doing. I will explain further when I get down there." (posted by Spencer) ============================================================================ END OF COMPILE I hope you enjoyed!