Compiled by: Calvin Capps ========================== Mission: Piercing The Iron Curtain Day: 2 Stardate: 2407.01.11 =================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - Lt. Cmdr Capps - 0853) (USS Horizon, Main Engineering - Engineer Ensign (jg) Shan Telar - 0853) (USS Horizon - Main Engineering - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron - 0856) (USS Paladin - Bridge - CONN Lt. Max - 0902) (USS Paladin - Bridge - FO Lt. Cmdr Capps - 0905) (USS George S Patton Jr - Crew compartment - 2nd Lieutenant "Joe" Jackson -0905) (USS George S Patton Jr - Crew compartment - 3rd Lieutenant K'lTac - 0907) (USS Paladin - Main Ops Control Room - Ensign Elizabeth Knightley - 0911) (USS Paladin - Bridge - FO Lt. Cmdr Calvin Capps - 0922) (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 09:23) (USS Hope - Bridge - Acting CO Lt. Cmdr Williamson - 0925) (USS Paladin - Bridge - TAC/SC Kerge - 09:26) (Starbase Geneva - Promenade - ACSO Ens K'Palla - 1200) (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 12:35) (USS Paladin - CO`s Ready Room - MCO Conner Tirrel - 12:40) (USS Paladin - Transporter Room - Ensign Zack Tristen - 1254) (USS Horizon - Transporter Room - Ensign Zack Tristen - 1255) (USS Horizon - Main Engineering - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron - 1256) (USS Horizon - Main Engineering - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron and ACEO Ensign Zach Tristen - 1257) (USS Paladin, Strategic Operations Center, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 1300) (USS Paladin, Strategic Operations Center - Captain Eva Straton, Commander Rulestaad, General Roberts, Captain Korloth - 1300) (USS Paladin - Main Ops Control Room - Ensign Knightley - 1301) (USS Paladin, Outside the Strategic Operations Center - General Michelle Leah Roberts - 1330) (USS Paladin, Bridge - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connon - 1330) (USS Paladin - Marine staging - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:31) (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, CEO, Lt. Commander Sarouk, 1331) (USS Paladin - Marine staging Center - Brigadier General Roberts - 13:33) (USS Paladin - Marine staging - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:34) (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1335) (USS Paladin - Marine staging - EFCO General Roberts - 13:35) (USS Paladin - Ten Forward - 3rd Lt. Philip Hyde - 1336) (USS Paladin - Marine staging - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:36) (USS Paladin, Ten-Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1338) (USS Paladin - Ten Forward - Third Lt. Philip Hyde - 1340) (USS Paladin - Marine Hanger deck - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:40) (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1341) (USS Paladin - Ten Forward - Third Lt. Philip Hyde - 1342) (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1343) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 13:45) (USS Paladin - Sickbay - CMO, Lt. (jg) Jared Keller - 1345) (USS George S Patton Jr - Muster deck - 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Darren Jackson -1345) (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, CEO's Office, CEO Lt. Commander Sarouk, 1346) (USS Paladin - Deck 27, Outside Security Chief's Office - ATAC/ASC Ensign (jg) Rana Apar - 13:48) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 13:48) (USS Paladin - Security Chief's Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 13:49) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office, CEO Lt. Commander Sarouk, 13:49) (USS Paladin - Deck 27, Security Chief's Office - ATAC/ASC Ensign (jg) Rana Apar - 13:50) (USS Paladin - Security Chief's Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 13:51) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office, CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee, 13:51) (USS Paladin - Deck 27, Security Chief's Office - ATAC/ASC Ensign (jg) Rana Apar - 13:52) (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Bridge - ACONN Ensign (jg) Christian Soval Brownlee - 13:56) (USS Paladin - Bridge - CONN Lt. Max - 13:56) (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Bridge - ACONN Ensign (jg) Christian Soval Brownlee - 13:57) (USS Paladin - Sickbay - CMO, Lt. (jg) Jared Keller - 1410) (USS Paladin - Bridge - FO Lt. Cmdr Capps - 1411) (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, ACEO Ensign Alura Rathyn, 1415) (USS Paladin, Chief of Operation's Office - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1415) (USS Paladin - Personal Quarters - ACEO Kyp Durron - 1431) (USS Paladin, COPS Office - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1540) (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 15:41) (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 15:45) (USS Paladin, COPS Office - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1545) (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 16:40) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 16:41) (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Ready Room - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 16:43) (USS Paladin, O'Connor Quarters - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1800) (USS Paladin, Holodeck 3, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 1900) (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - TAC/SC Kerge - 19:10) (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - ACEO Kyp Durron - 1914) (USS Paladin, Holodeck 3, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 1915) (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron - 1915) (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - TAC/SC - Kerge - 19:16) (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1945) =============================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - Lt. Cmdr Capps - 0853) "Can you extrapolate how many more ship could still be hidingbehind the planet?" Eva asked Commander Capps. "It is hard to say sir." Calvin keyed a few more keys on the console and read the analysis from the computer. "It is hard to say sir, but depending all on what type of ships are there I was say at most three." The Captain seemed to take the information in to make a more sound decision. After she quickly decided what she wanted she continued to give orders to the other officers on the bridge. As the Captain moved back down to her chair Calvin closed the monitor and moved down to the First Officer's chair. (posted by Calvin) ================================================= (USS Horizon, Main Engineering - Engineer Ensign (jg) Shan Telar - 0853) "Ensign are we ever glad to see you, I'm Ensign Shan Telar, and we could sure use your help." "Well, that's what we're here for," Kyp replied. "Where do you need us?" "Any where you want. Primary power inverters are shot, Secondary power generation is in shambles, we are still putting out plasma fires throughout the ship, and as you can hear, something seems to be wrong with the Warp core, and that is just the beginning of the list." "Hmm, I think we'll split the team." He turned to face the engineers with him. "Geraldson, I want you to take six engineers with you to help fix the power inverters. The rest of you are going to stay with me to see if we can repair the warp core. Hopefully, it's not too damaged to repair. They're not exactly easy to come by." He turned back to face Ensign Telar, "Okay, let's go see that warp core." "Sounds good," Shan said, and led the other ensign to the warp core. "Okay, what do you think is wrong with the warp core. Could it be a little unstable from the battle, or do you think it's something else?" "I don't know, between that and everything else, I haven't had a chance to look. Once we got here I disconnected the plasma injectors, as the cooling system was acting up." Shan said. "I think we should try reconnecting all of the plasma injectors first and repairing the damage to the cooling system. It could be as simple as that. And since the universe has a sense of humor, that's probably all that it is." "It might be, but after the beating we took it could be just about anything. We were tossed about like a rag doll. I think we need to check the dilithum crystal alignment, and make sure the magnetic wave guides aren't out of phase." Shan said, picking up his repair kit. "What do you want to take?" (posted by Patrick) ==================================================== (USS Horizon - Main Engineering - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron - 0856) Kyp turned back to face Ensign Telar, "Okay, let's go see that warp core." "Sounds good," Shan said, and led the other ensign to the warp core. "Okay, what do you think is wrong with the warp core. Could it be a little unstable from the battle, or do you think it's something else?" "I don't know, between that and everything else, I haven't had a chance to look. Once we got here I disconnected the plasma injectors, as the cooling system was acting up." Shan said. "I think we should try reconnecting all of the plasma injectors first and repairing the damage to the cooling system. It could be as simple as that. And since the universe has a sense of humor, that's probably all that it is." "It might be, but after the beating we took it could be just about anything. We were tossed about like a rag doll. I think we need to check the dilithum crystal alignment, and make sure the magnetic wave guides aren't out of phase." Shan said, picking up his repair kit. "What do you want to take?" Kyp thought for a few seconds, "Okay, you have a good point. I want the two warp core engineers to check the alignment of the dilithium crystals and check the magnetic containment fields." The two specialized engineers moved off to follow his instructions. He turned to the rest of them, "You two help Ensign Telar repair the damage to the cooling system. And, you, help me reconnect the plasma coils to the warp core." The engineers quickly moved to various stations to carry out their orders. Kyp went with Ensign Robertson to recconect the plasma coils. They weren't going to reestablish the feed, but they were just reconnecting. This turned out to be a little bit more complicated than expected, seeing as three of the coils had to be replaced. They were lucky that the replacements had just arrived from the cargo bay, and got to it. Once they were finished, the warp core engineers reported that they had finished realigning the dilithium crystals, but the magnetic containment was weak. Kyp leaned down to fiddle with the controls some, but kicked the panel after about five minutes of frustration. The containment levels came back up to normal then, and everything registered green. "Hey, Ensign Telar. How's the cooling repairs coming?" (reply Telar) "Okay, we'll restart the warp core in a few minutes once we finish repairing the maintenence controls here. Why don't you check in and see how the rest of the ship is doing?" (reply Telar) Kyp said to himself in a whispered voice, "You know, sometimes to warp core can be so annoying." He straightened back off after the panel whose wires he had been ripping out and reconnecting came back on lit up. "You ready?" (posted by Ben) ====================================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - CONN Lt. Max - 0902) Lt. Max sat at his console and took the surrounded situation and information in from all the sources he had available to him. Max knew he needed to surprise the enemy as stealthy as possible. But a thought in the back of Max's mind was that the shields were not up yet and he wanted to protect the ship as much as possible. Max typed in a few commands into the CONN console. The Paladin took off with a great burst, but the initial dampers set in just as quickly. Max paid attention to his controls and the location of the ship in contrast of the planet, moon, and the enemy ships, but Lt. Kerge and the shields were still popping in his mind. Max used the atmosphere and the small gravitational force of the planet to loop around the planet. The trap was set and sprung and it had worked. Max kept a close pursuit of the enemy ships as they ran into the Kronos and S'Urak. The enemy ships had no chance. (posted by Calvin) ================================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - FO Lt. Cmdr Capps - 0905) It was a site that Calvin saw all to much these days. He looked through the view screen and watched the Paladin ship approach the two enemy vessels. Quickly after the enemy ships turned about and tried to run, but they were only caught in to the trap of the Kronos and S'Urak. It was a good thought out plan the Captain had came up with thought Calvin. He then continued to watch the Marines attempt to take the first enemy ship. It seemed that this battle might not be much of one, but it would give every officer a last wake up call before the their true mission would come to present. (posted by Calvin Capps) ================================================= (USS George S Patton Jr - Crew compartment - 2nd Lieutenant "Joe" Jackson -0905) Joe was yelling orders into his combadge to the squad as the red alert klaxon blared through the ship. "All right you dog faces this is the real deal, I want everyone in BDU and armed for combat, report to the muster deck in 10 minutes!" There were a number of groans that emenated from the comm system.. "All right you apes cut the chatter and follow orders." His stern _expression lightened a bit as silence followed as he hit the muster deck and hot-footed it to the armory, the engagement had not been communicated very well and he had been caught by surprise, the enemy must have been lying in hiding or ambush. He heard Galk hit the deck at a dead run behind him, the armory doors opened at his command and he stepped through and made straight for the locker holding his BDU and keyed in his code, as the compartment door hissed open his second bulled into the room followed closely by the rest of the Hellwraiths, as they were suiting up more marines from other units began moving in and grabbing equipment. As the seal on his BDU hissed closed he placed the Pallas helmet on his head and locked it down then chose the scattergun over his usual Mark II, ship operations weren't the medium of a long range weapon. A half-dozen clips were placed into ammo "cans" set around his waist as well as several "flash-bangs" and three low-yield photon grenades. As he turned from making his preparations he tongued the comm system of the armored suit to life, watching the HUD tells light up inside the faceplate of the helmet, a moment of running through diagnostics on his suit and helmet then he was moving through the men and out the door to the deck. The Hellwraith squad was formed up before him in 9 minutes and 53 seconds, he knew because he had been counting the seconds under his breath as he made his preparations, if any of them had pulled in late he would have made sure they would have regretted this day forever had they lived at all. He spoke into the suits com, the racket of the red alert shut outside. "We've come to the dance now, everyone knows how big this deal is so I won't make any speeches." He turned to his right and began walking down the short row of armored men that were standing stiffly at attention. "If we are successful in this campaign we are going to break the back of Doenitz's takeover bid and put him on the run so everyone do your job and watch each others backs. We are the driving force in an unstoppable machine!" =/= HOOO WAAA SIR!=/= "Take your posts!" He finished then turned to Galk for some last minute instructions. (posted by Charles) ================================================ (USS George S Patton Jr - Crew compartment - 3rd Lieutenant K'lTac - 0907) K'lTac was readying himself as he listened to the massive stream of orders coming over the comms. He fixed his BDU, checked all systems and his weaponry. He then looked at his squed who were about ready. They looked at him, especially his new recruits who replaced the ones he lost in previous battles. Compared to a veteran, they looked innocent, even if they had the fighters spirit. His veterans were ready and waiting for battle as the squads started to form up. The last member checked up and K'lTac took command. "Allright, form up." Following, was a stampede of his squad towards the assemble area, where soon, they would be deployed for battle. (posted by Anthony) =============================================== (USS Paladin - Main Ops Control Room - Ensign Elizabeth Knightley - 0911) The new Chief Of Operations Ensign O'Conner was currently on duty on the bridge, sitting in the chair that Ensign Knightley was just getting comfortable with. Now she was standing and constantly standing as she walked briskly back and forth from the various ops consoles in the room. The room was half the size of the bridge and nearly 3 times brighter. The total number of consoles were five, and they were set up in a complete circle. A single chair was set up behind each console as well. The space between each console was near 2 feet. The placement of the consoles were so when officers were working in the room they would all be able to see each other and able to work as a team. Five officers did occupy the consoles, and Elizabeth made the sixth officer. She stood on the outside of all the other officers and moved from each console to supervise all the work that was going on. At that moment more information was coming in then any other normal time. A battle was going outside of the ship and it was the duty of the six officers to take every small piece of information to its necessary and appropriate place. "Lets take this head on with out any fear. Don't think what you will be doing after your shift. Only focus on your console, and your job. Lets use this experience to learn and prep us for our main mission that is sure to follow." Ensign Knightley tried to motivate her small team for the day. Elizabeth then started to move to her right and continue to walk around in a counter-clockwise way. (posted by Calvin) =============================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - FO Lt. Cmdr Calvin Capps - 0922) Calvin stayed seated at his First Officer chair as he continued to work on his current duties. He kept switching his focus from his panel in front of him and the large view screen. He currently had the formation of all the ships including the enemy star ships on his arm panel and their position. The two enemy ships had virtually came to a complete stop when they were cut off by the massive and more powerful 52nd fleet ships. "Sir your trap has succeeded, the two enemy ships has slowed. Marines are starting ship take over." Lt. Cmdr Capps turned his attention to the view screen and saw the two gray enemy ships. The Paladin continued to draw closer to them. "Draw back Lt. Max, lets keep a safe distance." In all the years Calvin has been in Starfleet he has never seen a Captain self-destruct their own ship, but these officers were part of Doentz fleet and there could be something important enough on those ships that the Captain might not have a choice.. Once again Lt. Cmdr Capps changed his view back to the arm panel. The Trojan Two had already breached the first ship which was closest to the Paladin now. Calvin also drew his attention to the Fighting Whatevers and noticed they were sitting still and ready to attack if needed be. Calvin then heard one of the Paladin officers. "Captain, Hostile one bridge and command staff secure attempting to gain computer access now."Rellam said. Calvin stared at the bridge of the enemy ship through the view screen. The view nearly knocked his breath away. A realization hit him. He and so many others that fight with Lodona were fighting men, women...officers they were exactly like them. The ships, star-bases, rank, command, style were all originated from the same place, time, and people. Their history were the same. It was as if they were fighting their evil-selves. The realization slowly faded away and Calvin's focus cleared. Lt. Cmdr Capps looked over at Captain Straton and back at the view screen. "Good work Srgt. Tam. You must take necessary steps to keep a revolt from happening over there. We will keep you informed of your next move." (posted by Calvin) ================================================= (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 09:23) Eva sat in the command chair watching the battle unfold, if a battle it could be called. More like a route. The two enemy ships never stood a chance and now marines had boarded one of the had successfully taken the bridge and where working on gaining computer access. "We are being hailed," Ensign O'Connor said from the OPS console suddenly drawing Eva from her thoughts. "On screen," She said, leaning forward. The image of a Star Fleet officer with the rank insignia of Lt. Commander filled the view screen. =/\=I am Lt. Cmdr Williamson. I am currently in command of this vessel. Please do not attack. We are surrounding to you.=/\= "Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded," Eva replied, coldly. =/\=Drop shields.... We are waiting for your boarding party.=/\= Eva simply nodded. Then looked over at Lt. Kerge. "Have marine and security teams beamed over and secure the ship," Eva said, then looked back at Ensign O'Connor, "Put a tractor beam on the Hope. We will tow it back to the battle group once it has been secured. Signal the Kronos to do the same to the other enemy ship." (posted by Wes) =================================================== (USS Hope - Bridge - Acting CO Lt. Cmdr Williamson - 0925) Lt. Cmdr Williamson sat in the commanding officer's chair. The senior crew had all decided to relieve the Commanding Officer of his duty. "We had to do it, he was getting to think he was unstoppable. There was no way we could have came out of this situation alive." Lt. Cmdr Williamson had a blank stare in his face. "Hail the lead vessel." The Ops officer typed in a few commands in to the console. (reply Paladin) "I am Lt. Cmdr Williamson. I am currently in command of this vessel. Please do not attack. We are surrounding to you." (reply Paladin) "Drop shields.... We are waiting for your boarding party." (posted by Calvin) ================================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - TAC/SC Kerge - 09:26) ~Cowards, how typical of Doenitz`s so called warriors~ Lt Kerge almost broke into a rage at his thoughts as the enemy vessel surrendered to them, had they been Klingon, they would have fought to the very last one of them & detonated their vessel if it had come to that. "Have marine and security teams beamed over and secure the ship," said the Captain, "put a tractor beam on the Hope. We will tow it back to the battle group once it has been secured. Signal the Kronos to do the same to the other enemy ship." "Aye sir, consider it already done", said Kerge as he signalled the required orders to the Kronos & the standby marine contingent awaiting on the marine hanger deck. (posted by Alan) ================================================== (Starbase Geneva - Promenade - ACSO Ens K'Palla - 1200) Ensign K'Palla stepped out of the transport, onto the decks of Starbase Geneva. Her things were being taken to a high warp shuttle for the next leg of her trip to the USS Paladin. There would be a layover of several hours before departure, so the Klingon woman had some time to kill. As she walked through the station, she could feel the wandering male eyes looking her over. Her Starfleet uniform left nothing to the imagination of her shapely form. It was times like this that she wished she could still wear her Klingon battle armor. She knew Kahless had blessed her with a beautiful body, but at times it was more of a nuisance than an advantage. Some people tended to be too distracted to take her seriously. Since the ensign was off duty, it seemed only natural for her to head into one of the taverns for a meal and a few drinks. Choosing a likely establishment, K'Palla entered and sat at the bar. The barkeep approached and was immediately intimidated by her. This was probably due to the fact that he was a Ferengi and easily intimidated. "Hello, and welcome to Mephim's, would you like to try the house specialty?" he asked, with a slight leer. Normally, he was afraid of Klingons, but this one was beautiful as well as frightening, but the formal won out over his emotions. "Hello, and no thank you. I wish for a tankard of Guinness Stout and a tumbler with three fingers of JeQ DenIls!" ordered K'Palla, her Klingon accent slaughtered the name of the popular Terran spirit. "Of course, perhaps the lady would like something to eat?" asked the proprietor. K'Palla was famished and wanted something that would hold her until she reached the Paladin. Shuttle food, in her opinion, was absolutely dreadful..... worse than dead gagh. "Do you serve sandwiches here?" she asked. "Oh, yes, dear.... we'll serve anyone!" answered Mephim, proud of his joke. K'Palla sighed and looked the Ferengi directly in the eye, leaning in closer to make sure her point was made clear. "Sir, if I wish for a comedy floor show, I will go to the drunk tank in Security! Now, can you bring me a sandwich, yes or no?" "Uh... um.. yes?" answered the now quivering Ferengi, fearing that the Klingon beauty would clobber him. ~~ Not in the face, not in the face! ~~ he thought. "Good, then I would like a "Kang Special"!" K'Palla smiled. The Ferengi trembled, not wanting to ask his next question and possibly anger the woman further. He decided to bring the drinks first before he asked. Setting the two vessels down in front of her, and waiting for her to drink some first, the barkeep posed his question. "Umm, ma'am.... just what is a Kang Special??" he asked sheepishly. Although slightly annoyed by him, she did appreciate the quality of the spirits and simply answered in a straightforward manner. "It is easy enough to make! A crusty loaf of bread, cut in half, spread both sides liberally with peanut butter, then put mashed bananas, a pound of fried bacon, and grape jelly in the middle! Better make two of them! I have a long flight ahead of me!" explained K'Palla, who then downed both the Stout and the whiskey. "Keep these coming as well! I don't know when I'll get the real thing again!" she requested, feeling a little more relaxed. "Yes'm!" smiled the Ferengi, pleased that his stock had appeased her. The background music in the tavern was becoming more prominent as K'Palla began to absorb her surroundings. Looking around, she saw a small stage and what appeared to be a patron singing off key to a popular tune. The barkeep returned with her refill and the ensign inquired about the singing. "Oh that's our Karaoke session, ma'am. The patron choses a melody and they sing along for the entertainment of the audience." explained the Ferengi. "Why to people stay if its so bad?" countered K'Palla, hearing the next person singing, which was worse than the last. "Because everyone wants a turn, it would seem..... " said the Barkeep. "Everyone wants a few seconds in the spotlight!" "And they'll play any melody?" K'Palla asked, sounding more interested. "Oh, yes, we have a vast library of songs..... we even have several Klingon operas...." and the Ferengi paused, knowing how dreadful those were. ".....if you wish to indulge us!" "Thank you, but I'll pass on the operas! I must admit that they are rather drab in comparison to some music I've heard!" said K'Palla, who then rose to walk over to the emcee and request a song. As she had hoped, her favorite was available. Before stepping on the stage, she tossled her long dark brown hair in a familiar fashion, making it look much higher in the front and shorter in the back. She turned up the collar on her uniform, unzipped the front slightly, and pulled out a pair of dark glasses, which she put on. K'Palla stepped up onto the stage, in full character, enjoying the cat calls and whistles that her shape envoked. She turned to face the crowd and curled her lip in a familiar way. She spoke into the microphone and addressed the crowd. "Thank you, thankyouverymuch!" she slurred on purpose, then began her song. She swayed her pelvis to the beat of the music. "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell, since my baby left me......... I found a new place to dwell..... Its down on the end of Lonely Street..... The Heartbreak Hotel..." sang the Klingon, sounding almost exactly like "The Kang" himself, much to the enjoyment of everyone there. ~~ Hmmmm, I wonder if she'd consider a contract? ~~ thought Mephim, as more customers came in to hear the female Klingon Elvis Impersonator. (posted by John) =============================================================== (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 12:35) Eva entered her Ready Room and tapped her comm-badge. "Lt. Tirrel to report to my Ready Room immediately," She said, moving around behind her desk and sitting down. (Reply Tirrel) (NRPG: The majority of the marines will be back aboard by this time and the Paladin will be back with the Battle Group.) Eva busied herself with reading over reports from the recent ambush and departmental readiness reports. Though she didn't have to wait long till her door buzzer sounded. "Enter," She said, sitting up in her chair and placing the PADD back down on her desk. She watched Lt. Tirrel enter and come to attention in front of her desk. (Reply Tirrel) "At ease Lieutenant," She said, before continuing, "Lieutenant, your men are going see a lot of action on this mission, both in helping secure the Star Base and in making sure that the Paladin remains in our hands. I hold no illusions that the enemy will over look a prize like the Paladin. We will be a high profile target. I need you and your men to work closely with Lt. Kerge and Security to make sure that any enemy forces foolish enough to set foot on board the Paladin don't live long enough to regret the mistake. You understand?" (Reply Tirrel) "I am hereby promoting you to Lt. Major," Eva said, "in recognition of your dedication to Star Fleet, the Federation, and to this ship and her crew." Eva rose and walked around her desk and put the new rank insignia on Tirrel's collar. "This should also solidify your position as MCO in the eyes of your men," Eva said, moving back around her desk. "I have heard....rumors that some of the marines were upset that a 1st Lieutenant was made MCO. Now your rank is more in line with your position." (Reply Tirrel) "While you will remain in command of the Paladin marines, for the duration of this mission General Roberts will be your immediate superior," Eva continued, "I will need you to work with her and the MEF on invasion of Star Base 234. Your marines will be pulling double duty. Some will be helping internal security here on the Paladin. The rest will be working with General Roberts and the MEF to invade and secure the star base. Question?" (posted by Wes) ==================================================== (USS Paladin - CO`s Ready Room - MCO Conner Tirrel - 12:40) By the time the MCO had debriefed his men & stored their equipment, he had now been called to the Captains ready room, for what exactly he was unsure. As he was bade enter however, he was imediately aware that the Captain had been overseeing the reports from the various departments that had recently reached her. "At ease Lieutenant," said the Captain in responce to Conners respectful stance at the other side of her desk. "Lieutenant, your men are going see a lot of action on this mission", she began, "both in helping secure the Star Base and in making sure that the Paladin remains in our hands. I hold no illusions that the enemy will over look a prize like the Paladin", she added. "We will be a high profile target. I need you and your men to work closely with Lt. Kerge and Security to make sure that any enemy forces foolish enough to set foot on board the Paladin don't live long enough to regret the mistake. You understand?" The MCO furowed his brow slightly at her quizical remark. "Of course Captain", said Conner, "you would not have to order such of me, there will be no incursions on board the Paladin", he added as the Captain settled back into her chair before picking up a small box at her side & opening it up to reveal a rank bar within. "I am hereby promoting you to Lt. Major," said the Captain, "in recognition of your dedication to Star Fleet, the Federation, and to this ship and her crew.", she added as she rose and walked around her desk and put the new rank insignia on Tirrel's collar. "This should also solidify your position as MCO in the eyes of your men," she added, moving back around her desk. "I have heard....rumors that some of the marines were upset that a 1st Lieutenant was made MCO. Now your rank is more in line with your position." Conner looked down at the rank pin upon his collar & then to the Captain as she returned forthwith to her seat. "Respectfully sir, my men know me for who I am, I have earned their trust & respect through lying in the dirt & the blood & guts of those of us unfortunate enough not to return from our missions", said Conner. "However, in so saying I thank you for this promotion, I am grateful of course, I will not let you, the Paladin or any man serving under me down", he added. The Captain appeared slightly perturbed at the MCO`s choice of words but let them pass nonetheless as she continued on. "While you will remain in command of the Paladin marines, for the duration of this mission, General Roberts will be your immediate superior, said the Captain, "I will need you to work with her and the MEF on the invasion of Star Base 234. Your marines will be pulling double duty. Some will be helping internal security here on the Paladin. The rest will be working with General Roberts and the MEF to invade and secure the star base. Question?", she added indicating her need for any input on his behalf. "None sir", said the MCO, "my men will be ready & available as needed, believe me, double duty for these men will be a walk in the park", said Conner. He was then duly dismissed & headed out through the door. (posted by Alan) ================================================== (USS Paladin - Transporter Room - Ensign Zack Tristen - 1254) Zack stepped onto the transporter PADD with a team of 5 engineers. "Ready to transport." Zack could hear the humm of the transporters and then he felt a small tug. A few seconds later he felt gravity pulling on his body to the transporter padd of the USS Horizon. (posted by Calvin) ================================================= (USS Horizon - Transporter Room - Ensign Zack Tristen - 1255) Zack and the rest of the team walked out of the office and straight to Main Engineering. The Horizon's core was still having problems and it would need to be fixed before it was ready to go into battle. The Paladin's engineering problems seem to be under control so Commander Sarouk sent the small team over to the Horizon. Once Ensign Tristen walked through the doors he saw the two people he needed to talk to. "Hello, Ensign Durron, and Ensign Telar. I have brought extra people for your needs. I am also here to try to help. So what do we have that we can't seem to figure out." (posted by Calvin) =================================================== (USS Horizon - Main Engineering - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron - 1256) Kyp was sitting in a chair contemplating the final repairs to the warp core when he heard someone address him, "Hello, Ensign Durron, and Ensign Telar. I have brought extra people for your needs. I am also here to try to help. So what do we have that we can't seem to figure out." "Well, we've managed to get the warp core stable again, but it can't get up to maximum warp right now. To do so might destroy it. According to the computer and our two warp core engineers, the ship can only go up to warp six - seven if you really push it." (reply Telar) (reply Tristen) I can't seem to figure this one out. I do not enjoy working with the warp core. It's always so persnickety. According to everything we've done. It should be working fine, but it's very weak right now. (posted by Ben) =================================================== (USS Horizon - Main Engineering - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron and ACEO Ensign Zach Tristen - 1257) "Well, we've managed to get the warp core stable again, but it can't get up to maximum warp right now. To do so might destroy it. According to the computer and our two warp core engineers, the ship can only go up to warp six - seven if you really push it," Kyp said. Zack listened to the situation with a blank __expression on his face. Kyp then stopped for a few seconds, and then continued. “I can't seem to figure this one out. I do not enjoy working with the warp core. It's always so persnickety. According to everything we've done. It should be working fine, but it's very weak right now.” "Well, there must be something we all have missed." Zack walked over to a console, and brought up the warp core schematics. Kyp took a few minutes to calm himself. He began to realize that he had been unable to solve the problem with the warp core because he had been thinking of the problem and not the solution. He came to the idea that they might be getting conflicting information because of a glitch with the sensors, “Ensign Tristen, do you think that the sensors might be damaged by the battle? Let’s check the warp core manually and see what’s up.” Ensign Tristen looked over at Kyp. "If the automatic sensors are damaged as well then we will need them to be fixed." Zack looked around and saw the two engineers that Kyp was talking about only minutes ago. "Can you both give the sensors a diagnostic, and fix any problems." Zack then moved over to where Kyp was standing. Kyp began to direct the sensors to manually scan the warp core and the warp nacelles. The warp core checked out as fine, though it seemed to be outputting more warp core plasma than normal. Intrigued by this, he did a manual in-depth scan of the warp nacelles. He found that there were many micro-fractures on the starboard nacelle. He was very relieved to discover the cause for all of this confusion, “Ensign Tristen, come see this. I believe this is what has the ship in danger if we go to warp.” "We will need to send an emergency team down there and fix any problems if possible." “Well, the damage is too extensive for us to repair ourselves. The Horizon will have to go to a starbase to get much more extensive repairs.” "I agree, however we are about to go into a major battle, and I do not believe the Captain of this ship is likely to fall behind. I think we will need to fix the damages as much as possbile. However I would suggest contacting the Captain and giving him his situation." "Good idea." Kyp tapped his commbadge, =/\=Ensign Durron to Captain At'Terk.=/\= =/\="This is Captain At'Terk."=/\= The Andorian Captian responded to the Ensigns call. =/\=We've found the problem with the warp core. The warp core itself is in good condition, but the starboard warp nacelle has received a large number of microfractures and is leaking warp core plasma. The solution we've come up with is to use a large percentage of your aft shielding to hold the nacelle together during warp, though I strongly suggest you get to a starbase to get more extensive repairs.=/\= "This vessel will not surrender. I need you to fix the ship so that it is able to fight in the up comming battle. Use all personal that is needed." The Captain looked around the bridge. He got a few nods from his senior staff agreeing with him to fight. =/\=I understand, sir. During the battle, I suggest you try to avoid getting hit on your aft shields. I am not sure how much pressure the warp nacelle could take before imploding.=/\= "My Conn Officer can handle it." =/\=Yes, sir. We will begin immediately.=/\= Kyp turned to Ensign Tristen, "Okay, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work." He called to a few engineers, "We're going to have to use more power for this. Reroute auxilliary power to the aft shields. The primary aft shield generator is going to have to protect the entire aft section during the battle. The secondary one is the one we're going to use around the warp nacelle." "Aye, we need to get this done extra fast. We don't have much time." After that was done, they began to reform the secondary shielding to just cover the warp nacelle. Kyp wasn't entirely sure if this would be effective; and he knew that there was a chance that the nacelle would sustain more damage if this went on too long. But he was relieved to know that the ship wouldn't sustain any damage from it. (posted by Calvin and Ben) ==================================================== (USS Paladin, Strategic Operations Center, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 1300) Eva walked in the StratOps Center and looked around the massive room. The two enemy ships had been secured and repairs to the Horizon and the other damage ships were well under way. The Paladin and other ships had all rendezvoused with the rest of the Battle Group and where now under way to their target. Eva moved over to the large star map that showed the area of space the Paladin and her Battle Group currently occupied and regarded it silently waiting for Commander Rulestaad and General Roberts to arrive for their scheduled meeting. (posted by Wes) ================================================== (USS Paladin, Strategic Operations Center - Captain Eva Straton, Commander Rulestaad, General Roberts, Captain Korloth - 1300) "Keep a watch for brush-fires" Rulestaad snapped before stepping out of the upper-level command tier. She paused at the railing and looked down, Captain Straton was present amidst a few others. She made her way to the lift just as the triple-sealed blast doors opened again and a woman in Marine fatigues walked in. Michelle Roberts, Brigadier General of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, stepped into the room with her XO and took a brief look around. She'd looked at all the files of the important personnel of the fleet, so it wasn't hard to pick out the Commodore. She rubbed at her uniform, which was a departure even from the standard SDU in that it was openly camouflaged to Starfleet Hull Grey (as were all the Marines of the Force, they were openly at war and likely to fight a battle any moment) and stepped up. "Commodore Straton." she said, coming lightly to attention. "Brigadier General Roberts, of the Force." They were joined a moment later by yet another woman with chiseled features whom Roberts recognized. "Commander Rulestaad." Eva nodded to the General then looked over at Commander Rulestaad. "You have the data ready?" She asked Jenna nodded once and turned to one of the guards. "Escort our missing guests as they arrive." The Guard came to attention, though Jenna had already stopped paying attention. "This way, all of you." she said as she stepped aside and gestured. Without waiting she stepped into a hallway and off to the side of the main center. The Stratops Center on this ship was only slightly smaller then what she was used to on Mars at the Backup Stratops Center for Earth. Meredith's were meant to be fleet command ships. Not that anyone was bored with just a Task Force to command... Michelle turned her head just before they turned a corner when she heard a bellow. Her eyebrow quirked slightly as she noticed a couple Klingons step into the door of the center, the fact that the Stratops guards had their hands on their weapons didn't escape her notice either. She turned back to the Commander with her eyebrow still quirked. "Guests?" Rulestaad looked hard at the general for long moments before finally answering with, "The Senior Klingon Captain." Michelle made a 'hmm'ing sound, "Charming, but then I suppose they're our allies. Should be interesting." she said as she started forward again. Eva said nothing as she moved into the room. A few seconds latter the pair of Klingons entered the room. The larger of the two stepped forward and slammed his large fist into his chest in the traditional Klingon salute. "I am Captain Korloth of the IKS Chak'TerK and I will speak for my fellow Klingon warriors. This," He gestured to the younger man next to him, "is my aide Commander Tark." Korloth scowled at the 3 women briefly before moving to one side. "Let's begin." He said, with a nod of his head. Roberts pulled one of the chairs out and sat in it, "Have a seat Captain Korloth." she said tonelessly as Rulestaad touched a command of some sort into a secure holding box, opened it, and pulled out a mass of PADD's, which she then passed around in a quick manner. Korloth grunted and looked around to find a chair. Grabbing the nearest one, he picked it up move it to where he had been standing and slammed it down on the floor before sitting in it. Jenna passed out the last PADD and stepped to the head of the room. "Ladies and Gentlemen," she said as she tapped a button and the lights dimmed. She pushed another button and a holographic image popped up from the middle of the table. It magnified several times over until a small system was highlighted, complete with markings for a Starbase and several known units. "This is the target, a hardened Starbase of Ornell design with all the trimmings." She touched another button and the technical schematics of the station started scrolling for those unfamiliar with the design. "She's large, tough, and she's been crewed with people who knew exactly what they were getting into, so there is zero chance of a surrender. And I'll go you one better, there are at least seven ships around this Starbase. Intelligence estimates there could be as many as twelve." "Troops estimates on the station?" the Marine asked as she typed something into the PADD. "At least half a Battalion, the numbers are constantly fluctuating since this is also the main supply depot of all forces in this sector." was Rulestaad's reply. Korloth grunted and clinched his free hand into a fist. "A glorious battle it will be," He said, with gusto his eyes still looking over the data contained on the PADD. "1750 Klingon warriors stand ready to accompany our Federation allies in capturing this star base." Eva regarded the Klingon briefly, before looking back down at the PADD. "Total number of Marines in the Battle Group, including the MEF?" Eva asked looking up at Rulestaad. Jenna sat down in her chair and pulled the number from her vulcan memory. "2254." she said, "And depending on how we play with the numbers, we can reinforce that number with approximately six thousand Ground-pounding Tactical." She folded her hands together, "To keep safe margins for anti-boarding parties on all ships, I figure we should have approximately 7500 troops for the Starbase Assault. No where close to actually holding the starbase entire, but plenty sufficient for holding the essential areas." Michelle shifted in her chair, "Even if it isn't, it's enough to buy us the necessary twenty minutes for 3 Combat Engineering squads and appropriate backup to navigate the massiveness of an Ornell and set charges, I picked up two more from Starbase Geneva with the rest of the MEF." She smiled grimly, "LoDona is a Marine, he stripped the standing fleet of its special units for this shin-dig." She shifted to look at Rulestaad and Straton, "I want command of the ground-forces, we'll need a central authority figure or we'll be slaughtered." Korloth scowled as he looked at the human female marine obviously ready to object. "I expect you to lead the ground forces," Eva said, cutting the Klingon off. "From on the Star Base. You will take a contingent of marines and tactical and set up a command center on the Star Base it's self. All forces on the star base will report to you. You will report to Commander Rulestaad, who will report to me. I expect I will have my hands full with the space battle to focus on the fighting on the station, so I will be leaving that to you. We have to have a clearly defined chain-of-command. The probability of jammed communication during this mission is high. I won't tolerate petty bickering over who is in command of who." She eyed the Klingon pointedly. "A clearly defined chain-of-command will be established and maintained. Captain Korloth, you will assign one of your men to work with General Roberts as an aide and to relay her orders to the other Klingon's on the station. Your ship will also serve as a secondary flag ship should the Battle group lose contact with the Paladin for any reason." She then looked back over to General Roberts. "And I fully intend to capture this star base. We will only destroy it as a last resort." She then looked up at Rulestaad. "Work on have a second StratOps set up on the Chak'TerK just in case." Roberts nodded and leaned back in her chair again as Rulestaad said "I'll transfer staff back with the Captain." The half-vulcan gave a pointed look at the Klingon. "I suspect one of the Negh'vars would be most capable for running a war?" "The Chak'Terk is a Negh'Var," Korloth replied, "I'll have my Chief Engineer ready to assist with any technical needs your people might have." He looked over at his aide and nodded. Commander Tark made a note on the PADD he was carrying. Michelle scratched her chin, "The Patton and Pershing can hold all of our striking force. Considering the space battle we'll be in, much less storming the fortress, I think it best if we load all battle-ready forces into the two. Once a partial hole is punched we can go in, I have at least three different delivery methods in mind for the bulk of forces. I don't want to loose ground-pounders when you space-bubbles engage the enemy, the Marine Transports will be hanging back to the last minute." Rulestaad folded her hands together in apparent thought. "I have no issue with this, provided the craft are sufficiently defended until the fleet has knocked out enough of the stations heavy weaponry before the Roger Young's move in." she finally said. Eva was silent for a few moments as she thought it over finally nodding. "You can use your fighters to run shot gun in case either ships get unwanted attention," Eva said, "We could also assign an interceptor class to play watch dog in case there are any surprised." "You'll need them worse then I will, the fighters and the interceptor, I'll task our fighters to stay with us until we've busted the base and then task them to your FSCO." Michelle said. "That works," Eva said, "With that handle, what do we know of the command staff on the Star Base? Do we know who is commanding it?" "Rear Admiral Yoshimo Tagiwara, also known as 'Black Jack'" Rulestaad said as she pulled up a PADD. "He has a dozen black marks on his record for various infractions; he was eventually taken out of the active fleet roster and placed in a secret project under the Reverse Technologies Group, based on Earth. He is listed as a special advisor." She frowned, there had been a lot of holes in the information she could dig up about Integrated Reverse Technologies, and she hated mysteries. "He took command of this station two months after Admiral LoDona pulled away from Earth. It is generally figured by Admiral Lee that Tagiwara has masterminded half the incursions into 52nd controlled space." She pulled out the PADD but didn't really look at it, she'd memorized all this long ago. "First Officer Commander Raine Tiki, also a former part of Reverse Technologies, and she took over the spot days after the Rear Admiral." She looked over, "The rest of the crew has similar backgrounds, all of them from either Doenitz's former projects, ships under his command, and etc. All of them highly indoctrinated." Eva frowned. "I've heard of him, from my time in StratOps working with Lee. We can fully expect some unorthodox, and some might say, dishonorable tactics from him. This mission just got a whole hell of a lot bloodier I fear." Eva rubbed her chin in thought. "What do we have on the ships guarding the star base?" From what Rulestaad had read and heard from Lee, the Commodore's statement was probably an understatement. When someone who had served in Omega Squadron during the Dominion War, in a universe long ago and far away, called someone dirty... She touched another button. "At least seven ships, but there are others moving in and out at all times." She pushed a button on the holograph and brought up a list of ships. "USS Faust and USS Trigote, Sovereign Class. USS Raven, Keltoi Class. USS Rashva, Prometheus Class. USS Byong Bin, Galaxy Class. USS Black Hound and USS Kool, Defiant Class." She stopped the scroll of ships, "All of them, again, captained by the highly indoctrinated. At least two of them have been seen in 52nd controlled space before, the Byong Bin was one of the ships that escaped the major action outside Geneva a few months ago, and the Kool was identified as one of two Defiant Class ships that attacked the USS Boudicca." She looked up and brought up one ship in particular again, "The USS Trigote is the Flagship of the Defensive fleet. She's combat-altered, one of four sister ships of the USS Steel Talons." Her tightly controlled face frowned slightly as she leaned forward. "Black ablative armor all around, duel warpcores and extensively expanded weaponry. Her Captain is Jaap Marmen, a very experienced combat officer. This will be a ship you want to take out first Commodore; she's the single most dangerous vessel in the pack." She didn't have to touch on the Starbase's defenses; it was well known the Ornell was one of the single most powerful mid-sized Starbases in the Federation Fleet. Eva nodded. ~With Black Jack leading the lot of them, it's time I stop thinking of them as fellow Star Fleet officers.~ she thought darkly. ~Time to think of them as Jem'Hadar.~ "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," She said, "Science is still working on the gravemetric interference in the system. For now we will have to assume that the Battle Group will be limited to impulse speed long before we enter weapons range. Our chance of surprise is minimal, so we will have to rely on superior tactics and strategy. What have you come up with for the initial assault?" Rulestaad pulled out the Order-of-Battle and loaded it onto the screen. "Three-prong. First things first, we need that station, we can turn her own weapons against the rest of the fleet at need be. So..." she animated the man and watched the symbols move in their pattern. "Interceptors take down main power, all other ships pound until the shields go down..." she inputted a couple of changes which showed the two gator-freighters at the edge of the formation, "Once the shields go down, all weapons are concentrated on this quadrant, to knock out the weapons around the secondary shuttle-bays." Rulestaad leaned forward, "From here, the two Marine freighters move in at top speed with guns blazing and all available sod-hoppers flying shotgun. We knock a hole in the shuttlebays and double-park, all the Marines will be in EVO-C until the emergency forcefields come on, and then any security out of BDU can join the attack." The General jumped in here, "I'll be launching two of the three CE teams by Martini Shaker here and here." She pointed out engineering and secondary engineering. "They can burn in and sneak around until we get secondary support over there." Rulestaad nodded, that was an individual troop matter and within her province. She continued with, "By this time the fleet will be engaged with all other ships, all prongs converge on the seven, and whatever else is around, with all speed. We move tight with them so the Starbase can take fewer shots at us, and lead them away when possible." Eva looked over the simulation as did Korloth. "This is a good start," Eva said, "But I'd like to keep the enemy uncertain as to our true strength." she stood and reached over to punch in a command on the holographic display. The image zoomed in to show the system's star. "We could have a contingent of cloaked ships enter the system from the far side and hide behind the local star. Once the bulk of the battle group has engaged the star base and support craft and we have their full attention, the cloaked ships can move in and attempt to flank the enemy ships." Rulestaad paused for a second, "Or we can use them as reserves, a fourth prong." She threw a look at the Klingon and altered the board, showing 3/4's of the Klingon fleet behind the enemy battle group. "Have them swing out in attack from behind the lines once they have started moving, before the rest of the task force engages, to throw them into confusion." "Yes," Korloth said, looking at the display, "We could catch them between us and crush them like insects!" He clapped his hands together loudly in demonstration. "The tricky part," Eva said, "is getting all our ships into position with out alerting the enemy. The ships coming from behind the star will take twice as long as the rest of the battle group to get into position. They will have to enter the system first in order to be in position when the bulk of the battle group attacks." "We can send them ahead once they offload their troops, as long as they cloak soon." Rulestaad said. "It will be a top priority," Korloth said, "Once we've determined exactly what ships will be going and which will remain with the fleet." Korloth looked over at Straton. Eva looked over to Rulestaad. "Assign the ships, be sure to leave us with a few cloakers as well. It would be unusual for a battle group known to have Klingon's as allies to be with out any cloaking class ships." Rulestaad nodded, but was already looking at her padd. She singled out a three bird-of-preys, out of both classes, and one of the Negh'vars, then handed the list over. "The firepower of a single Negh'var with three other cloaking vessels is believable, the rest I would cloak and send off post-haste." Korloth took the list looked it over briefly then passed it Commander Tark. "The ships Captain's will be informed and their soldiers will be ordered to prepare for immediate transfer," Korloth said, feeling his warrior blood begin to boil at the prospect of battle. Eva nodded then looked over at General Roberts. "General," She said, " I have informed my MCO that he will be reporting to you for the remainder of this mission. As the highest ranking marine you will be the mission MCO. 1/4th of the Paladin marine force will remain on the Paladin to assist security in case the Paladin is boarded. The other 3 companies along with any security personnel we can spare will be transferred over to one of the Roger Young classes." "Very well," Robert said. "I'll save the Flagship for last though; this is the one ship that absolutely has to survive if we're jumped ahead of time." She nodded to her XO and looked back. "I'll need the transfer orders cut soon." She said, looking at the Stratops officer, who simply nodded in return. Eva looked at everyone. "If there is nothing else then this meeting is adjured." Robert nodded and stood. "Ladies, gentleman, its going to be a fine little war." Korloth nodded, rose and lead the way out of the room his aide right behind. Rulestaad waited for a moment as the room cleared out. "I'll have the orders cut within the hour Commodore." Eva nodded. "Good, I'll be on the Bridge if anything comes up," She said as she too stood and made for the door. (posted by Trout) ================================================== (USS Paladin - Main Ops Control Room - Ensign Knightley - 1301) The excessive work load had died down, and the small team of six steadily worked on their individual work whilst they all had a little bit of fun, and talked to each other. Ensign McGuire looked up from his console and looked at the different officers that he had worked with for the past two months. One of his favorite things when he worked with this crew was that the crew member that sat at the scanning ops console to his left would always tell the team a joke of the day. Sometimes the joke is pretty good, but other days it seemed the joke shouldn't even been invented. Elizabeth was looking over Jacks shoulder, and studied the data that was on the screen. "Send streams 1 through 3 straight to the Ops console. The Chief might be interested in seeing those results. The rest looks good. So...jack. I really could use that joke of the day right bout now." Jack looked up from the console, and in Elizabeth's eyes. He laughed. "Ok, I heard this one yesterday while in Ten Forward. I laughed all night last night." "A guy comes home completely drunk one night. He lurches through the door and is met by his scowling wife, who is most definitely not happy. 'Where the heck have you been all night?' she demands. 'At this fantastic new bar,' he says. 'The Golden Saloon. Everything there is golden. It's got huge golden doors, a golden floor, the works - heck, even the urinal's gold!' "The wife doesn't believe his story, and the next day checks the phone book, finding a place across town called the Golden Saloon. She calls up the place to check her husband's story." " 'Is this the Golden Saloon?' she asks when the bartender answers the phone. 'Yes it is,' bartender answers. 'Do you have huge golden doors?' 'Sure do.' 'Do you have golden floors?' 'Most certainly do.' 'What about golden urinals?' There's a long pause, then the woman hears the bartender yelling, 'Hey, Duke, I think I got a lead on the guy that peed in your saxophone last night!' " The moment that everyone always waits for was the _expression or the lack of _expression from the Vulcan officer that maintained the cleaning crews for the moment. "A man urinates in another persons musical instrument, and that incident is funny to you. I don't understand. If someone urinated on a personal belonging of mine I would not be content with it." Ensign Knightley looked over at the Vulcan. "You are right, of course. If it happened to me I would be mad, but if it happened to someone else it would be funny. So I better not find any unusual liquid around any of my belongings." Everyone laughed. "Lets get back to work, we probably are farther behind then we want to be." "Ensign Knightley take at look at this." McGuire said. Elizabeth walked over to the console and looked at what he had. (posted by Calvin) =================================================== (USS Paladin, Outside the Strategic Operations Center - General Michelle Leah Roberts - 1330) "XO," she said. "Fire up the sod-hoppers and start ferrying all troops over to the Gator Freighters." She paused for a moment, "Save the flagship for last." The XO nodded, "Aye General." "Move." she put her hands behind her back and looked down at her semi-armored form. The SDU was a nominal set of armor, she coudl take a couple stunshots without much damage, and she had a number of weapons spread around, she was wearing a full battle harness... something she could easily slip off so she could put on the modular BDU. She'd been in this uniform, or one like it, all of her starfleet career. She'd never regretted it, not in two universes. And now was the fun part, meeting each Marine commander. She decided, while she was here, that she was going to deal with the first. She stepped into a STS Transporter, "Marine Staging Center." she barked. She appeared at the small STS platform outside the center and immediately stepped inside. The smells, the people, they were all Marine. This was what she had been living all of her adult life. She reached up and briefly tapped her badge, "Brigadier General Roberts to Lieutenant Tirrel, haul arse to the Marine Staging Center Now Marine!" She crossed her arms behind her back and waited. (posted by Trout) ====================================================== (USS Paladin, Bridge - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connon - 1330) The ships were underway again, and Michael was still sitting at the Ops station dealing with issues as they came up. They still had some crew on the Horizon, and Michael was looking over the results of the battle. Slingshotting around the planet to surprise the Doenitz loyal ships had put some stress on the structural integrity field generators, and inertial dampers. The stress had caused some understandable feedback in the power compensators. Now that they were underway and back to normal stresses, Michael was seeing a power variance in the primary field coils. The variance wouldn't have bothered Michael under normal circumstances, but they weren't under normal circumstances, with the target system having an enormous gravity well as well as being a combat situation, Michael wasn't willing to risk the power systems blowing out during a high stress situations, which could easily ruin everyone's day. Michael tapped the comm button on his console. "Ensign O'Connor to Lieutenant Command Sarouk" (Reply Sarouk) "Sir, do you have a team available for tasking?" Michael asked. (Reply Sarouk) "I'm reading a power variance in the inertial dampers and the structural integrity fields. I need someone to take a look at them, and see if they can take care of that variance before we hit the blue giant system. I'm worried about feedback from the stress of the high gravity blowing out the field generators if we try to perform anything other than basic maneuvers," Michael said. (Reply Sarouk) "Thank you sir, let me know if you need any help from my department, Operations Out." Michael said and cut the line. Sitting back in the chair in the darkened room, Michael isolated a working portion of the computer and linked it the quarantined areas of the ships computer, where they had stashed some of the more choice sections of enemy ship's logs. Most were encrypted and Michael was taking it as personal challenge to break the encryption and security programs on the computer files, in an attempt to get whatever information they contained. Pulling out some of the simpler tricks he had developed after years of working with computers, and security programs, he started trying to chip away at the files. (posted by patrick) ========================================================= (USS Paladin - Marine staging - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:31) Conner was for the first time sitting, it was good to sit, he felt he`d earned the right to sit, at least for a while anyway. "What the f......", said Tirrel as his comm suddenly went off. =/\="Brigadier General Roberts to Lieutenant Tirrel, haul arse to the Marine Staging Center Now Marine=/\= She didn`t even need to announce herself, Conner knew the voice already. The brigadier General was known of course to be a hard arse, Conner had seen many hard arses in his time, the kind that felt that being a hard arse won battles. Conner did not agree with this philosophy at all. History was indeed littered with hard arses, Custer, Napoleon, Hitler to name but a few........ None of them won because their arses were hard, they had won them because the people under them had risked all & waded through blood n guts whilst those with their hard arses sat back & watched lines moving on maps. Conner however was a marine despite his opinions & as a marine it was his first duty of course to obey the chain of command. He reached up to tap at his combadge, standing as he did so. "On my way Sir", he said & headed out through the door. He didn`t even need to go far until the source of the transmission standing there. There she was, Brigadiar General Michelle Leah Roberts, the proverbial hard arse in all her glory. "Lt Major Conner Tirrel sir, reporting as ordered", said the MCO imediately going to attention before his superior. (posted by Alan) ====================================================== (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, CEO, Lt. Commander Sarouk, 1331) Sarouk was standing at the Master System Display console keeping and eye on various ships systems as well as the status of various maintenance teams that where working through out the massive Meredith class star ship. His comm-badge chirped suddenly. =/\=Ensign O'Connor to Lieutenant Command Sarouk.=/\= "Sarouk here," he said, tapping his comm-badge to open the channel. =/\=Sir, do you have a team available for tasking?=/\= "I currently have 20 teams on duty, Ensign. What seems to be the problem?" Sarouk replied matter-of-factly. =/\=I'm reading a power variance in the inertial dampers and the structural integrity fields. I need someone to take a look at them, and see if they can take care of that variance before we hit the blue giant system. I'm worried about feedback from the stress of the high gravity blowing out the field generators if we try to perform anything other than basic maneuvers.=/\= Sarouk typed in a series of commands on the MSD console bringing up the mentioned systems before answering. "Those are two independent systems," Sarouk said, "However, they do work in tandem with each other. I am also showing the variance in both systems. I will begin a level 2 diagnostic on both systems immediately." =/\=Thank you sir, let me know if you need any help from my department, Operations Out=/\= The comm-channel closed and Sarouk turned his attention to the task of tracking down and isolating the variance in the two systems. He entered a work order in the daily maintenance schedule to have a maintenance team do a hands on check of both systems as well. (posted by Wes) ===================================================== (USS Paladin - Marine staging Center - Brigadier General Roberts - 13:33) "Lt Major Conner Tirrel sir, reporting as ordered" Michelle looked around the Staging center, there were people watching, as she had expected by standing in the middle of the room and bellowing for their commanding officer, and by the wrong rank no less. This was a trick she planned on pulling on every MCO; those that bit back would have their heads ripped off. She finally turned back to the Major and gestured to the side with her head, "With me Major." (reply: Tirrel) Roberts considered what she was going to say for a moment. "Your command has been transferred under my direct control for this mission Major, as such, you will be moving three-quarters of your command to the Patton, the orders for that will come down the line soon. I want your honest appraisal of your men, their combat readiness, and etc. I have already established that you can take insulting orders on your own deck, which suits just fine, now I want to know the rest." (posted by Trout) ======================================================= (USS Paladin - Marine staging - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:34) For a moment, the Brigadier General simply observed, then she bade the MCO follow. "With me Major." "Sir, yes sir", said Conner as he followed in her footsteps to walk beside her. "Your command has been transferred under my direct control for this mission Major", said Roberts, "as such, you will be moving three-quarters of your command to the Patton, the orders for that will come down the line soon.", she added pausing briefly then to note the MCO`s responce on that. Conner simply nodded. "I want your honest appraisal of your men, their combat readiness, and etc. I have already established that you can take insulting orders on your own deck, which suits just fine, now I want to know the rest.", said the Brigadier General. "My men are ready sir, their combat readiness is unshakable & beyond question, there are nerves of course, just as there are with any big mission", said Conner, "I would fight with any one of them at my six sir & I theirs", he added proudly. "They WILL make any grade you might set them", said Conner. (Reply Roberts) "Where will you be wanting me in all this sir, the Paladin or the Patton", asked Conner. (Reply Roberts) "If given the choice I fight alongside my men everytime, without hesitation", said Conner. (Reply Roberts) "Understood", said Conner as the two of them continued onwards discussing tactical arrangements & such. (posted by Alan) ========================================================= (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1335) Rellam ran a hand through his short blond hair as he walked into the Paladin's ten-forward. It was later than normal for lunch, and the security alert meant the room was less busy than normal. Rellam and his squad had been relieved of their duty on the bridge of the enemy ship, but Marine Guard units who were more used to that type of job. After getting back to the Paladin, and checking their armor back into the Armory and taking a shower, the squad was given permission to stand down and get a meal in them before anything else happened. Rellam sat down with his back to the wall so he could see both the doors, and ordered a light, carb heavy meal when the waitress came for his order. He leaned back in the chair, and stretched until his shoulders popped, then leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table, resting his weight on them as he scanned the room. Soon enough his meal came, he was hungry and was ready to dig in. Feeling to make sure his sidearm was still secure, he sighed a heavy sigh, then started in on his food. (posted by Patrick) ========================================================= (USS Paladin - Marine staging - EFCO General Roberts - 13:35) "My men are ready sir, their combat readiness is unshakable & beyond question, there are nerves of course, just as there are with any big mission", said Conner, "I would fight with any one of them at my six sir & I theirs", he added proudly. "They WILL make any grade you might set them" "I would expect no less." She said simply. "Where will you be wanting me in all this sir, the Paladin or the Patton" "Where would you rather be?" she asked with some curiosity. "If given the choice I fight alongside my men everytime, without hesitation" "Both ships will have 'your men' Major." She said as she stopped and turned his direction. "As it is however, you will be on the Patton with the greatest contingent. Shipboard Security will be able to lead the quarter being left onboard." She turned again and continued walking. "Understood" "I want you to prepare your men and equipment for roll-out, a schedule for transport will be sent shortly with three sod-hoppers. As you might guess, we're pressed for time." (posted by Trout) ============================================================= (USS Paladin - Ten Forward - 3rd Lt. Philip Hyde - 1336) Philip sat at the table that was in the far back of the room. He sat alone at the round table, and ate the big meal he had in front of him. The meal wasn't the healthiest, but it wasn't the worst either. It would give him plenty of nourishment, and satisfaction on the taste buds as well. Philip looked up from his plate, and scanned the room for nothing particular. He just wanted to know if anything else new was happening since the last two minutes he looked. He saw nothing. ~Man I really need to start hanging out with the guys more.~ Philip thought as he ate his lunch alone. Before the 3rd Lt. could bow his hand back down and place another fork of food into his mouth he watched the Ten Forward doors hiss open. It was Rellam. Rellam was a fairly new Marine on board, but they had played a card game with him once before. After a short while Rellam sat down at a table, and Phillip saw this as an opportunity to not eat alone. He picked up his plate from the table, and placed the fork on to it so it wouldn't slide off. After picking up his drink he walked a few steps before walking down the three step level, and then onward to the table Rellam was sitting at. Only a couple seconds went by and Phillip was now standing at the table. "Excuse me, but is this sit taken?" (posted by Calvin) ======================================================== (USS Paladin - Marine staging - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:36) "Both ships will have 'your men' Major." said Roberts, "as it is however, you will be on the Patton with the greatest contingent. Shipboard Security will be able to lead the quarter being left onboard." She added. "Understood", said the Brigadier General. "Completely", said the MCO in responce. "I want you to prepare your men and equipment for roll-out, a schedule for transport will be sent shortly with three sod-hoppers. As you might guess, we're pressed for time.", said Roberts. "We`ll be ready sir, you can count on it", said Conner as he saluted his superior officer & headed off towards the marine hanger deck leaving Roberts to venture off to whatever task was next on her list. (posted by Alan) ======================================================= (USS Paladin - Marine Hanger deck - MCO Conner Tirrel - 13:40) The moment the MCO had entered the busy hanger deck, he began shouting off orders to all & sundry as various sections around him came to attention & readied themselves for whatever. "Listen up", cried Conner, "every one of you now is to consider yourself ready to go as of yesterday", he added as he continued walking about the hanger under the now watchful eyes of the men assembled therein. "By now all of you must be aware of our mission, but for those of you who were on the john, consulting with whatever god you worship or otherwise suitably indisposed, what we are going to be doing is a bit of starbase busting", said Conner commandingly. "Our target is Starbase 234, it IS heavilly protected", said the MCO clasping his hands behind his back now as he turned appropriately to face the men where each of them were assembled about the hanger bay. "There WILL be casualties, but I consider this mission as already done & dusted", said Conner, "the outcome was to use a phrase coined by our most honourable Klingon friends.... GLORIOUS!!!", he added with a smile. Some of the men laughed along with the MCO`s remark & then quiet was restored as he continued on. "Some of you, myself included it would seem will be joining the MEF on the Patton in due course, the rest of you will remain on board the Paladin to protect her", said Conner, "we work as one however & we work for the good of the one at all times, wherever we are though each of our roles is linked, we all have an essential part to play, we all depend on one another", he added unclasping his hands & bringing them to front once again. "I know you will all make me proud, I know you will all do your best & I know you will all do what is required of you when it`s needed", said Conner proudly. Then, straightening out the baseball cap upon his head he ordered his men to assemble their equipment in readiness for the impending combat ahead. (posted by Alan) =========================================================== (USS Paladin, Ten-Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1338) Rellam looked up from his meal when he heard someone approaching. "Excuse me, but is this sit taken?" Lt. Hyde asked standing in front of the table with his food in hand. Rellam looked at him, "No sir, you are welcome to join me if you want to," Rellam said, setting his fork down. (Reply Hyde) "What are you eating Sir?" Rellam asked trying to make some conversation. (posted by Patrick) ========================================================== (USS Paladin - Ten Forward - Third Lt. Philip Hyde - 1340) Rellam looked at him, "No sir, you are welcome to join me if you want to," Rellam said, setting his fork down. "Thank you. I would like to join you." Philip placed his plate and glass on the table first, and after he scooted the chair out and sat in it. "It is really boring to eat by yourself." "What are you eating Sir?" Rellam asked trying to make some conversation. "This is an Alterian chowder meal that I first tried when I came aboard the Paladin. It was one of the Chefs specials. I tried it and I liked it alot." Philip stabbed another piece of it with his fork, and placed the meat into his mouth. "Listen, I wanted to tell you that you commanded your team well today. You did an awsome job on that enemy ship." (posted by Calvin) ========================================================== (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1341) "What are you eating Sir?" Rellam asked trying to make some conversation. "This is an Alterian chowder meal that I first tried when I came aboard the Paladin. It was one of the Chefs specials. I tried it and I liked it alot." Philip stabbed another piece of it with his fork, and placed the meat into his mouth. "Listen, I wanted to tell you that you commanded your team well today. You did an awsome job on that enemy ship." "The squad had as much to do with that as I did, Sir. They are a good bunch of Marines. Besides, the ship was in a fair amount of disarray when we hit them, it wasn't the hardest mission I have ever been on," Rellam said with a shrug, idly rubbing an old scar through his uniform, on his left arm, not even realizing it. (Reply Hyde) "Just and old battle scar, sir," Rellam said as he placed his hand back down on the table. (posted by Patrick) ========================================================== (USS Paladin - Ten Forward - Third Lt. Philip Hyde - 1342) "The squad had as much to do with that as I did, Sir. They are a good bunch of Marines. Besides, the ship was in a fair amount of disarray when we hit them, it wasn't the hardest mission I have ever been on," Rellam said with a shrug, idly rubbing an old scar through his uniform, on his left arm, not even realizing it. "A win is a win, and today you and your squad won. I am proud of that." A confused look came over Philip's face. He watched Rellam rub his left arm. "Are you ok?" Philip asked as he pointed his index finger to Rellams left arm. "Just and old battle scar, sir," Rellam said as he placed his hand back down on the table. "Mmm, so where are you stationed during the attack on starbase 234?" (reply Patrick) "Me, my orders came in not too long ago. I am part of a small team on Decks 1-3. It should be fun." Philip said with a little bit of a cocky tone, and a small laugh. (posted by Calvin) ======================================================== (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - Gunnery Sergeant Rellam Tam - 1343) "A win is a win, and today you and your squad won. I am proud of that." A confused look came over Philip's face. He watched Rellam rub his left arm. "Are you ok?" Philip asked as he pointed his index finger to Rellams left arm. "Just and old battle scar, sir," Rellam said as he placed his hand back down on the table. "Mmm, so where are you stationed during the attack on starbase 234?" Rellam pulled out his PADD and looked at his orders, "I'll be with the contingent accompanying the MEF to capture the starbase, Sir. You?" "Me, my orders came in not too long ago. I am part of a small team on Decks 1-3. It should be fun." Philip said with a little bit of a cocky tone, and a small laugh. Rellam looked at the chronometer, "Sir, I should get going, I need to get ready for the change over to the Patton," Rellam said after he ate the last bite of his food. (Reply Hyde) "Aye sir, and good luck to you as well," Rellam said, snapped to attention, then turned on his heel and left Ten Forward and headed to the muster deck (posted by Patrick) ======================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 13:45) Joran looked through a few things on the computer screen and then sat back, deep in contemplation. ~Yes,~ he thought, ~this could work. I just need to run it by Sarouk first.~ He tapped his communicator. "Lt. Brownlee to Lt. Sarouk." (reply Sarouk) "If you're not to busy, please report to my office." (posted by Spencer) ============================================================ (USS Paladin - Sickbay - CMO, Lt. (jg) Jared Keller - 1345) This was one of those times when nothing seemed to go right. "She's flatlining sir!" Jared could tell from the silence before the high pitched beep the nurse was correct and he cursed under his breath. "Hell and da**!" He half-turned as the whine of the alarm started, sweeping the neural regenerator onto the tray as his eyes darted to the controls on the clamshell, the sterile field was active of course as he wasn't yet finished closing the woman up. The regenerator clattered against the metal tray as he released it and reached for the controls, his darting fingers brought up the emergency action screen in two taps and vascular energization with another. "Everyone clear!" He shouted and hit the initiate button. There was a crackle of electrical energy and the body of the woman spasmed but his eyes and ears told him it had not been effective. "100cc's of Tripentathol." He snapped and reached quickly for the hypo as soon as it was ready, he injected its contents directly into the womans heart. As soon as the hiss of the hypo was finished he reinitiated the action again with voice only. "Repeat vascular energeization computer." This time not only did her body spasm but her heart began beating again. "Thank heavens," he breathed as he watched her vitals climb to nominal levels then reached for the dermal regenerator then thought better of it and grabbed the cylindrical medical scanner again and ran it over her torso. The whine of the scanner was the only sound for several minutes as he painstakingly checked her vascular system. His eyes went to the biometric readout and found what he had expected, there was a tiny flashing red dot on the lower quadrant of the left ventricular region of her heart. "Damn!" He muttered aloud as he reached for the laser scalpel again. A few quick flicks of his wrist opened her chest again. ~Should have known it was too clean, shrapnel always gives you little surprises.~ The chest cavity wound was 30 centimeters below and 18 centimeters to the right of that quadrant. ~Must have bounced off a rib.~ He used the scalpel to open the wound a bit more then brought out the remote probe and steadied it as he guided it under the slightly exposed rib and watched the screen for the remote. It didn't take long to find the sliver of bulkhead that had made the slit in her heart, once it was found it was simple to remove it with the highly tuned and localized medical transport hooked into the biobed. The shrapnel disappeared and he smiled then extracted the probe a bit until he was back at her beating heart, the slit was of course hemhoraging into her chest cavity at 2cc's per minute. Using the regenerator built into the probe on the moving organ was a delicate procedure, scarring or thickening of the walls of the heart could complicate matters if it weren't done correctly which is why it took five minutes, his forehead was sweating profulsely before he was finished and mopped by the attending nurse. Once finished he exhaled with joy and extracted the probe then began the process over again of closing her up, this time there were no complications. (posted by Charles) ============================================================ (USS George S Patton Jr - Muster deck - 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Darren Jackson -1345) With the red alert over "Joe" had shed his helmet and BDU, he was running an inspection of the squad when the ship's intercom opened up. =^= Incoming reinforcements by order of General Michele Leah Roberts will be arriving shortly, engagement with Doenitz forces has been a success. A general standown is in effect until further notice. =^= Joe humphed slightly and returned to his inspection deciding that he would try to be present at the transporters when the newbies arrived to see if he could get an idea of what to expect from them, sometimes you could tell the quality of a marine from their reactions and sometimes not, usually though you could. (posted by Charles) =========================================================== (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, CEO's Office, CEO Lt. Commander Sarouk, 1346) Sarouk was running simulations on modifying the Paladin's warp field geometry to allow them to remain at warp longer in the high powered gravity well like the one around Star Base 234. He knew that even the gain of a few seconds could mean the difference between victory and defeat. He thought briefly of his wife and young daughter and what would happen if they were to lose this battle. Pushing the illogical thoughts aside, Sarouk concentrated on the task before him. =/\=Lt. Brownlee to Lt Commander Sarouk.=/\= Sarouk tapped his comm-badge with out looking up from the computer screen in front of him. "Sarouk here," He said evenly. =/\=If you're not to busy, please report to my office.=/\= Sarouk tapped in a command to cancel and save the current simulation as he stood. He stepped out into Main Engineering and took a quick look around. "I will be there momentarily," He said, heading for the site-to-site transporter. He stepped onto the pad and entered his destination. A second latter he felt the tell-tale tingle of the transporter effect take hold. (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CEO Lt. Commander Sarouk, 13:47) Sarouk stepped off the transporter pad and walked the short distance to the science labs and the CSO's Office. He pressed the door buzzer to announce his presence. (posted by Wes) ========================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 27, Outside Security Chief's Office - ATAC/ASC Ensign (jg) Rana Apar - 13:48) Rana walked up the corridor, headed to Kerge's office. She needed to talk to him about the imminent battle. She reached the door, and rang the doorchime. (posted by Spencer) ============================================================ (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 13:48) As soon as his doorchime sounded, Joran reflexively said, "Come in." Sarouk entered, and Joran looked up. "Lt. Sarouk," he said, giving the Vulcan hand salute, "Just the man I needed to talk to." (reply Sarouk) "I need to talk to you about the gravity well in the system that Starbase 234 is located in." (reply Sarouk) "My idea is that if we are able to tie in the engines to the sensor systems, the computer will be able to make corrections in speed and heading as the gravometric distorsion increases. Do you think that that would be possible?" (posted by Spencer) ============================================================= (USS Paladin - Security Chief's Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 13:49) Kerge had opened up the damn drawer again! The thought of the cool Klingon blood wine within caused him to imediately wish to upend the entire bottle into his mouth & he probably would have done so had the chime to his office not suddenly gone off to distract his attention upon it. "Grrrr, What is it now!", bellowed the big Klingon as he slammed the drawer shut again & watched the female Ensign enter the room. Kerge let out a huge sigh & relaxed himself somewhat as she entered, being Klingon was not easy at times, especially when he had to deal with other races, some of them never did appreciate their inate anger at the smallest of things. "How may I help you Ensign", said Kerge in an obvious attempt at politeness. (posted by Alan) =========================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office, CEO Lt. Commander Sarouk, 13:49) Sarouk stepped into the CSO's Office when bade to enter. He regarded the CSO impassively "Lt. Sarouk," Lt. Brownlee said, giving the Vulcan hand salute, "Just the man I needed to talk to." "Peace and long life," Sarouk said, returning the hand salute and inclining his head slightly in a show of respect. "I need to talk to you about the gravity well in the system that Starbase 234 is located in," Lt. Brownlee said next. "Indeed?" Sarouk replied, his voice and face impassive. "My idea is that if we are able to tie in the engines to the sensor systems, the computer will be able to make corrections in speed and heading as the gravimetric distortion increases. Do you think that that would be possible?" Brownlee asked. "Cross linking the impulse engines, the ships sensors, and helm through the computer is indeed possible. However, you will need to establish a parameter set for the computer to work from. I am not sure that running on auto-pilot during a full scale battle will be desirable. You may wish to have the computer provide a number of possible courses to the helm officer and allow them to enter the course that would best meet the situation. That would not be overly difficult either." (posted by Wes) ============================================================ (USS Paladin - Deck 27, Security Chief's Office - ATAC/ASC Ensign (jg) Rana Apar - 13:50) As Rana rang the doorchime, she heard a bellowing emanating from inside the office. "Grrrr, What is it now," and then the slamming of a drawer. Rana took a deep breath and walked in. It was evident that Kerge wasn't in the best of moods. She stopped and stood at attention when she reached the desk. "How may I help you Ensign," Kerge asked her. "Sir," she said, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but I need to talk to you about the battle we are about to go into against Starbase 234." (reply Kerge) "As you know, the system is home to a pair of supergiant stars, and I have been working with the Science, Engineering, and Navigation departments on a battle strategy working around the resulting gravity well. It has been decided that, in order to best work, we should tie the navigation computers, targeting arrays, and engines into the sensor systems, thereby making an automated adjustment when the sensors pick up a gravometric distorsion. I just needed to run it by you to make sure first." (posted by Spencer) ============================================================ (USS Paladin - Security Chief's Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 13:51) "Sir," she said, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but I need to talk to you about the battle we are about to go into against Starbase 234." "You are interrupting nothing of great importance Ensign Apar, please proceed", said the SC settling back into his chair. "As you know, the system is home to a pair of supergiant stars, and I have been working with the Science, Engineering, and Navigation departments on a battle strategy working around the resulting gravity well.", said Apar. "It has been decided that, in order to best work, we should tie the navigation computers, targeting arrays, and engines into the sensor systems, thereby making an automated adjustment when the sensors pick up a gravometric distorsion. I just needed to run it by you to make sure first.", she added. Kerge pondered this for a moment & then flew both his hands into the air in a gesture of agreeance. "It would be unwise for a warrior, Klingon or indeed human to go into battle without having covered every possible angle of failure", said Kerge. "Your tactics are sound Ensign, consider them run by me & duly approved", he added with a toothy smile. (Reply Apar, IYW) "One more thing Ensign", said Kerge as she turned about. (Reply Apar) "Why do you think the last security chief on this ship would leave an unopened bottle of Klingon blood wine in the drawer without drinking it", said Kerge. (Reply Apar) It was a decidedly senceless question of course but Kerge felt the need to ask it nonetheless. There never was any logic in a Klingons mind unless it transpired towards a victory over an opponent & even then it was dubious. "Very well", said Kerge. "You are dismissed, keep me informed of developments in regards your plans regarding our gravimetric problems", he added as he watched the Ensign leave his office before glancing once more at the drawer. (posted by Alan) ======================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office, CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee, 13:51) "Cross linking the impulse engines, the ships sensors, and helm through the computer is indeed possible. However, you will need to establish a parameter set for the computer to work from. I am not sure that running on auto-pilot during a full scale battle will be desirable. You may wish to have the computer provide a number of possible courses to the helm officer and allow them to enter the course that would best meet the situation. That would not be overly difficult either." "That is my idea exactly. Would it be possible to do it en-route, with the captain's permission of course?" (posted by Spencer) ======================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 27, Security Chief's Office - ATAC/ASC Ensign (jg) Rana Apar - 13:52) "Sir," she said, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but I need to talk to you about the battle we are about to go into against Starbase 234." "You are interrupting nothing of great importance Ensign Apar, please proceed," Kerge said. Rana then proceeded to explain whe situation. "As you know, the system is home to a pair of supergiant stars, and I have been working with the Science, Engineering, and Navigation departments on a battle strategy working around the resulting gravity well. It has been decided that, in order to best work, we should tie the navigation computers, targeting arrays, and engines into the sensor systems, thereby making an automated adjustment when the sensors pick up a gravometric distorsion. I just needed to run it by you to make sure first." Kerge had a look of contemplation on his face, and Rana sensed that he was turning over every facet of the plan in his head. Eventually, he threw his hands up into the air, smiling. "It would be unwise for a warrior, Klingon or indeed human to go into battle without having covered every possible angle of failure. Your tactics are sound Ensign, consider them run by me & duly approved." "Thank you sir," she said, "I will report to Lt. Brownlee immediately and tell him we got the green light." She turned to leave. (reply Kerge, IYW) "One more thing Ensign", said Kerge as she turned about. Rana turned back around, puzzled as to what else there could be to discuss. "Why do you think the last security chief on this ship would leave an unopened bottle of Klingon blood wine in the drawer without drinking it", said Kerge. She smiled at that. "Well," she said, "I never knew Lt. T'Vhor to be one for drinking bloodwine. After all, he is Vulcan." "Very well", said Kerge. "You are dismissed, keep me informed of developments in regards your plans regarding our gravimetric problems", he added as he watched the Ensign leave his office before glancing once more at the drawer. (posted by Spencer) ===================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Bridge - ACONN Ensign (jg) Christian Soval Brownlee - 13:56) Christian stepped out of the turbolift, and walked over towards the helm, where Lieutenant Max was sitting, keeping a steady course for the Lambda Tauri system, and Starbase 234. He went over, and said, "Sir, may I speak to you for a moment?" (posted by Spencer) ===================================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - CONN Lt. Max - 13:56) Christian stepped out of the turbolift, and walked over towards the helm, where Lieutenant Max was sitting, keeping a steady course for the Lambda Tauri system, and Starbase 234. He went over, and said, "Sir, may I speak to you for a moment?" "Yes you may. Does this need to be in private?" Max looked up at the officer and wondered. (posted by Calvin) ===================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Bridge - ACONN Ensign (jg) Christian Soval Brownlee - 13:57) "Sir, may I speak to you for a moment?" "Yes you may. Does this need to be in private?" Max looked up at the officer and wondered. "No, not at all, but it is a bit urgent. I need to talk to you about the upcoming battle." (reply Max) "Well, as you know, I have been working with the Science department, and we have decided, that in order to keep us with an advantage, to tie navigation into the sensor array, which will be able to compensate for any gravometric distorsions that will throw off the enemy ships. I just need your approval before we bring our findings to the captain." (posted by Spencer) ===================================================== (USS Paladin - Sickbay - CMO, Lt. (jg) Jared Keller - 1410) Jared dropped the regenerator back on the tray and nodded to nurse Jahnson then walked as quickly as he could to the sterile room to clean up, he was bone-tired but the last of the wounded had been attended to, after cleaning up he pinned the combadge to a clean uniform and tapped it. "Commander Capps we have processed the last of the casualties, there were 23 dead and 187 with critical injuries." (Reply: Calvin) He motioned the duty nurse over and consulted it, it contained the report from cargo bay 3. "232 minor or non-life threatening injuries commander, total injured beamed over to the Paladin then is 442 counting the fatalities or 419 without." (posted by Charles) =================================================== (USS Paladin - Bridge - FO Lt. Cmdr Capps - 1411) "Commander Capps we have processed the last of t he casualties, there were 23 dead and 187 with critical injuries." Calvin listened to the number the Doctor just feed him, and he was stunned. "Does that number include the cargo bay?" He motioned the duty nurse over and consulted it, it contained the report from cargo bay 3. "232 minor or non-life threatening injuries commander, total injured beamed over to the Paladin then is 442 counting the fatalities or 419 without." "Thank you doctor. You and your team has done an excellent job. I owe you all a drink. Try to get some rest, and spend some time with your family doctor." (posted by Calvin) ===================================================== (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, ACEO Ensign Alura Rathyn, 1415) Alura punched the button to log her team's completed task and shoved a few errant blond strands out of her eyes as the computer crunched through her report. The words "Report Filed" splashed along the screen followed by a string of numbers and letters. "Computer, display work orders," she said. Immediately a litany of tasks came up on the screen in order of priority from the highest to the lowest. The first five had already been picked up. The next read as a power variance in the inertial dampeners and the structural integrity fields posted by Commander Sarouk little more than an hour ago. She called up and perused the details and found the results of a level two diagnostic, also initiated by Sarouk. Tapping a few buttons on the panel in front of her, she accepted the work order and cleared the view screen. Pulling two crewmen away from readout boards, she told them to grab tools and tricorders and, once they were all equipped, led them toward the turbo-lift. (posted by David) ====================================================== (USS Paladin, Chief of Operation's Office - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1415) Michael had gone to his office, needing the bigger work area to continue working on the issue of the encrypted and cyphered enemy computer logs. His staff was well able to deal with the regular issues, and he would be called back to the bridge if something serious needed his attention. Sitting on his desk, his legs dangling over the edge he looked at the screen as it displayed the data he was working on. The ships on both sides of the fleet were Starfleet, all of them having the same processing power, all of the crew was trained with the same techniques, and up until recently all of the codes and encryption algorithms and cyphers were the same. War hadn't been declared long enough for Doenitz's forces to develop new encryption algorithms and distribute them to every ships. This all made Michael's job easier, as all he had to do was break the encryption, not figure out the algorithm too. "Computer keep a running log all steps taken, display on screen two. Display current code section on screen one. Display all probability calculations on screen three." Michael said, and watched as the three screens on the wall, screen one filling most of it, the other two being smaller and on either side, filled with the data he requested. "All right, here we go. Computer, run a brute force code word analysis on the current file." *Please state Dictionaries to use* "English, Vulcan, Andorian, Tellerite, Betazoid, and Trill," Michael instructed the computer, then watched on screen three as the calculations were done. He assumed that this step wouldn't yield results, but he wasn't going to just skip the single word passkey, as some people still used them. Quickly the computer returned the expected results, no words in any of the six dictionaries were the encryption key. "All right, lets run the section through a Rackham Decryption Matrix, search for emerging words at each step." Michael hopped down off the desk and wandered about his office while he waited for the computer to do the more lengthy calculations. When the computer beeped, he walked over and looked at the screen. "Hmmmmmm, still no hits. Run the section through a compound Rackham Mor'Tal series," Michael ordered the computer , then sat down in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. Every step he took was a little longer and more involved than the one before. After the computer told him the work still wasn't getting anywhere, he sighed. "All right, computer extract program Night Stalker from my personal files and run using current selection for data input, use sub-routine modules Shadow and Penumbra," Michael told the computer. He had a background in Computer Science from before the Academy, and had been playing with computers most of his life. During his years in University and the Academy, he had developed a large selection of his own programs, and as encryption was a large portion of both university and Academy, he had developed some unique cracking programs over the years. He was just glad that the enemy ship was using a known algorithm, if this had been an alien ship, or the civil war had been going on longer, he might have spent weeks trying to crack the encryption without having a limited set of algorithms to use *Procedure will take one hour* "Understood, alert me at the main Ops console on the bridge," Michael said then headed out the door, securing his office as he left, and proceeded to the bridge. (posted by Patrick) =================================================================== (USS Paladin - Personal Quarters - ACEO Kyp Durron - 1431) Kyp was glad to be back on the Paladin. He was still worried about the Horizon and her crew, but they were determined to go into battle, and he understood that there was no sense in wishing things were different when they could not be. He decided to take a nap for a while and go work out later to remove the stiffness in his muscles. (posted by Ben) =================================================================== (USS Paladin, COPS Office - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1540) Michael walked back into his office to see the results on the screen. "Computer, I thought you said that the encryption had been broken." Michael said, looking at nothing more than random letters and numbers on his screen. *Affirmative, encryption algorithm 'Federation Alpha Secure' was broken by program 'Night Stalker' and decrypted.* Michael sighed, he was missing something. Computer bring up all personal records available of the Captain of the ship from which these files were taken on screen four." Michael walked to the screen and skimmed over the records. Security/Tactical background, Human, originally from the European Continent on Earth, scrolling down through the file, he looked at the Captain's course work during his training, hoping one of the computer security classes would give Michael any ideas. What he found wasn't what he was looking for but it gave him an idea. Especially when he saw that the Captain's father was a history professor on Earth, dealing with the 20th and 21st century. Quickly Michael spun in his chair and started tapping and speaking commands. "Computer, does the Paladin database contain historical files from 20th century Earth, specifically World War Two cyphers and codes?" *Affirmative* "Does the data include all know Enigma rotors?" *Affirmative* "Take decrypted file and decrypt using all possible enigma rotor combinations, search for word formation to eliminate failed combinations. The first three 'ground setting' trials for each rotor combination, should be the Captain's initials, his mother's initials and his father's initials, all other combinations are unweighted." Michael said. The computer started processing, and Michael sat back and grinned. "Think you were smarter than me, did you captain," Michael said talking to the data, "never use your personal life as inspiration for securing your data. It will just get you caught in the end." Soon enough it payed off, Michael was right about the second encryption, and was right about the Enigma cyphers. Now that they had successfully decrypted the first block of code, the computer could breeze through the rest using the data it had gathered. He quickly typed out the codes to decrypt the rest of the data, then tapped his Comm badge. "Ensign O'Connor to Captain Straton," Michael said. (Reply Straton) "Sir, I have cracked the encryption on the captain and personal logs from the first of the two ships we just captured. I can deliver the report and the decoded logs to you when ever you want them." Michael said. (posted by Patrick) ================================================================= (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 15:41) "Enter," Eva said when to door chime went off. She watched as the door slid open and Ensign O'Connor walked in, PADD in hand, and snapped to attention. "Sir, the primary enemy ship's logs were double encrypted, which was the holdup. I've only just decrypted the data and haven't had a chance to read it over. On the PADD are all the logs that either mention our target, the system, or the systems immediately surrounding the target system. The rest of the decrypted data has been transferred to the secure holding database for you to read over when you want." O'Connor said, holding out the PADD. Eva nodded as she took the PADD, entered her command code and started reading the first of the logs. She took a few seconds to read it over. "Good work Ensign," She said, looking up from the PADD. "Looks like this will take some time to read through. You may return to your duties." (posted by Wes) ================================================================== (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 15:45) Eva sat in the command chair and watched the main view screen. The transfer of the marine forces to the Patton and Pershing was well under way by now, the Klingon contingent had already transported their ground forced over and had taken off at high warp to arrive at the designated spot before the main Battle Group arrived. ~I hope General Roberts enjoys having all those Klingon warriors mingling with her marines. I bet there is more than a few scuffles.~ Eva thought as another shuttle filled with marines moved past the Paladin on it's way to either the Patton or the Pershing. =/\=Ensign O'Connor to Captain Straton.=/\= O'Connor's voice sounded suddenly over the Bridge speakers. "Captain Straton here," Eva said, tapping her comm-badge. =/\=Sir, I have cracked the encryption on the captain and personal logs from the first of the two ships we just captured. I can deliver the report and the decoded logs to you when ever you want them.=/\= Replied O'Connor. Eva smiled. "In my Ready Room Ensign," Eva said, "In 5 minuets. Don't be late." (Reply O'Connor IYW) "Commander Capps," Eva said rising, "You have the bridge." (Reply Capps IYW) Eva moved quickly toward her Ready Room eager to see what, if anything they had discovered. (posted by Wes) ==================================================================== (USS Paladin, COPS Office - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1545) "Ensign O'Connor to Captain Straton," Michael said. =/\="Captain Straton here,=/\= Eva said "Sir, I have cracked the encryption on the captain and personal logs from the first of the two ships we just captured. I can deliver the report and the decoded logs to you when ever you want them." Michael said. =/\=In my Ready Room Ensign," Eva said, "In 5 minuets. Don't be late.=/\= "On my way now, Sir. O'Connor Out." Sean said, closed the line, grabbed his PADD and took off out of the room at a jog, heading for the closest turbo lift. (USS Paladin, {Outside}Captain's Ready Room - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1549) Michael tapped the door chimer to the Captain's ready room. (Reply Straton) Michael headed inside and snapped to attention. "Sir, the primary enemy ship's logs were double encrypted, which was the holdup. I've only just decrypted the data and haven't had a chance to read it over. On the PADD are all the logs that either mention our target, the system, or the systems immediately surrounding the target system. The rest of the decrypted data has been transferred to the secure holding database for you to read over when you want." Michael said, holding out the PADD to Captain Straton (posted by Patrick) =================================================================== (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 16:40) Eva had been reading over the logs Ensign O'Connor had decrypted for the past hour and she was not liking what she had been reading. Putting the PADD down, Eva decided it was time to bring in some of her junior officers and get some feed back and ideas. "Captain Straton to Commander Capps, Commander Rulestaad, and Lt. Brownlee report to my Ready Room immediately," She said, tapping her comm-badge. (Reply Capps, Rulestaad, Brownlee) Eva picked the PADD up and continued reading while she waited, which wasn't long. When the three officers where all seated in front of her desk she looked up from the PADD. "This," She said, holding up the PADD. "Contains the decrypted logs from one of the two enemy ships we took this morning. What it contains is a little alarming giving our current situation." She handed the PADD to Commander Capps to look over before passing it on to Rulestaad and Brownlee. "It seems," Eva said, in explanation. "That Star Base 234 is in the process of deploying a mine field. According to the logs, which are incomplete, the mine field is still incomplete but enough has been deployed to play bloody hell with our battle plans and that's not all. It also seems that the two ships we captured where only forward scouts. The Star Base is a mustering point for forces in this area. The two ships we captured where to report to the Star Base in the next few days to join a Battle Group of some kind that was being formed to strike into space currently held by the 52nd and our Klingon allies." Eva sat back and waited while the PADD was passed around and her officers digested the information. (posted by Wes) ======================================================================= (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 16:41) =/\= Captain Straton to Commander Capps, Commander Rulestaad, and Lt. Brownlee report to my Ready Room immediately.=/\= Joran had been working on what would need to be done in order to set up the modifications to keep them flying and fighting while trying to take Starbase 234, and was almost done by the time the captain called. He tapped his communicator. "On my way," he said, getting up and walking out. (posted by Spencer) ====================================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Ready Room - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 16:43) Joran walked into the captain's ready room, and took a seat.He waited for the other officers to arrive, and then the captain started. "This," She said, holding up the PADD. "Contains the decrypted logs from one of the two enemy ships we took this morning. What it contains is a little alarming giving our current situation." She handed the PADD to Commander Capps who looked it over before passing it on to Rulestaad and then Joran. "It seems," she continued, "That Star Base 234 is in the process of deploying a mine field. According to the logs, which are incomplete, the mine field is still incomplete but enough has been deployed to play bloody hell with our battle plans and that's not all. It also seems that the two ships we captured were only forward scouts. The Star Base is a mustering point for forces in this area. The two ships we captured where to report to the Star Base in the next few days to join a Battle Group of some kind that was being formed to strike into space currently held by the 52nd and our Klingon allies." As Rulestaad passed the PADD to Joran, he looked over the information, tapping into the information extratcted about the mines themselves. "Captain," he said, " it seems these cloaking devices the mines are equipped with are conventional in nature. It would be very eay to program the sensors to detect them and make emergency course adjustments, as well as weapons targeting." (posted by Spencer) =================================================================== (USS Paladin, O'Connor Quarters - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1800) Michael had retired to his quarters for some down time while things were quiet. When things heated up, he was going to be needed on the bridge, and he needed to take every opportunity to relax while he could. He ordered some lamb and potatoes, and a tall glass of milk from the replicator and took them too his desk. He had a couple of ideas that he wanted to try out and figured even if they wouldn't work for the up coming combat, he might be able to perfect them later. After swallowing a mouthful of the lamb, he opened his personal files. Most of the programs he wrote were modular, which made things easier to write when he didn't have a lot of time. He had general purpose cores for the major intentions of his program, whether they were built for breaking into other systems, defending one, cracking a code, he had come up with plenty of cores over the years. What made each final program unique were the subroutines that he modified the cores with. "Computer, extract core program 'Daedalus'," Michael said, and watched the code scroll across the screen once before an icon of a maze was placed at the center of the screen. "Computer begin coding session, title sub-routine as 'Entrance 1'," Michael said, then started coding the sub-routine that would be the bait for the defence program. When the program was finished it would monitor all external data inputs to the Paladin's systems, any non approved or forced inputs would be allowed into the defense program, tricking the attacking user into thinking the infiltration was successful. The defense program would trick the offending program into thinking it had succeeded and had broken into the systems. It would supply affirmative feedback and shunt the program into a quarantined and walled off section of the computer, until another sub-routine could neutralize it. The sub-routine, named 'Minotaur', was an adaptable little program, and would steadily work to slow, stop and finally kill the offending infiltrator. The Entrance sub-routine was adaptable, but in a different way. It worked to trap the intruding program by giving it exactly what it wanted, at least it fed it the responses it was looking for and directed it into the core program where it could be contained and then handed off to the Minotaur. Michael spent a good deal of time deal of time in writing and perfecting the program, and when he was done he set it up to run through a barrage of simulations to test it's usability as he picked up his now empty dishes and returned them to the replicator to be recycled. Grabbing his uniform jacket he headed out of his quarters. In the last two days he hadn't had much time for socializing, and he figured he might as well go and mingle while they weren't under direct threat of attack. So he walked out of his quarters and took the nearest turbo lift down to Ten Forward. (posted by Patrick) =========================================================================== (USS Paladin, Holodeck 3, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 1900) With the day winding down and the Battle group now underway to Star Base 234, Eva had decided she needed some winding down herself. Leaving the Bridge in the capable hands of Commander Capps, with orders to alert her if anything changed. Eva had logged some holo-deck time to catch up on her exercise. Just because she was no longer a TAC\SC didn't mean she should let her combat skills dull. She was in the middle of a war after all. The program she was now running was one that had crossed quantum realities with her. She had used it on the first Paladin to maintain her fighting skills and had brought it with her when she had transferred onto this new Paladin. Wearing a lose fitting training outfit, Eva entered the holo-deck and stepped into a room lined with weapons from a dozen worlds from Andor to Vulcan. Each one displayed with honor and respect according to it's worlds traditions. Eva ignored the weapons she moved to the center of the training area and began a series of warm up exercises to get her blood flowing and to loosen tense muscles. After a few minuets, Eva could feel her muscles begin to loosen and a light sheen of perspiration covered her forehead. Feeling she was now ready, she moved to one side of the training mat. "Computer, one opponent. Unarmed, random fighting style and skill level," She said, crouching into a fighting stance herself. A human male appeared on the other side of the training area. He turned toward Eva and bowed at the waist before entering a fighting stance of his own. ~Vulcan T'rek Style.~ Eva thought watching her opponents stance and movements as the two closed. The two traded blows in a quick exchange before Eva slipped under her opponents guard and landed a solid elbow to his abdomen angled just right to knock all the air out of his lungs. Her opponent reacted as if he were real, left gasping for breath and reeling. Eva pressed her advantage with a spinning leg sweep and dropped her opponent to the floor followed by a knife strike to his throat. Eva stood as her opponent disappeared from view. As Eva was about to request a new opponent the holo-deck doors opened. Eva turned to look to see who had chosen to disturb her relaxation. (posted by Wes) ======================================================== (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - TAC/SC Kerge - 19:10) The moment the Klingon security chief had entered the holodeck, he was surprised to see the Captain running through a holodeck combat sequence. From the console outside of course, he had become aware that someone was running a program & that it had been combat orientated. With his curiosity piqued however, he had entered with the intentions of may`be getting in a little practice himself also. "Captain Straton", said Kerge as he looked about the holodeck scenario, his eyes falling upon the knife gripped in her hand as he did so. The big Klingon took a deep breath & wondered how long it had taken her to despatch her previous foe, his Klingon heart filling with the thought of conflict as he moved closer to his commanding officer. "Perhaps you would care to even the odds a little & raise the stakes sir", said Kerge. (Reply CO) "I am adaptable", said Kerge, "A true Klingon warrior must always adapt to his foe, I would be honoured to fight alongside you if you so desire, holographic enemies or real, it makes no difference to me so long as they are able to test my spirit" (Reply CO) Kerge grinned a sharpened toothed grin & walked to stand nearer to the Captain. (posted by Alan) ======================================================= (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - ACEO Kyp Durron - 1914) Kyp had decided to wear a regular outfit today, since he was just going to wear his body out, and not focus on any specific training. He also left his katana, because he didn't feel comfortable walking around with it on the ship. It felt somehow improper to walk around with it on deck. He entered the holodeck, not realizing that there was already an active program on with someone inside and just walked in. He saw from the program that this was a training program and was quite taken aback to see the Captain there, and snapped a quick salute. "Sorry, sir. I didn't realize someone was in here. I'll leave you to your workout" (posted by Ben) ======================================================== (USS Paladin, Holodeck 3, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 1915) Eva looked up to see a very surprised Ensign Durron standing in the door way. She didn't need to be an empath to sense the Ensign's surprise. His mouth was hanging open his eye open wide. "Sorry, sir. I didn't realize someone was in here. I'll leave you to your workout," he said, snapping a quick salute. "As you where Ensign," Eva said, "We're off duty. If your looking for a work out your welcome to join me." (Reply Durron) Then to Eva's surprise, Lt. Kerge entered the holodeck. ~Now what are the odds of that?~ She thought with a smirk. "Captain Straton", said Kerge looking around at the simulation before bringing his eyes back to her and taking a step toward her, "Perhaps you would care to even the odds a little & raise the stakes sir." "Oh? What stakes do you desire Kerge?" Eva asked, looking over briefly at Durron before looking back at Kerge. "I am adaptable", said Kerge, "A true Klingon warrior must always adapt to his foe, I would be honored to fight alongside you if you so desire, holographic enemies or real, it makes no difference to me so long as they are able to test my spirit." Eva simply nodded, looking back to Durron. "What about you Ensign? You looking to test your mettle in hand to hand combat against a worthy foe?" (Reply Durron) (NRPG: Will leave room here in case Ben wants to withdrawal Durron from the situation.) RPG: Eva moved to the middle of the training room. "Computer Level 12," She said. The training room suddenly vanished and was replaced a rocky and desolate landscape. A strong wind blew through tall columns of wind worn gray rock and a cold rain fell to leave the ground muddy and slick. "This," Eva said in explanation, "is RC145. A planet where a Dominion listening post has been discovered by Star Fleet Intelligence. I used this as a training scenario for my people when I was still a TAC\SC. We must be prepared for situations where we do not have tactical or numerical superiority. This is one such scenario. The ship we arrived on has been destroyed. We are all that remains, but the mission must be completed. Surrender is not an option. To surrender would be to condemn not only the Federation, but the entire Alpha Quadrant to Dominion rule. We can expect to meet Jem'Hadar, Cardassian, and even Breen on our trek to the listening post and inside the enemy base. The scenario ends when either the listening post has been destroyed or we have all been rendered unconscious. Question?" (Reply Kerge, Durron if still present) "Oh right," Eva said, snapping her fingers. "To truly make this challenging. We start without any weapons other than our mind and body. We will have to try to appropriate any weapons we can on our way. Ready to start?" (posted by Wes) ========================================================= (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - ACEO Ensign (jg) Kyp Durron - 1915) Kyp had just walked into the Holodeck, and was surprised to see the CO there. He quickly snapped a salute, "Sorry, sir. I didn't realize someone was in here. I'll leave you to your workout," he said, snapping a quick salute. "As you were Ensign," Eva said, "We're off duty. If your looking for a work out your welcome to join me." Kyp relaxed his posure, "That would be enjoyable, Captain. I need to burn off some energy." Then, to his surprise, Lt. Kerge came through the door as well. ~Hmm, I wonder if Commander Capps and Lt. Brownlee'll show up now. Hey, why not the whole crew...this is too weird. Here we go again with the twisted sense of humor of the universe.~ "Captain Straton", said Kerge looking around at the simulation before bringing his eyes back to her and taking a step toward her, "Perhaps you would care to even the odds a little & raise the stakes sir." "Oh? What stakes do you desire Kerge?" Eva asked, looking over briefly at Durron before looking back at Kerge. "I am adaptable", said Kerge, "A true Klingon warrior must always adapt to his foe, I would be honored to fight alongside you if you so desire, holographic enemies or real, it makes no difference to me so long as they are able to test my spirit." Eva simply nodded, looking back to Durron. "What about you Ensign? You looking to test your mettle in hand to hand combat against a worthy foe?" "I *suppose* I could be tempted into a good test of my abilities now," Kyp said with a grin. Eva moved to the middle of the training room. "Computer Level 12," She said. The training room suddenly vanished and was replaced a rocky and desolate landscape. A strong wind blew through tall columns of wind worn gray rock and a cold rain fell to leave the ground muddy and slick. "This," Eva said in explanation, "is RC145. A planet where a Dominion listening post has been discovered by Star Fleet Intelligence. I used this as a training scenario for my people when I was still a TAC\SC. We must be prepared for situations where we do not have tactical or numerical superiority. This is one such scenario. The ship we arrived on has been destroyed. We are all that remains, but the mission must be completed. Surrender is not an option. To surrender would be to condemn not only the Federation, but the entire Alpha Quadrant to Dominion rule. We can expect to meet Jem'Hadar, Cardassian, and even Breen on our trek to the listening post and inside the enemy base. The scenario ends when either the listening post has been destroyed or we have all been rendered unconscious. Question?" Kyp shook his head, it was pretty straighforward. It would be fun to fight without a katana in his hand. It had been a while. "Oh right," Eva said, snapping her fingers. "To truly make this challenging. We start without any weapons other than our mind and body. We will have to try to appropriate any weapons we can on our way. Ready to start?" "Whenever you are, Captain," Kyp loosened his body and waited for the simulation to begin. He sat with his legs crossed on the ground, because he wanted to start in a position where he meditated in. It was better to start a battle in the calm center of control. (posted by Ben) ============================================================ (USS Paladin - Holodeck 3 - TAC/SC - Kerge - 19:16) ~Now this is more like it~ thought Kerge as he surveyed the hostile landscape around him, this was so much more palatible than the training room of before, Kerge was beginning to think his Captain had become weak, but now she was showing promise again. The TAC/SC listened to her as she outlined their mission objectives, then he drew a deep breath of the somewhat fetid air around them, he knew this smell well, it was the smell of death. "The scenario ends when either the listening post has been destroyed or we have all been rendered unconscious. Questions?", said Captain Straton. "You may fall unconscious Captain, I however will die before I succumb in such a way to any foe, real or projected", said Kerge in typical arrogant Klingon intonation. "Oh right," said the CO snapping her fingers. "To truly make this challenging. We start without any weapons other than our mind and body. We will have to try to appropriate any weapons we can on our way. Ready to start?", she added. Kerge looked about him briefly, then he crouched down & picked up a large rock from the floor, gripping it firmly in his hand. "Then this will be my first weapon", he said as he looked off in the direction they intended to go. At first he was about to simply march off, but then on thinking about it, he turned to the Captain & addressed her again. "As you are still my Captain, I acceed to your lead", he said gesturing with his hand apropriately to indicate her to begin. (posted by Alan) ============================================================= (USS Paladin, Ten Forward - COPS Ensign (jg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 1945) Michael walked into Ten Forward and headed up to the bar, when the bar tender took his order, he asked for a Jameson's on the rocks, alcohol removed, and then took the drink over to a table by the windows and sat down to admire the view. (posted by Patrick) ======================================================= Mission: Piercing the Iron Curtain Mission Day: 3 Stardate: 2407.01.12 ======================================================== (USS Paladin, Shuttlebay 1, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla, 0745) (USS Paladin, Bridge, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla, 0800) (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 0802) (USS Paladin, Ready Room, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla, 0803) (USS Paladin, Science Labs, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla, 0905) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 09:07) (USS Paladin, CSO's Office, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla - 09:08) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 09:09) ======================================================== The high warp shuttle made the trip faster than expected as it docked quickly and quietly on the massive Meredith-class vessel. K'Palla was visually awe-struck by the size of the ship. It easily could house two of her father's Vorcha-class warship, the IRON WIND. K'Palla knew that she needed to report to the Captain right away, but she needed to stow her things first. One of the operations crewmen assured her that her belongings would be waiting for her at her new quarters, and that she should report right away. Being new, she had to ask directions to the bridge and subsequently the Captain's Ready Room. Once oriented in the right direction, the Klingon woman found herself on a turbolift heading to the bridge. (posted by John) ======================================================= (USS Paladin, Bridge, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla, 0800) Once the doors opened, K'Palla took a deep breath, stepped out onto the bridge and crossed over to the Ready-Room door. She felt many eyes focus on her, making her feel good about the shape she was in. She added a touch more sway to her hips as she crossed the bridge. Once reaching the door, she hit the chime and entered. Proudly, she strode up to the Captain sitting behind her desk. "Captain Straton, Science Officer Ensign JG K'Palla reporting for duty, sir!" the Klingon female said, as she presented her PADD with her orders. (posted by John) ======================================================= (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 0802) Eva was enjoying her morning cup of tea and a small breakfast while reading over the reports from the previous night. ~By this time tomorrow we will have engaged the enemy. Only time will tell if we come out of it alive or not.~ Her dark thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door buzzer. "Enter," She said, setting down the PADD she had been holding. She watched as a Klingon female wearing a Star Fleet uniform walked proudly into the room and came to attention in front of her desk. "Captain Straton, Science Officer Ensign JG K'Palla reporting for duty, sir!" the Klingon female said, as she presented her PADD with her orders. Eva took the PADD and after entering her command code, to unlock the Ensigns orders, quickly read over the Ensign orders and record. ~Finally an ACSO.~ Eva thought as she looked back up at the Ensign. "Ensign K'Palla," Eva said, "Looks like you have been assigned as Assistant Chief Science Officer. I'm sure Lt. Brownlee will appreciate having someone to help him run the Science department. I'll be honest with you Ensign. We are 24 hours away from a major engagement with forces loyal to Admiral Doenitz. I will need every department and every person giving 110% if we are to have any chance of coming out of it alive. Report to Lt. Joran Brownlee as soon as you have gotten your squared away in your quarters. I'm sure he will have something for you to do. Any question?" (posted by Wes) ======================================================== (USS Paladin, Ready Room, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla, 0803) "Captain Straton, Science Officer Ensign JG K'Palla reporting for duty, sir!" the Klingon female said, as she presented her PADD with her orders. The Captain opened the PADD file and quickly scanned it. She then looked up at the Klingon. "Ensign K'Palla," Eva said, "Looks like you have been assigned as Assistant Chief Science Officer. I'm sure Lt. Brownlee will appreciate having someone to help him run the Science department. I'll be honest with you Ensign. We are 24 hours away from a major engagement with forces loyal to Admiral Doenitz. I will need every department and every person giving 110% if we are to have any chance of coming out of it alive. Report to Lt. Joran Brownlee as soon as you have gotten your things squared away in your quarters. I'm sure he will have something for you to do. Any question?" K'Palla felt the rush of excitement as Captain Straton explained the pending situation. Perhaps she may see some personal combat after all. Without hesitation, she replied to the CO. "No sir, and thank you! It is an honor to serve! I will strive to bring that honor upon your ship and crew, as well as my Father and my House! Qaplas!" spouted K'Palla proudly, then took her leave when she was dismissed. (posted by John) ======================================================== (USS Paladin, Science Labs, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla, 0905) It did not take long for the Klingon woman to unpack and arrange her things in her quarters, since she did not bring too much. The only things she considered valuable were the pictures of her family, her Father - Da'Gor, and of her Father's vessel, the IRON WIND. She wondered if her father was disappointed not be part of this Assault Fleet, knowing he was requested to remain near Q'oNoS for Homeworld Protection. Still, it was better to serve in any capacity than to not serve at all. Once finished in her quarters, K'Palla made her way to the Science Labs. Once there, she asked one of the lab techs as to the whereabouts of Lt. Joran Brownlee, finding him in his office. As she did with Captain Straton, she chimed the door and entered. She then strode up to the Lieutenant behind his desk and spoke up. "Lt. Brownlee, sir! Assistant Chief Science Officer Ensign JG K'Palla reporting as per orders of Captain Straton, sir!! (posted by John) ======================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 09:07) Joran was looking at some information about the specific type of mines that were discussed in the briefing, when he heard the doorchime. "Come in," he said. A Klingon woman came through the door, wearing a blue uniform. ~Finally!~ Joran thought, ~an ACSO!~ "Lt. Brownlee, sir! Assistant Chief Science Officer Ensign JG K'Palla reporting as per orders of Captain Straton, sir!!" "At ease, Ensign. Orders?" (reply K'Palla) He looked over the PADD, and handed it back to her. "Well, ensign, as you well know, we are on our way to the Lambda Tauri system, and Starbase 234. I need you to work with Engineering on same computer modifications necessary to keep us with the advantage in this battle. Any questions?" (posted by Spencer) ====================================================== (USS Paladin, CSO's Office, ACSO Ens JG K'Palla - 09:08) "Lt. Brownlee, sir! Assistant Chief Science Officer Ensign JG K'Palla reporting as per orders of Captain Straton, sir!!" barked the Klingon, standing straight at attention. "At ease, Ensign. Orders?" asked Brownlee. There was a pause. K'Palla, in her excitement, forgot to present her orders as she spoke. Making a slight "Oops" face, she handed the PADD over to the handsome CSO, making brief eye contact, then looked forward again. He looked over the PADD, and handed it back to her. "Well, ensign, as you well know, we are on our way to the Lambda Tauri system, and Starbase 234. I need you to work with Engineering on some computer modifications necessary to keep us with the advantage in this battle. Any questions?" "Yessir, what is the nature of the modifications and who will I report to in Engineering?" asked the Ensign. She continued to look forward, waiting for a response. (posted by John) ===================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 09:09) "Well, ensign, as you well know, we are on our way to the Lambda Tauri system, and Starbase 234. I need you to work with Engineering on some computer modifications necessary to keep us with the advantage in this battle. Any questions?" "Yessir, what is the nature of the modifications and who will I report to in Engineering?" K'Palla asked. "Report to Lt. Cmdr. Sarouk, the CEO. He will explain what you need to know. Any other questions?" (posted by Spencer) ===================================================== I hope you enjoyed it!!!