From: JoGoodman2@aol.com Sent: Friday, 26 September 2003 7:48 AM To: spectre-nrpg@freedom-squadron.com Cc: compiles@freedom-squadron.com Subject: Spectre compile Sept 15-22 (pt 2) Spectre compile Sept 15-22, part 2 (USS Spectre - Temp Marine Deck - CCE/MCO Major Drizzt - 11.02) "Captain on Deck!" Leonal, 'Spider' to most, immediately spun on his heel and came to attention. His eyes took in the view of the bay, it wasn't hard to spot the Captain. He was the only non-BDU or green bearing individual present, and he was standing only ten feet off. "Major, I just wanted to see how you were doing." Spider's antenna twitched, ever so slightly. This seemed to be a man who was unused to Marines, not surprising considering his ship wasn't fitted for them. He quickly decided that the typical Marine responses would not only go right over his head, but probably offend him. He stood down to Parade attention, giving everyone else in the room the opportunity to continue whatever they had been doing. "Ready and waiting, Sir." he said evenly. "My ASC has been running weapon drills and tests on the Xenolithe, here are the results. Not good seems to be the saying of the week around here.", ~A Captain announcing that his weapons drills aren't running the best. My my my... Will wonders never cease?~ The Andorian took the PADD, and gave it the quick glance-over. Not a moment later, the Captain said, "Why don't you show me what you have done so far?" ~Ahhhh... I love a strait line when I get one.~ And he did, the Major was proud of what the men and women under his command could achieve. And, he had never heard a more bare request for an inspection before in his life. He half turned on his heel, "On Duty Squad, Teeeen HUT! ...Front and Center!" The squad on-duty at this moment was his personal squad, the Black Knights of Grimnir, the Combat Engineers. The members snapped at double-time, and came to complete attention within twenty seconds. All were suited in full BDU, they looked like Mech-Warriors, and all of them had adjusted their cameo patterns to match internal corridor color schemes. It didn't hide them by any means, but every little bit helped. "Preeeeeesent Arms!" Nearly as one, the squad spun their rifles to look at the charge and safety, then spun the rifles back and stuck the them strait out for inspection. Spider looked at them, then back at the Captain. "I have three squads here, Sir, one is on duty at all times. These are the CE's, special ops. The other two are Heavy Infantry, Starfleet knew what they were doing when they sent us, we carry about as much firepower as three squads of men *can* carry. I've already been running all three together in training exorcizes on the Holodeck, to improve coordination and response time. We have several contingency plans drawn up for a forced invasion, it is nearly impossible to draw up any plans for anything else with our current lack of info. Liaising with security was high on my current schedule." (reply: as desired) He pulled his own sidearm, the Mark II-b, checked it then handed it over butt-first. All Marines are armed with these, the Mark two." He stepped forward a second later, and removed the rifle from the CXE's hands. He checked it over by habit, then stepped back. He took the pistol back and offered the rifle, "And all on-duty marines have this. The Mark Three Tactical rifle." He didn't mention that the rifle he had just handed over had a sniper scope on it, most CO's seemed to hate that particular idea. Frankly, Spider didn't much care. His job was to protect against armed enemies, the easiest way to do that was to make sure that his target was Dead, Deader, deadest. Sniping on the battle-field was as good as a Heroic Charge, only less people were killed on the friendly side. (reply: if desired) Spider returned the rifle, then said "Squad, at ease." He turned back to the CO, who looked at him and said, "If we do led some kind of coordinated attack, it's very likely, I'll be sending you in with Security, I want you to work together. I want you and them to put together some tactical scenarios that are based in defense and holding position, this mission, we won't be taking the battle to the Xenolithe, if we find them at all. is that clear, Major?" "Defense and holding, yes Sir." Spider said easily, "We don't have the forces to go hunting this trip, maybe next time." (reply: Remae) Spider watched the CO depart, then turned to his MXO, who had taken position just behind him. "Well now, that was an adventure." he said quietly. He tapped his badge, "Major Drizzt to the Chief of Security, when are you free?" (reply: Orde) "Very well," he said, just before he cut the link. He looked back over at his XO. "Get some of the TAC-heads together..." he looked at the PADD he was holding, the most recent Tactical readiness reports. "Break this down and start formulating some holding strategies on generic ground. Ill be in on it once I've talked to our dear Tactical Chief." he said as he handed over the PADD. "Oorah." the XCE said flatly. Spider chuckled at that, "Not so bad, Lieutenant, I don't mind security. They too have their place in the great Food-chain, they just don't get all the toys." (reply: Remae, Orde, any) (posted by Trout) <(-)><<<<<<<<<<<-> }))*(({ <->>>>>>>>>>>><(-)> -Jeremy Trout Email: sqnco@freedom-squadron.com Homepage: http://www.troutsplace.cjb.net ICQ: 126266005 "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster... When you gaze long into the abyss the abyss also gazes into you." ~Friedrick Nietzsche (USS Spectre - 10-Forward - CMO Cambridge - 11.03) Chief Medical Officer Maxwell Cambridge stood outside ten forward, his hands behind his back. The word "Xenolathe" had been uttered and it was something that chilled Mac to the core. He didn't enjoy going up against such enemies and sickbay wasn't the place to test the new crew. He was concerned for them, mostly as they hadn't proven themselves terribly at all. The other concern lay in Rain Anderson. He had read her file. Twice. Cambridge didn't know all the details, but he knew he would have to ask her and see where she was at emotionally. When you go through something like that, the canyons the trauma creates in your heart can be immeasurable. And for the Chief Medical Officer, his crew, his friends mattered more than anything. He slowly walked into the room and spotted Rain at the back of the room, avoiding the crew looking at the Romulan vessel. Ordering a apple cider he moved towards the ACMO. Her face told the entire story. She was on the edge and not fairing well at all. He slipped into the seat across from her and whispered. "Good evening young lady...I don't think the look on your face is related to that ship out there..." (USS Spectre - 10-Forward - ACMO Anderson - 11.03) The room was full of off-duty crewmembers clamouring around the large panoramic windows. Rain had expected the place to be quiet when she had decided to get an early lunch. She inched her way forward to see what had everyone excited. The Romulan warbird seemed monstrous as it hung in space just kilometres from the spectre. It would normally have bought fear to the hearts of starfleet personnel but now it seemed almost comforting. Word of the mission had spread like wildfire around the ship and the realisation of what meeting the Xenolaithe would mean was sinking in. Knowing the Romulans would be coming along for the ride seemed to make things slightly better.... at least to Rain. As far as she knew, no-one knew that she had barely survived starfleet's first encounter with the race, although it was in her records she assumed. Although her injuries had been more mental than physical, she still carried plenty of scars. She ordered her sandwich and took a table at the back of the room. To keep her mind away from painful subjects she began reciting the elements in the periodic table to herself as she chewed. ~Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron.....~ (reply any) (Posted by Wendy Keen) (USS Spectre, 10 forward, Kahila Lono, 11:07) After the meeting, Kahila very much wanted to have a change of scene. She couldn't stand another moment of being in the Observation Lounge. It was as if she could still feel the emotions generated by the meeting. She had a few minutes before she needed to report back to the Bridge, so she went into 10 forward. Her stomach felt still twisted with the tension of the tumultous morning, and she had no idea when she'd feel like eating. She ordered a glass of milk, flavored with cinnamon, and looked around. She really had no desire to sit where she could see the Romulan warbird! After walking past the most crowded areas, she noticed Rain sitting alone at a table. ~I've not yet gotten to know her. Just that one brief-- rather odd-- encounter. She does look preoccupied. But . . .nevertheless, I'll go with the synchronicity.~ Kahila walked to Rain's table, stood for a moment, until the young woman looked up. Then she said. "Hello Rain. I wonder if you might like some company for a few minutes?" (reply Rain) (posted by Josephine Goodman) <> (USS Spectre - 10 Forward - ACMO Rain Anderson - 11.10) Rain nibbled at her sandwich, eating more because it was hours since she'd last done so, rather than being hungry. There was nothing like the horrific image of a xenolithe female in full battle rage to quell one's appetite. She sensed rather than saw a person approach her table and she looked up and was shocked to see the FO, Lt Lono looking down at her. Rain felt her heart skip at least one beat and a flush rise in her cheeks. ~Why would she come over here??~ "Hello Rain. I wonder if you might like some company for a few minutes?" she said calmly. ~With me? Why? I don't need counselling! I can't really say no... can I say no?~ "Yes, please join me." She replied, amazed at how controlled she sounded. After a brief moment of awkward silence, Rain decided to speak first. "That's quite a ship out there." (Reply Lono, any) (Posted by Wendy Keen) (USS Spectre, 10 Forward, Kahila Lono, 11:13) After Kahila's greeting, Rain looked up quickly. Kahila could see that the woman was startled, more so than she would have expected. ~Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.~ But Rain replied, "Yes, please join me." Kahila smiled her thanks, and sat down, taking a sip of milk. After a brief moment of awkward silence, Rain spoke. "That's quite a ship out there." "Oh yes," Kahila replied. "The Romulans have a great deal of engineering intelligence." Then an idea occurred to her. "There's a lot of tension and excitement right now; here, and all through the Spectre. But for just a few minutes I'd like to pretend this is just an ordinary day aboard ship, and that we're sitting here with plenty of time to get aquainted. How would you feel about doing just a bit of 'pretend'?" Kahila met Rain's surprised glance, then she continued. "For instance, we could tell each other one or two interesting things about the place we grew up. For me, that was Oahu. My family has had an estate there for three generations. Mostly cattle. Some sugar cane. I could walk to the beach in twelve minutes. I lived there with my grandmother and my aunt and uncle. The field work was done by robots; we were the first estate on Oahu to go robotic -- not counting government owned land of course; the first experiments of Robotic labor on Oahu began there. My grandmother was against it -- she was a true traditionalist. And my uncle had the most horrible time talking her into it. She always said that if my grandfather had still been living, he would never have agreed." Kahila managed a small, but heartfelt, laugh, remembering. "Ocassionally, it's good to revisit the past. But not of course, to dwell there. Just to re-connect with the people and places that helped make us who we are today." Kahila said, then took another drink of her milk. She wasn't sure what the expression on Rain's face indicated. Under other circumstances she would have thought it was fear. ~Oh, it seems that I keep making mistakes every time I try to get aquainted with her! But now I've begun this conversation, I can't just back out of it.~ Kahila looked expectantly toward Rain, wondering if she'd share any information at all about herself. (reply Rain) posted by Josephine Goodman (USS Spectre - 10 Forward - ACMO Rain Anderson - 11.25) Rain watched the FO leave and make her way to the exit doors. Usually she was very sure of her feelings and thoughts but she had no idea how to feel about what they had just talked about. She couldn't decide whether to feel better or worse. She took a last swig of her fruit juice and was about to rise when she saw Dr Cambridge approaching. "Good evening young lady...I don't think the look on your face is related to that ship out there..." he whispered to her. She smiled back at him. "If you are going to work all night, doctor, you need to check the chronometer once in a while. Good morning to you." She said, feeling genuine warmth for the older man who was her chief. How are you feeling?" (Reply Cambridge, any) (Posted by Wendy Keen) (USS Spectre: Science Lab 1, Workshop - TAC/SC/2O Pierce Orde - 11.30) =/\=Major Drizzt to the Chief of Security, when are you free?=/\= Pierce tapped a comm panel. "I'm actually rather free right now. Come down to Sci Lab 1," he replied. (Reply Drizzt) While he waited for the marine to come down, Pierce reviewed the personnel files on Drizzt. ~Hmm,~ he thought. ~Heads up a CE detatchment. Now that is what I call fun.~ (Reply Drizzt, any) (Posted by Lenox)