Riding Herd Chapter Two

Ready Room

Tom was sitting behind his desk, but his mind was a million miles away. There wasn't much going on, to speak of, instead he was partially slouching in his hair while his chest heaved up and down under the power of his breath. Half-lidded eyes and a cup of coffee clutched in his right hand did nothing to dispel the image of a statue in the chair. Even when the chime to his office sounded, he didn't make a move.

Chris stood outside the door cup of coffee in hand, leaning on the doorframe waiting for Tom to open it. After several moments he balled his fist and pounded on the door. “Come on Tommy Boy, up and at’em.”

Tom jerked upright in his chair at the repeated pounding on his door. "Come in!!"

“About time sweetheart.” Chris snapped as he strode into the ready room. “I’m not interrupting your yoga am I?” Chris asked sarcastically.

"So what is your deal today?" Tom groaned out while rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Has the ship blown up yet?"

“No,” Chris let out a sigh setting a PADD on the desk. “But don’t worry, if it does, I’ll just take care of that too.”

"Well," Tom began as he turned his eye toward Chris. "It doesn't that you can handle that much since I'm having to sit in on this meeting with Ensign Hann."

Chris dropped himself into the chair next to the desk, “Really? I’ve taken care of the staff meeting for the past four days, I’ll signing off on the work orders for engineering and shit - I even had to take an Admiralty call yesterday. But sure, you're having to talk to Ensign Hann. He is only a former commanding officer that just got busted down to ensign. I figured that might at least be a blip on your sensors. Tell you what Don Draper, you want me to reschedule and let you get back to taking a nap or staring into space or writing haiku or whatever the hell is it you do in the office all day long?”

"Sure, I'll do that while you prowl the ship looking for your next lay. Tell me, have you exhausted all the females yet? Or are you still working through the enlisted ranks?"

Chris felt a flush of anger, then caught himself, Why the hell are we bitching at each other like a married couple? “No, captain. You will note in the report I handed you yesterday that I intended to sleep with the female crew in alphabetical order - based on cup size.” He gave his friend a smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.

To smirked to himself. "You're a good man, Vaughn...and thorough.". It was then that his commbadge chirped, followed by the voice of PO Kallindra.

=/\=Sir, Ensign Hann is here to meet with you.=/\=

"Send him in." And as he closed the channel, Tom and Chris stood, simultaneously.

The doors to the office opened. Jack stepped through, and came to a stop just beyond the threshold. The captain he had been expecting. Vaughn was another matter entirely. Taking another step in, Jack came to attention. “Ensign Jonathon Hann, reporting for duty, sirs.” He said, in a crisp and clear tone. Granted, he may have once been Tom’s equal in rank, but now he was merely an Ensign, and this was the other man’s ship.

"Stand easy, Ensign," Tom said. He didn't know the circumstances of Hann's arrival on the Atlas, but he figured they were not good. "Have you been able to find everything you need?"

Relaxing his stance, Hann’s gaze ticked to the First Officer for a half-second before returning to Tom. “Yes, sir.” He answered, not sure how formal the captain wanted, and decided to play things safe. “I’ve found my quarters fine, and am ready to begin work.”

“Good to hear it.” Chris said taking a seat after Tom sat down. “Your jacket indicated you were moving into Operations. Your Department Head will be Lt. Cmdr. Johanna Mari. We’ve decided to make you the Supply & Logistic Division Officer. Supply & Logistics has been having some issues adjusting to the needs of the ship now that it’s fully crewed and stocked. I trust you’ll be able to whip them into shape?

Taking a moment before answering, Jack knew that paperwork wasn’t exactly his forte - it was one of the things he hated about sitting in the centre seat. However, it was what they had picked for him, and an order was an order, and had to be obeyed. “I’m sure I can get things running like a well-maintained warp core.” He replied with a nod.

Chris noted the pause, “Managing the logistics for a crew of a thousand people proved too much for that division’s predecessor. But we figure with your former command experience it shouldn’t be an issue for you. I’m sure Cmdr. Mari will fill you in on the specifics but I do random departmental inspections once a week.” Chris looked over to Tom then back to Hann, “Any questions for me or the captain? Thoughts, ideas, bitches, gripes or complaints?”

“Nothing comes to mind, Sir.” Jack said. “And I’ll be sure to have the department ready for such inspections.” Without having seen it, he wasn’t totally sure about the assurance he gave, but he went it prudent to at least make the effort of saying it.

"Is this going to be a problem Mr. Hann?" Tom shifted in his seat. It was an issue he knew he was going to have to bring up. "Taking orders can be difficult after you had the privilege of giving them."

And so they were at the topic. Jack took a breath, licked his lips, and sighed softly. “Will it be an adjustment? Of course. How could it not be.” He said, and carried on, trying to place his thoughts before they actually became words. “It will take some time for me to get fully settled with my new situation, but I am not planning on disregarding, or causing hassle for anyone in the chain of command.” He needed to make this work. It was - effectvely - his last chance to make a life for himself in Starfleet.

“I believe I can say I understand what you said, but that is not the answer to the question I asked.” Tom slowly stood from his chair, and as he got closer to the overhead lighting, the dark spots under his eyes began to stand out. As he moved around the desk, he looked heavy on his feet, but his voice was steady. “I asked if this situation was going to be a problem. We served on the same ship, and you took my position after my promotion here. Then, you were the CO, but things have changed. I don’t need you to have the department ready for inspection. You are not the department head. That is Lieutenant Mari’s responsibility. Your responsibility is to respond to her orders. That’s what I meant.”

Taking a moment, Jack nodded once. “Aye, sir. My apologies for the misunderstanding. I have no issues with following orders, either from you, Commander Vaughn, or Lieutenant Mari.”

"That's what I needed to hear," Tom replied. "Do you have anything more, Commander?"

Chris let out a long exhale before giving Tom a ‘thumbs-up,’ “Nope. Think I’ve had all the fun I can handle for the day.”

Tom looked back over toward Ensign Hann. “You’re dismissed, Mr. Hann. If you have any issues, or concerns, please see your department head.”

A JP with Jonathan Hann and Chris Vaughn
 * 09-07-2012, 01:52 AM

Kate Black '''U.S.S. Atlas '''

'''Deck 8 '''

Security Office

Ana had been awoken by her comm. beeping. She said a silent prayer to ever the caller was, for saving her from yet another dream that was beginning to degenerate into a nightmare.

The caller turned out to be Kate Banninga asking her to meet her at the Security Office, so her she was waiting. She’d showered, done her hair, but it evident that her continued sleepless nights were taking a physical toll on her.

Kate looked up from her PADDs to see Cadet Chernova waiting. She had already talked to the other three teamleaders, but this one was a bit special. "Cadet, take a seat" and she pointed to the chair on the other side of the table.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Ana said sitting in the offered chair. “May I ask what this is about?” She asked pretty sure she hadn’t broken any regs lately.

Kate smiled. “Straight to the point, what I like” she took another sip from her almost cold coffee. “Ok, Why I asked you to come is the following. I’ve been selecting people for the Rapid Response Teams, and I want to ask you to lead the delta team.”

“I’m honoured, of course, ma’am. But I’m not sure I’ve earned it, I’ve only been here a short time after all.”

“After looking at your service record I believe you're more than qualified for the job. But because you’re still a cadet, you’ll be under my supervision until you’ve graduated.” Kate took another sip from her coffee. She’d been thinking of this construction for a while. Originally cadets didn’t have a specific task or division, so that they would be trained in all aspects of security. But it would be a shame not having Ana as one of the team leaders. “Are you ok with this?”

Ana thought for a moment before she said. “Since you put it that way, How can I say no?” Then she smiled and asked. “Can I have a coffee, now?”

Kate stood up to get two coffee from the replicator and put one of the mugs in front of Anahera. “Look, I’m in a difficult situation. I really want you as a teamleader, but you can’t because you’re not an ensign jet.” Kate took another sip of her coffee. “What do I need to do to convince you to accept this offer?”

“Well, we’ll just have to get the Captain to promote me. Problem solved.” She half joked, then sipped her coffee.

“You know as well as I do that asking for a promotion is only going to diminish your chances of getting promoted.” Kate said.

“I know it was a joke.” She said with a half-smile. “Okay, Ma’am. Sign me up and we can make it official when I earn my pip.”

‘Great” Kate smiled and grabbed two PADDs and handed them to Anahera. “Here is some information on what is expected of your team. You have a free hand in how you want to train your team, but there will be unannounced test on a regular basis, to test the readiness of the team. Any Questions?”

“Sounds good, I’ll put off asking any questions until I’m studied these more thoroughly. “She said indicating the PADDs. “I just hope I can be worthy of the faith you have in me. Thank you, Ma’am.”

“Just don’t get in trouble, because then I have a problem.” Kate said with a smile.

“Understood.” Ana said returning her smile. She hoped that she didn’t do anything to mess up this opportunity she’d been given.

A JP with 

http://www.startrekmegiddo.com/forum...ine=1346972944

and me as

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...r%2520Kate.jpg
 * 09-13-2012, 10:38 PM

Tom O'Flagherty '''Kodana '''

'''City of Holon '''

Offices of the Capital

Councilmember Gayth was sitting behind his desk, facing the viewscreen in the wall behind, but his posture was completely slack and his eyes extremely heavy. It had taken hours for his aides to setup the covert link to Earth. Even harder considering it was the second communication of the week, and that wasn’t supposed to happen. However, things weren’t supposed be this bad. Gayth was desperate, and Commander Hollingsworth was the only option he had left.

When the human’s face appeared on the screen, he didn’t even wait for the customary greetings or angry vitriol that was sure to come from the man’s mouth. “Commander, things here are too desperate or the Sar’goth to come. Tolain will use the weapons, and I know it. He has completely lost his mind, and you have to do something about it.”

The human worked hard to control his emotions, though Gayth was unable to really interpret the strange looking being’s facial expressions anyway. Commander Hollingsworth took a slow breath before speaking, “I’m afraid you do not grasp the situation. The Federation is not in the habit of overthrowing the legally appointed leaders of non-member worlds. It would seem that you, as a people, are responsible for the choices of your leader..”

“Grodenschvalt!” the councilman interjected angrily. Fortunately, the word didn’t translate for Hollingsworth. “Your government propped him up, and it your technology that he is relying on to support him. What about your intervention? Where is your mighty fleet to protect your interests?”

For a seemingly long moment, there was silence over the comm that felt like a heavy weight. Hollingsworth seemed to be trying to form a response while Gayth knew he had the Starfleeter. The political ramifications of what could happen at Kodana could be as important as the fallout of the Xul war. If the Federation failed to aid the Kodana people, Gayth knew that uncovering the complicity of the UFP in Tolain’s aggressive nature. It was also a statement that this unaligned world was not going to cower before a great power if its leaders chose to neglect their interests.

When Hollingsworth responded, it sounded like his voice was very far away. “We are doing everything we can Councilmember Gayth. Unfortunately, your location is rather remote in comparison to our fleet. We will do all that we can, but you need to do something to save your people as well.” Hollingsworth’s words began to grow. Gayth was caught up in the rousing direction of the human’s new call.

“You need to begin to stand up against your leader, and you need to rouse the people behind you.”

'''Kodana System '''

Kuiper Belt

“Sir, we have just come out of warp.” Lt. P’Rim said while his hands continued to move across the console.

“Status of the Sar’goth fleet?” Tom asked quickly.

“Holding formation and decelerating with us.”

“Good. Establish us in an orbit as soon as possible, Lieutenant.” Tom swiveled in his chair to face toward the engineering stations on the starboard side of the bridge. “Lieutenant Cressida, have your people corrected the drain on the Structural Integrity Field?”

The blonde office turned quickly to face Tom, some of her locks continued to roll as her chair came to a stop. “Aye, sir. Currently, the SIF is at optimal level. Commander Rahner is making it a personal goal to make sure that never happens again.”

“Just make sure he doesn’t have another heart attack before he finishes,” Tom quipped as he turned back toward the forward screen. “Lt. Mari, please open a channel to both the Sar’goth lead ship and the Kodana capital.”

A few seconds later, a split screen opened with the Sar’goth commander on the left, and for a second, Tom thought he was looking at the devil on the right. He had to restrain himself from teh natural inclination to recoil at the site in front of him. It was an awkward moment before the satanic figure spoke. “I am Kotan, first adjutant to the High Councillor.”

“I am Captain Thomas D. O’Flagherty of the Federation Starship Atlas. This is Commander Baltain of the Sar’goth Cartel. We will be arriving at your planet in just a few hours, and wish to begin discussing the timetable for our meeting.” Tom had carefully crafted how he would keep the hot-tempered Sar’goth from interjecting, and to his surprise, it had worked.

“The Ruling Council of Kodana is awaiting your arrival. Our orbital control will give you orbit headings and coordinates for immediate use of your transporter. We will be able to begin the discussion as soon as you arrive.” Kotan was straightforward enough for Tom’s liking, even if his natural appearance had unnerved him.

“I look forward to our...discussion,” Baltain said before immediately closing the channel. The Kodana representative immediately followed suit and the viewscreen was again filled with the growing system ahead of them.

“Wow, talkative bunch you have their, Captain. I’m sure glad I don’t wear a red shirt.” Eduardo Solari, the chief science officer, dropped his statement in perfect time to get a snicker from more than a few of the Bridge crew, but Tom had missed it.

“P’Rim, begin the prodedures for orbit. and someone get L-l-l...Lieutenant Lebowski ready for our transport.” Everyone looked at Tom, and for a moment, he wanted to exit directly to his Ready Room. It had been almost two years since he had uttered a stutter in public. His heart was racing and adrenaline coursed through his body as he tried to control himself. ''Focus on your training. You’ve worked through this before.''
 * 09-15-2012, 10:18 PM

Draka Eventually the ‘Party Patrol’ broke up and went their separate ways. Ana was too jazzed to sleep so she decided to do something relaxing on the holodeck. After some thought she decided on a nice swim in warm crystal-clear water and was perusing the program index for the ideal program when she saw Draka come around the corner.

Waving him over she said. “Hi Handsome, if you’re here to use the holodeck, I’m afraid I got the last one.”

Draka made his way down the corridor as Ana waved him over, he grunted at her words,”Oh, I see.. I was hoping to get in a bit of a workout before turning in for the night. I even brought my PADD to upload some of my training programs.”

Ana smiled. “Well, if you don’t mind the company, you can join me. I was going to have a swim, but a workout would probably do me more good.”

“My training sessions can get pretty intense. Do you fancy the idea of unarmed combat against three or four opponents at the same time? That’s typically what I do. See how many I can go through before the program determines I wouldn’t be able to continue in a real situation.”, he says in response, offering her a smile.

“Sounds like fun.” She said. “So how do you want to play this? Do we fight three or four each, or do you program six or eight and we each take half?”

“Well, to be honest I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you right off the bat. Let me upload my programs and I’ll adjust a few things. We’ll run a program pitting us each against one opponent until we each down our foe a few times in a row, then the computer will analyze things and start adding more and more opponents in. Basically it’ll eventually be you and me against a small mob of combatants. Sound good to you?”

“Yeah, it will give me a chance to view your fighting style and rhythm.” She said as sized him up. He certainly looked like he could handle himself in a fight and although she was was unfamiliar with his species, he had the look of a warrior about him. “So do we know what type of opponent we’ll be fighting before we start, or is it totally random?”

“Typically I have it set to generate opponents of all species known by the Federation whose physical attributes are documented or there’s a fair approximation of. Barring the Borg, of course. That just wouldn’t be right. The computer randomly generates the appropriate number of opponents of the random species. We could set it to be specific ones however, if you’d prefer.”, he said, linking his PADD to the holodecks wall panel to begin loading his programs into the computer.

“No. Random’s best, it helps you to think on your feet.” She smiled again. “I think Breen are going to be the biggest challenge.”

“Yeah.. they can be tough but not insurmountable. What’s fun is the time it popped four Klingons on me at the same time. That got hectic. Alright.. the computer has my programs... and... reprogrammed. We’re good to go once we get inside.”, he said, powering down the PADD, keying the door to open, gesturing for her to enter first.

“Oh, what a gentleman.” The Security cadet said as she entered the holodeck. Looking around she waited for Draka to follow.

Draka made his way inside, undoing and removing the top of his uniform, laying it near the doorway. “Alright, get ready. I’ll start the program in a few moments.”, he says, rolling his shoulders to loosen them up before speaking again. “Computer, begin program.”, he said, shifting to a ready stance as the holodecks interior changed to appear as a set of ancient ruins with various elevations and side chambers. Two figures stepped out one of the side rooms, a pair of Cardassian soldiers, who advanced towards Draka and Ana with ill intent in their eyes.

As the program started Ana did a quick visual scan of her surroundings. Then the two Cardassians entered the area and she felt anger rise within her. She took a deep breath, checked her stance and channeled the anger into something more useful as her fight instructors taught her to do so many years ago. Turing to Draka, she used hand signals to say she’d take the one on the left.

Draka nodded, approaching the one on the right, eyes flicking over the Cardassian, watching his every move. The Cardassian threw a right jab which Draka batted aside with his left hand, following up with a fast, vicious uppercut to the jaw. As the Cardassian staggered back Draka waded in, exchanging a furious volley of rights and lefts with the Cardassian. Within moments Draka saw his opening, shifting aside as the Cardassian threw a powerful haymaker. While he was unbalanced Draka grabbed his arm and pivoted, sending the Cardassian facefirst into a stone pillar slightly behind himself. The unconscious Cardassian slumped to the ground as Draka quickly shifted to see how Ana was doing.

The Cardassian looked at Ana and smiled evilly as he approached.

Ana decided to wipe that smile from his face. She ducked under his arm as he swung at her. Coming in close, the Cadet sent a hard elbow into his stomach, forcing the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, Ana swept his legs out from under him, causing him to land on the stone floor. She then jumped on his chest and began to punch him repeatedly in the face. Screaming out in triumph as she increased the speed of her assault.

Not content to allow the cadet to spend excess time pummeling the Cardassian, the computer generated a new pair of opponents. One Klingon and one Romulan appeared, advancing for the pair. “Heads up Ana... got two live ones here. Ridgehead is mine.”, Draka said, rolling his left shoulder, advancing towards the Klingon.

Jumping up from the non-responsive Cardassian, Ana took a brief look at her bloodied hands then moved to face her new opponent.

When they were only a few metres apart, Ana planted her feet and adopted a defensive stance.

Coming within reach, the Romulan swung his fist at her. It impacted with her right wrist and she heard the satisfying crunch as he broke the bones of his hand on the plastisteel of her restructured wrist.

The pain on his face was evident, but he was trying to suppress it.

Focusing on the Klingon Draka approaches the warrior, stance loose and ready. The Klingon roared and charged him, to which Draka rapidly shifted to the side and drove a short, hard punch into the Klingon’s ribs. The Klingon grunted and lashed out with a backhand, catching Draka across the left cheekbone. He used the energy of the blow to twist himself around, snapping a kick out into the Klingons middle, dubling him over slightly. Rather then press the advantage Draka slipped back, rubbing the side of his face, smirking slightly, Without a word Draka waded in, firing off a rapid flurry of blows at the Klingon. For every strike he blocked, two of Draka’s attacks slipped through. Punches struck the Klingon’s face, chest and belly, herding the warrior back further, towards some rubble.

“You, will pay for this.” The Romulan screamed. “I will send you to your Gods.”

Ana looked at her opponent and said. “You first.” Closing the distance, she deflected a blow from his uninjured fist. Then punched him in the nose so hard, that it shattered and piece of bone was driven into his brain.

He stood there for a few moments, a look of utter surprise frozen on his face, before he crumpled to the stone floor like a discarded coat.

Take off her jacket and tossing it aside, Ana asked. “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?”

“Oh, it’s definitely you that’s hot, Ana.”, Draka said as he shifted, trapping the Klingon’s arm between his left arm and his side. He snapped a headbutt into the warrior’s face, breaking his nose, then drove his right fist into his throat. The Klingon attempted to recoil backwards gurgling from his damaged throat, but Draka held him close by the arm, moving to trip the Klingon. When the warrior hit his back Draka stepped over quickly and drove his foot down onto his neck, snapping his spine with a dry sounding -crack-. “But then again... that’s just my opinion.”, Draka said, looking over at Ana, winking, as four figures appeared, stepping through a hole in the ruins wall. “Once more into the breech, Ana.”, Draka quipped, before lunging towards the four humans.

“Lead on, Mac...Draka.” Ana replied and followed him into the fray.

<<<>>>
 * 09-30-2012, 01:35 PM

Tom O'Flagherty Transporter Room

Tom walked through the doors to find Lt. Lebowsky standing there with a gaggle of security guards all armed with Mk. 23 phasers. He was giving them their final instructions when the door closed and Tom interrupted him. “I...don’t think this is necessary, Lieutenant.”

Lebowski turned to face the CO without preamble. “Sir, according to regulations, whenever the commanding officer leaves the ship on a mission, they are to be escorted by a full security detail.”

“True,” Tom responded coolly. “Accept in this situation...this is a peace summit. Taking a full security detail would only exasperate the situation. To suit both of our perspectives, how about you come with me alone.”

“Sir, I do not feel comfortable allowing you to go to the surface without adequate protection.” There was steel in Lebowski’s eyes that highlighted his position.

“Fine,...then I order you to send the rest of the security team back to their stations.” Tom matched his security chiefs resolve. “I will not have a show of force at a meeting of peace.”

“Then, I lodge a formal protest.”

“Noted, now get on the transporter.” Tom stepped through the crowd of security officers, none of whom seemed all that pleased.

As Lebowski settled into position on his right, he looked over at the CO. “Are you even going to carry a sidearm, sir?”

“Do you think I need one? That’s what you’re for.” Before the lieutenant could respond, Tom turned back to the transporter operator who was waiting at full attention. “Energize.”

'''Kodana '''

'''Great Hall of State '''

Atrium

As the pair of Starfleet officers materialized in the open atrium room, Tom immediately noticed that the room was prepared for their arrival. There were two pairs of armed guards who stood against the walls, each looking intently at them, but none making threatening postures. The high vaulted ceiling looked ancient, and there were signs of renovation that showed the building to have been standing for what could have been a millennia or more. As he turned about to see the entire room, Tom noticed the difference in gravity, which was probably seventy-five percent of Earth normal.

When one of the tall doors opened, and a figure in long, flowing, ornate robes came shuffling out quickly. He walked directly up to Tom and stopped less than a meter away, a wide smile on his face. “Greetings, Captain. I am Minister Gayth. Welcome to Kodana. Please follow me as we are about to begin.”

As they walked toward the door, Tom turned to Lebowski and added under his breath. “I didn’t think we were late.”

“The Sar’goth must have been in a hurry,” the Security Chief responded.

The Council Chamber was even more impressive than the atrium. Inside, the room was shaped like a giant egg. The bottom bowl was made of rows of seats in a circle around an open floor with a rectangular table. The entire building was stone that ascended up to a row of arched windows that let in light. Of course, now the room was supplemented with artificial light, but the room still felt like a cold place. Along the rows, councilmen occupied different desks, their shades of red skin standing out against the blue-gray of the stone. At the top row, facing the table on the floor was special alcove that was bigger, and more elaborate than any of the others. However, it was conspicuously empty.

Already seated at the table was General Valtaun and Commander Baltain, neither looking very peaceful. Tom and Lebowski moved to their seats which caused the two Sar’goth to rise. “Captain, it looks like we will be having that meeting of peace. Many of the ministers have expressed their desire to resolve this issue with expedience. I have hope that your plan will succeed.”

Valtaun’s words were encouraging to Tom, which caused him to smile. “I believe...General, that we can get this entire misunderstanding cleared up without firing a shot. Maybe, this will be...the dawning of new relations for the Kodana and their interstellar...neighbors.”

The General stared at Tom for a bit, but he kept the smile plastered to his face. ''Keep it together, Tommy-boy. Remember your work and all the hours of rehabilitation. He doesn’t know you well enough to understand what is happening.'' Without another word, everyone sat, and waited.

There was a general rumble that controlled the room as the different councilmembers talked to one another. Tom could see the one who had met them, Gayth, standing with a collection of other Kodana. It took an observation by Lebowski for him to notice that there was a small amount of tension in the air. “I wonder if there is something going on that we don’t know about.”

Lebowski had the paranoid, “I’m watching for everything that could possibly happen-” look that Tom remembered from his days as a Security officer. “Sir, I believe we should be ready to get out of here at a moment’s notice.”

“Good idea,” Tom said as he turned away from the rows of councilmembers and tapped his commbadge. =/\=O’Flagherty to transporter room.=/\=

=/\=Transporter room, Chief Hoffman here.=/\=

=/\=Hoffman, I would like you to keep a continuous lock on Lieutenant Lebowski and myself. If I contact you again, it’s time to beam us out.=/\=

=/\=Sir, I seem to be having trouble getting a lock on you through the material that was used to construct the building. Your comm signal seems to penetrate jsut fine, but my targetting scanners are being refracted.=/\=

=/\=Very, well. Just make sure you keep an eye on us and pull us out if there is any trouble. O’Flaghtery, out.=/\=

Tom turned back to Lebowski and they exchanged looks of surrender. “I guess we just have to make sure we can get out of here on our own.”

“Great,” Lebowski replied with a great amount of sarcasm.

As Tom was about to reassure the man, a voice rose up above the roar of the crowd. “Hear all,...the First Councilor of the Kodana, Tolain of Zan.”

The room went quiet as everyone turned to face the large empty seat that was set apart from the others. Two doors set into the wall behind the alcove opened and a pair of Kodana emerged and ushered in another, taller male who wore deep blue colored robes. They bowed and averted their eyes from the First Minister as he walked to the railing with his eyes and hands aloft. He stopped their and announced in a loud voice, “Greetings Honored Council”

“Greetings, First Minister,” was the unison reply. Once it died in the hall, Tolain sat, which was the signal for everyone to take their seats.

“We welcome the representatives of the Sar’goth Cartel, and the United Federation of Planets.” The herald, who Tom had read would be the one to introduce each order of business, began the meeting which required that there be declarations and planned statements. Tom just hoped that Valtaun and his XO were willing to follow the traditions.

Tom stood when the herald introduced him and began to place his part. “First Councilor and gathering of Kodana, I am Captain Thomas David O’Flagherty from the United Federation of Planets. I have traveled great distances in the hope of peace. I take my place in your hall today as a voice for my people.”

The herald then introduced Valtaun who rose purposefully from his chair. Tom’s stomach twisted into knots as he thought of all the ways the Sar’goth commander could insult the members of the high council. To his credit, however, Valtaun gave the exact introduction that was prescripted by traditions of Kodana. Tom was amazed, and the look of shock must have been clear enough to elicit a smile from Valtaun.

Next, it was First Councilor Tolain’s turn to speak. He stood at the railing of his alcove and took a long moment to survey the room. Tom remembered that his speech wasn’t supposed to take any scripted form, and so he was anxious to hear what the Kodana leader had to say. “We, the people of Kodana, have heard the formal statements delivered by your governments and those given by you today. This government has laid sovereign claim to the planet Rodan, and you have lodged formal protest. As there is no protest from our own people we must begin the debate of your proposals...”

Another minister stood from an alcove on the same level as Tolain. Tom immediately recognized him as Gayth the one who had met them in the atrium. “The people of the Hilaani party wish to offer another proposal. We call for a vote to remove all claim to the planet known as Rodan and end these discussions immediately.”

Tolain looked taken aback. He glared at the other minister while trying to keep his face calm. He spoke directly to his opposition. “This is an unforeseen development. Your party has already desecrated this hall by involving these other governments, which I have allowed as a show of fair-play, and now you wish to interrupt these proceedings with pointless proposals that you know you have no hope of passing?”

Tom began to feel the tension rise. There had been little information about the political situation on Kodana, other than the First Minister and his party having almost complete unilateral control of the government. It looked as if things were beginning to unravel, and so he stood to interject into the proceedings. “As a matter of consideration, I offer that we suspend these proceedings...until your internal affairs are corrected. We can remain until you are ready to...restart these proceedings.”

“That will not be necessary,” replied Tolain loudly. His anger was beginning to flare visibly, now. “The vote will not be taken, and you can leave knowing the outcome now. Kodana will not surrender our claim to Rodan.” The tall Kodana with the weathered face that Tom could see was set like the stones of the council hall. “Take that to your Federation.”

“This is ridiculous.” The Sar’goth were standing, heads back with a clear look of anger and defiance. “We will handle this now.”

Before either of them could make a threat of violence, Tolain nodded to a guard to jerked an energy weapon from his holster and vaporized the two. Lebowski was ready to pounce, his hand on his holster when he bolted from the chair, but Tom raised a hand to stop him. Another guard already had a bead on them both. “Stand down, Lieutenant. We are outnumbered and outgunned.”

“Take their communications devices,” Tolain ordered to the guards before addressing the council. “We are adjourned. Take them to a holding facility.” As he turned to leave, a roar rose up from the gathered council. Many of them were trying to leave the hall as quickly as possible, some fighting to get through the doors.

Tom and Jackson Lebowski stood and watched the commotion as two guards stepped forward. They took Lebowski’s phaser and both of their commbadges before holstering their own weapons and gesturing towards the door to the atrium. “Looks like this was never meant to be a...peaceful negotiation,” Tom said.
 * 10-02-2012, 11:30 PM

Christopher Vaughn ''':::XO’s Office::: '''



Chris sat at his desk drinking what he imagined to be his eightieth cup of coffee, checking his watch at least once a minute to see if it was time for Tom to be back. Not quite, he thought, but a minute closer. Between the extra duty a ship of over a thousand demanded and Tom’s recent reclusiveness he found himself growing more and more irritable. His incompetent yeoman did little to improve his mood. Tom had decided to play cowboy and go down without a security detail. Chris would have likely done the same thing, But I’m not the captain. It was a a fine line distinction. But still, he felt compelled to make it.

=/\= Bridge to XO. =/\=

Chris thumbed the comms panel on his desk in annoyance. “Yes.”

=/\= Sir, I’m sorry to disturb you but we are receiving a…disturbing transmission from the planet...=/\=

“Disturbing how?” Chris asked. Before the bridge officer could respond Chris let out a deep sigh, “Just pipe it up here.”

=/\= Aye sir. =/\=

[[ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION - To all foreign vessels in orbit around Kodana you are ordered to heave-to and leave system at once. All travel passes have been revoked and failure to depart will result in stern measures. ]

“Hmmm.” Chris let out a slight whistle. “I’m guessing negotiations didn’t go well. Is the captain on his way back?”

=/\= Negative sir. He called for a transporter lock a few moments before the automated message started. He couldn’t get one due to the metals in the building they were in. We know his comlink has been disabled at the source. =/\=

“What!” He felt his fist slam into his desk. “Jesus Christ, sound red alert for combat conditions and get someone who is in charge from Kodana on the comms at once.”

=/\= Aye aye sir. =/\=

Chris grabbed his uniform jacket and zipped it as he bolted from his corridors to the turbo lift. “Bridge.” He ordered, and it was off. Over the ships intercom he could hear the red alert sirens sounding,

=/\= Red Alert, all hands to battlestations. This is not a drill – repeat this is not a drill! =/\=

Within minutes Chris was stepping into the bridge of the Atlas. Its lights were dimmed slightly, tinted with red. There was a nervous air about the crew as he took the center seat and swiveled toward the viewer. As the communications officer opened a channel Chris glanced down at the side displays looking to see how many ‘enemy’ ships were near. Thankfully not many. It seemed most of their bigger cruisers were still coming in from the edge of the system. Still…they had Tom.

“Sir, I have Mr. Fervous from planetary control…” Lt. Ern said.

Chris nodded and the screen came to life with the image of a low level functionary. Chris gave the man a stern look, “Greetings idiots.”

“Excuse yourself sir.” Fervous said, his expression taken aback. “I take offense.”

“Not more than I.” Chris replied levelly. “This was supposed to be a peace negotiation and now I am a captain short with orders to leave system. Unless this is some sort of joke and I get my crewmen back things in this system are about to get very nasty.”

“I can assure you this is no joke Commander.” Fervous replied. “You are ordered…”

“FUCKING ORDERED?!” Chris screamed lunging out of the captain’s chair with such volume the bridge crew jumped. “You errant KNAVE – you FOOL! Does this look like a Kadona uniform I am wearing?!” Fervous looked pale as Chris continued shouting. “You get me someone in charge down there or I swear I’m going to start witling you planets population down to a more agreeable number!”

“Please hold sir…I’ll get the viceroy.” Fervous said nervously.

“You do that.” Chris spat as he eased himself back into the command chair.

The wait was blessedly short before a more stern looking man appeared on the screen. “I am Viceroy Jurth…”

“Where the hell is my captain and security chief?” he wasted no time with preamble. He could feel the blood boiling up to his face; his fists clinched the arms of the chair like talons.

The Viceroy’s expression was unchanged at the interruption from Chris. “Your crewmates are being held due to their interference in local affairs. They aren’t going to be released. Your ship is free to depart now.” His response was almost lazy.

Chris’s jaw stood ajar at the sheer gall of it. He rubbed his hands to his temple, his head throbbed from the lack of sleep as his body seemed now only fueled by coffee and adrenalin. “How misfortunate you are Viceroy to have two Starfleet officers as your hostages.”

“Excuse me?” the Viceroy replied in annoyance.

“You can either release them, unharmed or face the consequences.” Chris met the Viceroys gaze. “I say again – unharmed. I don’t buy damaged goods. You have thirty minutes for them to be returned in as good a shape as you found them or else I will begin to restructure the land masses on your backwater little planet.”

The viceroy let out something like a chuckle or a snort. Either way Chris didn’t like the sound. “You don’t seem to understand I have your captain and security chief. Do you not understand if you do anything other then leave this system I will kill them?”

Chris’s anger churned within him life a maelstrom as he exploded out of his chair with such force and loudness even the Viceroy took an unintentional step backward. “AND DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND I CAN DRAG YOUR PEOPLE BACK DOWN TO THE STONE AGE AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN KILL MY MEN?!”

Chris thrust his finger at the Viceroy, “I vow that any pain our missing crew received from your treachery will be nothing – NOTHING – compared to the savage hellfire your people will feel at the hands of this starship!”

Chris slammed his finger down into the control panel to close the channel with such force the screen cracked. As the view screen went blank he turned toward the operations officer, “Start the clock – thirty minutes. Tactical – go to active sensors and begin getting firing solutions for all major population centers on the planet and any passing Kadona traffic.”

'''Chris Vaughn – with no copilot. '''
 * 10-11-2012, 05:18 PM

Anahera Chernova '''U.S.S. Atlas '''

'''Deck 5 '''

Later

“I must commend you, Draka, that was some workout, we’ll have to do again sometime. Anyway, I’m going to have a shower and then grab a bite to eat, care to join me?” Ana said as they exited the holodeck.

Draka perked a brow slightly to Ana’s words, then grinned impishly,”Join you for the food... or the shower?”, he said winking to her. “Either or both work out just fine for me, Ana.”

Ana winked back. “I’m game, if you are? It’s been awhile since I’ve had a strong, handsome man wash my back.”

Draka chuckled softly,”I’m definitely game. I can be quite the gentleman when it’s required.”, he said, gesturing her to head down the passage. “I do have a duty shift in a couple hours, Ana. Just to give you fair warning.”

“We’ll just have to make it a very quick meal then.” She said licking her bottom lip suggestively.

“Oh, I see... a long shower and a short meal? I can get behind that plan. Let’s just stop by my quarters so I can get my spare uniform and such, to save time.”

“Sure. We wouldn’t want you to have to leave before you’re fully... clean.” She said. She was enjoying his company and planned to continue enjoy it for the next couple of hours.

Draka grinned lightly to her and nodded, heading into the turbolift. Once Ana stepped in he stated the deck number, the ride mercifully short. He stepped off with her and led the way to his quarters, the door swooshing open to left them inside. Draka immediately went to collect a fresh change of clothes, his room sparsely furnished. A bed, a couple dressers and a desk with computer display.

Ana looked around the man’s quarters which were purely functional. “I see you’ve gone for the spartan look, is that a cultural thing or haven’t you had time to decorate, yet?” She said jovially.

“I only just transferred onto the ship. So no, haven’t had time to decorate yet. I’ll make the place my own, soon enough. Alright, I have what I need for after the shower... Shall we?”, Draka said, tucking the bundle of clothes and shoes under his arm.

“Indeed.” She said with a smile. “Follow me.”

It didn’t take them long to reach Ana’s quarters. Stepping inside first, she checked to see if Virginia was home. Finding the place empty she signalled for the Deleron to join her.

“You can put your clean clothes on the sofa.” She said as she began to undress. The last thing you could call Ana was shy, but right now she didn’t want an audience.

Draka nodded with a light grin,”Yes ma’am.”, he said, placing the bundle of clothes and shoes on the sofa before shifting his eyes back to her to take in the sight of the lovely woman undressing. “A shower, a meal and a floor show? Did I hit a jackpot?”

“Consider yourself lucky, not everyone gets the floor show.” She said with a smile as she discarded another item of clothing.

Draka chuckles and removed his overshirt, then the tanktop style shirt underneath, stretching out a bit as he watched her. “I feel like we’re lacking some sort of music.”

“Computer, access Earth music database, late 20th century, play track ‘Disco Inferno’.” The tones of the 1976 disco hit began to fill the room. “That better?” She asked as she unzipped her pants.

Draka quirked a brow and chuckled,”I think this will work. We don’t have music of this type back on my world. I’ll have to do some extra cultural research... find out what sort of Earth music I like. Enough of that... back to the undressing.”

“Glad you like it, I thought it appropriate.” She said as she shimmied out of her pants.

Draka grinned lightly again, advancing towards Ana,”Let’s move this into the bathroom, shall we?”, he said, moving to curl his arms around her, lifting her up around her pants as they pool about her feet, carrying her to the bathroom to step inside with her.

When Draka picked her up, she wasn’t sure she liked it. She was so used to being in control that she felt uncomfortable when she had to relinquish it. ’Just go with it.’ She told herself, trying to fight years of self conditioning.

Reaching the bathroom she asked him to put her down. Once back on the deck, she told him that she was in charge here and if he didn’t like it he could leave now.

Draka perked a brow slightly,”I didn’t think either of us were ‘in charge’... If I was too forward I apologize. We can take things at whatever pace you like Ana. I think it is safe to say we’re both here for a good, relaxing time, yes?”, he said, smiling warmly to her.

Ana’s demeanor changed in an instant and a wicked smile danced across her features. “Computer, activate shower.” She said. There was an electronic beep and the shower started running. Shedding the last of her clothing, she stepped under the stream. The jets of water felt wonderful on her naked body. “Hey, Handsome.” She said turning back to Draka. “Get in here and wash my back, and if you do a good job I might let you wash my front as well.”

“Yes Ma’am.”, he said, stripping off the last of his clothes, before stepping under the spray of water with her. He reached forward to starts stroking her back, spreading water over it, before adding a bit of body soap, lathering up and washing her back quite thoroughly.

“Mmmm.” Ana said as Draka began to wash her back. The sensation of his fingers on her wet skin was magical. “Mmmm, that feels so good. I’m definitely going to keep you on.” She joked between expressions of pleasure.

“Always glad to be of help. Have I earned the right to wash your front yet, or shall I keep going, Ana?”, he said, teasingly as he continues washing and rubbing her back.

Ana turned to face him a smile on her face, she opened her mouth to say something, but whatever it was was lost when the computer announced a Red Alert.

“Damn.” She said. “Just when things were getting fun. We’ll have to pick this up later.” Quickly washing the soap from her body, she kissed Draka goodbye and then ran to her room for a fresh uniform.

“Count on it.” Draka said, deactivating the shower and running for his own clothes in the living room.

As she dressed, she contemplated what the Red Alert could be about and the time she’d spent with Draka. At the moment it was just fun and that’s what she needed right now, this was no time to jump into anything serious.

'''Interdepartmental Relations. A JP featuring Anahera Chernova '''

'''and '''

Mr. Magic Hands, Draka Ren Colok 

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...s/Sigdraka.jpg
 * 10-11-2012, 10:08 PM

Anahera Chernova '''U.S.S. Atlas '''

Deck 7 - Away Mission Lockers

Ana had been contacted and asked to report for an emergency meeting. She arrived to find Lieutenant Banninga waiting for her. “Good day, Ma’am.What’s all this about?” She said as she finished fastening her uniform jacket, upset that her time with Draka had been cut, but also knowing that it wasn’t Kates’ fault.

Kate turned around. The other four members of the Delta team were already present. “We’ve lost contact with the Captain and Chief. They were on the planet for peace talks. Because we don’t know what is going on down there were going to do reconnaissance first.” Kate walked over to a screen to access information of the area. “The six of us will be transported to this point” She pointed a area about 800 metres from the capitol building in a wooded area. “From there we’ll be going through this part of the city to the last known location the combadges recorded. Questions?” Kate took a deep sigh, even though they had been practising missions like this many times. This was going to be the real thing.

“I know this is only recon. and the object is not to engage the locals, but push comes to shove, what kind of opposition should we expect?” Ana asked all business.

“The problem is we have no idea what we can expect from the locals. What is known of the Kodana people is that they are a less advanced, non violent people. But that doesn’t fit with the annexation of the planet Rodan. So I think we’d better prepare for the worst.” Kate said.

“So business as usual then?” She said as she looked at the other members of her team. They’d all trained together, but this would be their first real mission as a team. Their trial by fire, Ana just hoped none of them got burnt.

“Yes,” she turned to face Anahera. “Cadet, you’ll be leading the mission on the ground. It’s your team, so show me what you got.” Kate said with a smile, it probably was an unconventional move, but Kate believed the mission would benefit from it.

“Thank you, Ma’am.” Ana said to Kate. Then addressing everyone, she said. “Okay, Ladies and gentlemen, here’s the plan, when we hit the surface we’ll break into pairs, two pairs will enter the complex while the other pair will stay outside and function as cover and back up, understood?”

There was a chorus of assent.

Kate walked to the locker and switch her jacket for a tactical vest. “Lieutenant Takong will be our contact on the Atlas, he’ll update us with any info they receive and so on.” she said. During normal away missions where the teams were involved the Chief would be the contact between the team and the ship.

“Here are the assignments, Petty Officer Meru, you’re with Lieutenant Banninga, Crewman Brown, you’re with me. Chief Jahzan, Crewman Sarvon, you’re our back up. Okay everyone, gear up.”

"Sounds good to me." Kate said.

Ana smiled, she was glad to have Kate’s support. She was putting on her own tactical vest when Saarvon the Vulcan sniper approached her. “Ma’am.” He said and waited for her to respond.

“Yes, Crewman?” She asked.

“Will mission require me to bring my rifle?” He asked in that emotionless yet arrogant tone that was common amongst his people.

“Yes, we will have need of it and you, you’ll be covering our escape, but try to keep native casualties to a minimum.”

“Aye, Ma’am.” He said and went back to his gear.

'''Kodana '''

'''City of Holon '''

'''Wooded area near the Offices of the Capital '''

Later

Delta Team plus Lieutenant Banninga had apparently beamed in unnoticed as evidenced by the lack of any native soldiers approaching their position.

Ana sent a signal to Lieutenant Takong to let the Atlas know they had arrived safely. The Klingon wished them Qapla' and voiced his disappointment at not being able to join them.

Closing the channel, the former mercenary had her team break into their assigned pairs. Saarvon and Jahzan, then took up position on a small hill overlooking the Offices of the Capital.

Kate started walking in the right direction, with Luma right behind her, trying to find something that looked like a path. The trees cast shadows on the surroundings that moved by the slight wind, making it a creepy sight. “Do you pick up any lifesigns other than ours?” she asked Luma.

“No, ma’am. According to my tricorder the forest is abandoned.” the Petty Officer replied. “If we keep going in this direction we arrive at the south of the building, as planned.”

“Great,” Kate said as she stepped over another wood log.

Kate’s team and Ana team had split up. After clearing the trees, they would both approach the building from different directions, increasing their chances of getting inside. Although Ana liked a good explosion, she was hoping they would have to resort to the demotions skills of the aptly named ‘Bomber’.

All was clear so far. They hadn’t picked up any native guards as yet, but Ana knew from experience that their good luck wouldn’t last forever.

After walking for 30 minutes Kate stopped and held her hand up to signal Meru Luma to stop also. “Are those lights?” she asked in a whisper. In the far distance she could see the shimmering of lights.

“It looks like it.” she replied. “I think we’re getting close to the city” Luma looked at her tricorder. “Yes, it’s the city.”

Kate pressed the combadge on her vest. =^=“Banninga to Chernova, we are getting close to the edge of the forest.”=^=

For Ana and ‘Bomber’ their tramp through the forest had been uneventful for the most part. They had come across a native lifeform, but it turned out to be a docile herbivore, the equivalent of a terrain sheep.

=^=“Acknowledged, Banninga, we’ll be reaching our destination in the next 5 minutes. Stay alert.”=^=

“It’s quiet here.” Bomber said. “A little too quiet.” Just as he finished those words, Ana pushed him to the ground and an energy bolt impacted with a tree, behind where his head had been only seconds before.

“You had to say it didn’t you? Bloody humans, they’ll be the death of me one day.” Ana said still laying on top of the demolitions expert. Not waiting for him to reply, and keeping her head down as their assailant continued to fire at them, she tapped her combadge. =^=“Chernova to Saarvon, we’re pinned down by an unfriendly, could take care of him? I’m authorising lethal force.”=^=

=^=“Aye, aye, sir.”=^= The vulcan replied.

Then there was an almost inaudible sound like a whistle and the shooting stopped.

Ana carefully climbed off of the Crewman and then helped him to his feet. “Not a word.” She warned, then tapped her combadge again. =^=“Chernova to Banninga, we’ve been engaged by an unfriendly, he’s been neutralised and we’re uninjured, but it seems they know we’re here, so watch each other’s backs.”=^=

=^=“Understood” Kate replied to the message and immediately started to take another close look at her surroundings. It didn’t surprise her that they’re being watched but she didn’t like it. “Want to keep going to the agreed coordinates, or change plans?”=^= she said to Anahera.

=^=“Let’s stay with the original plan for now and see what happens. I’ll inform the Atlas of our status.”=^=

As Kate signaled Luma to continue walking she replied =^=“We’ll see you there. Banninga out.”=^=

After talking to Kate, Ana and ‘Bomber’ made a slight detour to the late shooter’s location. As the examined the body, ‘Bomber’ said. “I read the briefing on these people, but I didn’t expect them to look so demonic in the flesh.”

“Perhaps, you look demonic to him too. Now stop staring at him and keep a lookout for his friends.”

“Aye, sir.” The crewman replied.

Ana turned the body over. Saarvon shot had certainly made a mess of ‘his’ face. Then she spotted something metallic in the bush near the body. Reaching down she retrieved it. “What the Hell?” She said a she pulled the Federation issue Type III phaser rifle from the bush where it had obviously been dropped by the shooter.

The Security cadet wasted no time tapping her combadge. =^=”Chernova to Atlas.”=^=

=^=”Atlas, here, this is Takong, go ahead, Cadet.”=^=

=^=”Sir, we’ve been attacked, no one was injured and the hostile has been neutralised, but was in the possession of a Foxtrot Romeo. Repeat a Foxtrot Romeo.”=^=

=^=”Understood, Cadet. Watch your back. Atlas out.”=^=

“Okay, Crewman, lets get this done.”

“Aye, Sir.”

'''To the Rescue Part 1. A JP featuring Lieutenant Kate Banninga, CO RRT'''

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...r%2520Kate.jpg

Cadet Anahera Chernova, RRT Delta Team Leader

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/...s276/Ana12.jpg

And 

The rest of RRT Delta Team
 * 10-11-2012, 11:01 PM

Tom O'Flagherty '''Kodana '''

Great Hall of State

Tolain covered the distance down the corridor to his office in large strides, his aides following in his wake. It was clear to those who were around him often that he was extremely agitated. The outburst by Gayth, the leader of the Hilaani party, had been a confrontation that threw off the entire day’s plans. The 1st minister had not planned on killing the Sar’goth. In fact, he would have let the talks draw out for a couple of days before squashing any hopes for a withdrawl. Those plans had been made before there was opposition within the Kodana government, however. Now, he needed to get rid of this outside influence before things got out of hand.

Coming from a side corridor, another aid was practically running toward the small entourage. “First Minister, First Minister!!”

“Quiet, you boy!!! Are you not capable of keeping your volume to a controlled and empowered manner? You are not one of the Hilanni who yells out whenever it serves him!” Tolain was towering over the young aide, and could see him tremble. As he took a step back, he asked, “Now, what is it?”

“First minister,” he began quietly. “The Federation ship is asking for their captain. Likewise, the Sar’goth are asking for Valtain. Orbital defense wants to know what to do.”

The tall Kodana didn’t hesitate in his response. “Tell General Taug to open fire on the Sar’goth ships. Do not destroy the Atlas. Tell them they can have the captain, when we get to speak with an Admiral.” Without waiting for a reply, he continued on his way to the Ministerial offices.

Detention Wing

The doors to the lift opened and one of the guards was the first one out. Lebowski followed with Tom just in front of the other guard. As his foot crossed the threshold, Tom kicked back and caught the second guard square in the chest. The unexpected action, plus the lower than Earth gravity, meant that the kick threw the guard against the far wall of the lift before the door closed. Lebowski felt Tom shove him in the back which knocked him off balance into the first guard. Both stumbled to the floor as Tom pulled the tiny hold-out phaser out of his waistband. He thumbed-off the safety and fired one shot into the chest of the guard Lebowski accidentally tackled. The Starfleet captain wheeled around as the lift door opened again. Tom caught the second guard squarely, causing him to slump to the floor.

The moment the second guard went down, Tom moved over and took his weapon as well as the two commbadges. He turned back to the first guard, but Lebowski hadn’t moved. “What’s the matter, Lieutenant?”

“I thought you weren’t armed...” Lebowski said in a daze.

“Yes, but I never said I wasn’t armed. Now, get your phaser, and let’s get back to the atrium. These walls look about as inhospitable to transporters as the main hall did.” Lebowski shook himself into movement, and the two officers drug the second guard out of the lift before going back to the main floor.

Tom and Lebowski pinned themselves against the walls of the lift for some cover as the door opened. The two men pressed against the metal of the left, their weapons trained on the door. As the left slowed, Tom tensed with anticipation. Though he couldn’t read the text, he thumbed the setting down from what he could tell was full power. When the lift stopped, and the two doors pulled back, the two Starfleet officers kept their weapons at the full ready. Tom slowly scanned back and forth through the small window he had.

He moved forward slowly and into the atrium, but there was no one around. He motioned Lebowski forward to stand guard as Tom activated his commbadge. =/\=O’Flagherty to Atlas. Come in Atlas.=/\=

=/\=Hoffman here, sir.=/\=

=/\=Get us out of here, now.=/\=

=/\=I can’t sir, the Kodana have erected a shield over the capital, and I definitely can’t transport through it.=/\=

Tom’s eyebrows arched skyward at the news. Where did they get that technology? =/\=How far do we have to get from the building?=/\=

=/\=If you can put 500 meters between yourselves and the building, you should clear the shields. I’ll keep working to transport through it now that I have your commbadge. Be advised there is a security team on the surface outside the city.=/\=

=/\=Affirmative. Tell Commander Vaughn our status, and tell him I said to stop the Sar’goth from firing on the surface. There’s something going on here.=/\=

Tom closed the channel and started for the nearest door out of the atrium. Neither man knew the floor plan for the building and so Tom was trying to lead them just away from the main hall and offices as fast as possible. The door led into a corridor where two aides to the ruling council were walking. When the say the Starfleet uniforms, they ran as fast as they could in the opposite direction. Tom and Lebowski tried to catch them, and hopefully ask for a way out, but the two aides ducked behind a door and locked it behind them.

“I guess we’ll have to keep looking, sir.” Lebowski quipped after he slammed his fist against the door. “Let me take the lead on this one. I’d hate to have to report that my CO got shot while in my care.”

Tom raised his hand and motioned for his Security chief to take the lead, and then started off down the corridor again. Lebowski moved quickly and tried to avoid most of the people he could hear moving through the corridors. At times, they had to stop and press themselves against the wall as an aide of councilmember passed. Tom was able to pick up from the overheard conversations that they were preparing to fire on the ships in orbit. Tolain was promising a great victory over invaders, and that made the Starfleet Captain want to get out of there as fast as possible.

They were trying to get more information when Lebowski felt a hand on his left shoulder and almost came completely out of his skin. He snapped around, weapon leveled, and saw in the sights a Kodana who had his hands up and a pleading look on his face. “I am Gayth, the councilmember who took you into council chamber. I called for a vote of peace, and I will help you leave.”

Tom motioned for Lebowski to let him go, and let Gayth take the lead in getting them out of the building. The corridors he chose were winding and after many turns, Tom wasn’t sure exactly where he was. It was disconcerting, but everytime he looked back, Lebowski was there with his guard up for anyone following. The Kodana was purposeful in his routes and his decisions were quick so Tom was left with no other choice but to trust him to get them out. As they walked, the councilman tried to fill them in on the situation. “Tolain has gotten hold of a weapon that will shift the balance of power in this sector. He has been able to boost our defensive capabilities, but I’m not sure how.”

“What is his ultimate goal?” Lebowski was interested in the councilman’s words, but kept his eyes on their six o’clock.

“No one knows, accept his closest generals. He is part of a different ethnic group from me, the Golathan. Our political parties are organized along those ethnic lines. It seems Tolain is a bit of a hardliner when it comes to military power, and so he has filled his government with Golathian puppets who support his agenda.” Gayth stopped to signal another change in direction. “Most of my party have been removed from their positions on committees and relegated to junior council status. I have only retained my position because I am the party leader.”

“How long has this been going on?” Tom asked.

“Since the first contact we had with one of your Starfleet vessels. After that, they have been meeting with Tolain constantly. At first, we were prospering. Eventually, he started to consolidate his powerbase, which meant the Hilaani were removed. It has reignited an ancient tension.” Gayth stopped at the end of one of the corridors and turned back to face Tom and Lebowski. “There is talk that the civil war is going to be the only way we can regain our positions of equality, but we have no military experience. That has been taken from us along with our political power.”

“And you say the Federation has caused this? I have a hard time believing that.” Tom was stoic as he considered the implications.

“I can only speak to what I have observed.” And with that Gayth turned the corner and walked to the door, which he threw open manually. “Once you clear this doorway, you will have to make it into the woods beyond. There you will be outside of the energy field that protects the capital.”

As Tom started through the door, the councilman stopped him. “I hope for both our sakes the Federation is not here to start this civil war. It will inevitably become a genocide.”
 * 10-18-2012, 06:54 AM

Kate Black '''Kodana '''

'''City of Holon '''

Wooded area near the Offices of the Capital

<> Chirped the security officers voice through Kate’s commbadge. Kate and Luma had just reached the coordinates. “Banninga here, go ahead”

<> Kate looked at her partner with surprise. That sounded too easy.

“Understood, we’ll try to intercept them.” she replied. “Chernova to Banninga, did you get that too?”

“Loud and clear. It sounds like they don’t need us.” She said. “Still, the Captain’s ex-security and a war vet, it’s not really surprising that he didn’t wait around to be rescued.”

“No, it’s not. Any ideas how to proceed?” Kate said. “I have no idea which one of us is closer to the city. The tricorder is useless, it hasn’t detected any lifesigns, not even now we’re close to the city.”

“Yeah, there must be some kind of sensor scattering field in operation, it’s probably why the ship couldn’t beam us any closer to the city. We’re just going to have to use our eyes and ears to watch out for danger. As for ideas, let’s proceed to our entry points, but now that we don’t have to free the Captain or the Chief, have Petty Officer Meru hack into the native computer systems and cause a little mayhem, I’ll have ‘Bomber’ blow something up to cover our escape. We’re approaching the building now.”

“Anything special you want me to do with the systems?” Luma asked. Kate turned to face the young PO. She was glad the woman finally got out of her shell.

“I’ll leave that up to you, I’m sure you’ll come up with something suitably spectacular.” Ana told the young Bajoran. Keeping an eye out for danger as she walked.

The woman started glowing at the thought of working her magic. “Copy that” Both women started walking again, they only had to cross a small square to reach the building. When there was no one on the square they ran to the closest door and entered it.

As Ana and ‘Bomber’ neared the building there was a flash of movement and the human raised his rifle to cover the would be attacker. “Okay, you there.” He said. “Come out slowly, with your hands raised.”

Slowly a child moved towards them, her little arms raised and shivering in obvious fear, but with a determined look on her face. Ana was reminded of her own granddaughter at that age. She smiled at the girl and began to talk with her. Then a fiery pain erupted in her shoulder and she slumped to the ground.

As Ana hit the ground, 'Bomber' looked around for the shooter, his training taking over. Spying the assailant on a nearby roof, the demotions expert fired one shot. It caught the man in the chest and he toppled from his hiding place.

Making sure the area was secure, he tapped his combadge. =^="Brown to Banninga, man down, repeat man down."=^=

At hearing the feared sentence Kate turned white. This wasn’t suppose to happen. She turned to Luma before saying. “How long do you need to work your magic.” They had found a computer console second before the call came.

“Give me a minute, I’ll insert a small virus in the system, just big enough to get us out of here.” The bajoran answered as she removed a small isolinear chip from her pocket. “Always make sure you go into a fight prepared.” and started working on the console.

Kate started thinking what had to be done in the meantime. She couldn’t leave Luma here alone and Jahzan would take too long before he could reach Anahera. =^=”Brown, are you still under attack?”=^=

=^=“Negative, sir. I’ve neutralised the immediate threat, but my position is quite exposed, I’m uncertain whether I can drop my guard long enough to check on the Cadet. Please advise.”=^=

Kate weighed one option for the other before replying. =^=”I’m on my way to assist.”=^= She opened the door to leave the small room they were in. “Barricade the door, when I’m gone.”

Just before she arrived at the place ‘Bomber’ and Ana were she could see a kid standing close to them. =^=”Brown, what is that kid doing there?”=^=

=^=”Unknown, sir. It, she hasn’t said anything since we found her.”=^= Bomber began happy to see The Lieutenant approach. =^=“She detracted the Cadet allowing the hostile to get a bead on her, but I don’t believe it was intentional. I think hostile just exploited her momentary lapse.”=^=

“Take guard while I check the cadet.” Kate said as she reached the others of the team. As she kneeled down next to Anahera she noticed the woman was unconscious. There was a huge burn on her right shoulder. “ABC, Ademhaling, Bewustzijn, Circulatie” Kate memorized the first aid lesson she had when she was little. “Ademhaling” she checked the woman’s breathing. “Present. Bewustzijn, obviously unconscious. Circulatie.” She grabbed her wrist and was relieved to feel a active pulse.

“Is she alright, sir?” ‘Bomber’ asked as he kept watch. He couldn’t help but feel responsible, he was supposed to watch her back.

“As far as I can tell she’ll be fine as soon as we get her to the Atlas.” Kate said.

The young demolitions expert breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as Kate stood up a transmission came in. =^=”Meru to Banninga. ”=^=

=^=”Go ahead”=^=

=^=”The virus is ready to begin. Waiting for your signal”=^=

=^=”Understood”=^= Kate looked from Anahera to ‘Bomber’ to the little girl and sighed heavily. Now what.

A JP with

http://www.startrekmegiddo.com/forum...ine=1346972944

and me as

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...r%2520Kate.jpg
 * 10-30-2012, 04:46 AM

Zara Cooper CMO’s Office

“So...while it goes without saying that a comprehensive workup needs to be undertaken, it would seem that...SHIT!”

Zara’s recording was unceremoniously interrupted as the voice of Chris Vaughn came over the shipwide Comm.

=/\= Red Alert, all hands to battlestations. This is not a drill – repeat this is not a drill! =/\=

Zara glanced down at the coffee stain that bloomed on her pants from where it had spilled when the comm had made her jump but gave it no more thought. She tapped her own comm badge.

=^=Cooper to Medical. All staff make ready for possible casualties. I’ll be there in five minutes and I’d like a status report from each team on my arrival. Cooper out. =^=

“Computer, halt recording.” She looked down at her pants again and figured she could make it to her quarters and then to Sickbay within the five minutes she had said so she left the mug of coffee on her desktop and briskly marched through the crimson lit corridors of the Atlas to her room.

The sense of urgency was almost tangible in the air as people scurried hither and thither to their posts, but nevertheless, the crew of the Atlas were calm and composed. Zara was in and out of her quarters in less than a minute and in less than four she was entering Sickbay and requesting the status update from her team leaders who, she was pleased to see, were already awaiting her arrival.

“I don’t have information as yet about what, if any, casualties we might have coming in, but I want you to stay on your toes and if we need to put together a triage team to beam down to the planet I want to make sure we can have one standing by to transport immediately.”

Her team leaders nodded and after handing her a PADD each, they continued to ready themselves in as organised and efficient way as the former marine could have hoped for. Zara smiled as she watched the personnel move around the room, checking equipment and supplies in readiness for whatever casualties might be brought in. She pressed her Comm badge.

=^= Cooper to Vaughn. Medical teams are standing by and Sickbay is ready for casualties. Cooper out. =^=

The flashing red lights and the klaxons were enough of a clue as to the seriousness of the situation, but it was the tone of Christopher’s voice that had Zara more concerned. She had gotten to know him pretty well and it was the thought of what had caused such anger in his voice that worried her more then anything.
 * 11-02-2012, 12:51 AM

Rynen Dale Erim and Aelan had been in sick bay for most of the day, finishing inventorying and storing new supplies that had been loaded into the cargo bay following the refit of the Atlas. It had been a long task, but the pair was finally finishing.

“With all these supplies, it’s like they’re expecting us to be fighting another war, hey A?” Erim joked as he packed up the last of the new medical tricorders.

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is a diplomatic mission,” Aelan stated matter-of-factly. In reality, he was working to stop his mind from running wild. The ship’s counsellor had described it as an ‘active imagination’ that he needed to learn to ‘tame’. He knew this was a polite way to say he worried too much and needed to deal with it. And for the most part, he was.

“Hey, relax,” Erim said, bringing the Skorr’s attention back to the conversation. “You know I was just kidding. I thought we had gone over this already. Eight times.”

Aelan opened his beak in what constituted a smile and nodded. “I know, I know. Never take anything you say seriously.”

“That’s a good man. Now hand me that cardiostimulator and we can be outta here. I have a holodeck booked for us to go skydiving with some guys from tactical,” Aelan handed the device to his friend, and then stood, stretching his wings out as he did so.

“I think I’ll actually take you up on that offer. I could use the flight. I feel so out of practice being on the ship,” Aelan replied. Erim stood, too, and followed the Skorr out of sickbay. The two walked down the corridor to the holodeck, joking as they went.

Aelan had been pleased when he found out both himself and Erim had been assigned permanently to the Atlas after her time in drydock. The other lab tech had been Aelan’s first friend on board the ship, and continued to help push the shy Skorr’s social boundaries. He always invited Aelan to various gatherings- things that he likely would have been left out of otherwise. The duo had almost reached the holodeck when Zara’s voice came through both of their combadges.

=^=Cooper to Medical. All staff make ready for possible casualties. I’ll be there in five minutes and I’d like a status report from each team on my arrival. Cooper out. =^=

“Hm, maybe there is a war,” Aelan stated. Erim looked at him, about to give him another lecture about being too serious, when the Skorr let out a chuckle and smiled.

“Ahh okay, I get it. Well we better get back to sickbay. No rest for the wicked,” the human replied, and the two turned back in the direction they had come.

http://www.startrekmegiddo.com/forum...2&d=1351835438
 * 11-16-2012, 04:50 AM

Anahera Chernova '''Kodana '''

Capitol City

Lebowski took point as they moved through the city. Now that they were out of the capitol building, Tom could get a better sense of the people they were dealing with by the architecture of the buildings around them. They Hall of State had been a representation of the best Kodana had to offer, as most buildings of government. It was also very old. Out in the streets, though, painted a very different picture.

There was no one around, in fact they hadn’t seen anyone since they took down the two guards in the basement to make their escape. Nevertheless, they were both on their toes as they wound their way through the streets. The buildings were newer, but Tom couldn’t discern any noticeable advance in architecture or building technology. It seemed that there was a lull in the growth of the people’s understanding of science, though they apparently had the ability to block the Atlas’ transporters. Tom tucked that question away when he heard the exchange of weapons fire ahead. Lebowski stopped abruptly, and Tom moved up behind him, watching the way they had come. Without exchanging any words, Lebowski indicated the direction the fighting was coming from. Tom nodded agreement and then followed after his security chief.

Covering three blocks rather quickly, Tom took the lead when they reached the next building. He peered around the side slowly until he was able to see a group of Starfleet officers penned down by a shooter with a high vantage point. Also, there was a small girl standing in the middle of street, frozen with fear. “You take the guy on the roof! And move as fast as you can!!”

Lebowski nodded and moved toward the door that just behind them. He kicked it once, then again, and this time the door exploded open. Tom disengaged the powercell in his rifle and tightened the sling. He drew his small hand hand phaser and checked the charge before taking two deep breaths. Then, the Starfleet captain drew his strength and bolted down the street.

The lighter gravity meant he was moving faster than normal, his legs and arms pumping hard against the pavement. He couldn’t hear anything over the rush of wind and the pounding of his own pulse. He was four meters from the girl when he dove, his body going completely parallel to the ground. Tom hooked his left arm out to his side, grabbing the girl around her waist and rolling, twisting as his body came towards the ground so she was resting on his chest. His right arm went straight, aiming back towards where the shots were coming from on the top of the building. He drained the power cell, striking the building just in front of the shooter and some going over his head.

When the cell was empty, Tom noticed the shooter was slumped over the side of the building. Tom kept his phaser trained on the unconscious form until his saw Lebowski stick his head over the side. “Clear!” he called down to the street.

Tom got himself off the ground and looked over at the officers, recognizing Lt. Banninga and the unconscious form of Cadet Chernova. “Report,” he stated.

What timing, Kate thought after seeing the Captain and Chief. “We should be able to beam out very soon.” She looked at Anahera. “The cadet has been shot and is unconscious since then. As far as I can see, she is stable, but she does need to get to the the ship ASAP.”

Lebowski rejoined them as they talked in the street. As they discussed how to carry Chernova out of the area without hurting her, deep concussive booms started in the distance. Tom looked up and saw large discharges of plasma emerging from the ground and moving towards the sky. “I think we need to get out of here now. That looks like planetary weapons fire.”

Kate pressed her comm to raise Meru. =^= Banninga to Meru, is the virus working yet? It’s getting hot over here. =^=

=^= Just a few second left before it’s fully uploaded.=^= The young bajoran replied.

“You can explain this ‘virus’ to me when we get back to the ship,” Tom told Banninga. In the distance he could hear the sounds of other people coming. Tom turned toward the sound, trying to guess exactly where it was coming from. “We don’t have time to wait. We need to leave now.”

Dale ‘Bomber’ Brown was glad to see that the Captain and the Chief were okay, but looking down at Chernova, he couldn’t help thinking it was his fault she was unconscious. If only he’d seen the shooter before he’d fired. He wondered it he was really cut out for the RRT, perhaps he’d request a transfer to sentry when they returned to the ship.

Tom helped Crewman Brown hoist the unconscious cadet onto his shoulders. Once he had the woman on his shoulders, Tom handed him his phaser rifle. From the positioning Brown could still shoot on the move even while carrying Chernova. Tom traded his stolen Kodana rifle for Chernova’s Starfleet Mk. 3. Once everyone was situated, they moved out quickly. Lebowski had been keeping a rear guard, and Banninga repositioned Saarvon to help with a quick getaway. They were only a block ahead of the Kodana troops who were looking for them.

“I’m sorry.” The little girl said her voice barely a whisper. She’d been taught that aliens didn’t care about each other, the way her people did. She’d found that hard to believe then, and even more so now, as she saw the worried looks on their faces and watched the way with which they prepared to move their hurt friend.

Studying them she figured that the man who had saved her was in charge. “Thank you, for saving me.” She said to him now that she’d got over the shock. She wanted desperately to help these strange-looking people somehow, but what could she do she was small and only 10 summers old.

Tom small the little girl next to him, her bifurcated cranial protrusions having much softer definition than her older counterparts. He could tell she looked scared. “It’s OK. You need to go though.” She looked frozen, unable to think straight. “Go home, little girl. You could get hurt if you stay here.”

Then a plan struck her, the guards were approaching and even from this distance she could tell they were angry and knew that they would probably take it out on her new friends. Screw up all the courage she could muster, despite the explosions and the guards. “Good luck.” She said. “I’ll distract some of the guards.” Then she ran towards the guards pretending, for the most part, to be crying in fear.

Kate looked around her. “Meru, get out of there. You’re times up.” she yelled in her comm badge while keeping her weapon ready to fire. Just seconds later the young woman came walking towards them. Kate made sure there weren’t going to be any more roof surprises. One team member down was way more than she had planned on her first real mission. When Meru had reached she breathed heavily and said “The scattering field should be down”. The group started walking towards the edge of the square.

Saarvon watch from his vantage point as what appeared to be a native child ran away from the team towards the approaching native soldiers. It was clearly distressed and some of the soldiers stopped to comfort it, but most continued to close in on the team's location. The Vulcan sniper took aim and with great skill fired four non-lethal shots, each shot found its target and four soldiers collapsed before their fellows had any idea from where the shots were coming.

Lifting his rifle onto his shoulder, he rose to his feet. Tapping Chief Jahzan on the back. "Time to move." He whispered.

The Andorian medic nodded and they made their way to the beam out site. Jahzan was concerned about Chernova, this should have been a run-of-the-mill mission and from what he'd heard, in rumour mostly, Delta team's leader should have found it a walk-in-the-park, so what went wrong?

Shots started to fly as the soldiers got closer with each step. Tom kept his rifle in front of him. The team took to leap-frogging, people in front dropping to a knee to lay covering fire while the rear moved up ahead and then took their place. The volume of fire continued to grow and as they got closer to the transport coordinates, it was turning into a pretty intense conflict. A few of the Kodana were getting brave and started to charge into the midst of the fire.

It was Tom’s turn to run, and as he did, he changed the settings on his rifle, and when it was time for him to drop and fire, he shouldered the weapon and a constant beam lept out. He swept it from side to side and cut down four of the attackers. “Alright, Banninga, call for transport and get us out of here, now!!!”

“Understood” Kate nodded. “Away team to Atlas, beam us out! NOW!” and she soon saw the familiar blue light surrounding them as they beamed to the ship.

'''To the Rescue Part 3. A JP Featuring '''

Captain Tom O'Flagherty

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/...nus276/Tom.jpg

Lieutenant Kate Banninga, CO RRT

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...r%2520Kate.jpg

Cadet Anahera Chernova, RRT Delta Team Leader

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/...s276/Ana12.jpg

with Lieutenant Commander Jackson Lebowski, Security Chief and RRT Delta Team
 * 11-18-2012, 04:44 PM

D'Rel '''USS Atlas: '''

Deck 12:

Adina hummed to herself as the plasma tool did its work on the faulty conduit before her. The task effectively did itself once started up and all the Ensign had to really do was point, click and ensure the tool’s beam didn’t hit anything it wasn’t supposed to. Most of her tasks of late had been of a similar nature and ‘difficulty’, simple things considered somewhat menial by most engineers but either too complex for the computer to self correct or in need of outside interference to fix.

“Light duties” the Counsellor had called it in Adina’s last session. “A time to re-acclimate back into the ship’s work ethic.” Adina thought the whole thing rather redundant seeing that, even whilst in a shock induced vague state she had still managed a multitude of complex repairs to acceptable standards. Well, until she’d been finally pulled aside after flooring Lieutenant Sheppard anyway.

The casual recollection of the event instinctively brought her hand up to the green and bronze Bajoran earring hanging from her right ear. Whilst the feeling of the metallic construct hanging from her ear was a new one, it was at the same time a comforting one, giving her a sense of... centre for lack of a better word.

A small beep from the plasma tool indicated its task was done, after a quick visual inspection Adina unclipped the tool from the conduit, replaced the panel’s cover and, after a quick shuffle of tools into her kitbox the young Ensign picked herself up, noted the completion on her pad and headed off to the next job on the list. As she stood waiting for the turbolift the familiar sound of phasing photons and the slight buzz of activating force fields occurred behind her.

“Morning Rube.” Adina smiled as she turned.

The Engineering hologram returned the smile, pulling the Esign into a quick hug before replying. “Morning my dear, and how are you feeling today?”

Her smile still intact, Adina offered a non-committal shrug. “Can’t complain, work to do, tasks to complete, tools to watch, same old same old... But then you knew that already as you saw me at the start of my shift, as you handed me the list of jobs to do in the first place.”

Rube mirrored Adina’s shrug with a small chuckle. “True enough I suppose. Just checking to see if you were still switched on is all.”

Adina shook her head with an over exaggerated sigh, “And I’ve told you the same I told Counsellor Whats-His-Bibble multiple times. I am fine, I feel fine, and am no longer the Atlas’ personal version of the walking dead. And before you say it-” she interrupted as the holographic red head made to speak. “-I know I have to keep seeing the Counsellor every other day until he declares me fit for a full time schedule.”

“Which he did about twenty minutes ago.” Rube finished with a chuckle. “I came up here to tell you to get your behind back to Main Engineering and report for new work assignments.”

Almost the second after Rube had finished the corridor’s lights dimmed and an all too familiar klaxon sounded all around them, followed quickly by the XO’s voice. ''“Red Alert, all hands to battle stations. This is not a drill – repeat this is not a drill!”''

“Though seeing what’s clearly going on you might find you were better off on light duties.” Rube offered with an innocent smile before vanishing from sight.

Wasting no time, Adina stepped into the waiting turbolift. “Main Engineering.” The lift complied with a beep and the whoosh of closing doors and propelling energy fields, taking the still smiling Ensign back to work...
 * 11-18-2012, 06:32 PM

Draka Draka had dressed rather quickly after the red alert was sounded, sweeping his still damp hair back from his face as he did the last fasteners of his uniform tunic, even as he stepped out his door. He hit the hall running, arriving at the turbolift rapidly, barking out a single word,"Bridge!". He listened for any more alerts while the turbolift carried him towards the bridge, stepping off onto it one the doors swished open. He hurried over to the main tactical console, reliving the ensign there. Fingers flying over the touchpad he called up the ship's tactical systems, making minor adjustments to smooth over a one percent deficiency in the fore shield. As he double checked the status of the ship's phasers and torpedo tubes he called out for each system,"Phasers all charged to one hundred percent, all torpedo tubes loaded with full spreads of quantum torpedos, awaiting orders.", he said, before an alert caught his attention. Piggybacking onto the Ops console's main sensor feed he studied the information,"Sir! Incoming plasma discharges...quite large ones and moving fast..suggest evasive maneuvers while I try to pinpoint the weapon systems planetside.". Even as he spoke he checked scans of the planet in the general region the plasma blasts originated from.
 * 11-21-2012, 12:36 AM

Zara Cooper Status reports had been read and teams assigned to specific duties so Zara, having not received a response from him over the Comm, decided to seek out Chris and find out what was going on.

The corridors were still a hive of activity as personnel moved to their designated duty stations and as the turbolift opened onto the Bridge, the tension was so prominent that Zara felt sure she could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.

She stepped off the life and took a few steps forward. It was only the second time she had been on the Bridge but it didn’t take her more than a moment to locate Chris, sitting in the Captain’s chair with an expression on his face that made her glad she was not the focus of such wrath.

Moving around the Bridge stations she came to rest beside his seat. She stood still; her pose formal and her back ramrod straight. In front of the crew there would be no informality and no matter their private relationship, Zara’s professionalism had her addressing him as befit his station.

“Excuse me Commander.” She said; holding her pose. “I know this isn’t the best time, but could I have a word with you in private Sir?”

Chris was watching on of the secondary displays showing the teams progress and hardly noticed Zara, her words sent a jolt through him. “Yes.” replied. “Yes, thats fine.” He stood stiffly and nodded to the ops officer, “Notify me if anything changes.” Glancing to Zara he gestured toward the ready room door. Stepping through the portal and into Tom’s ready room he turn to Zara, wondering if he should have stepped off the bridge with such a crisis looming. “Yes, Zara?”

“It’s probably a stupid question,” She offered as an opener, “but on the Comm you sounded so very angry and I wanted to find out what’s wrong and see if there’s any way I can help.” She took a step towards him and reached out and touched his arm. “What’s happened Chris? I’ve never heard that tone...that wrath in your voice before and it worries me...a lot.”

“They have Tom!” he shouted. “And Lebowski. This is suppose to be a peace mission and they have taken our crew. They are the ones that should be worried.”

Zara’s brow creased and she squeezed Chris’ arm gently. “Then by Gods, we get them back Chris.” She replied in a low tone. “But you’re going to need a cool head otherwise anger will cloud every decision you make if you let it...Trust me...I know.” She watched him closely, her concern for him quite evident. “I know he’s your best friend Chris and we will bring him home safely.”

“My head is plenty cool!” Chris snapped irritably. Before catching himself and softening his tone, “Sorry, but I can’t let them get away with this. Tom is the closest thing to family I have left. It was stupid of me to let him down there with only one person for security.”

"I know what it's like to feel guilty for a situation, "She told him gently. "it eats you up...but I have a feeling no matter what you said or how much caution you advised him to use, the Captain would still have done exactly as he pleased. That's the perk of sitting in the big chair Chris. You have the luxury of making your own decisions and the rest of us have to suck it up." She gave him Chris smile. "If he's anywhere near as single minded, determined and downright stubborn as his XO, then I know if the situation were reversed and it was you down there, he'd feel the same way and be saying exactly the same things. " She moved her hand down to his, winding her fingers through his. "They won't get away with what they've done Chris. They'll face the consequences of their actions and the crew will be right behind whatever decision you make. Just remember, you haven't let Tom down and you shouldn't feel guilty for something you couldn't predict."

Chris touched Zara along the cheek gently. “I can’t explain how much you mean to me.” He wanted to say more but didn’t know what. “I...” he shook his head. “Thank you.” He leaned in to kiss her on the forehead, taking in her scent.

The ship lurched as if it had been sideswiped by a durasteel wall. The force sent Chris and Zara to the deck and the light flickered with an uneasy electrical hum coming from deep within the ship as the shields struggled to dissipate whatever energy it had just taken.

“What the fuck...?” Chris crawled to the doorway and used the jam to help Zara and he up. Stepping onto the bridge he saw the crew scrambling back to their stations.

Zara was surprised and shaken by the incident, but recovered her faculties quickly enough to tap her comm and request a casualty report. She followed Chris out onto the Bridge and did a quick scan of the personnel to check for injuries, wondering what had caused the ship to lurch in such a violent fashion.

A JP with Chris
 * 11-25-2012, 11:40 PM

Christopher Vaughn ''':::Bridge::: '''



Stumbling onto the bridge Chris fought to keep his balance as the Atlas shuttered under the assault. Shields groaned, lights flickered and the crew looked panicked.

“Status!” he barked. Clinking to the captain’s chair as the ship shuttered violently for a second time.

“Shield’s down to 47 percent!” a voice called from behind.

“The Sargoth opened fire on the planet.” The Lt. Mari filled in. “They are targeting civilian and military centers…”

“Zulu-Constellation evasive maneuvers.” Chris ordered the helmsman. “The Sar’goth did this to out shields?”

“No.” Mari replied. “The Kodana. There planetary defense grid started returning fire. It’s as powerful as anything in the Alpha Quadrant.”

“They aren’t advanced enough to have those kinds of weapons…” Chris seated himself uneasily.

“Sir,” a tactical petty officer broke in. “Another volley from the planet.”

“Continue evasive,” Chris commanded helm. “Communications transmit this message on all channels: This USS Atlas requesting an immediate cessation of all hostilities in this system by all parties! Repeat – all parties.” He had never seen a situation spiral out of control so quickly…Did I do this…?

The forward view screen dimmed from the painful glow of planetary phaser streams lancing toward the ship.

The shots were coming right at the Atlas…right where her evasive pattern was flying the ship…

“How the hell do they know our evasive…” Chris started to say before the shots impacted the Atlas. A rain of sparks came down on the bridge, nearly hurling Chris from his seat.

“Shields down to 27….” Another violent shutter rocked the ship, “…shields gone! Repeat shield are completely GONE.”

As the viewscreen adjusted its brightness again he could see the wreckage of half a dozen Sar’goth ships in orbit. The remainder was increasing their bombardment of the planet. Whole cities were being leveled. “Sir, they seem to be plotting their weapons fire to match our most used evasive patterns.” Mari said looking over a holographic display of the last several salvos. “I don’t understand how."

“Well, if they have Federation grade guns why not a Starfleet playbook to go with it.” Chris turned to the helm, “Manual controls, standby on my orders. Comms any response from the Sar’goth?”

“Nothing.”

“Another salvo from the surface.” Mari advised.

“Helm,” Chris clutched the captain’s chair. “Drop along the Z-axis, 75 percent impulse and begin a counter-clockwise loop.”

The ship made a moaning sound as it lurched into action. The gravity systems fought to keep up with the acceleration. The sudden change made Chris feel like the floor was dropping out from under him, but the inertial dampeners managed to keep up. The Atlas wasn’t designed for high speed angled maneuvers, too much and she would rip apart from the tension.

“Sir, may I suggest that we leave system immediately.” COB Brock looked sick to his gills. “If we take a –even a glancing hit- from those planetary phasers…”

“I’m not leaving without the away team.” Chris hoped he was telling the truth.

The screen dimmed again as the Atlas did its unexpected roll. The deck plating vibrated violently from the maneuver. But the phasers missed. “Hard bank, flank to port!”

Something deep in the Atlas was making a thudding-clicking sound as the ship dodged the next wave of phaser fire, if only by an eyelash.

“We need to get the hell out of this star system commander!” Brock clamped onto an arm rail keeping his feet as a dozen unsecured PADD’s flew from workstations across the bridge like shrapnel.

An ensign at the engineering station looked white as he turned toward the center seat, “We have first stage strain starting to show on three of the vertical engineering hull ribs.”

“Commander,” Lt. Mari blurted. “We have the away team on board!”

“All of them?” Chris asked, his heart felt like it was in his throat.

“All of them sir.”

“Helm, do you have an escape course plotted?”

“Plotted sir.”

“Engage!” The Atlas thundered to warp leaving a trail of phaser fire far behind her.
 * 11-26-2012, 10:18 AM

D'Rel '''USS Atlas: '''

Main Engineering:

Adina had barely made it into Engineering before the ship lurched heavily, throwing her tumbling face forward into a nearby console, dropping her neatly to the deck. Almost as quickly another engineer rushed over to check on her.

“Are you okay?” he asked uncertain as a multitude of sparks spluttered and arked from various consoles around them.

“I’m... going to go with Ow.” Adina muttered as she pulled herself up, an investigative hand already checking out the throbbing in the front of her head, when it came back tipped in red the Ensign let out a tirade of Bajoran. “No way in hell am I going down with another head problem-” she cursed to no-one in particular as the engineer helped her up. “- People are going to start thinking I’m doing this on purpose.”

“Um, okay.” The engineer managed, the combination of crazy lady and exploding engine room clearly a tad too much for the young Crewman to handle fully. “What hit us?”

“Something painful clearly.” Adina offered as she steadied herself at the console and looked over the figures running before her, absently wiping away the red mark on the screens lower edge. “Shields took most of the hit, but got knocked down to-” The Ensign was cut off as another pair of impacts rocked the ship, this time knocking her companion off his feet. “ -nothing. Well fuck.” Adina finished neatly.

“What’re we going to do?” The crewman spurted from the deck, clearly starting to lose his cool.

“Our jobs.” Adina offered simply, already pulling up a selection of power distribution charts. “What’s your station?”

“S-I fields.” He muttered as he pulled himself upwards, wincing as another console blew out sparks behind him.

“Well get to it.” Adina snapped sharply, hoping to bring the young man's attention back onto the task at hand. “With shields down you just became even more important.” She pointed to the tables now spread across two consoles. “Someone up there is trying their best to stop the ship from being blown out of the sky, so we need to make sure that Atlas doesn’t pull herself apart in the process.”

As if to underline the point, several bars jumped sharply into the red as strains started to pull hard on the ship’s infrastructure.

“Balls.” Adina managed, turning her attention back to her screens, quickly siphoning power out of Sciences and the now defunct shield systems and shunting it all into structural integrity, the results already showing themselves as a voice somewhere behind the pair shouted orders to the same effect. “Now keep those levels steady across the ship. Shout if you need more power.”

The Crewman nodded, training kicking into full gear, his hands flicking across his panel, deftly balancing the ever moving bars. “We can’t keep this ‘pattern’ up for much longer at this speed.” He noted simply, not taking his eyes off the screen as the bars started to creep back into the red. A steady creaking sound confirming his point. “Much longer and we might start to shear the nacelles.”

Almost as suddenly as Adina had been knocked to the deck the first time, the ship wide creaking stopped and was replaced by the steady, gentle humming of the Warp Core in high gear.

Adina smiled as the bars across all her screens started to settle back somewhere close to normal. “I think the bridge heard you...”
 * 11-27-2012, 05:55 AM

Zara Cooper ''':::Bridge::: '''



Zara had been thrown unceremoniously to the ground before she had the chance to grab a rail, console or anything else that might have saved her from being hurled across the rear of the Bridge in such an ungainly fashion. Her face had collided with something as she plummeted to the deck but until the Atlas had ceased its manoeuvres she didn’t want to chance attempting to get to her feet only to be thrown to the floor again.

She listened to Chris barking orders at the crew and then her stomach began to lurch as the Atlas performed a turn that made her feel like she was on an old fashioned roller coaster ride. The noise coming from the ship was disconcerting and sounded almost like the Atlas was growling from the exertion of its uncharacteristic movements and Zara hoped the ship would hold out long enough for them to get out of the line of fire.

On hearing Lieutenant Mari informing Chris of the safe return of the away team Zara heaved a deep sigh of relief and closed her eyes for a moment. The Captain was back and Chris could breathe again, safe in the knowledge that his best friend was back home. On Chris’ order, the Atlas went to warp and Zara deemed it safe enough to get back to her feet again. She felt nauseous and her cheek hurt like a bitch but her sense of relief outweighed her discomfort.

She stood up and pulled her uniform straight before reaching up to fix the hair that had fallen loose from its pins but as she pushed if free of her face she felt the damp, stickiness in her brunette tresses that was all too familiar to the doctor. “Balls.” She remarked; wincing as her fingers gently felt along her lacerated cheekbone and came away scarlet with her own blood. “That’s just fucking peachy...”

She pulled her hair away from her face and secured it roughly in place, then wiped her sleeve over her cheek to rid it of blood. Her sleeve came away soaked but she merely glanced at it and then concentrated on scanning the room for any other casualties.

From her quick assessment of the area, it seemed to Zara that she was the only person unfortunate enough to have been injured and she noted that was probably due to everyone else being seated or stood by their duty stations and having something close to grab onto to keep them either in their seat or on their feet when the ship was getting fired upon.

She smiled at the nearest officer who was giving her a look of concern. “It’s just a scratch.” She assured him; her hand moving up to her cheek again to where a lump was forming around the laceration and no doubt an impressive bruise... she thought to herself as she lowered her hand again and used her tunic as a towel again.
 * 12-07-2012, 04:02 PM

Anahera Chernova '''U.S.S. Atlas '''

'''Deck 7 '''

Transporter Room 2

CPO Jahzan went right into action as soon as they were back on board. He pulled out his medical tri-corder and scanned Ana, thankfully her life-signs were still stable.

Once everyone else had stepped off the transporter pads, he ordered the transporter tech to beam him and his patient to Main Sickbay.

Kate looked around her and rubbed a hand over her face. She felt a headache coming up.

"We need to speak," Tom growled into the ear of the cadet. He wanted to make sure no one else heard him. The stepped out into the corridor and into an empty supply locker, Lebowski right behind them. As soon as the door closed, Tom lost his temper.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Lieutenant!?! Did you and your team forget the meaning of the word security?"

Kate wasn't sure how to respond. She hadn't managed to fully grasp what had happened down there, but she did know that the team would never use unnecessary violence. "I'm sorry sir, but the team did everything possible to limit the risks and enhance the safety of the whole team, the chief and yourself."

"I want you to explain the corpses of Kodana soldiers we left on the surface!"

“We needed to make sure we got out of there alive. I didn’t see a solution other than to shoot back. Remember that they opened fire, We did not!.” Kate replied agitated of the need to defend her action to the Captain.

"Don't lecture me on protecting your team. I'm talking about why you used deadly force, Lieutenant!" Tom barked. "Regulations state that all Security situations require less-than-lethal force, unless authorized by the captain, or during a time of war. Now, explain to me what happened down there."

“All I know at this point is that Cadet Chernova was shot by an enemy sniper and that Crewman Brown replied by taking out the sniper. I wasn’t there when it happened. As for the rest, you know just as much as I do, as you arrived seconds after I did.” Kate said.

"You are not members of an assault team, you are a security force and that's why Federation weapons have a stun setting!!" Tom sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. "If we could even have the hope of getting the Kodana back to the negotiation table, how are we supposed to explain three bodies? Does that sound like a very peaceful message?"

"Captain, with all due respect, abducting the Chief and yourself and firing on the Atlas, are hardly what I’d call peaceful acts. Also only Crewman Saarvon was given permission to use deadly force. While I sad dead, as I said before, I saw no other way to remedy the situation."

"You don't get it, Lieutenant. He didn't have to kill them!" Tom paced the small room, looking like a caged animal. "He could have stunned them." Tom turned to Lebowski and growled, "Have your people trained, properly." And with that he stormed out of the room.

Later at the away mission lockers

Kate entered the room to see the rest of the team, except Chernova and Jahzan of course, was already in the room. She walked to her locker, opened it with a bang and started removing her tactical gear. Without stopping undressing she addressed the group. “Ok, can someone please explain what the hell happened down there?”

“Well, ma’am.” Crewman Dale ‘Bomber’ Brown began as his shaking hands made it almost impossible to unclip his tactical vest. “Cadet Chernova and myself were approaching the Kodana government buildings, when a native child appeared. The Cadet was on point, so she saw the child first. Then when she was just a few metres from the child, she stopped and stood stock still as if she’d been turned to stone. Before I say anything, a hostile appeared on the roof above us opened fire. His only shot hit Cadet Chernova in the shoulder and she collapsed to the deck. I returned fire and after I’d neutralised the hostile, I contacted you and stood watch until I was relieved.” He’d hoped that by sticking to the facts that it would lessen the guilt he felt, it didn’t, as his clearly shaking hands demonstrated.

"She froze? Are you sure?" That was nothing for the cadet. In the last couple months they had done many exercises together and freezing up didn't fit with the person she had come to know.

“Well, ma’am, she didn’t appear to ‘freeze’ out of fear, I’ve seen that in training, I know the signs. No this was more like someone had turned off a light, like I said, one moment she was making her towards the child, checking for traps as she went, next moment it was as if her consciousness had left her body, I don’t know how else to describe it.”

Kate turned around to face the crewman. “Right.” Kate shook her head, in an attempt to order the information. “Did she say anything to the child?”

“Yes, I don’t remember exactly what she said to her, but I recall that she was trying to reassure the child that we weren’t going to harm her.” ‘Bomber said.

"So, you don't believe the child was involved?" Kate asked.

“As far as, I can tell, no and she did help us escape, by delaying those soldiers.”

“Just for the record, did you see any other solution than to open fire after the cadet was shot?” Kate asked. She needed to know this.

Bomber didn’t take long to come up with an answer. “No, Ma’am, I didn’t see any other options. With Cadet Chernova down, I believed myself and perhaps the rest of the team to be in clear and present danger, so I neutralised the hostile combatant with extreme prejudice.”

Kate looked at Bomber and could see the determination in his eyes. She said with a small smile. “I think you did good. Don’t worry.” Addressing the rest of the group ”I want a report from everyone of you on my desk as soon as possible.” The red alert was still sounding so Kate knew the crisis wasn’t over. She finished changing out of her tactical gear. Before she left the room she turned around. “You all did great, under the circumstances. I hope our next mission will have a better outcome.”

'''Aftermath. A JP featuring'''

Captain Tom O'Flagherty

http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/z...anner92511.jpg

Lieutenant Kate Banninga, CO RRT

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...r%2520Kate.jpg

with Lieutenant Commander Jackson Lebowski, Security Chief and RRT Delta Team
 * 12-12-2012, 07:55 PM

Edward Pellew Edward was sitting at his desk reading through report after report. He had been out for most of the mission and therefore out of the loop which for an intelligence and interrogation officer is completely out of the question. The ship was bustling with activity since the retrieval of the away team. He was sure he would have to review the incident reports but for now he slumped into his chair and turned the lights down low. He hadn’t slept since God only knows how long.

Just as his head ache was about to subside a chime came from his door.

“Enter”, he said wishing whoever it was would either have some remedy for his aching head or would be smart enough to go away. To his luck it would be neither.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing at a time like this?” Operations Senior Chief Billy Sunday stood in his doorway. He and the Senior Chief had been long time friends since Edward had checked on board as a crewman. He had been a “Space Daddy” for Edward but sometimes seemed to be a bit more on the rough side then Ed’s head could take at times.

“Mr Pellew sit up and throw this back, it'll make you feel better.”

He held out a shot glass toward Ed and walked it toward him.

“Senior, I don’t think a drink is what I need.”

“This is not alcohol, its Echinacea mixed with water and some other herbs it will help with whatever ails ya.”

Edward took a shot and about gagged. “What in the name of all that is good…… what…..why…?”

The Chief laughed, “I didn’t say it tasted good. Come walk with me and I’ll replicate you a cup of coffee.”

Edward got up and went with the Senior Chief down to the mess decks. They sat down and Ed started drinking the hot liquid. It was strong and good and he started to feel better.

The Senior Chief started, “So my friend, how’s the family?”

“Fine.”

“Brother?”

“Fine.”

“Boose and Cigar business?”

“Fine and fine, we are starting some new routes that should prove very lucrative.”

The Senior Chief seemed to cut to the chase. “Alright you've been out for a quick minute and need some extra help so I volunteered to help get and keep you up to speed. As you can probably guess, the shit has hit the fan so you get in contact with those shadows you got in the quadrant and start finding some information that could be vital to this mission and I’ll help you get organized.”

Edward smiled, “So you’re gonna be my secretary huh?”

“Know, you prick try Intelligence Master Chief. My profile was just updated.”

Edward shook his hand, “Well Master Chief, We better get to work.”
 * 12-13-2012, 06:52 PM

Tom O'Flagherty Ready Room

After leaving Lt. Banninga and Commander Lebowski, Tom went straight to his ready room. The speed at which the situation had dissolved was incredible and inexplicable. Though not a diplomat, when Tom replayed the events in his mind, he could see the characters and feel some of their motivation. Valtaun had not been stupid. Though he had known and carried himself with the assurance that the Sar’goth would prevail if there were open conflict. Unfortunately, the Kodana’s weapons of mass destruction, the equation had been changed significantly. It had taken a couple of hours for Lebowski and Tom to get off the planet, there was no telling what was going on now.

Upon entering his ready room, he activated his monitor and accessed a secure channel to Admiral Maddigan. Now, he was waiting and had been for almost ten minutes. ''What could the Admiral be doing? I thought this was a priority mission?'' Tom was sitting for almost five minutes when the screen finally changed from the Starfleet emblem, but it wasn’t Admiral Maddigan he was looking at. “I’m sorry, Commander, but I think my message has been sent to the wrong person.”

“No, Captain O’Flagherty, you are in the right place. My name is Hollingsworth and I’m the adjutant to Admiral Farraday. Your message was re-routed to Earth. This is a secure connection.” Hollingsworth looked completely impassive, and more than a little bit smug.

“Earth? What is going on here?”

“Captain, that is need to know. I take it your meeting with the Kodana and Sar’goth did not go well, judging by the look of your uniform.”

“No, it did not. General Valtaun and his XO are dead, the Sar’goth task force that was sent to Kodana was destroyed and I had to escape from wrongful imprisonment along with my Security Chief.” Tom was getting annoyed. He didn’t like getting the run-around from piss-ant adjutants. “My ship is in the line of fire, Commander, I believe I have a need to know.”

“The Admiral sees it differently, sir.” Hollingsworth still looked nonplussed as he scanned a padd on the desk. “We are proceeding to plan ‘B.’”

“There’s a plan ‘B?’” Tom asked incredulously. “I didn’t realize we had a contingency for planet getting wiped off the map by an ally.

“Very funny, Captain,” Hollingsworth replied dryly. “You and your crew are to stop the Sar’goth. They have dispatched a fleet to Kodana. Their intention is to pound the people into submission. This is your mission, and yours alone.”

“So, reinforcements are going to take care of Kodana, or are we declaring it a restricted planet?”

“There are no reinforcements, and Kodana needs to have their weapons neutralized.” Hollingsworth leaned on the table to drive his point home. “You are to neutralize this situation by any means necessary. These orders are from the Chief of Starfleet Operations and not to leave your Ready Room. There will be no record of this communication, understood.”

“No,” Tom responded quickly. “Not until I see the Admiral and she tells me this.”

“That’s not going to happen. These are the Admiral’s orders and you will follow them or face a court-martial.”

“Then I want them in writing.”

“That’s not going to happen either,” Hollingsworth said through a chuckle. “You will not keep any records of your mission and you will destroy all the personal logs of your senior staff. This is a black operation.”

“Listen here, Commander.” Tom was mad now. Something was going on. “I want some answers from someone if you are going to put my crew at...” The screen went black before he was able to complete his statement. Hollingsworth had put Tom on edge. There was more to this situation than met the eye. He just hoped he didn’t end up holding the bag when this situation was over.

A post featuring Commander Hollingsworth...the jackal.
 * 12-29-2012, 12:35 PM

Tom O'Flagherty Ward Room

When Tom walked through the large blast doors, he was wearing a new uniform, the other having tears and dust on it from his time on Kodana. The rest of the staff were already gathered and speaking amongst themselves. Walking straight to his chair at the head of the table, he called everyone to order with one word. “Report.”

Zara turned around and faced the Captain. “Medical reports a handful of minor casualties,” She answered, being as succinct as possible. “two or three more serious injuries, but nothing we can’t handle and no fatalities.”

Draka set his PADD down, looking towards the Captain,”Tactical is a mixed bag sir... weapons systems are at one hundred percent but shields are still being worked on. If pressed, right now, I could give you fifty one percent shields but that figure is climbing as Engineering works on the emitter arrays.”

Lebowski looked up at the Captain. His expression one of repressed disdain for the man. “I’m down one cadet, but I’m told she should be up soon. The department is drilling on protocol as per your orders.”

Johanna Mari was next. “Operations has power distribution down four percent, but that is without any back up systems. All others are optimal.”

Ayla Cressida stepped up next, "Engineering has crews all over the ship. Along with the shield emitters that Lieutenant Colok mentioned, the Structural Division is working on stress the hull sustained during our orbital maneuvers. Right now the SIF is down to 80%, as well the quantum slipstream is offline. Most likely it will take a week to repair the damage to the deflector in order to get back underway."

"Lieutenant," Tom said, "where is Commander Rahner?"

"I don't know, sir. After repeated attempts to contact him, I decided to come myself so that someone would be here."

“You...don’t know?” Chris asked, incredulously. Ayla looked as if she was searching for an answer but the captain spoke before she could find one.

"Fine," Tom straightened his jacket as he resituated himself. ""It would seem that we have stumbled into, or helped cause, a catastrophe. The Sar'goth are most likely going to wipe Kodana off the interstellar map. Too bad for them, I think we should stop it. Tolain is mentally unstable and allowing an entire planet to suffer for his instability is not acceptable."

Looking around the table, Tom waited to see if everyone was onboard with his assessment. There were some questioning expressions but all looked to support him. "We need to know what we are up against. Any speculations?"

“Those were Federation technology planet based phaser weapons... equal to what most of the Fleet can bring to bear. They also seemed to have our database of evasive maneuvers loaded up. Something is very wrong here. As for dealing with it, everything depends. If the weapons are located within population centers, any attempts to destroy them orbitally will cause untold devastation to the surrounding populous... if the weapons are isolated from the towns and cities... we have more leeway. Also, we didn’t have the chance to fire back so we don’t know if they have defensive shields covering their weapons. If they do we might have to resort to torpedos to rapidly take down the shields to take out the phasers. Again, in a population center that would be unacceptably messy.”, Draka said, laying out the information calmly and matter of factly.

“Let’s assume the weapons have shields. It’s not proven, but it will mitigate any unneeded time delays if we were to encounter something we can’t quickly defeat.” Tom entered notes on a padd before turning back to the table. “How powerful are these weapons, more specifically? Apparently, we took some shots from them and can judge their power from that.”

“If Lieutenant Colok is correct about these being Federation weapons, then they are planetary installations. Most likely capable of taking on anything short of an entire fleet.” Ayla Cressida looked around, not used to her new setting. The nervousness was plain on her face.

“Our best bet when going back, initially, if that’s the plan is to bear in towards the planet while enacting evasive maneuvers. Nothing that’s in the computer, preset, as they have those already. When they fire we select one of the phaser installations, and give it a full barrage of phaser fire. if that’s sufficient to take the weapon down we proceed to engage more of the ground based weapons to create a safe zone in orbit to operate out of. Once their secret weapons are negated, they will be more likely to negotiate, I am sure.”, Draka said, glancing about to see if that’s the general consensus.

“I may have some information that could help us here.” It was Lt. Solari, the chief science officer’s turn to speak up. He had remained mostly silent during meeting. “My team took scans of the surface and what was happening in orbit while we were tumbling around like a can floating on the ocean.” Some looked confused at his analogy. “Those weapons completely destroyed that Sar’goth task force. Though the Atlas is more maneuverable than those cruisers, we probably won’t last long. On the surface, those weapons were spread out over different continents, and they require a vast amount of power.”

Activating his padd, he brought up a holographic display in the middle of the room that displayed the surface emplacements and their areas of coverage. “They way things are situated, these weapons can cover every angle, with few if any gaps between them. While that does not bode well for the ship, the power distribution is a different matter.” Tapping commands into the padd, the image shifted to highlight a smaller number of structures. “These are the power centers that are dedicated to the weapons systems. Each one powers the weapons on a different continent. They are most likely not covered by the shields from the weapons, unless there is a new shield system out their they borrowed. These would be more viable targets.”

“Try and put some boots on the ground,” Chris nodded. “This time we would have the initiative.”

Draka nodded as he considered the plan. He studied the projected image before speaking,”That might be the best, safest course of action. Knock out the power stations with ground teams.. then when the shields drop and the weapons are unable to fire we can have the choice whether we wish to disable them via orbital bombardment.”

“My teams can handle it, sir. We can begin small-unit exercises as soon as we close this meeting.” Jackson Lebowski didn’t look up from his padd as he threw out his information. “We can put demolitions experts in every unit as well as some of our special tactics personnel.”

“Noted.” Tom responded. “I think we need some more experience on this one. After we dismiss, come to the Ready Room and we will pull some personnel files.”

Lebowski started to grumble, but Lt. Mari spoke over him. “Sir, how are we going to get these teams on the surface if we can’t stay in orbit without getting atomized? Shuttles would be smaller targets, but couldn’t take as much damage.”

“Good point.” Tom had a feeling this was going to be part of the issue. “We are going to have to transport them to the surface while the ship travels through the system at warp.”

The room fell silent, everyone looking around trying to see if there was an answer among the group. Finally, P’Rim spoke up, with typical Vulcan detachment, “Sir, at those speeds, patterns would have to be stored in the buffer before entering the system, and then simultaneously transported while the ship is over the northern pole of the planet. The chance for catastrophe would be above the acceptable Starfleet limit for such an operation.”

“How do we boost our ability to transport these teams to the surface?”

“We would need some sort of orbital interface,” replied Lt. Solari. “If we think that there sensors are as advanced as ours, whether they are or not, then the Atlas is too big to sit over the normal blind spot of the pole without being detected. We would need something smaller, yet still more advanced than a probe. Something that can receive a single transporter signal and then redistribute the smaller symbols to their destinations. It seems a shuttle would be the best bet.”

“We could reconfigure some of the science systems to receive the signals from the Atlas and target them like a large transport system,” Lt. Cressida added. “It would require two people to operate, and probably some really advanced flying.”

“Lieutenant Vimes is the most accomplished shuttle pilot on the ship.” P’Rim, though still as Vulcan as ever, jumped in like an excited cadet. “She should pilot the smaller vessel.”

“Good,” Tom interrupted. His eyes were getting heavy and his head felt like a bowling ball resting on his shoulders. “Begin your preparations. Lieutenant Lebowski, come to the Ready Room and we will get the assault teams together. Dismissed.”

A JP with Chris Vaughn, Zara Cooper, and Draka
 * 01-17-2013, 12:37 PM

Christopher Vaughn Ready Room

The captain and his chief of security sat across the desk from each other, both of their heads buried in different padds. Their body language displayed completely different attitudes. “I think we should definitely send Commander Vaughn, Lt. Colok, Commander Rahner, if we can find him, and yourself. That will give us experienced team leaders that we can fill with other experienced people.” As Tom finished, he looked up at the security chief across his desk. “What’s wrong, Lieutenant?”

“Permission to speak freely, sir,” Lebowski responded tightly.

“Granted.”

“Sir, why are you tying my hands? Since I have come aboard, you have been over my shoulder, guiding my training, and generally interfering. I know you are a decorated Security officer, hell, I know of Marines who hold you in high regard, but this is my department, sir! My people who don’t know who is giving orders, and therefore don’t know who to follow!” He said.

“You’ve made your point, Mr. Lebowski.” Tom said.

Lebowski continued to raise his voice, to the point of yelling, as he rose from his seat. ”No one can lead a department with this kind of inference!”

The captain jumped from his chair and shouted, ”That’s enough, Lieutenant!! Now sit..down.” Tom glared at the older officer as he slowly retook his seat. “I don’t care what the Marines think of me, and I don’t give a damn what you think of me. I’m the CO on this vessel and that means I don’t have to answer to you. How I conduct my business is my decision to make, and quite frankly, the reason I do what I do in regards to your department is because I think it is very lacking.”

Tom leaned over the desk, resting his weight on his hands. “While you did well covering and moving on the planet, one of your teams left a string of bodies. They don’t know their regs, and I will not take them into battle if they don’t know what they are supposed to be doing. Do you read me, mister?”

“Battle, sir?” Lebowski’s eyebrows arched up in surprise. The word seemed weird coming from a Starfleet captain.

“You know what I mean, Lieutenant.” Tom was trying to cover what he knew was a mistake. “I won’t take them anywhere if they are going to kill every possible target. Now get out of my office, I’ll take care of this.”

Lebowski stood from the chair slowly, his face a mixture of anger and confusion. Tom could see in the former Marine’s eyes that he doubted his CO. Lebowski didn’t say anything though. Instead, he turned on his heel and went straight for the door with a quick, march-like stride.

The door to the ready room opened just as Chris was walking up to it, nearly colliding with Lt. Lebowski, “Excuse me sir.” he said to the XO as he briskly moved around him. Chris watched the security chief as he moved down the corridor in a frustrated pace. Pursing his lips Chris took a step into the ready room to allow the door to shut. Tom had never gotten around to decorating the room, unlike Chris who had certainly made his mark on both his quarters and his office.

Chris noted the picture of Lisbet was gone; the stark appearance of the room seemed to match the demeanor of its owner well.

“Hey Bob.” Chris said idly. “Hows the wife...hows the kids?”

"Nice," Tom threw out as Chris walked in. "We have some serious problems on this ship. The security department doesn't know how to use a stun setting and its chief doesn't know how to lead them. I've got a chief engineer who is AWOL, which itself is an achievement in deep space. On one side is a fleet set to destroy a planet that shot at us and the other and admiral who wants us to stop it without any back up. Please just send me out an airlock now."

Chris nodded as he studied Tom. “It is a tricky situation, I myself was shot at. Well, me and the rest of the ship at any rate. Had it not been for my quick thinking you might not have a security department to bitch out.” Chris offered a joking chuckle, “I do expect that to be reflected on my performance review.”

“But on a serious note,” Chris crossed his arms as he spoke. “Keep in mind this crew is still in the teething phase. Most of them are fairly inexperienced and you have been pushing rather hard - not that they don’t need it sometimes, that shootout nonsense was well out of line after all. But we need to remember there is a difference between pushing and breaking.”

"Unfortunately, we don't have time for the niceties do we? This is a lot worse than our first mission together on the Gettysburg, which I thought was absolutely ridiculous. They are just going to have to deal with it."

“Whatever.” Chris said in exasperation. ‘I don’t feel like arguing with you. About Gerhardt, how exactly have we managed to ‘lose’ him?”

"That's the great part. He didn't appear at the staff meeting but sent Lieutenant Cressida, and she says she hasn't seen him in hours. We have a ship with battle damage and no chief engineer." Tom made a big sigh before adding, "What's next?"

As if the universe was conspiring against him, Tom’s commbadge beeped. He slapped at it with a huff of frustration, =/\=O’Flagherty here, go ahead.=/\=

=/\=Captain, this is Chief Brockman. I believe I’ve found your missing Chief Engineer.=/\=

=/\=Good, send him to my ready room, post haste. Also, escort him. I don’t want the Commander getting distracted on the way.=/\=

=/\=Sir, I think you should actually come here.=/\=

=/\=Excuse me, Chief?=/\=

=/\=There’s really no way to describe this. You should come down to my location=/\=

Tom looked at Chris with bewilderment. =/\=Commander Vaughn and I are on our way.=/\=

“This is all I need. What the fuck could be going on?” Chris followed as Tom rose from his chair and stalked through the corridor and across the bridge to the turbolift. Once the doors closed, he started talking again. “If he’s had another heart attack, I’ll revive him, and then beat him to death with a hyper spanner. Some of our systems aren’t even at full capacity and he’s galavanting around on deck 15. Goddammit!!!”

“Calm down.” Chris said casually. “Sounds like you're pretty well on your way to a heart attack yourself.” Crossing his arms he leaned on the back wall of the turbolift and let out a sharp exhale.

Tom gave Chris a sharp look. "What's got you so aggravated?"

“Me?” his tone was incredulous. “You're the one who is aggravated, not me.”

Tom paused a moment after the lift doors opened, looking Chris in the eye. He didn't like what he saw. Redirecting his eyes forward, Tom marched out of the lift toward Chief Brockman. He was waiting outside the act torpedo launchers, and when they arrived, there were medics with him. "COB, what the hell is going on?"

"See for yourself," Brockman growled as he keyed in the access code to open the door. Inside, all the sounds that were typical of a torpedo room were present. However, there was something else that wasn't normal.

There was something like a person humming coming from inside the room. Slowly, Tom and Chris crept into the room, eyes peeled for any movement. As they rounded a stack of inert torpedoes, Tom saw what the chief was talking about. In the corner, Lt. Commander Rahner was crouched on the floor trying to pry an access hatch loose from the wall.

“What the piss Gerhardt?” Chris mumbled under his breath. “Did you forget we have things call ‘staff meetings’ still?”

The German engineer didn't even seem to acknowledge the presence of his two superiors as he kept pulling at the access panel. "I can hear you. I'm trying to get to you, don't worry."

Tom looked over at Chris, both of his eyebrows arching towards his hairline. "Commander, can you hear us?" Tom inched his way closer to the man as the hatch came loose in his hands.

"There now isn't that better," Gerhardt said. He reached into the hatch and started to remove the other pieces of panelling, exposing all the EPS lines. The glow from the powerful electric plasma filled the room. Slowly, reaching inside the panel, Gerhardt took the lines in both hands and kept mumbling. "It will be OK. I've been looking forward to this all day."

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!” Chris said loudly. “You silly German bastard...” the engineer continued what he was doing unimpeded. “Lt. Commander - stop whatever the hell it is you’re doing right now!”

He didn't respond at all. Instead the German wrenched on the lines, trying to tear them loose. "STOP!! YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF!!!" Tom screamed.

Gerhardt didn't stop, but instead started screaming himself. "This is what I want!!! We will be together!!!"

Chris slapped his combadge, “This is the XO, bridge - I need an emergency transport from Commander Rahner's currently location directly to sickbay and I want a security detail waiting on him.”

As he was about to bite down on the EPS line, he was frozen in place by the confining beam of the transporter as whine of the machine removed him from the EPS trunk. Tom stepped forward and replaced all of the damage that Gerhardt had just caused. “What the hell was that about?” Chief Brockman was standing at the door, his facial expressions still seemed to register more that he was pissed than concerned. Tom didn’t know whether the old NCO ever felt anything other than being pissed about his daily routine being broken.

Regardless, Tom walked out of the small room without responding. Once he got out into the corridor, he stopped. The medics had already cleared out to get to sickbay in order to help with Gerhardt’s appearance. Down below, Tom was fuming. Things seemed to be spiraling out of control, and officers who were supposed to be “squared away” were falling apart at the seams. “This is utter bullshit!!!!” Tom roared as he punched the wall.

Rubbing his temples Chris watched Tom strike the wall, “Really? This isn’t a Klingon warship Tom, you think punching the wall is going to help? Jesus, you're just a step away from me finding you gnawing on a power conduit too.”

In one smooth movement, Tom turned and with a clinched fist, caught Chris squarely on the jaw. “Fuck you, Chris!’

The blow caught Chris completely by surprise, His head snapped to the right and he had to take an unsteady step to keep from losing his balance and dropping to the deck. The entire corridor spun and colors swirled at the edges of his sight, “Son of a bitch.”

Without warning he spun back around throwing his entire torso behind his hook which landed firmly on the corner of Tom’s eye. As Tom staggered backward he shook the pain from his punching hand and rubbed his throbbing jaw.

Water exploded in Tom’s eyes as his body reacted to the punch. Quick steps, plus the wall, kept him from losing his feet. “You bastard.” Shoving off with his left arm, he lowered his shoulder and charged Chris, catching him directly in the gut. They both hit the floor with a bone-jarring crash, Tom on top, but Chris still pounding at him with his fists.

Chris rained in blows against Tom’s ribs but they did little to stop the determined Irishman. A thousand questions screamed to be asked in his mind but there was no time, emotion and adrenaline had taken over. With Tom pinning him down Chris struggled to wiggle free as he came under assault but Tom had him firmly penned. Three blows to his chest and face struck home and on the fourth he sharply slid his head to the side letting Tom’s fist impact the metal deck with an unpleasant crunch. Shoving Tom off of him Chris struggled to his feet. One of his eyes was already swelling shut, matching the black mess that was Tom left eye. Before he could get solidly on his feet Tom’s leg swept underneath him sending him crashing into the deck again. He felt an odd shifting sensation in his shoulder as Tom lunged for him. Without thinking Chris’s leg kicked out catching Tom in mid leap and sending him back into the bulkhead.

Tom hit the wall and rebounded, raising his foot high, intending to bring his heel down like a hammer. At that moment a phaser beam impacted him in the chest, sending him flailing to the ground. The pain had taken the wind it of him, but Tom tried to get up, and another shot hit him, sending him into unconsciousness.

Standing at the hatch to the EPS junction was Master Chief Brockman, a small, type-I phaser in his hand. Chris rolled slightly to get a better view of the shooter. "What did you do that for? I had him!!!" Another shot caught Chris center of mass and he slumped back as well.

"Damn kids," he muttered to himself as he slapped his commbadge. =/\=Brockman to sickbay. Send the medics back down here. I've got two that need to be carted off.=/\=

Chris tried for prop himself up but the burning and tingling of the phaser blast kept his arms and legs from responding correctly.

“I said STAY DOWN!” Brockman roared at the XO while menacing him with the phaser. Chris decided to stop moving.

'''A fisticuffs JP with Irish Tom and myself. '''
 * 01-18-2013, 10:25 AM

D'Rel “The wrong ''brother,” Varys sighed. “And lost to her, in any case. She let the Imp slip through her fingers. I expect he is-''

“Y’know, you worry me sometimes girl.” Rube offered a split second after ‘arriving’ in the room. “You work a double shift to fix what the Bridge broke across the ship, you finally get time off and what do you do? Read.”

Adina offered a small sigh, “Or try to at least, do you mind?”

“Oh no, go ahead...”

With a nod of thanks Adina went back to her book, the great tome before her covering a fair portion of her desk, the wad of pages thicker than her arm showing she had a lot more yet to read...”

''-He was dizzy from the wine, tired and heartsick. ''

''“Your blood is the last thing I desire.” ''

''Ned frowned. “When they-''

“I just figured-,” Rube started again, “-you might relax, kick back, dare I even suggest sleep?”

“I’ll sleep when I’m tired, thank you very much, as for the others, that’s exactly what I’m doing, kicking back, and relaxing with a good book.”

“That?” Rube pointed towards the tome, “It’s huge, I’m fairly sure the manual to the ship’s core is smaller than that!”

“It’s a good book.” Adina repeated, “And it’s getting to a good bit, so shush.”

“Shushing...” The hologram made a zipping motion across her lips and stood quite still.

''“Questions would be asked, and the answers would lead back to me.” ''

''Ned had expected no more. “You are blunt.” ''

“A eunuch has no honour, and a -”

“Um, Adina?” Rube offered suddenly.

“Oh what now?” The engineer snapped. “I’m trying to read damnit!”

“Oh nothing major.” Rube offered, bristling slightly at the young Ensign’s tone. “Just thought I should let you know that the Chief was just beamed to Sickbay...”

“Gerhardt? Wait, how do you know that?” Adina offered, turning from her pages.

“Because the computer just tried to activate my EEH programming upon his arrival.” Rube stated, matter-of-factly.

“What-what’s he in for now? Has his heart s’ploded again?” Adina was on her feet now, book forgotten, eyes flickering across the room for her discarded uniform jacket.

“Records don’t state why.” Rube noted, her own eyes flicking back and forth as she accessed the information available to her through the ship's sensors. “Just that he was beamed from the Aft Torpedo Room on the XO’s orders-” Rube paused, her eyes flickering faster than before. “And now the Chief of the Boat has just called for more medics...for the Captain and XO...”

“Oh shit!” Adina managed as she finally located her jacket, struggling to dress at speed. “What the hell has the Chief done now?”

“You mean apart from knock out the top three rungs of the Command ladder?” Rube offered with an equally worried look on her face. “Not to mention bopped his career on the nose?”

“Worry about that later.” Adina managed as she headed out the door at top speed. “For now get your ass down to Sickbay and keep an eye on the Chief.”

“Girl, you know dang well I’m not an full EMH anymore.” Rube offered.

“I don’t want you to operate on him, just watch him! Stop him if he tries to take out Sickbay or something equally stupid!”

Rube nodded but kept pace with the speeding Ensign. “And where are you going then?”

“To Engineering, duh.” Adina replied simply.

“Why? You’re not next in line, leave Engineering to Cressida.”

“I’m going to help.”

The hologram laughed and shook her head as the pair stepped into the turbolift. “Help how? You’re only a damn Ensign, Ensign.”

Adina turned and looked Rube in the eyes, her own green eyes sharp and clear. “I’m an Officer of this ship, and my Commanding Officer- Officers are flat out in Sickbay, I’m going to my post to make sure they have a department, and a ship to wake up to. Now are you going to Sickbay to watch Gerhardt or not?”

Rube looked at Adina for a short moment before offering her a sharp salute. “Scooting as ordered Ensign.” And with that she was gone.

“Engineering.” Adina snapped at the turbolift, hoping inwardly that when she reached her destination she wasn’t just turned around and thrown back to her book...
 * 01-18-2013, 12:11 PM

LeChuck =/\=Comeoncomeoncomeon Gronthor, I am on my way to the shuttle bay!=/\=

Selina almost skipped towards the lift, not only did she have something productive to do, but she got to do it with her best friend on the ship. Even though everything she had been hearing about what was going on was...troublesome, she wasn’t going to let it effect her ebullient mood.

=/\=I am on my way.=/\= The Daugoff Rho’s rumbling voice replied over the comm system before the connection severed.

When the doors to the lift opened Gronthor was standing outside them, waiting patiently holding a toolkit that was dwarfed by his massive hands. He smiled at Selina as she stepped out through the doors.

“You appear to be especially pleased today.”

“Aren’t you? Isn’t it nice to be doing something? Something you think might help?” Selina beamed at the Daughoff Rho.

He grunted his affirmative. “It is indeed good to be doing something useful again. The science department has been rather...quiet of late.”

He gestured to the hallway beyond them and began walking towards the shuttle bay. “With luck though this mission will be very routine. No unexpected misfortune.”

“What about unexpected fortune?” Selina said with a grin. “From the comm chatter, both the Captain and the XO are in sickbay...” Her infectious smile broadened, “wanna stage a coup? We could take the Atlas for a joyride!”

Gronthor looked over to Selina and smiled in return. “A joyride would be very enjoyable. We could go exploring and you could show me all of the best planets among your Federation.” He paused, “I do believe there would be quite a few layers of authority we would have to subvert for a coup, however.” He added just in case she wasn’t joking about the coup. He was still having a hard time differentiating at times.

Selina stuck her tongue out at him. “Party pooper, the trick is to catch them by surprise...and what would be more surprising than us taking over, the lowly shuttle pilot and cadet!” Then, with a whoosh the doors slid open showing the shuttle bay humming with activity. “Or we could just do what we were told and see what happens...” she admitted almost reluctantly.

He chuckled and nodded his head, a touch relieved that she wasn’t seriously considering mutiny. “That is probably wise.” He shrugged his shoulders with a grin. “Of course, after we are finished with what we were told there is always the chance we could abscond with the shuttle and have a joyride after all.”

“YES!” Selina pumped her fist, then waved at the heads that turned at her exclamation. Continuing toward the shuttle, waving as if she were visiting royalty, Selina pulled up at the nose of the Antaeus. Patting it gently, as if it were a pet, she introduced herself. “Selina, I am going to be flying you today, and this is my friend Grothor.” She gestured to her giant companion. “I am excited to meet you!” She exclaimed and threw her arms around the nose, squishing it for a giant hug.

Gronthor blinked as Selina addressed the shuttle and introduced him. Perhaps it was a custom he wasn’t yet aware of. He cleared his throat quietly. “It is...a pleasure to meet you.” He ventured before he hesitantly reaching out and embracing the shuttle as well trying not to pay attention to all the gazes that swiveled their way.

Thrilled that Gronthor seemed to understand that it wasn’t just a piece of machinery. If it is, why then so am I, she thought to herself, she gave him a hug too and bolted toward the extended ramp calling over her shoulder. “Can’t just barge in without being properly introduced!”

He nodded his head and followed her up the ramp, ducking his head to get through the opening. “I imagine that would indeed be rude.” He was used to the idea that everything had a spirit, he was just not so used to addressing those spirits so...directly.

He reached the cockpit of the shuttle and plopped down in the co-pilot chair, mostly so he did not have to continue to bend down to avoid hitting his head, and carefully opened up the panel in front of him before stopping suddenly.

“Ah...forgive me. Should I have asked it’s permission before beginning?”

“No, no...you are fine.” Selina bit back a chuckle, happy that her friend was so willing to go along with, despite what others might think, she knew were eccentricities. That didn’t make them invalid, just tended to confuse people not as open minded as Gronthor was. “I don’t think I can be much help until we take off...but if you need me to hold anything, just let me know!

The Daugoff Rho nodded with a smile. “An extra set of hands will be appreciated.” He looked into the panel for a moment before opening the tool kit that he had brought with him.

“Now then...let us begin.” He said, not sure if he was addressing Selina or the shuttle.

A JP featuring the criminal masterminds of Selina and Gronthor!
 * 01-18-2013, 03:47 PM

Anahera Chernova '''U.S.S. Atlas '''

'''Deck 11 '''

'''Sickbay '''

ICU Ward

Anahera awoke in a biobed. At first she was a little disorientated, the last thing she remembered was the native girls face and the sting of phaser blast. Acclimatising herself with her surroundings, checked her shoulder wound, it still hurt and there some minor inflammation.

Despite her initial disorientation, her head felt clearer than it had in years. The implant was gone, she could no longer 'hear' its gentle hum, which had become shrill scream of late.

It might take a while for her to accommodate for the loss of the physical gifts it provided, but at last she was free of its 'control'.

She tried to sit up and a medical alarm went off. Followed by a nurse racing in.

"Cadet, try not to move." She said. "You've just been through quite an ordeal.

"

"I'm fine." Ana said sitting up and throwing her legs over the edge of the bed. "Fit as a fiddle, as they used to say."

"I really must insist that you stay in bed."

"Okay, but only if you join me." She replied with a wicked smile. "I could demonstrate how fit I am to you personally."

"That would be unprofessional." The nurse said trying to sound authoritative.

"Yes, very, but a whole lot of fun." Ana said licking her lips suggestively and starting to stand.

"Get back in bed immediately, Cadet or I'll call Security." She said in as stern a voice as she could manage.

"Oh, you're very sexy, when you try to take charge, you know?" Ana said as she walked towards the young nurse.

"Stay back, Cadet, I'm warning you, if you don't get back in bed now, I'm going to have to sedate you." The nurse threatened, picking up a hypo and loading it with a mild anaesthetic.

Rapidly closing the distance, Ana wrapped one arm around the woman's waist pulled her in tight and began kissing her. She gently pried the hypo from her fingers, with her other hand and then used it on the nurse's neck. When the nurse's body went limp, she gently lowered her to the floor.

She was about to leave when she remembered she was dressed only in a patient's gown and she knew she wouldn't get very far before someone tried to stop her or called Security. And her uniform was nowhere in sight.

Looking down at the unconscious nurse she realised she had her way out. Bending down, she removed the woman's uniform, and put it on. It was a little tight, but she only had to put up with it until she made it to her quarters.

Feeling bad about leaving the nurse alone on the floor dressed only in her underwear, the security cadet picked her up and put her to bed, kissing her on the forehead before leaving the room.

Dressed in Medical blue, no one paid much attention to her as she walked out of ICU, across Main Sickbay and out into the corridor.

'''U.S.S. Atlas '''

'''Deck 3 '''

Chernova/Ward Quarters

Ana stripped out of her appropriated uniform and stepped into the shower. The sonic vibrations soothed her aching muscles and the still bruised flesh of her shoulder. She began to feel a little light headed, but knew she'd feel better after a bite to eat.

After her shower she went to her room and changed in a fresh uniform.

Dressed she walked into the living area in time to be met by Virginia.

"What are you doing here?" The medical cadet asked.

"I live here." Ana replied deadpan.

"That's not what I mean and you know it, you were in surgery less than 2 hours ago, they didn't let you out this soon, did they?"

"Let's just say I made my own arrangements. Which reminds me could you give this back to one of your workmates, she was a cute, brunette human with sky blue eyes." Ana said handing her roommate a comm. badge. "Oh and tell here, I'm sorry I seem to have stretched her uniform, but I'll gladly give her the replicator rations to replace it."

"Did you attack a nurse and steal her uniform? No don't tell me, I have no wish to be an accomplice after the fact."

"You make it sound like I beat her black and blue and left her lying in a pool of her own blood." Ana said.

"For all I know, you did." Virginia replied angrily.

Ana looked shocked. "Do you really think I'd do something like that?" She asked.

"I don't know, you've killed people before. I did some reading about you, on the Emissary you put four crewman in Sickbay and threw an engineering kit at a fellow cadet."

"Someone's been an busy little bee. Those were cases were different, the crewmen attacked me first and the incident with the cadet was a misunderstanding and it's all been sorted out. I'm not some psychopath who hurts people for fun. Yes, I've killed people and made some mistakes, but that doesn't make me an evil person."

"Rationalise it all you want, the fact is you still harmed a fellow crew member today, someone who was trying to help you, that doesn't exactly make you 'Miss Sweetness and light'."

"And what was I meant to do? Say in my bed in ICU and wait for some doctor who's never seen an El-Aurian, let alone a human-El-Aurian hybrid, like myself to tell me when I can leave?"

"Yes." Virginia almost screamed. "That's exactly what you're supposed to do." She added as if she were talking to some dim child.

"Not going to happen, I know my body and what it can handle, better than any saw bones."

"And it's thinking like that, that gets you in trouble."

"I don't need to listen to you, you're not my superior, my family or my friend, you're just my roommate." And stormed off into her room like a petulant child.

Virginia just sighed. Why do I bother? She asked herself.

'''Escape from Sickbay. A post featuring; '''

Cadet Anahera Chernova

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/...s276/Ana12.jpg

Medical Cadet Virginia Ward

http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Virginia.jpg

and an unlucky nurse.
 * 01-18-2013, 03:53 PM

Kate Black '''USS Atlas '''

Firing Range 

Kate readjusted the glasses she was wearing and and put the rifle against her shoulder. She had been in the firing range for the last hour, hoping to shoot away some of the frustration from the failure of their last away mission. She put the rifle's sight to her eye, took a deep breath and fired.

After emptying another energy cell she put the rifle down and turned around, to see Peter leaning against the back wall. "Peter," She tilted her head. "how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to know there's something going on." He folded his arms over each other and looked at her.

She sighed " I messed up, ok?" She walked to the rack and hung up the rifle she had been using. "The first chance I have to prove what the Rapid Response Teams are about and I mess it up."

"It's not your fault the cadet hot shot. Of what I heard you weren't even there when it happened."

"It doesn't matter if I was there or not, I was responsible, I am responsible.... I should have seen it coming. We should have been more careful." She rammed her fist against the wall.

"I have the captain on my back for not having ordered the team to put the weapons on stun, but it wouldn't have made sense to have them on stun." She continued while pacing the room. "It was a rescue mission, we had no idea what to expect. What was I suppose to do? It’s not regulation for a mission of this kind to carry stun weapons instead of normal weapons. For all we knew the Chief and Captain were already dead.”

Peter just looked at her and let her pace the room, knowing it would cool her down. At least a little bit. “Katie...” he said calmly. “Stop that. You’re making yourself crazy” He made sure she looked at him before he continued. “Over nothing.”

“They shouldn’t have given me this job. Head of the rapid response team. I obviously don’t deserve it.” Kate raged on.

“If you didn’t deserve it you wouldn’t have got it.” Peter smiled softly.”You saved the Captain and the Chief, no one died and if I’m correct the only casualty is already out of sickbay.”

Kate stopped pacing and walked over to him. “Are you ever going to agree with me or do you keep finding excuses for me?”

With Kate looking at him with her beautiful brown eyes he did what he wanted to do for years. He pulled her closer to her and kissed her. At first she hesitated but then she answered his kiss.

A short cooling down story (ahum) between Peter Branning and 

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u...anner+Kate.jpg
 * 01-21-2013, 01:50 AM

Jamil Mrad '''USS Atlas '''

'''Orbiting Planet Rodan '''

'''Crew Quarter '''

The sound of incoming message was heard inside the room where 2 starfleet Ensigns where assigned to. Suddenly the door of the room opened, and a figure stepped inside, turned on the light, approach the sleeping person and using his hand start waking him up.

“Hey Roger, wake up. You will be late for duty, again”

After many attempts, the sleeping man opened his eyes, looked up and slowly gets up from his bed. He was feeling very tired and wanted to keep sleeping, but the idea of his supervisor yelling at him for being late woke him totally.* Changing his outfit quickly, he copied the received message on a pad, and quickly exit the room headed to his assigned position for the day.

The path to the transporter room where Roger was assigned to work this day was not long, but he walked slowly trying to finish reading the message received earlier. It was from a friend of him when he was stationed on a Starbase before joining the Atlas. Those days were great with little working hours and more free time to hang in holodecks, but in the end, he had the opportunity to jump into a starship and here he was, assigned to operation department with a tight schedule.

Transporter Room

Roger entered the room, replaced the Ensign who was manning the station, and start performing the regular daily status updated. 4 hours later, the transporter room start getting filled with armed security officer. Roger knew that his job is only to maintain and operate the transporter machine, so he tried focusing his attention on the screen in front of him and trying to suppress his urge to ask.

Moments later, the door of the room opened to reveal the Atlas captain. Roger never met him before and he was waiting to be assigned to the night shift on the bridge to be able to meet him there.The Ensign stood in attention waiting for his Captain to give the order to be transported. Minutes later, the security team exist the room and only the Captain and the Chief of Security stayed.

The Captain give the signal to start the process; Roger entered the coordination received, and later on, both figures vanished from the transporter pad toward the planet. Roger checked the screen to see that everything went as planned, and waited until his shift time was up and replaced by the next shift Ensign.

Tom O'Flagherty

Riding Herd: Chapter Two