Digging in the Closet: Cleaning up the Shoes


 * Tom O'Flagherty

Digging in the Closet: Cleaning up the Shoes ''Captain’s Log Stardate 64284.3

The ship is stationary in interstellar space while the Engineering department completes repairs to the hull breach as well as the warp core which had just been retrieved a few hours ago after being stolen by Orion mercenaries. I’m fairly certain that there is a saboteur amongst the crew, bu there is little benefit in performing a witch-hunt this early into our cruise. Instead, I will be having a meeting wit the Chief of Security in order to have him perform a more subtle investigation. Hopefully, we can find our rat before there is another incident.

Meanwhile, we must continue to our primary assignment in the Epsilon Indi system. At this point, the thought of performing a thorough salvage mission will be little consolation to having the experimental warp core of a ship on her shakedown cruise stolen. More than likely, when we return to Caloris, I will be placed behind a desk. In the meantime, I will act as if there wil be no change. The crew, while more than capable, needs no more distractions to their daily routines. That being the case, I have to meet with a Cadet about a disciplinary issue.

End Log''

'''USS Atlas Captain's Ready Room'''

With his jacket tossed over the back of his chair, Tom relaxed back with his feet up on the desk, a padd in one hand, and a glass of iced tea in the other. The drink had been introduced to him at the Academy by another student from Texas, and though Jack Hardin liked the drink with sugar, Tom had never gotten used to the way cold sweet drinks left his mouth feeling dry. So, he had learned to enjoy just the flavor of the cold drink which he found nice after a hard shift.

The padd contained an after-action report from Chris about what happened on Larkus before the Atlas had arrived. Conspicuously absent was the briefcase Tom had watched his XO give to the chief constable. That wasn't the most disturbing part though. Within the report was the account of the death if Prince Felix. Cadet Walking Bear had killed the shady business man, or at least grievously wounded him with a weapon she had picked up during the fight. There was little as to her other dealings with the man, and Tom worried that something had happened to her the may have caused some psychological damage. With the ship so far from Megiddo, light of staff, and not due back for some time, it could become a sticky situation where she would be unable to see a counselor. Tom wanted to nip that situation in the bud as soon as possible.

Laramie fought to keep down the feeling of panic she felt as she walked the corridor and approached the Atlas’ ready room on Deck 6. She realized it would be the first time she’d been to the ship’s bridge, and wondered if it would also be her last. Clearly she had made an error, or series of errors, on the mission to Larkus II, and though she was a science cadet, she knew she was also trained to be a starfleet officer, and there were specific responsibilities inherent to that training. Plus, she’d killed a crime lord.

The ship’s rumor mill had already picked up on her planetside escapades, and even before the captain had requested her presence Laramie had been told by people who’d heard it from people who’d heard it from someone who was on the bridge during the change from Gamma to Alpha shift that her CO was none too pleased with the death she’d dealt on her first away mission.

Entering the bridge, she paused, took a deep breath, and held it. Johanna Mari, the ship’s Chief Operations Officer, was seated in the captain’s chair, and turned to regard the cadet.

“Captain O’Flagherty’s waiting for you cadet,” she said in a neutral tone. She motioned with her head. “That way.”

Laramie exhaled. “Aye sir,” she replied in a small voice. Moving over to the doors, she moved through as they opened automatically, then closed behind her as she stood to attention in front of her seated CO.

“Cadet Walking Bear reporting as ordered, sir,” she said.

Tom put his feet on the floor and motioned for the cadet to take the chair across from him at the desk. "Cadet, the after-action report is a little troubling..."

“It was an accident, sir!” blurted Laramie. Quickly regaining her composure, she squared her shoulders and began again. “Sir, if this is about me shooting Prince Felix, I would like to state for the record that I was in possession of a firearm of alien design that I had obtained during the firefight between the away team, Larkus security, and Felix’s crew. I observed a reptilian alien, a Pahkwa-than I believe, preparing to open fire on the away team with a rifle from an elevated position. I shouted a warning to the rest of the crew, and the weapon in my hand sort of...discharged. And... blew a hole through Prince Felix. But I was aiming for the Pahkwa-than. Or I would have been, if I’d been meaning to shoot. I’m not sure what my intention was. Mainly to shout a warning. The rest... just... kind of happened.” She paused for a moment. When Tom didn’t reply, she added, “That is what this is about, right? It’s not about me calling the Brikar a dick, is it? Because he was, sir. He was being a dick.”

His eyes went wide at her out-burst. Tom hadn't expected everything to come tumbling out so quickly, and so he sat there, leaning over his desk in awed silence for several seconds before he started to laugh. The laugh grew into a guffaw as he titled his head back and looked at the ceiling, but when he regained his composure, the cadet at his desk didn't look so comfortable. "Sorry. That is partly what this is about. Not the Brikar, though. The shooting of Prince Felix. Where was your Mk. 23?"

“Sir, I’m not even sure I could identify an Mk 23. I wasn’t issued a weapon went we went down, because Finch, sorry, PFC Amy Finch from Medical, and I were sent by Commander Vaughn to do reconnaissance. We made contact with Prince Felix and got hired by him to work as couriers in the event he won the warp core at the auction. Which he did. I guess you know the rest.”

Tom thought for a moment, letting the different parts of the report gel with Laramie's words. "Cadet, did you mean to go on a dangerous away mission, and participate in a reconnaissance assignment completely unarmed? That violates first contact protocol."

“No sir,” said the cadet. “PFC Finch and I had phasers concealed in our jackets when we began the reconnaissance, but we left them in the shuttle when we went to meet with Prince Felix. We didn’t want to be carrying Federation weaponry in case we were searched.”

"I see." Tom slid the padd away toward the side of the desk and took another sip from his iced tea. "Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like something to drink?"

Laramie shook her head. “No, sir. Thank you.”

As he put the glass down, Tom looked at her for a long second, trying to get a better read off the cadet whom he had not met before. Her testimony to the events of the past several hours were interesting, to say the least. It seemed like she had a better than adequate grasp of her field, and that interested him greatly. "You know, Cadet, many people haven't seen a Pakhwa-Than, with their being such a new member to the Federation. And I've personally never seen a Brikar before. What other species did you encounter while on Larkus?"

Unconsciously, Laramie bit one corner of her lower lip and squinted her right eye while she thought. “Let’s see... besides Felix the Pakhwa-than and the Brikar, and the Humans of course, on the floor there was...” she pictured the auction in her head. “There were four Ferengi, a pair of Nausicaans, a pair of Anticans, a Klingon, a Kressari, three Lurians, eight Orions, and I’m pretty sure two Cardassian. Wait. No, they were Miradorn. Twin sisters.” She looked at the captain. “Why, is that important?”

“I wanted to know how capable you are with your field.” Tom stood from his chair and walked around the desk to face the Cadet. “Now, this is your Cadet Cruise, but I think I might be able to find a use for you when that is up. Would you like to stay aboard the Atlas?”

Laramie swallowed hard. “Yes, sir. I’d like that very much, sir. I think I’m a qualified biologist sir, even if I haven’t had a chance to prove it yet. But given the chance...” She shrugged. “I think I’d be a good addition to the science department, sir.”

"Good!" Tom replied with enthusiasm. "This ship is going to be tasked with exploring the Gamma Quadrant, and that means first contact situations." He bent down and took another padd from his desk to hand to the Cadet. "It's not official, with your rank of Cadet it can't be, but I would like you to be the First Contact Specialist for the Atlas. That means you will be giving the senior staff briefings before every first contact mission. Any questions?"

Creasing her brow, Laramie picked up the padd. “What? Yes! Why?” She alternated between looking at the data on the padd and looking up at her CO. “Captain, I’m a scientist! I work alone! I like research and data! I’m not a public speaker! I can’t... I mean... First Contact Specialist?” She tabbed to the next page of data. “Like, I’d be the go-to person if we discovered a new species, or a species we haven’t contacted yet?” She looked up to see Tom nod as he took another sip from his drink. “I’d get first crack at them?” Tom calmly nodded again. “Could someone else do the briefing part?” Tom shook his head. “Fu...dge.”

Steeling herself and taking a deep breath, Laramie gripped the padd tightly in her hand. “Yes sir. I’d be honored.”

A JP with the marvelous Laramie Walking Bear
 * 08-15-2011, 05:49

Gerhardt Rahner '''USS Atlas Chief Engineer's Office'''

"Coffee, black. No, hold," Gerhardt said at the replicator in his office. He had spent his entire career as an engineer drinking black coffee to get him through the long hours and often tedious work of maintaining a ship. But he had his health to consider and, with a conversation between himself and Dr. Ulrika fresh on his mind, he decided that his regular staple drink might need a vacation. "Make that an Irish Coffee."

That item has not been programmed into the replicator, the computer replied.

"What?" he exclaimed in horror. Is our Captain not O'Flagherty? "Coffee with sugar and Irish whiskey in a glass mug with heavy cream floated on top?"

The panel above the replicator opened an input screen for the recipe. Gerhardt sighed and input the instructions: 40ml Irish whiskey, 80ml coffee, 1tsp brown sugar combined; 30ml heavy cream floated on top. The replicator accepted the recipe, worked for a moment, and materialized the drink. Gerhardt carefully grasped the mug's handle and brought the drink to his nose. The cream muted the smells of the hot brew beneath it, so he put the lip of the mug to his mouth and took a sip, making sure to drink the coffee through the cream. The sweetness of the sugar and the broad stoutness of the coffee built on the intricacies of the whiskey, all of which would have had too much bite if not for the smoothness of the cream. It was damn heavenly, and he could feel himself relaxing.

He floated to his chair, closed his eyes, and sank in just in time to hear his door open. His eyes lifted and went immediately to the raised brow of Ayla Cressida. "Sir, I thought you were supposed to be laying off the coffee?" she reprimanded him. She walked into the room and sat in the empty seat across the desk from Gerhardt. "And what are you doing in your office? You're not on duty until tomorrow. Doctor's orders."

Gerhardt set the drink on his desk. "And where would you suggest I go to relax? Ensign Adams and her team have not completed repairs to my quarters."

The Chief Engineer's quarters had been demolished in an as-yet undetermined explosion just after the warp core ejection during their latest mission. The security team had filed a report to the Captain, but Gerhardt still hadn't heard anything. Just then, an ill-timed Crewman apprentice approached the office door and was granted entrance, a long box under his right arm.

"Got your special order here, sir," the yellow-shirted engineer said.

"Oh, fantastic! Just set it up in that corner," Gerhardt indicated the starboard-aft section of his office, which had been cleared out. "Thank you, Crewman."

The young man set to work immediately with the suspicious eye of Lt. Cressida set hard upon him. He set the box on the ground, opened it, and pulled out its contents. He unfolded a 7' long net on the ground with two wooden planks on opposite ends and the ropes of the netting pulled through holes along the planks then twisted together. Once he got the net fully open, the crewman screwed one eye-hook each into the aft and starboard walls.

A light of recognition went off in Ayla's head and she shot a wicked look at Gerhardt. "A HAMMOCK? What the hell are you doing having a hammock set up in your office!?"

"It is only temporary," Gerhardt tried to assure her. "Just until my quarters are rebuilt."

Ayla puffed her cheeks out, sputtered, and growled loudly. She threw her hands up and her head back, jumped out of her chair and turned to stomp out of the office. Gerhardt and the crewman watched in shock as she stormed down the gangway and out of their sight. She impatiently rode the lift down to the main floor of Engineering stalked toward the turbolift.

As she passed a petty officer on duty, she could be heard mumbling, "...a damn hammock in his office, let him! And I hope he hangs himself on it before he can have another damn heart attack that stupid, Teutonic...." The petty officer watched her until the turbolift doors closed behind her. He looked down in thought and, when he came to a decision, turned his back to the direction of the Chief's office and slapped his commbadge.

"Petty Officer Doogan to Commander Vaughn."

A few moments passed before the voice of a man who had been pulled from a deep sleep almost shouted, What the hell is it?

"Um, sir, you ordered me to inform you if Commander Rahner hung a hammock up, and um, I think he may have done that, sir."

Goddamn it! the XO rasped, As you were Petty Officer.

With a brief appearance from Lt. Commander Chris Vaughn, who was probably sleeping off a large amount of alcohol.
 * 08-16-2011, 07:38

Edward Pellew Edward sweating from his head to his toes, he had been working on repairing the power grids so that the damaged coupling s would not be overloaded. He was startled by a gruff voice.

“Pellew! What in the name of Spock is this!”

Edward hit his head as he jumped. “What the hell…..”

“Watch your language! This isn’t a damn seagoing vessel. “

Edward relaxed a little when he saw who it was. “Aye Chief. And what do you mean by scarin the life out me?”

Senior Chief Petty Officer Billy Sunday just shrugged. “Got to make sure you’re on your toes. And did you get those grids fixed yet?”

“Im nearly there Chief, did you take those charm lessons yet?”

“Naw they’re in the mail. Just get a move on we need full power if we run into more trouble.”

Edward went back to his work.
 * 08-16-2011, 08:41

Katie Banninga [In Katie’s Quarters]

“Katie” her roommate said. “Katie, wake up!” “Go away, I’m a sleep!” Katie said while turning on her other side. It’s been only a couple hours since they returned from the away mission. She wasn’t planning on getting out within the next few hours. “Katie, you’ve a message from some guy named David” her roommate tried again. Katie smiled. David. “Jah, I’m coming, just give me a minute” She dragged herself out of bed and went to the holographic viewer. Luckily her roommate was just leaving the room to go to the gym. “Are you coming later” she asked. Katie looked at her with a cranky look. “Forget I asked” she said while smiling and walked through the door.

“David, this better be imported or your in big problem” she said to her brother. “Let me guess, I woke you” David said. “Yes, you did! I just returned from an away mission and I was really glad I was finally asleep” she said. “Had a bad dream? What happened?” He asked, knowing his sister. Normally she would be asleep as soon as her head hit her pillow. She looked at her brother and said. “Let’s just say it was a very interesting first away mission” “Can’t talk about it?” he asked. “Nopes, by the way, why did you call?” “Nothing important, you just get back to sleep. You need it” he said, being a little worried. “Well, if you insist? Bye Dave” “Bye, little one” He said just before the screen went blank.

Because the chance she was getting back to sleep was nihil she went to the replicator. “A wrong coffee with sugar” she ordered. While drinking she went to her drawer to get her running clothes out. I’ll just run those thought out of my head she thought on her way to the gym.
 * 08-17-2011, 18:52

Jesse Baxendale ::Cadet Quarters::

''Cadet Log: "I've been feeling a little bit blown out of the water recently with my new 'job' i suppose you could call it. You never used to get this much action down at the Lush Lounge back on earth. I find myself thinking about the times serving on the bars and thinking that would be heaven compared to right now. There is so much going on and I have seen so much in a short amount of time its taking a little bit of time for my brain to comprehend what is going on. I suppose you could say I have stared death in the face but that would be over dramatic, I'll rephrase that, I have stared space in the face. With only a forcefield protecting the end of the corridor and the vacuum of space, I guess I'll be a lot more greatful about the invention of safety equipment in the future.

Seeing all that damage and hearing reports from other crew members about the action down on the planet below and witnessing people putting their lives at risk to save other people. It's truely admirable in my eyes. Thinking about it really has opened my eyes up to what this was all about. I thought I would turn up for my shift distribute power and make sure the toilets were flushing properly, head home and then out to party. I guess the brochure was incorrect.

Feeling a bit home sick now, I miss my parents. God I hope these logs are confidential, I'd hate for anyone to hear about my ramblings, if anyone was to hear this log they would think I was a right panzy. I'm not sure panzy is a real word but there we go I said it.

Well we have the warp core back, not that I really done much to help, I sort of helped where I could and done what I was told to do. I am not looking forward to the inventory reports I have to do. This ship has repair works happening all over the place with parts, conduits and uniforms that all need replacing I......." ''Hunched at his desk Jesse was talking into the computer console which was situated by the replicator in his quarters recording his latest cadet log when Dev Keegan, his room mate walked in. Jesse tapped a key on the console which was flashing red and ended the recording.

"I see you are hard at work again Jesse!" Dev remarked sarcastically.

"I'm glad you know hard work when you see it Dev! Where the hell have you been? We share the same room and I am sure I have not seen you in about 2 days"

"Do you know what Jesse? I am not even sure I know where I have been. This ship has so many decks and areas that needed attention I was just going from one place to another. I found myself asleep in a jefferies tube and awoke to my tricorder indicating another failure on deck 4. I think me and you are as bad as each other!" Dev continued to explain what he had been doing.

"Sounds like you have had a fun day! I've been told to report for duty in 30 minutes, I have the brilliant task of restocking supplies and inventory. This day is going to drag!" Jesse sighed at the prospect of spending the next how ever many hours counting star fleet issue undergarments.

"Well Jesse, You enjoy yourself. I am going to rince the replicator of its supplied and fall unconcious in bed." Dev smiled as he rubbed his eyes and plonked himself onto his bunk.

"You enjoy yourself!" Jesse replied rather jealously.


 * 08-17-2011, 23:22

Christopher Vaughn '''USS Atlas Chief Engineer’s Office'''

The hammock hung heavy, rocking gently as in a breeze. A right arm swung down beside it with a high-ball glass in hand. The drink was long gone and the ice mostly melted, but the Chief Engineer was too damn comfortable to bother climbing out of the hammock to refill the glass. He’d been like this for hours now, and for the first time in years didn’t want to go back to work. Fortunately, he had almost a full day before the alarm he had set went off to send him back on duty.

“How could I possibly enjoy this more?” he mumbled to himself. “Ah ha! Computer, find replicator file for the cigars Commander Vaughn smokes.”

No file matching that description is in the database.

“What? Lieutenant Commander Christopher Vaughn, Executive Officer of this ship. He smokes cigars, tightly-rolled bundles of dried and fermented tobacco leaves,” Gerhardt was legitimately confused.

Commander Vaughn has never placed an order matching that description with the replicator.

Gerhardt sat up in the hammock and sent it rocking almost out of control. When he stabilized himself, he thought over the implications of this revelation. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered in Federation Standard English. “That man is loaded.”

---

Chris moved swiftly through the corridors of the Atlas, even with the weeks he had been signed to the ship he still found the mostly empty corridors of the lightly staffed ship to be disconcerting. He hadn’t exactly felt like rushing down to engineering to deal with his workaholic chief engineer but he also refused to see the gear head give himself another heart attack. As he approached main engineering there was slightly increased signs of life. A few workers milled about finishing diagnostics on the recently installed equipment. As he entered main engineering proper he noticed that most of the crew deliberately seemed to avoid the executive officer as he walked toward the chief engineers office. He suspected they knew (or at least had some idea) why he was there at such an odd hour and they didn’t want to be collateral damage in the ensuing shitstorm. If the XO of the Atlas was known for something other than his wealth it was the unpredictability of his temper. One minute all fun and games, the next cruel and scathing.

Chris rarely found his services needed for solving minor crew scuffles as most Senior NCO’s and junior officers found it was better to solve most problems efficiently and quickly at a lower level rather than involve the XO and risk the potential fallout. While Chris didn’t mind dealing with serious issues he wanted the officers under him to learn to handle minor personal issues without him holding there hand every step of the way.

However

An ill behaved department head was very much the XO’s problem, and likewise the captain would expect the XO to handle it. It seemed a chief engineer hell bent on working himself to death fell into that bracket.

Stopping in-front of the office door he didn’t bother sounding the chime. He keyed in his command override on the door lock and it slid open without warning.

Commander Vaughn has never placed an order matching that description with the replicator. he heard the computer say as the door opened.

“Son of a bitch,” the engineer mumbled. “That man is loaded.”

Chris sharply cleared his throat scowling into the office. “Someone talking about the XO down here? Ja?”

“Commander?” Gerhardt’s confusion had grown to an overwhelming height. “What are... no, how can I... er, cigars?” He stopped his rambling, pulled himself out of the hammock, and gathered his thoughts. “Can I help you, sir? This is so strange, I was just trying to replicate one of your cigars, but the replicator has no information on them. Sir, do you have your cigars imported?”

What the hell “Of course I have my cigars imported.” he replied with an indignant snort. “There are three things you can’t replicate: good liquor, cigars and women - and you shouldn’t bother trying.” He waived his hand dismissively. “But enough about me. Lets talk about you.” Pointing back out to the main engineering he looked back at the tall German. “Do you see any cannons on the Atlas, chief?” he gave the engineer only a second to absorb the question. “Do you see any mizzenmasts, chief?” a second more before he cut the other off, “How about some oars?”

Gerhardt’s jaw hung slack, his brow was furled, and his eyes were squinted, but his expression could only portray a fraction of the mounted confusion he was experiencing that day. “Um, I do not think any of those items are on board, but I could double-check,” he answered while thinking, ''It must be a Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.'' He couldn’t decide if he should wait for the XO to make his point or throw a bit of his confusion back out in the world. “Sir, would you like a drink?”

Chris ignored the offer. “For fuck sake. No, none of those things are on this ship, and do you know why? The reason is because this isn’t a galleon. We don’t use oars, sails, cannons and we sure as shit don’t put hammocks in main engineering!”

“This ship is running on a skeleton crew with only a third of our standard crew load-out. That means two out of every three cabins on this ship are empty. Go down the hall, find an empty room and live there until yours is repaired.”

“Hmm,” Gerhardt thought this over as he walked to the reclamation bin and tossed his mug in. It flashed as the glass was obliterated and requisitioned. “I suppose that did not occur to me. I never have been one for practical, daily thinking. Computer, another Irish coffee.”

The drink materialized in the receptacle. “When I was little, my mother joked that I would find the next great scientific breakthrough and immediately lose it. I will find new quarters, just as soon as my next shift is over. Are you sure you do not want a drink?”

Chris stepped to the replicator, pressing the delete command removing the Irish coffee from the alcove. “Perhaps you didn’t grasp the subtext of our previous exchange. Item one: you will find a new set of quarters, not at the end of your next shift - R.F.N., Right fucking Now. Item Two, you will not be drinking replicated whiskey. If you want a drink with the XO then you will meet him in the officers’ lounge after you move into your new quarters. And if I have to repeat myself then I will find you a free bed somewhere in the brig.”

Gerhardt didn’t have to think, “I think I will join you in the officers’ lounge, Commander, right after I have this hammock removed. Anything else, sir?”

“Splendid.” Chris snapped. “Now, get your shit moved, I’m getting the Cuban’s and hooch, bring a good set of lungs.”

“Aye, sir,” he tapped his commbadge and wondered to himself, Hooch? “Crewman Dowdle, come remove the hammock you hung earlier. I will not be needing it.”

''' Part Two of the adventures in engineering. featuring everyone's favorite Chief Engineer: Gerhardt Rahner. '''
 * 08-18-2011, 01:01

Jacey Adams “I repeat again, having already said this in the last three messages I’ve sent, I am NOT dating anyone and nor am I looking to. Please,Mother- stop trying to set me up. I’m not going to entertain this deranged fantasy of yours. I don’t care how happy you and father are. If my soul mate is out there- then I’ll find them without going through every single male aboard this ship.”

She groaned, flopped onto her bunk and sent the message.

“Mommy dearest?” Her roommate asked, whilst walking into the bedroom, “You sure talk to them a lot.”

“They worry a lot.” Jacey sat up, “You’re off work early?”

Her roommate Apryl, who had a different man every month,flushed, “I just got back, I …”

“I don’t want to know,” Jacey said whilst clasping a pillow to her flushed face, “No details please. None, nada.”

“That’s right.” Her roommate laughed, “The frigid princess wouldn’t want to hear anything that might melt that ice between your legs.Relax.” Apryl grabbed the pillow, “Lips are sealed.”

“Have you exhausted all of Engineering yet? It’s making workawkward. I can’t keep track of who’s current and who’s not.” She sat up, “I’m new – I can’t keep offending people by getting them mixed up.”

“Funny,” Apryl said with a roll of her big blue eyes, “Hardly even started. Say…is your Chief single.”

The pillow flew across the room, “That’s disgusting!”

“You know what they say, the older they are the better theyknow how to press each button.” Apryl wiggled her hips.

“I don’t like to think of myself as a console.” Jacey got off her bed, “I need to go get some food. You hungry?”

“Sleep first. Food later.” Apryl climbed up into her bed, “Canyou bring me back some fruit?”

“Get your own damn fruit.” Jacey said with a snort.

“Then why offer?” Apryl asked.

“I’m polite.” She shrugged, “Catch you later.”

Jacey hated sharing a room. She missed her own privacy andquiet. Although with roomates like hers, given Apryl was one of three, it madelife very interesting.

“Onwards,” She mumbled quietly, “Onwards is good.”
 * 08-18-2011, 10:13

Laramie Walking Bear Laramie sat across from Amy Finch in the crew mess and stared.

"Who said what?"

"It's all over the ship!" replied the medic. "I didn't say anything!"

Laramie put her head in her hands and leaned her elbows on the table. "No, no, no, I didn't. I didn't stand up to a Brikar!"

"Well, you sort of did!" said Amy with a small grin. "And you did kill that Edosian crime lord."

"It was an accident!"

Amy looked hurt. "Jeez Larry, no reason to yell about it. People are staring."

Laramie's head sunk to the table top. "Of course they are."

Several seconds later, her head still on the table, Larry heard a male voice. "Hey, killer!"

"Shut up," muttered Laramie.

"Come on! You're the 'dick Brikar' girl!"

"Please shut up."

"Come on, Sure Shot! Wanna go to the firing range with me?"

"Why won't you shut up?"

"Look, seriously, I was just wondering--"

Laramie cut him off by standing up and holding up a forestalling hand. Looking at Amy, the cadet said, "I'll just replicate something in my quarters. I'll probably never come out again." She looked over at the man who had spoken. His uniform was gold, and he wore the rank of ensign.

"You're cute when you're angry," offered the ensign. "And apparently murderous!"

Laramie opened her mouth and raised a finger, blushing furiously. She stood that way for several seconds, then lowered her hand. "Sir," she finished, and walked away.

Exiting the mess and moving quickly down the corridor, she didn't stop as Amy caught up to her. "Come on Larry," teased the medic. "You know how it is on ships. Rumors get started, things get blown out of proportion, by this time next week it'll be something new and everyone will have forgotten all about this."

Laramie gestured with her hands. "See Finch, that's just it! I don't know how it is! I just got here! I'm a cadet! That trip to Larkus II was my first actual field mission! How the hell was I supposed to know the gun would fire? Or that Captain O'Flagherty would call me out for killing an Edosian crime lord? Or that he'd ask me to be the freaking First Contact Specialist for the ship?"

"Whoa!" interjected Amy. "First Contact Specialist? That's great! Don't you need to be an actual officer first though?"

"Yeah, I guess. I'm like, acting or something."

"Wow. I wonder if Lieutenant Solari knows. I mean, he is Chief of Science after all, and a xeno-anthropologist. I would've thought the captain would have given First Contact to him."

Laramie stopped in the corridor. "Shit. I didn't even think of that."

"It's okay, Larry. I'm sure the captain must've discussed it with him first. I mean otherwise, he'll probably think you're an ass-kissing cadet who used her first away mission to schmooze her way into a role she's not ranked to carry."

Laramie leaned against the corridor wall and sighed. "I'd kill for a drink."

Just at that moment, two members of Security turned the corner. With the ship running with a skeleton crew, they were the first people Laramie and Amy had seen since leaving the mess hall. From the smirking expressions on their faces, they clearly knew who Laramie was.

"Please don't," said one, a tall, dark-skinned woman. "This isn't Larkus II. We'd need to file a report."

Laramie sighed again. Her career was off to a flying start.
 * 08-19-2011, 00:03

Edward Pellew Edward sat in the mess deck reading his holo mail. He had received his universe super hero fan club mail and a letter from his parents. While most people cherished letters from their kin Edward did not. It was the same old same tired rhetoric that he had been hearing ever since he left Portsmouth.

His mom would say things like “Son now be careful to not disgrace the family name, be sure to stay out of trouble and by the way Lord Hood’s Daughter has been asking about you and you know how that would be a smart match.”

The part from his father was along the same lines but not in the same loving attitude. He’d say “Son never has there been a common sailor or space crewman in the Pelew Family. Please let me get you into the academy. “

This seemed to be the theme of every letter. Edward was the first in a long line of naval heroes to give up the position of an officer to be a common space sailor. Edward finished off the last of his coffee and walked back to his berth. The hatch slid back and he walked through.

After a two hour rest cycle, Edward headed to the operations department. At his station he found a stack of holo padds with his proverbial honey-do list. His LPO walked over to where he was.

“Pelew, the communications relays next to medical are being finicky. So get your English ass up there pronto.”

“Roger that Harrison, I’ll get right on it. “

Edward was exhausted he had only had three hours of sleep in three days but hell that’s what being a crewman is all about. Edward made his way down the corridor. As he came to conduit he smelled something burning. As he poked his head in, he saw smoldering wires. The whole thing was clearly sabotaged.

“Pellew to Security Im on deck ten behind the medical labs and…………………….”

Pellew was none the wiser as a figure came behind him and knocked him unconscious.
 * 08-19-2011, 18:09

Jesse Baxendale 1 Attachment(s)

Floating Dreams
 * Floating::
 * Somewhere in the Epsilon Indi System::

Attachment 683

Epsilon Indi was now a dark, desolate and unsavoury place to be. The only life forms around were the ones lucky enough to be in a secure star ship whose purpose is to salvage and recover what is left. Lightning storms ravaged the area surrounding the now destroyed planets and moons that once orbited each other, now all that’s left are skeletons and shells of what used to be. Transport ships, scouting vessels, family days out are what used to fly around in the skies but now all that is left are broken memories for those that lived and a whole new adventure for those that died.

Some would say you would be considered lucky if you died quickly in those situations but a few selected souls did not have that luxury and had to wait for their fate to be decided whilst they laid dying in their broken vessels. They tried to escape but it was to late, the destruction had its victims marked and they had no choice but to surrender.

A small delicate ship remained floating solitarily inside a mesh of metal and rock. During the period of mass destruction a small shuttle craft which was housed in a large ship was lucky enough to become embedded in the tangle and mess and for a short while had been protected from a lot of the blast.

One young man remained.

Alive.

His family had been taken away from him, died from severe radiation poisoning from simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The boy was 17 years old and had only fate to thank for him remaining alive, although he wished he had gone with the others. The only hope he had now was if someone would detect his life signs, which were fading fast.

His environment was cramped, small, hot and hostile. Noise could be heard from the rupturing aft section of the shuttle craft as the radiation from the lightning storms were breaking down the hull plating and seeping into the compartment. Blood dripped from the boys forehead from a wound that resulted from shuttle shifting in position inside the wreckage.

Meka was his name and was he to become another lost soul or a miracle survivor who would be remembered in history and broadcast to the universe.

He could not escape as the door to the compartment he was in was crushed, the only way out was for someone to cut him out. Meka was on the floor with his knees to his chin, praying to a god he thought did not exist anymore in the hope that he would be freed. He knew there were ships around waiting for their scanners to detect the best priced wreckage which they could then sell and make a fortune on. His survival was dependant on how long the oxygen generator would hold out for on the emergency power generator, it was on its lowest setting, to prolong Meka’s life.
 * 08-20-2011, 00:36

Jacey Adams Having the warp core back online was a blessing but the damage from their ‘temporary model’ left a lot to be desired. The ship was calibrated to deal with the effects of their specific core. How it handled stopping and going and…all the other inbetweens. When they’d stopped so harshly the entire internals of the ship had been thrown off.

Badly.

It always amazed Jacey how people assumed that a ship just flew through space. As if it worked as perfectly off planet as it did on. The truth of the matter was so different. As if one could just jump into a ship, hurl through space and be totally fine because they were protected by a giant round ball of metal.

Or not.

The science of their ‘safe’ haven and comfy walking space had so much more to it. Or so Jacey was learning as she got more involved with the structural areas of Engineering. Given their recent fiasco she was VERY involved in it. Bends and breaks were being found all over. Slight fractures in walls which, if not repaired, could turn into big big biiig cracks. There was, of course, a slight one in a billion chance for them to ever erupt into such a thing but one wouldn’t want to risk their life on it. Space wasn’t a place for a picnic.

"That’s the last four decks finished,” Jacey mumbled to herself. Her stomach rumbled, “Food…”

“Jacey! Thank god I found you! You’re impossible to reach when necessary.”

The voice of Rebecca Aubrey filled the empty corridor as Jacey turned to look at her, “Have you tried simply tapping that lovely little combadge on your chest? Saves you the red faced, ‘I just ran a mile’ look.”

Rebecca stopped, “ I think mine’s broken. Nobody ever answers me back on it.”

“Mm..Iwonder why.” Jacey mumbled. Rebecca was a lovely girl, but rather highstrung.She panicked for the smallest of reasons. Despite that, Jacey had been told that when calm Rebecca was a very useful engineer but in those other moments, when she was in panic mode, the engineers had built a small rule to save their own sanity. Ignore Rebecca.

Jacey,being new of course, had only recently learned of such things however as Rebecca was a part of her division that rule was automatically vetoed, “What’s up?”

“Well…see we have a problem.” That was usually the start of something disastrous. Those five words were Rebecca’s famous sentence beginning.

“Is it life threatening?” Jacey interrupted.

“Well…no.”She replied.

“Will it cause the ship to implode within the next twenty minutes?” Jacey asked inturn.

“Well..not exactly.”

“Alright then, I’m going to go eat my lunch. I’ll meet you back here in twenty.” She waved and headed to the mess.

--Officer's Mess Hall—

“Dude…did you see the shrapnel on deck nine!? Some idiot replicated a hand grenade waay too well!”

Jacey’s head shot up, “What!”

--DeckNine—

“I thought you couldn’t replicate dangerous objects!” Jacey uttered, in complete shock at the mammoth sized chunk torn out of her beloved bulkhead, “Why…I mean who…I mean…what the hell was that melon headed- shit for brains - completely useless – obviously I.Q deficient -morally unhinged whack job thinking!”

“I believe it was a ‘those’ and I think they somehow got their hands on some actual parts during our last leave. I guess it was marketed as a dud. Don’t blame them…after all it is an explosion. Men like explosions. The consequences usually factor in about…well after the damage is done.” Rebecca once again appeared out of nowhere, “Security’s sorted it out, they’ll probably be in abit of trouble for bringing such a thing on board. As for the bulkhead, we’ve got the replacement parts on its way. In eight hours you’ll never know. “

“Good for the bulkhead - as for me I am currently fearing for my life. What’s next? I always had nightmares about chainsaws….” Jacey looked around, “Fears aside, good work Rebecca" She paused, " I am curious though…how on Earth did you know about this before me? If I’m in charge of the Structural department…shouldn’t I get the call when someone blows a chunk out of a bulkhead?”

“Mmm..no.I knew before it happened.” Rebecca said with a shrug, “I overheard a conversation on percussion detonators between two security peoples. It sounded more serious than curious and I wasn't sure if they'd actually try experimenting with the old tech. I’ve been following them around for the past two weeks."

“How do you even know what a percussion detonator is?” Jacey raised her brow, “Security?”

“No..dated a Marine.” Rebecca smiled, “Useless guy – but at least I learned something.”

Jacey shook her head and laughed lightly, “You’re insane.”

“So I get told.” Rebecca smiled, “But at least now I’m not the only one. Umm..you do know you have mustard on your cheek?"
 * 08-23-2011, 12:28

Tom O'Flagherty '''Deck 7 Junction 21 Jefferies Tube Network'''

''That little piss-ant crewman is going to ruin everything. It's a good thing I was able to get to him before he saw me. This heavy handed bullshit isn't going to work for much longer. I need to get out of here one way or the other.'' Mason York had been able to over hear many of the conversations between the security officers as they continued their investigation into the explosion inside the Chief Engineer's quarters. Originally that room hadn't been the intended target, but it seemed the Germanic chief engineer had the same attention span as that of a 6 year old and had to pick up every shiny object he saw. It meant that what was supposed to be the escape plan for York, instead became a meaningless act of unintentional vandalism.

Now he was having a hard time getting a message out to his contact Marvud Tang since the Chief of Security, a man who seemed far past the age to be of use to Starfleet, made new restrictions on the use of personal communications. It seemed his ability to access the stellar cartography network from his quarters had been removed, forcing his small trip to the communications junction where the crewmand had last found him. Luckily, he had been able to escape before being caught. It seemed he would have to be more careful with his choice of where to send a message from.

That's what had brought him up into the far reaches of the saucer. There were little, if any crew assigned to quarters here, and so most of the systems were not used. There wouldn't be anyone working in this area of the ship, but the trade-off would be trying disguise the power usage. Since there was no one up here, running any system would show up on the Operations console as an unessacry drain. Slowly, he started to access different areas of the ship to re-route small amounts of power. Areas completely unrelated to even his position in the ship were used for extremely small amounts of power.

Once it was put back together, York waited for that part of the day at the end of alpha shift where the communications to Starfleet would be sent. The packet of logs and daily reports was loaded, and when the subspace radio was charged, he added the short message to the bundle but added a different address. It would be forwarded through Stareet arrays in four sectors before it would reach it's destination. That meant it would take Tang days to receive, but once there, it would be easy to decipher.

Only one word was needed. "Orders?"

A post featuring PNPC Ensign Mason York.
 * 08-25-2011, 09:46

Edward Pellew Edward peered over the railing, his heart pounded as he saw the sharks swimming in a circle in the water. “Alright you wet nosed pup. Walk.” Behind Edward was what appeared to be a pirate. The man was frightening with a long scraggily beard with beads tied in it and a tady old hat. Oh, and of course a huge cutlass pointed at his back. Edward stepped onto the rail and leapt. As he fell his head was pounding. When he hit the water he jolted up in a bed in sick bay.

“Geez boy you gave us a scare”, said the medic standing next to the bio bed.

Also there was Petty Officer Harrison who was Edward’s section leader. “What happened Pellew? I come to check on the progress and I find you on the ground with blood coming down from your head. What the hell happened?”

Edward had to think for a second. Well Harrison, I remember seeing the wires and they were melted. Then I was here. That’s all I remember.”

Harrison looked perplexed,” well, wait for the swelling to stop and then we need to get back to those relays.” “Aye aye I’ll get to it, as soon as this damned head ache goes away.”
 * 08-25-2011, 18:02

Jesse Baxendale 1 Attachment(s) Jacey stretched her arms out silently to the side. The day had certainly been eventful and she has hoped the night was not equally so. Her dinner, a three cheese pasta with shrimp and scallops, was half gone alongside her large glass of iced tea

“Sure is quiet tonight,” She mumbled to nobody, although it caught a passing waiter’s ear.

“These days, given the amount of work everyone is doing, early bed times are more frequent.” He smiled and refilled her glass, “Need anything else?”

“A bowl of chocolate ice cream would be lovely,” Jacey replied.


 * Deck 7, Primary Computer Core::

Jesse had been assigned an alternative task to this one originally planned for the day by Johanna Mari. Due to staff shortages he was now assigned routine diagnostic work on the main computer core ensuring the back up data storage segments were aligned after the amount of disruption the ship had been in during recent days. Whilst tapping on the console he noticed something strange which didn’t quite add up, the console flickered and rerouted itself to the communications array for only a split second and then returned to its previous state.

 What the...?  =/\=Baxendale to engineering=/\= No reply came. Oh forget it.

Engineering was clearly to busy to answer and Jesse put the console issue down to a blip in the system and thought nothing more of it. The diagnostic would take 30 minutes to complete which was just enough time for Jesse to throw some food down his throat before returning for the results.


 * Mess Hall::

Walking into the mess hall, which seemed surprisingly busy for that time of the day, Jesse took a look around the room. There was no one he knew. He hadn’t had time to make any new friends recently which was not good in Jesse’s book. He grabbed a plate of pre made food from the counter and smiled at the waiter as he walked over to take a seat. He had decided on a simple cheese sandwich which was served with a salad garnish, a garnish which would be left and not eaten. As he walked over to an empty table he caught the eye of a young female cadet sitting alone eating what could only be described heaven. Not looking where he was going he walked into the nearest chair causing his food to plummet to the floor in front of said ice cream eating cadet.

An embarrassed Jesse looked up from the floor and to the cadet smiled and said. “Oops!”

“Good thing they’re self cleaning carpets,” Jacey said, getting out of her chair to help him clean up the fallen food. With a wave of her hand she signalled the waiter over, “Another sandwich please, sans the salad.”

Jesse was playing the cool kid and just smirked at the waiter as he walked off with the garbage and to collect another sandwich for the embarrassed cadet. He turned back to see Jacey looking at him with another familiar smirk.

“Yea....I’m kinda sorry about that. But thanks for helping to clear it up” Jesse said smiling. “It’s not my style to throw my food at a girl I don’t even know.” He laughed and sat himself down next to Jacey, albeit uninvited.

“Do you normally throw your food at girls you do know?” She asked with a raised brow.

Clever answer Jesse thought to himself. “Sometime......depends on what situation I am in.”

“This makes me a little weary to get to know you.” Jacey added a smile, “Please warn me in advance if we’re getting into such a situation.”

“Don’t worry about it, when you come to one of my parties you will be first to know when the food comes flying” Jesse said referring to his days back on Earth. “So...I guess we should introduce ourselves. I’m Jesse!” He extended his hand towards the girl.

“Jacey.” She responded in turn whilst accepting the handshake, “Engineering, as you can obviously guess from the uniform.” She looked him over, as he was rather cute but from what he’d said, he was one of those pretty boys.

“Nice to meet you!” He smiled as he could clearly see the girl checking him out. He knew that look far to well. “I work in operations, slowly getting used to being on a star ship. How are you finding life on board? I notice no one has thrown a party yet”

“Toga party was scheduled in the Holodeck but the XO shut it down. With the ship in such dire need of repair, play time could get you solitary time if you shirk your duties.” She shrugged, “Also, there are those of us who came into Starfleet to avoid such things. “

Clearly not a party girl “Yeah I guess your probably right. Not really the right environment for a toga party, or any other kind of party for that matter. Maybe when all this is over and we have a full crew there may be more social events to attend.” Jesse said steering the conversation away from parties.

“I’m sure there will be,” She took a spoonful of chocolate ice cream and shovelled it into her mouth, “I’m sorry...” she said after swallowing, “I’m not meaning to rain on your parade. I have a habit of doing that...If you like to do things that I might not, I don’t have any say. I mean- provided you have just spilled your food at my feet. I still have only known you for ten minutes.” She paused, “Regretting sitting down yet?” Jesse was a bit dubious of this one. He took a look at the ice cream Jacey was eating. Clearly not a weight watcher Taking a second before replying to Jacey he smiled and said. “I’m sure I can get the party girl out of you at some point!” He said with a cheeky grin, he was kidding with her because he was trying to get a reaction.

He thought back to the moment he threw the food at the Cadet. “Again I am really sorry about the food incident.....”

“Relax, I’ve had worse happen. Don’t even think about it again. If I was the kind of girl who got offended when someone threw food at her, do you think I’d let you sit with me; let alone talk with me?” She put her spoon down and tilted her head, “What makes you think I have an inner party girl? I may just be a terribly hopeless case. You’ll soon hear about me I’m sure. The words frigid and nun tend to come into the sentences quite a bit.”

He laughed out loud and then realised what he just did. “Um...sorry I didn’t mean to laugh...you just said that so bluntly. I haven’t heard a word said about you since I have been here. Anyway you have to be yourself, don’t worry about what the others say. Everyone is special in their own way” He was using the charm card now.

“Jesse,” She laughed, “You’re not intimidated by much are you?”

“Not at all. It takes a lot, trust me” Jesse replied.They had been chatting for a while now and Jesse was pleased to have made a friend, or maybe acquaintance.”

“I’m going to be blunt again. I don’t normally make friends with guys. In fact I quite enjoy tormenting them.” She linked her fingers, “I bite, or so the story goes.”

“You don’t make friends with guys and you call yourself a nun.” Jesse smiled. “So by tormenting guys, do you think your succeeding with me?” Jesse could tell this girl was playing hard to get but he was slowly beginning to wonder what was going through Jacey’s head.

“Oh, I don’t call myself a nun. They do. I just tend to avoid all male contact. Apparently the two are linked somehow.” She offered a smile, “As for tormenting you, no. I haven’t had a reason to as of yet. Although, seeing as you’re a pretty boy party boy I can see you fitting in with the class of people I don’t normally have over for dinner.”

“Oh relax and thanks for the compliment.” Jesse smiled. “What’s that saying? Never judge a book by it’s cover?....Although my cover is pretty hot.” He laughed. “That was a joke by the way!”

“I apologize,” She nodded, “Maybe you aren’t just a shallow self serving person. I just assume all men are. My bad. So, want some ice cream?” She offered her spoon, “I don’t have cooties.” Jesse eyed the ice cream on the spoon. “I have a figure to take care of, ice cream will do me no favours!” He laughed. “So tell me, why are you so anti men? Some might get the impression you swing the other way....if you get my meaning.”

Jacey almost spit her lemonade out mid sip, “Women are worse then men!” She said with a laugh, “No, I’m just picky. People cooped up in a spaceship into all kinds of trouble. They fall ‘in love’ and ‘out of love’ depending on who’s around and what’s happening. Most of it is barely real given that there’s nothing better to do. As if I’d want to waste my time on an encounter that will ultimately leave me hurt and upset.” She then added as she scooped another bit of ice cream, “As for watching one’s weight, there’s a thing called exercise. Sometimes it can be fun.”

He smiled as he saw Jacey break a smile. “You’ve got to have a bit of fun though, even if its not love!.....This conversation is so not what I expected when I first sat down.” Jesse grinned. “Onto exercise, I love it. You don’t look this good without a bit of hard work.” Jesse said as he indicated his abs.

“Sorry for being not what you expected,” She smirked, “How many women love you for having such a nice well displayed body.” Jacey shrugged, “Most men have the looks but few have anything else equally fascinating to keep my interest. Or so I thought. You’re actually not torturous to talk to.”

“Well thanks!” Jesse checked the time and realised he had been speaking with Jacey for way longer than expected. “When do you have to be back on duty?”

“I’m done for the night.” She raised her brow, “Why?”

“Just wondered that’s all...”

Jacey cocked her head, “Well, before you get to thinking this will become any part of a regular occurrence. I have some work to do.” she pointed to the PADD, “And as you’re finished eating, I assume you won’t mind leaving me with a bit of peace”

Jesse was quite amazed at how rude Jacey had become at the end of the conversation. In Jesse’s opinion she clearly did not want any human interaction at all and he began to understand why men were put off her.

“Guess that’s my cue to leave.” Jesse said getting up from his chair and walked away leaving Jacey with her padd and Jesse’s empty plate.

“Hey Jesse!” She called out quickly, hoping he’d stop.

He contemplated for a second whether to turn around, he did. “Yeah?”

“You forgot your plate...” She said with a grin.

“Consider it a nice to meet you gift.” He sniggered.

She grinned, “Aww how sweet.” She picked it up, moved out of her chair in a single perfectly calm motion and walked over to him, “ But I think a man should always clean up after himself. Leaves a good impression.” She offered the plate.

There was now a plate under his nose and a girl on her feet awaiting a response. “Perhaps I like to leave an alternative impression, take care babe.” He said as he tapped her on the shoulder and walked out.

“Him...” She said whilst handing the plate to a waiter, “I like...” Without another thought she took her abandoned seat and turned the PADD on.

'''JP with: ''' Attachment 686
 * 08-25-2011, 21:43

Jacey Adams Given the silence of the Officer’s mess, as it was rather late, the small group of men speaking in exaggeratedly hushed tones stuck out as they approached her table, “Whatever it is, the answer is never in a billion years.” She said, not even looking up from her PADD.

“How’d she know?” A voice said quietly.

“You talk to her,” Another said, “Go on...”

“Come on Adams. Seriously, some of the girls are beginning to feel bad because you don’t show up.” Ensign Miller, a somewhat handsome but rather pathetic creature sputtered, “Just an hour and then you can go.”

Lifting her eyes slowly she smirked, “That makes absolutely no sense.”

“Well you’re so proper they’re beginning to feel...” He paused

“Whorish?” Jacey interjected, “Easy...”

“Yeah,” He grinned, “That pretty much sums it up.”

Placing the PADD on the table, Jacey interlinked her fingers on the hard surface, “Miller, if I wouldn’t attend a toga party because I have standards, then I sure as hell won’t go in order to help you get laid. That’s just cruel and unusual punishment for some girl I don’t even care about.”

The snickering and mocking looks from his friends were enough to silence any argument he had, “Ice queen wins!” He held his hands up as he backed away from her table, “Bitch.”

“Yep...that’s about how the story goes.” Jacey said quietly, picking up the PADD once again. It really didn’t bother her, the names and such. Even transferring ships had left little room to move. It seems that Starfleet, despite how vastly spread the ships were, still had an amazing gossip channel. It was a minor issue, Jacey wasn’t worried after all she could handle it.

Chris read over the damage report as he moved down the corridor to the Officer’s mess, work was proceeding, but the source of the damage was a concern. The doors to the lounge slid open and Chris made a beeline for one of the replicators.. He didn’t bother looking up as he stepped in, lighting his cigar. “What the hell is all this commotion?” he demanded. “Computer, coffee Komodo blend - black.”

Jacey, tucked neatly away at her table hidden behind a PADD, knew that voice and she held back a laugh as she peeked over her report. Ah, yep, Vaughn in all his glory. Cigar in hand and attitude in full parade. She’d kinda missed seeing it,. Wait, perhaps missed was too a strong word. She had missed the entertainment value not him per say.

Miller, who’d barely reached the doors, which had opened for Vaughn’s entry, replied, “Commotion, Sir?”

Snagging the coffee he flopped into a large overstuffed chair. “Take a seat, everyone. Seems we have a session of Rhodes Scholars down here in the officers mess. Who wants to tell the XO what he missed in conversation?” He lit the cigar and inhaled deeply. “Anyone....” he let a puff out. “Or will I need to select a volunteer from the audience?”

A light roll of her eyes, which were once again tucked behind her PADD, followed the gentle clearing of her throat, “The boys,” She pointed to them while still attempting to stay out of the situation, “Were just telling me about a small event they’re having in the Holodeck. They got a little excited.” She peeked over the small plastic device, “Isn’t that right Miller?”

“Yea...” He nodded slowly, “She’s just a lil to frigid to go.” A sharp elbow caught his ribs, “I mean..busy. She’s too busy.”

Chris relaxed in his chair drawing in on the Cuban, “Why Ensign Adams, fancy meeting you here.” He glanced back to the rest of the assembled lot, “So tell me about this little event. I didn’t notice an invite in my schedule.”

“We didn’t think you’d be interested, Sir. It’s really just a small thing. Nothing important. You know, crew just goofing off in their spare time.” Miller stammered and Jacey laughed audibly, “Shut it...”

“Toga party.” Jacey interrupted, “And they probably didn’t want you there, since that’d cut out any chance for their own...well...you get the picture.” She waved, “Nice to see you too, Sir.”

“I do love a good Toga party.” he smiled. “Don’t you love a good Toga party?” he asked one of the other junior officers who offered a nervous affirmative nod. “How about you Miller. I bet you love a good Toga party, yeah?”

“Its okay...” He nodded, “But we should really get going and leave you to your evening...” He looked to the others, “We’d like to bid you good night, Sir? Are we dismissed?”

Chris smiled, not offering any dismissal as he knew the other wanted. “I like hot water too. And gravity. Food and light is nice too. How do you feel about those things?” he asked the group.

“Necessary things, useful..” Miller responded, “What’s that got to do with anything Sir? Have ..we done something wrong?”

“Done something wrong? No, your not doing jack shit actually.” he barked. “This is a list of busted systems in need of work,” he waived his hand holding the PADD. “and you jackasses are heading off to the holodeck for a toga party, huh? Here is whats going to happen. For the next few days - until this boat is in tip top shape - if your not eating or sleeping your asses are finding something that's broken and fixing it. We have one third our allotted crew, and before you nod your little ensign heads and say ‘yes sir’ and then decide to scamper off to a party keep in mind I’m everywhere on this ship. Do you really think it’s a coincidence I decided to swing by the officers mess for my evening coffee rather than the captains mess? Get your asses in gear and move it! Adams stay behind.”

Jacey bit her lip as the others very quietly left the mess, “I’m not going anywhere,” She commented, “I wasn’t going anywhere to begin with and I’m working!” The PADD waved lightly, “Being useful, see.”

Chris let out a chuckle in the newly empty mess deck. “You should be an XO some time. This is fun.” he exhaled a long cloud. “So, what brings you to the Atlas. I was surprised I haven’t seen you sooner, been avoiding me?”

“A change of pace,simple as that.” Jacey stood and brought her lemonade over, placing it on a table before taking a seat in a chair adjacent to Vaughn, “As for avoiding you, that wasn’t necessarily true. I figured it would happen sooner or later, and I didn’t want you thinking that you had anything to do with me being here. I’m sure you have more than your fair share of admirers.”

“I certainly hope I do.” Chris said offering a pout, “I’d hate to think I was loosing my sex appeal.” Chris took another deep drag off the cigar. “Heard about the Emissary, It seems every-time I leave a ship in this fleet it gets destroyed. Odyssey - destroyed, Gettysburg - destroyed, Emissary - destroyed.” he let his voice trail off.

“I’d be careful how loud you are when mentioning such things,” Jacey replied with a tilt of her head, “You’re beginning to sound like an albatross. Not the good luck kind for ships either - more the one that hangs around your neck like a dead weight. Pleasant metaphor. isn’t it”

“Or as I prefer to think of it...I was the glue that held those ships together.” Chris beamed a large smile and blew out a series of smoke rings. “And without me things just came apart.”

“Or were better off without to begin with.” She added with an equally large smile, “I’m curious to see what becomes of the Atlas.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Well as long as I’m here I’m sure it will be fine. I wonder what happened to my old desk on the Emissary...” He raised and eyebrow.

Jacey’s smile dropped slightly, “Does it matter?”

He shrugged again, “Well....it was a good piece of furniture.”

Tapping her chin lightly she pondered her words for a moment, “You know,” She said quietly, “I’m not sure why you’d bring up that piece of furniture, unless you’re trying to gauge my reaction. I have nothing to say especially in reference to anything I might remember about said desk. As far as I’m concerned it was all a bad dream.”

“Actually, the most memorable thing about the desk is the fact I left a set of cufflinks in one of the drawers and was hoping to get them back some day.” he flicked an ash off the cigar. “As for this ‘bad dream’ nonsense - lets not be silly, they were great cufflinks and the sex wasn’t bad either.”

“With whom?”She said with a raised brow.

Chris furrowed his eyebrows and leaned in slightly. “Does that mean...you know who has my cufflinks?”

“I think I’d consider them long gone,” She added with a smile, “Probably a trinket now on some shrine devoted to the almighty, although highly exaggerated, Vaughn.”

“Oh...and what about the chastity belt you left behind. But by sounds of things I’m guessing it had a warranty as you seem to have found a replacement.” he offered a pleasant smile. “So you seem remarkably pissy these days. Whats the deal?”

Jacey looked about the room, grateful it was still empty, “Nobody knows about that... mistake but you and me. I’d like to keep it that way. Given how many notches are on your belt, I doubt that forgetting it ever happened will be a difficult procedure. As for...being pissy. I’m sorry. I’ve had quite awhile to build this annoyance up. To be honest, this is actually me being as nice as I can to you at this moment. Mostly out of respect for you rank.”

“Don’t want to talk? Well, you certainly don’t have to.” he reclined again and activated his PADD. “But I’ve been around the block enough to know that your real problem isn’t the fact you slept with me but is something else. But if you want to point the finger at me fine. I’m a monster. Most of the ensigns on board already think so and I’ll still sleep like the baby Jesus tonight.”

Crossing her arms lightly across her chest she stayed quiet for a moment, “You.” She paused and looked at a random spot on the wall before talking in a very quiet voice, “Call me childish, or whatever you want, but I thought you’d have at least said goodbye. I knew I was one of many but I never really felt like a nobody till then.”

“I didn’t say goodbye to anyone. I was given orders to a new assignment and so I went.” He shrugged again. “Sorry but I assumed you’d understand. Besides, I was under the impression it was strictly physical.”

“I’m a little new at all this,” It was her turn to shrug, “Perhaps I may have gotten a little too emotionally attached..” A small smile touched her lips.

“Well,” he paused for a moment. “I guess that happens sometimes, being the first time and all.” Deciding on a change of subject he glanced back over. “Still, no reason to bust the other ensign’s balls. Unless your into that sort of thing.”

A light flush covered her cheeks, “They’re a bunch of monkies and I get a small amount of pleasure watching them fall all over themselves.” She grinned, “Does that make me sound completely evil?”

“Please.” he rolled his eyes. “I’m Christopher Vaughn that practically makes you a saint.”

Nodding her head she smiled, “Very true.” She flushed slightly, “Well...now that I’ve behaved like a two year old who’s lost her favorite toy- I rather feel like hiding under a rock.“

“Is that so?”

“Well I never imagined I’d come off feeling like the one who’s just had her ass kicked. Whenever I played this scenario through my mind it was you who came out worse for wear,” She shrugged and chuckled lightly.

He offered a smile. “Well, I dare say its time for me to get something to eat and then find someone else to torment.”

“Well I’ll be here if you need anything else,” She stood and offered a smile.

Chris gave a slight nod, “I’ll...keep that in mind.”

Jacey flushed, “I didn’t mean...” She bit her lip, “I’ll see you around.”

Chris let out a laugh and kicked his feet onto the chair across from him, he watched Jacey depart and briefly recalled their time on the Emissary. Now the Atlas, the time, they were a changing. Perhaps Bob Dylan had been right. He pondered the wisdom for a few moments longer before his communicator chirped.

=/\= DC-one to XO...=/\=

He tapped the combadge, “Yessss.”

=/\=Sir, there is a minor issue with one of the work order schedules. Central DC needs someone upstairs to approve it. We could get the Cmdr. Rahner.... =/\=

“Nonsense, he is finally relaxing. I’ll take care of it.” Standing he looked at his reflection in the large window, zipping his uniform jacket and adjusted his sleeves he gave himself a satisfied smile and clinched the cigar in this teeth, “Hot shit rock ‘n roll.” Its good to be the XO.

A JP with the ever impressive Christopher Vaughn
 * 08-27-2011, 10:45

Adina Wolfe '''::USS Atlas::
 * Deck Twelve:
 * Jefferies Tube 34-b::'''

Adina sighed as she fished out another burnt relay from the power distribution node, “What’s that make, twelve now?” She muttered to no-one in particular.

“Fourteen.” A familiar sounding voice offered from her back pocket. “And you really need to stop talking to yourself deary, it’s a bad habit.”

Adina scowled and reached into her pocket, quickly finding and pulling out the mobile emitter. “What the hells Rube?! No, wait, don’t tell me, you thought you’d keep me company and slipped yourself into my pants this morning.”

“More or less.” The emitter chuckled, “You have been complaining about being stuck alone in Jefferies Tube for the last few days after all.”

“And probably getting me in deep trouble by have unauthorised tech on duty is going to help me out is it?” Adina almost growled as she replaced the relay. “I’ve seen folks get their asses handed to them for having something as simple as a medical tricorder, what are they going to do if they find a former EMH hanging out with me whilst I work, hmm?”

‘Rube’ chuckled again, ''“You were the one that pulled me from the Kentucky’s Sickbay remember? Don’t go pinning this all on me.”''

“Still haven’t got a thank you for that by the way.” Adina smirked slightly as she pulled yet another burnt relay. “You were literally five minutes from being purged from the core to make room for their new Mark III.”

“Yes well, those fluffs at Utopia wouldn’t know a good holo-matrix if it poked them in the eyes.” the emitter chortled.

“Yes, Commander Barnaby still hasn’t forgiven me for that either.” Adina sighed as she stuffed the emitter back in her pocket before closing up the distribution node and packing up her toolkit. “Now do me a favour and stay quiet will you? I want this week to finish without any more hassle then it already has.”

''“Well unless you plan on letting someone else steal your Warp Core that shouldn’t be too difficult.” her back pocket chortled. “I mean seriously, what more could happen?”''

“And don’t say fate tempting crap like that either!” Adina snapped as she slid from the Jefferies Tube, eliciting looks of confusion from a passing pair of Ensigns. “You’ve got my entire database of programs in that ‘head’ of yours, you know what saying things like that gets folks.”

“Come on, seriously?” Rube chuckled disbelievingly. ''“That’s all 20th century fiction, stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life. Watch.”''

“Rube...” Adina warned.

“What’s the worse that could happen?” The emitter uttered with a knowing chuckle.

A split second later Adina’s comm badge chirped. “Cadet Wolfe, report to Engineering immediately.”

“Goddammit Rube!”
 * 08-28-2011, 15:57

Edward Pellew As the midnight waned, Edward came on his shift. The DOC had given him something for his head and he was feeling better. He walked into his station when a familiar gruff voice came from behind him.

“Pellew”, snapped petty officer first class Harrison who was Edward’s division’s leading petty officer.

“Yes LPO, How may I assist you this fine shift?” Harrison gave him a look of indignation.

“The LT wants to see you pronto.” The man walked away and Edward placed his head in his hands.

“What could she possibly want; she has my report from the incident.” He got up and walked over to her office. He knocked three times per protocol then entered when he was bid.

“Crewman Pellew reporting as ordered ma’am.” The human female, Johanna Mari was very pretty but that sort of thing was completely frowned upon so Pellew just suppressed his attraction like everybody else. She almost coldly began to speak without even looking up.

“Go see Chief Patel in transporter room one. I need you to train on the transporters. Because we have a skeleton crew I need that manned when you are between communications repairs.”

Edward sighed with relief, “Yes ma’am, I’ll head there now.” Edward did an about face and as he began to exit she called.

“How’s the head?”

Edward touched his forehead. “It seems to be on the mend.”

“I’m glad to hear it, be careful it wouldn’t surprise me if this traitor bastard tries to pull more stunts.”

Edward responded with an “aye ma’am” and walked off. As he made his way out he made a detour to the crewman’s mess before heading to the emergency transporter room. He walked up to the replicator and ordered the strongest cup of coffee that he could. As he sipped for a moment his eye caught one of his crewmates. She was a blonde female with what he saw in his mind’s eye as long curly hair, though he could not tell because it was pulled up. She was slender with green eyes. She wore science blue. He knew that she was a recent addition to the ship but had not spoken with her though he seemed to see her constantly. Oh well now was not the time to go and make introductions he had to get to the transporter room.

DECK 11 EMERGENCY TRANSPORTER ROOM

“Alright Pellew, you place the coordinated in here then you move this over here and Roberts you fathers uncle and you have just successfully transported your padd from your desk to the transporter desk over here.”

Pellew looked astonished. “This is amazing chief.” Edward had never imagined that it would be such a simple process.

“So Pellew, what’s on this padd, your work one is over here?” Edward turned somewhat red.

“It’s some letters.”

“Ah good news from home?” Edward sighed.

“Ish, every letter is the same, you’re wasting your life, go to the academy, call Lord Hood’s daughter. You know that old chestnut.”

Chief Patel looked perplexed. “Lord Hood? Like retired Admiral Hood from the USS Poltergeist?” “Yeah, the same. My mother desperately wants me to marry his daughter. “Edward handed the Chief the padd with a picture of the Admiral’s daughter. “Wow, she’s one hot cup of tea. So what’s the issue?” Edward had a look of discomfort plastered all over his face,

“Well, she’s crazy as hell and a complete bitch. I mean…..um…she’s not my type.”

The Chief smiled, “ah I’ve been there before. Just take it from me and make the Atlas your lady and you’ll never be disappointed.”
 * 08-29-2011, 13:33

Katie Banninga [ Deck 8, 06:44 hours]

Katie was on her way to the for the change of shift. When she entered the Security office she noticed that she was on of the last to arrived. In the back she saw Peter and walked towards him. “You’re late” he said. “No, I’m not. I’m just in time” she replied. They supposed to be 15 minuted in advance for the briefing.

Ensign Joel, the head of the day shift started the briefing. Since the was running on a skeleton crew they divided the 25 crewman in two shift, both working 12 hours on, twelve hours off.

“As you might already know, the Atlas has resumed it’s original mission. To salvage as much as possible from the Starfleet equipment still floating in space, and retrieved the honored dead. We will arrive in a little over two weeks, so I wanna get started with the preparations. As of today were gonna restart with the training program on the holodeck.” As Joel turned to Ensign Takong, the head of the night shift, he asked “Anything happened last 12 hours?”

Takong coughed “We started preparing and controlling the weapons. We finished the phaser pistol’s and phaser rifle’s in the arms arsenal on deck 7. Only the Scorpions need to be done in that room. For the patrol team, Engineering is still working on getting the ship back together. If you see any problems please report it. And last but not least, our moll attacked a operations crewman. Please keep your eyes open for our moll.”

Joel continued ”Alpha team you start on patrol, Beta team starts on Sentry, Delta team starts on weapons maintenance and the Gamma team can begin with the training program. Everyone good luck today. Dismissed”

Katie was part of the Gamma team, together with Peter and two other crewman. When they arrived at the holodeck Joel said “Computer start program Joel Delta Alpha one Charlie” 

“Ok, this program is a beginning exercise to see what you need to improve. You work in two teams. The goal is to free the hostages and to arrest the enemy. Even though the hostages are holograms, no one can die. After entering the holodeck both team take one of the entrances, after that it’s up to you.” Joel instructed them. After he was finished they walked in the holodeck.

“If you take the right entrance, Peter and I will take the left one.” Katie said to her teammates.

When entering the left door they walked in a dessert like world. They were dressed in the dessert uniform with a rifle around there shoulder. “Not again” Peter grumbled. “I’ve already seen enough dessert on Larkus”

“Just stop nagging and start walking.” Katie said. “I think we should start walking towards that hill. From there we have a clear view at that castle. I dare to take a bet that the hostages will be there.”

“Yes, ma’m” Peter said with a giggle.

“Just shut up, you” Katie said and she started walking with a fast rate.

“Wow, what’s your problem? Put the wrong feet next to your bed? Oh, no, let me guess, you only had two cups of coffee this morning” Peter said while he tried to catch up with her.

“I don’t have a problem, except for a large lack of sleep.” Katie replyed.

“Ah, that explains a lot. Couldn’t you warn me in advance, so I could stay a way from you”

“Yeh, right. Like you would.” she said and for the first time since she knew him he didn’t give a reply.

[ An hour later]

They were lying on top of the hill looking over the valley where the castle was located. “Maybe you can send a morse code” Peter said. They could see the other team with the binocular, only somehow they couldn’t use the communicator’s. They were disabled. “Do you know morse code, because I don’t” Katie said. “I happen to do” Peter said and he started to sign to the other team. They were located beneath closer to the valley. Katie could see that apparently one of them also knew morse code. “And” she asked Peter. They are going to wait for us so we can come up with a combined attack.

When they joined the other team 15 minutes later, they came up with a plan. Peter and Katie would try to enter the castle from the right, while the other team would try from the left. After they reached the castle Katie stopped walking. “Peter wait” she said. “Look” and she pointed to the two guards that came out of hiding and attacked the other team by surprise. They were forced to enter the guards who were pointing there guns towards the two officers. Katie and Peter went hiding behind a bush. “Well, obviously that way is not a good idea. We’re lucky we weren’t with them.” Peter whispered to Katie.
 * 08-29-2011, 16:01

Tom O'Flagherty Bridge

Business was getting back to normal onboard the ship. The structural work to the hill had been completed with the replication of a replacement hull plate. There was already a report from Operations about how there was only enough left for two more. The efficiency of Lt. Johanna Mari was beginning to astonish Tom. It's like the lady was everywhere at the same time. She seemed to know about fluctuations in power through sheer intuition. Tom thought that was most likely the result of Chris's constant drills, which were the topic of conversation for many of the meetings he was having with the department heads.

It was Gamma Shift, but Tom thought he would come up to his chair and watch as the crew completed the most pressing repairs. They were far behind schedule on arriving at the Epsilon Indi system, but the time would have to be made up while traveling at conventional warp. Engineering didn't believe it to be wise to engage the slipstream drive with so many power couplings still in need of repair. With a skeleton crew, there wasn't much in the way of noticeable damage to the ship. A few replicators were out, like the one in Tom and Bet's quarters, but besides the slipstream drive, the ship was ready for it's mission.

Chief Phoss was taking the watch for Gamma shift with a couple of junior crewmen who were getting final checks on all systems. Slowly, each of the watch officers began to check-in. Operations was last, and when their turn came, a young Pelleran Petty Officer turned to face Tom with a serious look on her face. "Lieutenant Mari wanted me to tell the Officer of the Watch that they should take it easy. Power distribution is limited due to pending repairs. I don't think she knew I'd be giving that report to the Captain, though."

"It's OK, I understand that there are some blips on the horizon, and I don't bite." Tom flashed an encouraging smile that seemed to relieve the flustered PO2 as she turned back to her console. "Chief, set course for the Epsilon Indi system. Warp 7 if you please."

The Denobulan NCO flashed one of those uncomfortably huge smiles as he input the course and speed. His team of navigators seemed to have most of course plotted before Tom asked, but paused for a moment before responding to the captain. "Course plotted and laid in, sir."

"Good. Well, there's no point in siitting around here looking at each other. Get us moving, Chief." The thrusters fired, turning the nose of the ship around as it pointed to a distant star. Then, the warp engines began to whine as they built up energy before shooting the ship forward with a flash that revealed distorted starlight as the large Vesta-class ship cut through space. Tom smiled to himself as they moved along. He was pleased with the progress of the crew as they got things back in order after the run in on Larkus II.

When he started to think about location they were approaching, a cloud came over his face. Memories of the Xul War started to flood his mind. The realization of the kind of danger possibly waiting for them in the graveyard suddenly hit Tom in gut. He quickly picked up a padd and made some notes. It seemed that weapons qualifications for crew were progressing at an adequate rate, but by-the-book just wasn't fast enough. He made a note for Lt. Lebowski to step up the process. That would mean his personal qualification would be tomorrow.
 * 08-31-2011, 08:02

Gerhardt Rahner '''USS Atlas Deck 4'''

On his way from deck 11, Gerhardt had only seen two people. Now he stood in a completely empty hall, wondering in a fatherly sort of way why all these lights were on. It occurred to him that he should be grateful for both the lights and the environmental systems just before his mind wondered off to consider the massive amount of power being generated compared to the minuscule amount of power being used. This calculation quickly bored him and he drifted once more to thinking about... what was he doing? Oh, right. New quarters.

“Computer, Chief Engineer’s command override, open doors on all unused senior officers’ quarters on this deck,” he commanded. Every door he could see from his vantage point of the broadly curved corridor swept open. “Oh. Well, then.”

He stepped into the closest door and looked around the room. It looked exactly like his old room except in a reverse layout. It looked like a place that hadn’t been born yet, like something that wasn’t quite a part of reality yet. He unzipped his outer coat and tossed it on the sofa.

“Computer, enter this suite into the ship’s logs as the Chief Engineer’s new quarters,” he began setting things up. “Activate the office desk, download Engineering interface, Chief Engineer’s files, and Lt. Commander Rahner’s personal files. Activate suite replicator, download all ship’s menus. Environmental settings to Lt. Commander Rahner’s personal settings.”

He could hear all the other doors in the corridor slide shut. “Well, that should do. Now I have somewhere everyone on board can order me back to when I ought to be working,” he sighed. “Seems like I should be somewhere now...”

He looked around himself, trying to spot a clue. He wouldn’t be on duty for another twelve hours, he didn’t have any projects... Commander Vaughn! He grabbed his coat, threw it on without zipping it closed, and set off for the turbolift. The lift doors swept open and he stepped in. “Deck 1,” he commanded and he zipped away.

-

Chris sat patiently waiting in the Officer Lounge on deck one with a pair of Cuban cigars and a bottle of 15 year Glenlivet. He hoped the engineer’s delay was due to his finding an appropriate set of quarters. The teak wood floor of the lounge and its nautical theme added an air of luxury not typically found on most of the ships he had been stationed on. Even if just for a moment it felt as if he wasn’t on a starship, save for the large windows looking out into space.

The doors swept open as Gerhardt strolled into the lounge. He looked around the mostly empty room curiously and realized he had never been on this part of the ship. The sound of a cigar clipper caught his attention and he turned toward the table where Chris sat.

“Guten Tag.” Chris offered as he lit his cigar and pointed to the empty overstuffed armchair next to him. “I trust you found a home?”

“Ja, indeed,” Gerhardt answered and plopped down in the chair. As soon as his ass hit the cushion, he stopped thinking of what he was about to say and sighed in relaxation. He hadn’t sat in such a comfortable chair in years. Being senior staff on a starfleet ship certainly held some great perks. He continued, “And my new quarters are... well, similar to my previous quarters, but without a hole in the hull.”

“Splendid.” Chris said pouring them each a glass and handing the German a cigar. “Cuban, right from the island to my humidor - the way God intended.”

“Hmm, I think this will be a first for me,” Gerhardt said, accepting the cigar and clipping the end. He lit the end and puffed until it was smoking strongly. He slid the lighter back to Chris, picked up the glass, and leaned back in his armchair, taking a long drag on the cigar. He’d never been much of a smoker, but he enjoyed the odd cigar, especially with a fine liquor and good company.

“Sir, how the hell do you get Cubans all the way in the Gamma quadrant?”

“I usually have them flown into port whenever the ship I’m on is scheduled to be in. However for longer stints in space I have them flown out on a cargo ship.” He offered a satisfied smile and winked. “I’m Chris Vaughn, man.”

“Yes, I am well aware of your name,” Gerhardt said, a bit confused. “Oh, I see what you are saying. Well, I certainly appreciate this, more so knowing what these cigars have gone through to get here.”

“As your attorney I’d advise you not to mention your cigar habit to your doctor given the heart attack and all.”

Gerhardt laughed heartily at this. “Not to worry, sir. This little meeting will not show up on any official reports, especially none that Dr. Ulrika will see.” He paused to sip the Glenlivet. It poured down his throat with a burn of pure scotch goodness. “You seem close to her and the captain. How long have you been serving together? Or were you three connected before Starfleet?”

“No, we met on the Gettysburg.” He recalled their first meeting. It felt like a lifetime ago.”We were all cadets, but that was back in the Dark Ages.”

Dark Ages? Gerhardt wondered privately. He decided not to pry, thinking about all the past jobs he’d taken that he hadn’t mentioned to Starfleet and all the times he’d cut and run from good jobs with decent people. He’d never left anyone in a dangerous situation, but that was usually because his prowess in the engine room had saved the ship and earned him more attention than he thought he could handle.

He took another drink, set the cigar in his teeth, and listened to the hum of the ship. He had long ago learned to listen to the music of a warp core, the subtle vibrations of the walls, decks, and even the air on a starship. He prided himself on knowing the ship’s condition based solely on that sound, and right now, that sound was reminding him of the inexplicable failures in the various systems which lead to the ejection of the warp core, the explosion in his quarters, and the need for Adina’s quick-response repairs on the power connectors to the core. He couldn’t find a natural explanation that covered all the symptoms.

He looked across the table at the XO who had also taken a more relaxed pose. “Sir,” Gerhardt asked, “has the security report on the explosion in my former quarters shown anything to suggest, er, dishonorable activities aboard the Atlas?”

“Jackson is still working on it.” Chris replied with an official tone. “But an explosion in a senior officers quarters? Unless you started keeping anti-matter and fertilizer stored in bulk I can’t think of anything that could explode and breach the hull except foul play.”

"No, no antimatter or fertilizer," Gerhardt answered contemplatively.

Chris sipped his scotch and reclined a bit more into the chair, he appreciated the vast difference in size and accommodations on the Atlas. "So, tell me about yourself Chief."

Gerhardt shrugged and sipped his nearly empty glass. "I have many stories, but not much to tell. I entered the Academy at the age of 41, 20 years or more older than the other first year cadets. From age 17 to joining Starfleet, I drifted from job to job, sometimes on ships and sometimes on stations, but always in an engine room. And that is the driving force of my life: engineering."

He paused to finish off his glass and take a puff of his increasingly stubby cigar. "Something about the mechanics of a ship speak to me. I have learned to hear the rhythm of my ship's core and know what is happening with the systems, just from that sound. I never bothered to learn the mathematics or physics behind it all until the Academy, and then it was learning the true names of old friends. My professors never accepted that I had never learned nth dimensional geometry, much less basic calculus."

His gaze floated off to younger days and he chuckled, "I recall one transport captain who was certain I was some kind of mystic. I would stand on the bridge with him and tell him that a system would fail thirty seconds before it did. Of course, anyone who had to keep that scrapper held together could have predicted the same based on how much the component would cost the captain to replace."

A tone rang out from Gerhardt's commbadge, followed by the computer's automated voice: ''Commander Rahner, this is your automated reminder. You are due back on duty in one hour.''

"Hmph, well I guess that was my last one," Gerhardt groused, tamping out the end of his cigar and finger-clean his glass. "This has been... most gratifying, Commander. I hope we can have another such meeting soon."

With that, the German turned and walked out the door. Chris downed the last of his glass, poured another, and settled into peruse the padd on the table. "Goddamn duty rosters," he muttered as he jammed the cigar back in his teeth.

Featuring the classy Christopher Vaughn and a bottle of damn-goodness.
 * 08-31-2011, 10:53

Jacey Adams --Deck 7-- “I adore the theatre…and don’t arrive late,” Jacey quietly sang to herself as she worked within the confines of a Jeffries tube, “I never bother, with anyone that I hate.”

“And that’s why the lady, is a tramp.” A voice chimed in from overhead, “Interesting choice of song Adams.”

A brief smile touched her lips, “What are you doing here?”

“Same as you, trying to figure out why we’re warping internally,” He raised a brow, “Want me to leave? I was thinking we could do a duet.”

If she had something to throw at him she would have, “As if.”

“Come on Adams, there’s a karaoke night planned …”

“No,” She said with a glare, “Besides, Chr… I mean the Xo would kill anyone who tried to throw such an event with the ship in such disarray.”

“First name basis eh,” He propped his arms up, “Miller said you knew the Xo.”

“Miller’s an ass.” She put her tools away, “I’m off to Deck three.”

“Need some company?”

Jacey stopped and looked at him, “What do you think?”

“I think you’re trying a little too hard to be alone on this ship. We don’t all bite.” Jacey realized she didn’t even know his name. Had she been told it before? If she had, there was a slight twinge of guilt for not remember it.

“Unless of course you want me to bite…” He added.

Jacey forgave herself for forgetting his name, “No thanks.” She moved down and opened a panel, letting herself out into a corridor.

-- Deck 3 --

“Adams,” Miller, who was probably her least favorite person onboard, called from behind, “Brian told me you’d be here.”

“Brian…right,” She nodded, putting the name of the guy in the Jeffries tube into her memory, “And he told you because?”

“Well I asked.” Miller snorted, “Obviously.”

“What do you want?” She asked, “ I rarely see you twice in a month, this is twice in a week.”

“Well…Apryl and I have a date…”

Jacey held up her hand, “I am not staying out of my quarters tonight.”

“Well then,” He wiggled his eyebrows, “We can work around you.”

“Can’t you go to your own room?” She turned and started walking to pick up her tools, “Why mine.”

“Well, one – it pisses you off which I love. Two – well…” He stopped, “I guess it really boils down to that one.”

“What will it take for you to stop harassing me like this?” Jacey almost growled, “I know you don’t like me, and believe me I feel the same way about you, but there are over nine hundred more people on this ship. None of them care what I do on a daily basis, nobody cares if I go out or stay in or who I kiss or …anything. Why are you obsessed with making my life miserable?”

Miller grinned, “Because you make it fun.”

“What?” Her brow raised, “I make it fun?”

“You’re always ready with a quip or a threat. Nothing thaws that exterior. It’s like …a game.” He patted her shoulder, “You provide entertainment value which, simply put, makes my day.”

She moved her shoulder from his reach, “Seriously? What is this high school?”

“Have dinner with me.”

“I don’t think my stomach could handle it.” Jacey shook her head, “You have issues… big ones.”

“Well not that I brag but..” He grinned.

“Oh god.” Jacey wished to bang her head against a wall, “Talking to you seriously makes a brick look like a linguists.”

“See, you always know just what to say.” He grinned, “So, I’m coming by around nine. I’m sure you can crash somewhere else.”

“And if I don’t?” Her arms crossed, “Since chances are I’m not.”

“Then get some ear plugs.” --Main Engineering--

Two hours, that had been the first two hours of her shift. There were six more hours to go. Jacey dropped her tools off in Engineering and sighed deeply. Hours on a Starship had a way of blending together and, at the worst of times, compiling into endless minutes of torture. When one played with the same systems over and over again, provided they were always changing and in need of repair, it did get to you when not in the mood for it.

Today she definitely wasn’t in the mood. For some reason, just as of late, it felt as if everything was running against her. She was still new, very new and somehow she’d already made the wrong enemies and the lack of friends was getting to her. Maybe she did need to loosen up a little. Not loosen up to the point she’d be kindred to Apryl but, perhaps a little less attitude might aid her endeavor.

Who knew…