4.2 - Recovery

[gracemitchell]

Grace had left engineering after speaking a short while with Jason, the new CEO. She decided it would be a good idea to check in on Massally's progress in case Melain were to contact her, Grace could give her an update. Before leaving Melain had given Grace as the next of kin contact in case anything bad happened, since Grace had not heard anything, she though that was good news.

While waiting for waiting for the connection to Starbase Assailant, Grace decided it would be good to check on how Commander Steve was doing. Finally, the connection appeared.

"Massally is doing wonderful, Commander. She made it through the surgery with flying colors and has adapted quite well to hearing. She is a remarkable child, the sensation of sound is not affecting her as much as we thought. In fact, she seems to really enjoy hearing her own voice, that she is never quiet. It warms my heart to see her face light up everytime she hears herself." The doctor noticed Grace was crying "I'm sorry, Commander, I didn't mean to make you cry!"

"It's alright, Doctor. I'm so happy for Massally and regret that I didn't stay there to help her through this time. When Commander Lorre was called away unexpectedly, I should have stayed with Massally."

"Commander, Massally is really accepting of the responsibilities of a Star Fleet officer. SHe know she will see you and Commander Lorre very soon."

"Thank you, Doctor! It helps to know she is with such a caring person as yourself. I was also wondering if you could give me an update on Commander Steve. I didn't have a chance to visit him when we were there."

"Commander, I would have thought he would have arrived by now."

"I'm sorry! Where was he going?"

"He left here to join up with your ship, the Nevada."

"What? Really! Wonderful. Thank you so much, Doctor for the information. I really must go."

Grace closed the connection and asked the computer if Commander Steve had come on board yet. The computer told her he was on board and located in the Captain's Ready Room. Grace left her quarters and headed straight to the bridge and the Captain's ready room.

The moment the doors of the turbolift opened on the bridge Grace stepped out, heading straight to the ready room. A second before she was going to push the chime, the door opened and out walked Steve and Harrias. Grace jumped into Steve's arms almost knocking him over in her exuberience at seeing him, again.

"Hmmm. I think it's safe to say that our Counselor is happy to see you, Steve. As I stand here like chopped liver." Harrias said while trying to stifle a laugh.

"Well, I see you everyday. When you fall ill for a good long time, then I will give you a great big hug, okay!" Grace said with a laugh in her voice, as well.

off:Welcome, Steve!

[Deleted]

Cyle had just finished his workout of frustration and was in his quarters, taking a sonic shower. He stood for a moment then got out and dress himself in a clean uniform. He left his quarters and went down to the armory. "Cyle to all marine teams, please report to the armory"

When everyone arrived he lined them up and looked them down. "I want to start a new training regiment, you will take up firing positions and fire at all targets, all of you WILL be able to hit them with your eyes closed."

The teams lined up in their positions, and the targets popped up, then down almost immediatly. "Sir, how can we hit those if they dont stay up long enough"

"reflexes, you must learn to fire on sight, as well as being able to identify what you are firing at, that will come later"

Once again the targets popped up, and this time half of them were shot. Cyle continued to do this until he knew his men and women were tired. " you did well, rest for the day, we'll do it again in the morning"

After the grumbling was passed Cyle left the armory and went on a walk, finding himself in a restuarant once more, he grabbed a glass of water, full to the brim, and sat down to drink it

[jasonfarsir]

Jason was in Enginering for about twanty minutes getting used to the systems on the ship. He startd to do rutine checks when woman out to him to shake it. ""Hello! I'm Grace Mitchell, ship's Counselor. Welcome aboard, Jason. May I call you Jason?"

He jumped not expeting to see a reflection of someone so close. "oh counselor, you just about gave me a heart attack," he said shaking her hand. "sure you can call me jason if you'd like." They talked a little while, then jason went back to work. After awhile he took a break and he headed to the crew lounge. He ordered some Cardassioan tea. After drinking the tea he headed back to engineering to check on the dilethum crystals.

[fthelev]

The maintenance lights that illuminated the tunnel were not very bright in the first plays. The crusts of mud, dust and dirt on them didn’t exactly help much either. Needles to say it was hard to see where they were stepping, and of course this had to be one of those places where you really want to see where you are planting your feet.

“You sure that’s the right direction?” Frek asked, the words that came out sounded dull, dampened by the stale atmosphere. Drips of water dripped down the wall to dissolve in the ankle high layer of water with a soft ploink.
“I think so,” Melain said. She tried to sound confident, but the truth was that she didn’t know for sure either. “The underground connections are not on the map. But this is the only one leading in the direction of the apartment block.”
A sigh escaped him. “Guess we’ll found out in sixty feet.” That was if the interconnecting corridor let straight to the cellars of the other building. From the position they were standing it was impossible to see more than ten or perhaps fifteen metres at most. This could be partially blamed on the illumination, but the fact that the tunnel was build in a slight curve also had something to do with it.

A drop of water fell down from the ceiling and landed in his neck where it started its journey, trickling down Frek’s back. Really, what was it with tunnels? The ones they ended up in lately were all moist and wet, but that’s were the comparison ended. None of them were like the fun ones people like to play around with.
With every step they made the water softly splashed around their feet, and, to their dismay, sopped in their non-watertight shoes. Well, perhaps they were watertight, but with the footwear being totally submerged and the water flowing in over the edge it didn’t really matter.

They covered the twenty five metres reasonably fast. Of course, if it had taken them half day to do it there clearly must have been something wrong with them since twenty five metres isn’t exactly a marathon distance.
“Can’t see a door,” Frek said observingly over his shoulder and halted. The tunnel wasn’t wide enough to walk side by side.
“What?” Melain bumped into him.
“Hey!” He almost tripped and fell over. This was not the sort of crystal clear water he wanted to bathe in. This was more like, go in clean and healthy, come out stinking and with some eerie fungal infection.
“Sorry,” Melain whispered back. “Can you see anything?”
Frek shook his head. “No I…oh, wait a minute. I think there’s niche just ahead.”

The niche was about half a metre deep and ended in a door.
“This must be it,” he said to Melain.
Even in the dim light he could see her hair was tangled and that she had some dirty brushes on her face. Her clothes didn’t look much either. The people in the dry-cleaner would probably fall to the floor only to roll over and start laughing if suggested to clean them. He wondered if looked as bad as well.
He took a step in the niche. Something squeaked loudly and he could feel something give in under his shoe. Something soft and squishy. A burping sound emerged from the water together with some active, but short lived bubbling.
“What was that?” Melain asked startled by the sudden high pitched sound. She wasn’t the only one.
“I must have stepped on something.” There was an expression of disgust on his face. This was definitely not his best day.
Melain wrinkled her nose. “Eww…in what?”
“Do you mind if I really, really don’t wanna know?” Frek asked her rhetorically in return in a manner that was, positively, non-ecstatic.

He turned around and examined the door. As was the case with the other doors they had encountered, it could be considered a disgrace for every self-respecting door maker. It looked as rickety as a bunch of wooden sheds surviving a tsunami. This one would be no problem. Stamp your feet and the vibration would make it fall apart. Only after his recent experience he liked to avoid stamping around in this particular area.
“Can you open it?” Melain peeked over his shoulder to see the excuse that was the door.
“Sure,” Frek said confidently and pushed the door. It creaked in a desperate way.
“Well?” Melain sounded a bit impatient.
“Huh.” Frek grunted and tried again. No success. What was wrong with this thing? From all the doors, this one looked as if the slightest breeze could make it collapse. It only made a lot of noise.
“It won’t open,” Frek said a bit startled as a frown on his forehead appeared. He rested his back against the object in question.
“Here,” Melain said, “Let me try.” She wriggled her self to the door and pushed it.
It made a sound as if being overrun by a lorry.

The weight of Frek leaning against the door combined with the additional force provided by Melain’s push did it. It finally made the well rusted hinges realise it was time to retire. In a cloud of dust the door landed flatly on the floor with a loud bang. Followed by Frek banging on the door. Since he had been leaning against it, his support to remain standing had disappeared. Gravity did the rest.
“We’re in,” Melain said rather superfluously.
“So I’ve noticed,” Frek groaned lifting himself up. The door might have been broken, but so was his back. At least it felt that way.

Five minutes later they had reached the floor of their before recent domicile. Things looked normal. The door of the apartment looked the same as usual. Still Frek looked at it doubtfully. Would there be someone waiting for them inside? Was the door booby-trapped, or perhaps rigged with some alarm?
There was no way of knowing, and only one way to find out.
“Are you ready?” Beside him Melain nodded, barely visible.
”Alright…” He took a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob with one hand while the other punched in the security code to unlock it. A soft click and a small blue light lit up.
All normal so far, the door unlocked. Frek pushed it open a ten centimetres, expecting to hear the sound of running footsteps coming to get them, and then get them underground. And not for a ride in the tube, but more in the sense of dead and buried.
But nothing happened.

“At least it’s not rigged,” Melain noted, and added, “I think we should keep the lights off and stay away from the windows.”
It sounded sensible enough. The full moon would provide enough light to get what they came for. As they stepped in and looked around their mouths dropped.

The carpet that had been reasonably decent when they had moved in was now in frays, not to mention the curtains. It most certainly was curtains for them. They had made a good effort to turn the furniture into confetti, which was the only way it could be used now. Shame they didn’t have a wedding coming up. Several devices common in most households had been professionally demolished. It would unquestionably take a team of professionals to get them back together and working again, if that was possible at all. And the only plant they had and managed to flourish thanks to, or perhaps despite of, Frek’s effort to take care of it, had ended up as a very dead plant indeed.
“Oh dear,” Frek said, “I think someone searched the place.”

(7945/79282)

[Deleted]

When Melain walked into the apartment room her heart sank at the destruction of their things. "They must have been looking for the PaDD, they'd have noticed it was missing by now and put two and two together."

"Luckily we still have it. Get what you need so we can leave, we might have triggered some sort of alarm." Frek replied, he was rifling through the contents of his drawer which where now strewn across the floor.

Melain headed to her room and grabbed her medkit, putting the strap over her shoulder she suddenly felt a little more confident. She grabbed a spare set of clothes and shoved them in her knapsack along with some of the latinum she had made treating members of the consortium. She took one look around to make sure there wasn't anything she had forgot and headed for the Kitchen.

Not daring to turn on a light she felt through the darkness for their bread cupboard and pantry when suddenly she felt her foot hit something on the ground. It gave a soft moan. Melain jumped backwards and looked down. In the faint light of the moon coming though a nearby window she could see the prostrate form of a Tammeron man, empty bottle by his side. She recognized him from the consortium; he had joined the week after them and had proven himself to be rather inept. Apparently he was the one charged with guarding the apartment. Luckily for Melain and Frek, he was not doing a very good job of it.

“What is it?” Frek asked, obviously he had heard her jump and suspecting something was up.

“Omas, the rookie, apparently he was supposed to trigger and alarm and well, boredom got the better of him.” Melain replied. “He’s passed out.” Melain, took out her medical tricorder and began a reading.

“What are you doing?” Frek asked.

“He might have alcohol poisoning or something, I just want to be sure.” Melain replied.

“We are not taking him with us Melain, all he will do is slow us down and alert the consortium as soon as he regains consciousness. Look, we will just leave him here, we don’t need to hurt him or anything, he won’t even know we where here.” Frek insisted.

“But then we might as well kill him because that is what the Consortium will do when they find out he got drunk on the job and missed us.” Melain argued putting away her tricorder, she never really liked Omas, but she had treated him for a nasty burn and in doing so found out he was a relatively sweet natured, although simple, guy.

“Then what do you think we should do?” Frek asked.

“I’m not sure.” Melain admitted, looking around. “Tie him to a chair, make it look like he saw us, and we overpowered him.”

“Fine, I’ll do that, you get the food.” Frek sighed.

“Thank you.” Melain nodded and headed to the cupboards. There was one loaf of bread, a package of some sort of jerky and a bag of stale cookies. She filled two canteens full of water and stuck the lot of it in her bag. “Are you done?” she asked Frek who was fussing with Omas, who being a rather large guy was not easily moved.

(3725/68616)

[Harrias Jira]

As the chime sounded, Harrias immediately called out to indicate that they should come straight in. He had been sitting at his desk, pretending to do things ever since Steve had come aboard the ship. A few times he had tried to work, anything to snap him out of the nervousness and trepidation. He was like a schoolgirl waiting for his prom date to arrive, it was sickening.

Normally in a situation where his first officer was bringing a crewmember in he would glance at the crewmember to identify them and then his eyes would flick back to his first officer. This was nothing dirty, not even particularly sexual; he could pick up from her body language a lot of what she was feeling about the matter and whether it was a routine report, a report with something worrying or that she was bringing them for a disciplinary matter. It had been that way with all his first officer’s. Of course the fact that Hannah was pleasing to the eye only aided this habit.

This case however was the exception to the rule. His eyes fell on Steve, flicked over to Hannah to see her reaction, but then immediately went back to Steve. Seeing him fit and walking again was like seeing an angel. Where the human had been gaunt, pale and stretched, he was now looking fit, lightly tanned and active. It was a remarkable improvement and one that warmed the middle-aged trill. He stood up from his desk and stepped around it, offering hand.
- “Steve, it’s been so long. You look even better than you did over the comm.”
- “You’re not looking so bad yourself.”

Harrias smiled in reply, but his expression soon relaxed back and his age began to show through, accentuated by the worry lines that had formed right across his face. He rounded the desk once more and settled down into his seat, picking a PADD up.
- “I would love to sit here all day and recount the past with you, catch up and what not. But we both know that isn’t possible. We knew that this was never going to be fully routine, after all Intelligence don’t send Sovereign class vessels for routine asset pick ups. But for them to send you as well, I can only imagine that there is some kind of serious problem?”
- “Unfortunately I still can not fully detail my reasons for being here. For the moment you will have to accept that I am here to ensure SI’s goals are achieved and that you don’t go all moral on them.”
- “Oh, heaven forbid a Starfleet officer doing something moral!” Harrias said in mock horror.

Steve simply rose his eyebrows in response. The trill commanding officer turned to his second in command, his eyes flicking first to Steve as the connections were made in his brain, but then after a mental chiding, to Hannah.
- “Number One, take the bridge and inform me when we arrive at Tammeron.”
- “Sir.” She replied succinctly, and retired from the room.

- “So Steve, I’m not really going to like what’s going on, am I?”
- “No. But I really can’t tell you anything mate. It’s all pretty classified stuff. Even I don’t know the full extent of why the assets are there.”

OOC: Okay Steve feel free to add any personal bits you want to in here. But remember, I hate tags, so do my side of the conversation too!

A while later, they were broken from conversation by Harrias’ commbadge chirping.
=/\= Jira. =/\= Short, simple and mostly due to laziness.
=/\= We have arrived at Tammeron. The government isn’t greatly happy at our presence. =/\=
=/\= You gave them our cover? =/\=
=/\= It shut them up, but they probably suspect something. =/\=
=/\= I’ll be right out. =/\=

With a nod of his head towards the door, Jira indicated that Steve should follow him. As the pair left his ready room, they were almost immediately accosted by Grace. After she left him standing awkwardly for a few seconds, Harrias paused after her comment about his lack of illness before replying.
- “As tempting as that is, I prefer a clean bill of health. Although maybe I can bribe the good doctor into fixing my medical record up to fool you.” He beamed at her, before turning to the main bridge. “Are we receiving any signal from the assets?”
- “Nothing sir.”

OOC: Right, that’s got us to where we need to be. Let’s leave it a while before we figure out who we are rescuing here. We want to stew for a few hours, not getting a signal, and scan for any indicator of a Starfleet person, although we don’t of course know the race. Steve, we ask you more and more questions which you annoyingly refuse to answer. Let’s get on it people, but don’t rush through it, we want quality here, not a speedy run through a mission that is only just starting.

[gracemitchell]

Harrias, Steve and Grace headed to sit in the 3 center chairs. There was a slight akward moment when Steve and Hannah both started to sit in the FO's chair. Noticing this, Grace offered her usual chair to Steve. Grace didn't feel that it was right for Hannah to give up a seat she only recently acquire.

WHile seated Grace felt someone or something 'tickle' her mind. At first she smiled, whomever it was was quite happy and excited. Then suddenly the 'tickle' turned to nervousness, then back to excited. Back and forth these feelings came to her, it was like turning a switch from on to off.

Harrias noticed that Grace would for an instant smiled brightly, then suddenly a frown would replace it, then back to a large smile, back to a frown. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and asks "Just what is going on in your mind, Grace? One second you will have a smile, then a frown, back and forth. Are youhaveing a vision?"

"No, not a vision, but I seem to be picking up a couple of different emotions from somewhere. They are happening so fast I can't localize it without loosening my control." Grace replied. While speaking, Grace noticed Steve give her a nervous look. To herself she thought "Aha, now I know where the nervousness is coming." Outwardly she said "The nervous feeling is gone" It wasn't but she wasn't going to let that information out right now, until she had a chance to talk to Steve privately. "The happy feeling is still there, but nothing I can't handle. It seems to be coming from a fire lizard we all know. Theel'zhin. He's so excited about something and is itching to tell somebody the news, but I don't know who or what the news is."

Harrias gave her a strange look, then said "Well, hopefully Theel'zhin will tone down enough for you to get that idiotic look off your face. You may scare the authorities on the planet, causing them to shoot at us or something."

"Sorry! I don't mean to do that." Grace attempted to put on a really sad look on her face but failed miserably, causing Harrias, Steve and Hannah to laugh so hard they were grapping their sides because it hurt. Grace began to laugh herself, but she wasn't sure if it was from hearing the others laugh or from Theel'zhin happiness. Truthfully, she didn't care. It was good to hear laughter on the bridge of her favorite place to be.

[steve]

“So Steve, I’m not really going to like what’s going on, am I?”
“No. But I really can’t tell you anything mate. It’s all pretty classified stuff. Even I don’t know the full extent of why the assets are there.” Steve said.
Harrias just looked at him
"Sir" Steve started in his defence "Orders are orders, I cant put this mission is danger. If there was a danger to this ship or the crew on it I would act but at the moment both me and you are safe and until that changes I will not risk breaking Star Fleet Intel rules."

Harrias looked at him with 'that face' the face Steve new all too well. He hated keeping things from his former CO and even more than that he hated keeping things from his friend.

"Jira" Steve said as if talking to a friend not talking to his commanding officer. "all you need to worry about is picking up these assets. When this is done everything will fall into place. Just focus yourself on the mission at hand and things will be fine and I will not have to get involved on behalf of Starfleet Intel.
After Steve said this he had wished he hadn't, he had just told his former CO and friend what to do and had promised himself on the runabout he wasn't going to.

At this point Harrias commbadge sounded. Steve sighed and thought... Thank god for the bell.

=/\= Jira. =/\= Short, simple and mostly due to laziness.
=/\= We have arrived at Tammeron. The government isn’t greatly happy at our presence. =/\=
=/\= You gave them our cover? =/\=
=/\= It shut them up, but they probably suspect something. =/\=
=/\= I’ll be right out. =/\=
With a nod of his head towards the door, Jira indicated that Steve should follow him. As the pair left his ready room, they were almost immediately accosted by Grace. After she left him standing awkwardly for a few seconds, Harrias paused after her comment about his lack of illness before replying.
“As tempting as that is, I prefer a clean bill of health. Although maybe I can bribe the good doctor into fixing my medical record up to fool you.” He beamed at her, before turning to the main bridge. “Are we receiving any signal from the assets?”
“Nothing sir.”
Steve walked straight to his chair, the XO chair but was beaten to it by Hannah, he paused for a moment remembering he wasn't the XO of this ship anymore, just a guest.
"Steve, please sit" Grace said pointing to her chair on the other side of the CO's.
Steve nodded and sat down.
Harrias was sitting looking at Comm waiting for a report when his attentions turned to Grace

"Just what is going on in your mind, Grace? One second you will have a smile, then a frown, back and forth. Are you haveing a vision?" Harrias asked

Grace replied as did Harrias to that and all three of them started laughing. It wasn't a funny situation and Steve knew that more than anyone but he has lot of respect and time for Grace and what she said made them all laugh and for a few moments relived all the stress all of them had been feeling

[gracemitchell]

Even while laughing Grace was keeping her eyes more closely on Steve then he noticed. He didn't realize that to the trained eye one could see a multitute of changes going on with Steve's body language and face. Grace could tell, without asking, that he had not given over any more information then was needed to the Commodore.

On the other side, Grace could tell that Harrias wasn't exactly happy with not getting enough information. It was feeling like a game of poker, and Grace decided to up the ante a little. She had a feeling but couldn't be sure without a little digging. To herself, she thought "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" outwardly she said "It's too bad Frek and Melain aren't here for this little reunion. Especially Melain, she would be so happy to see you are healthy, Steve."

At the mention of Melain and Frek, Steve's eyebrows raised ever so slightly. Un-noticed by all but one person. Grace noticed it and thought "Aha, I knew it. Something is wrong with Frek and Melain. I doubt he will give me any more information than Jira, because Jira doesn't know. I would bet my life on it. Although, I think Steve knows they are somewhere but not exactly where. Because of my standing order regarding my telepathy and out of respect for Steve, I won't use it."

Outloud but really not meaning to Grace mumbled "Star Fleet orders! Sometimes, I wonder why I bothered."

Steve heard Grace but couldn't quite make out what she was saying, so he asks "WHat was that you said,Grace. I didn't understand you."

"Sorry! Didn't mean to say that outloud. Nothing really to worry about." Grace replied. "I think you three don't need me hanging around. I have some communications to get caught up with."

Hannah asks "Anything pressing, Grace."

Grace stood up and began to walk to the turbolift she answers "Nothing but family updates. As I understand it I'm about to be a great, great, great, great, great grandmother again. Need to find out if I am. Bye!" Grace stepped into the turbolift, with full intentions of trying to find out on her own where Frek and Melain were. The only thing she knew for sure right now, as that something wasn't right and she had to find out what.

[steve]

Steve looked at Harrias as Grace stepped onto the turbo lift.
"She hasn't changed one bit has she?" Steve stated
"What do you mean commander?" Harrias replied
"She can sometimes act really strangely, almost mad... But I love her for it, one of the best... hmmm 'Shrinks' I know" Steve said with a smile and Harrias nodded.
"She was right with what she said you know" Harrias said looking straight into Steve's eyes
Steve just looked at him waiting for him to go on
"It is a shame Frek and Melain aren't here for this little reunion, they would have loved to see you" Harrias went on still looking Steve right in the eye trying to get some kind of reaction but Steve gave non.

<< Beep Beep >>

A strange beep came from one of the consol on the bridge Harrias was too busy to notice which one as he was so focused on Steve
"Report" Hannah called out and both Steve and Harrias waited for the reply

Off: This will give a chance to anyone on the bridge to get involved and post. This beep doesn't have to effect the mission at all and doesn't have to be anything big.

[gracemitchell]

"Come on, Digs, I know it's classified. I just want to find out if they are doing something potentially dangerous or not. You can tell me at least that much, can't you." Grace was in her office talking to her old friend, Benny Digory, a civilian who happened to work in SI.

"Grace, you know I am not at liberty to give out any information. Did you have a vision or something?" Digs replied.

"Yes! I can't shake this feeling that something awful is happening to them. They are my friends and crewmates."

"I can't tell you anything about the mission they are on but, I can tell you that steps are being taken to eradicate any potential harm that may have befallen them." Digs said.

Grace had a frown on her face saying "That isn't exactly reassuring me." Then suddenly she had a big smile, then it was gone.

Digs had been watching her face during their conversation. Grace's face would alternate between smiling then frowning. He couldn't take it anymore "Grace, exactly what is the matter with your face? Most of the time you've had a frown on it but for no reason a huge smile will appear, then instantly leave. What's going on?"

Grace smiled, well more like a smirk than a smile, "Sorry about that, Diggs. I seem to be picking up on a special fire lizard's feeling of happiness. The fire lizard belongs to a former crew mate of mine, who is now commanding his own ship. It's gotten so I don't even know I'm doing it."

"Well, it is kind of annoying to someone watching you. Has Caring contacted you lately?" Digs asked.

"Yes. She contacted be telepathically. She had been indecisive at first."

"Why did you recommend her. We had just started to see each other. You introduced us, remember."

"I remember. I didn't exactly recommend her. When they contacted me to see if I would be interested, I declined but suggested she might be interested. Digs, you know that after she came back from helping me here on the Nevada. She had gotten bitten by the space bug again. The position at the academy gives her the opportunity to be in space for a short while than land locked for a while, the perfect balance. So when are you moving?"

"I'm not yet, we're still in the early stages of our relatio..." Digs stopped talking he noticed the look on Grace's face had gone blank and she began to mumble incoherently.

On Grace's end of the viewscreen, she didn't see Digs, she saw Melain and Frek in what looked like a living space of sorts. They were rummaging around, looking for something or things. Grace returned to reality just as suddenly.

"Grace, what was the vision about?" He asked, concerned.

"It was Frek and Melain, they're alright for the moment. They're in living quarters, looking for something. I'm sorry, Digs, I'd better go report my vision to the captain. I'll talk to you again soon. Bye."

Grace signed off after Digs good-bye and left her office to go to the bridge to report on her vision.

[Harrias Jira]

- “It’s the government again.”
- “Already?” Hannah replied incredulously.
- “So it would seem Ma’am.”
- “Tell them that myself and Commodore Harrias are in a conference at the moment and that we will have to contact them later.”
- “Of course.”

Harrias rose his eyebrows at her order, but it made sense. At this point it was better to hide their cards completely, and to avoid over-bluffing, after all, one never knew when one would have to change their story. He leant back into his chair once more, comfortable for the time being.

- “When do we expect to get an extraction signal Steve? I don’t want to have to play this game for too long. Our relationship with their government has never been the most cordial.”
Steve glanced at the time and then back to the trill.
- “Really we should have had it by now. But with this kind of extraction things can often get delayed. Don’t worry, they’ll contact us soon.”
- “Hmmm, I’m sure. Hannah, contact the embassy and find out who has arrived in the past month or so and not yet left. Pay special attention to anyone on a diplomatic pass. Remember that most likely any names we get will only be covers, and in extreme cases we might even get the wrong race declared. After that, prepare a team that can go to the planet. But only activate the team with my say so.”
- “Aye sir. Should the team be tactical or diplomatic?”
- “Prepare for both cases. Who knows what we could find out.”

Jira was just turning back to Steve, but before he could Grace burst back onto the bridge, her calm broken by what could only the after effects of a vision.
- “Sir, I just had a vision.” Jira smiled, his guess correct.
- “Go on?”
- “I saw Frek and Melain. They are fine, in some kind of accommodation, looking for something.”
- “Well then, panic over.” He smiled again, wider this time. “Melain has probably lost a hair-clip or something.”

He could see that no-one was particularly taken in by his possible reasoning, but Harrias was past caring. As much as he wanted his crewmembers to be safe and back on the Nevada, he knew that his priority was this mission, getting whatever assets they had on this planet off it and away from the danger that this planet held. Indeed the parallels between what he wanted to do and what he was doing formed part of his drive to get this mission done.

[gracemitchell]

Grace settled in near the Steve, Harrias and Hannah. While sitting there a smile would come across Grace's face then it would go away, then the smile would come back, then go away. Which seemed to be annoying to the other three seated there, well not Hahhah she was starting try to not laugh.

Finally Harrias couldn't take it anymore "Grace is there anyway you could get that yo-yo effect off your face?"

"I'm sorry! It's really not me. It's Theel'Zhin. He's really happy about something but he can't tell me what. He's just happy and alternating between my mind and Zhuk's. I can't get him to stop, he's way too excited."

"I'd heard Zhuk got his own command. Odd thing for a Marine, don't you think? It's wonderful, but it seems odd for a Marine to command an exploration ship." Steve said.

"Now that you mention it, I hadn't thought about it like that. Interesting. I may have to ask him next time I talk to him."

[Zhukarak Hrisvalar]

.:USS Jefferson:.

Zhuk had retired to his quarters while the Jefferson was on her way for a special rendezvous. Theel'zhiin had become exstatic when he heard the news of where they were going, to the Nevada in orbit of Tammeron to pick up Grace.

When Zhuk had shared this bit of information, Theel'zhiin sprang up in excitement and was flying about in Zhuk's quarters. Every now and then he would go 'between' and return within seconds. Theel'zhiin's excitemnet was so vast that he could not help but try to reach out to Grace. The distance was great, and all Theel'zhiin could relay was the excitement he felt within himself.

It had taken quite a few minutes for Zhuk to settle down Theel'zhiin. Slices of bacon strips from the replicator did the trick. Before long, Theel'zhiin was calm enough to snuggle up next to Zhukarak while they both took a small break from life aboard a starship.

[gracemitchell]

"Finally" Grace said outloud, but not meaning to.

Steve looked at her and asked rather suspciously "Finally, what Grace? Another vision of Frek and Melain?"

""I'm sorry, Ididn't mean to say that outloud. Theel'zhin has calmed down and has ceased sending me happy feelings. Not that I didn't enjoy having his happy feelings but, they were getting a bit wearisome. I wish I could report a vision, perhaps a good one, but I can't. However, I am sensing worry and anxiety. Both emotions are coming at me are quite near but from different people." Grace replied watching Steve's reaction innocently.

Steve gave an almost imperceptible releasing of his breath. It was like he was holding his breath waiting for her answer. "Hmmm" Grace thought, "I really need to keep my eye on him. I think there is more to this than he is letting on."

Harrias on the other hand had not noticed Steve's reaction to Grace's news but was more centered on Hannah's choices for the two different teams she was in the process of assembling.

"Steve, while we wait for the 'assests' to signal us, why don't I give you a tour of the ship. It'll give you a chance to say 'Hi' to any old friends we meet up with."

Steve on the other hand wanted no time to be alone with Grace. It was like he could read her mind, he knew she had questions she didn't want to ask in front of Harrias or Hannah. "Normally, I would love to, but I think my place is here right now. Perhaps you should go prepare, I'm sure your first officer would like you to be on the diplomatic team." Steve looked pointedly at Hannah, who was so engrossed her PADD that she had not heard anything that was being said around her.

Harrias, on the other hand, noticed that Steve was being a bit stand-offish with Grace. Harrias started to wonder about this as Grace and Steve had been close when Steve was on the Nevada. Actually, Grace was close to the majority of the whole crew. As Harrias was pondering this, he was informed of an incoming communication but not from the planet. As he looked to see who it was from, he smiled and said "I'll take this in my ready room. Hannah, you have the bridge." Harrias got up and went to his ready room.

off: I opened this up for a post about the Jefferson's imminent arrival.
I am not sad to leave. I am not sad to leave. I am not sad to leave. I am not sad to leave. DO you think if I say enough times it will be true!

[Zhukarak Hrisvalar]

.:USS Jefferson, Captain's Ready Room:.

Zhukarak had just sent out a request to communicate with his former Captain, who now was a Commodore. He sat there with the Starfleet insignia hovering on the screen until it disappeared when the visage of a face appeared, it was Harrias.

"Zhuk, how are you? It's good to see you."

"Commodore, I am well, thank you!"

"Relax, it's just the two of us. I understand you're on your way for your next mission...some new animal species as I understand it?"

"Yes, indeed. Starfleet wants to ensure it is safe to be integrated among the UFP planets. They seem to have become quite popular with non-alligned worlds, and before they are smuggled in...well, you know the rest. Harrias, you know that's not why I'm calling on you. I'm sure you have seen the transfer orders of Grace, as I'm also sure that you gave your blessings before it could even happen...we're on our way to your location to pick her up."

"You're right, I did give my blessings...reluctantly however. But I know she'll make a good First Officer, especially being at your side. I don't think I would have given her up so easily if she was to go elsewhere. I wasn't sure when she would actually transfer, with our mission and all, so I haven't told her yet. Let's wait until you arrive. How much longer is that?"

"We left SBA almost 14 hours ago and are currently cruising at Warp 6. At current speed we'll be there in 11 days, 12 hours and thirty minutes."

"Well, I don't know how much longer I can keep things pleasant here on this end. I want you here in five days."

"Understood. We'll go to Warp 8, and Harrias...it's good to see. Signing off!"

Harrias signed off as well and Zhuk went directly to the bridge to not waste any more time.

[fthelev]

Frek gave Melain a look that clearly betrayed some irritation. He struggled with the large man, known as Oman, sent by the Consortium to see if they would show up. The musk he was carrying was a rare blend of aromas that not everyone would appreciate in the same delightful manner as the man in question. It was the smell of stale alcohol, unwashed Tammerons, sweat and possibly several other bodily fluids Frek couldn’t identify and really didn’t want too. Let alone come in contact with.
Okay, let’s be fair. His face betrayed a bit more irritation than just some.

If he was done yet, she asked. He took a deep breath, making sure his head was turned away from the unconscious figure and that he didn’t breath through his nose. There was no use in passing out because he accidentally smelled him.

“No I am not done,” he gnarled. He really, really liked Melain, but sometimes… He didn’t see why going through all the trouble. Found drunk or being overpowered. Either way this guy failed. That was how the Consortium would see it anyway, and in either way they would probably kill him until he was equally dead.

Frek groaned and grabbed the man under the arms in order to drag him the last bit to where they could tie him to some tubes. He could feel something moist. And not where you really want to feel that, let alone on a, literally, heavy guy. He was starting to wonder what it was with all these muscle minded and less intelligent criminals. Most he had encountered so far, way too many in the last year, never seemed to have grasped the art of using deodorant. Perhaps solving body odour wasn’t high on their priority list. And okay, fair is fair. He probably wasn’t his fresh self either. But being chased by some organisation which didn’t have the best of plans with him was a good enough excuse.

He finally got him in the corner where some conduits appeared out of the wall and looked around for something to tie him up with. He dropped the idea of a chair. It would be impossible to get this one up on one.
“Get me one of the blankets,” he told Melain. He couldn’t see anything else that might do the trick. Tying up people was not something he envisioned to do when he packed his suitcase a while ago.
She nodded and disappeared in one of the bedrooms before reappearing holding one of the blankets.
“You gonna time him up with this?” she asked handing the sheet over.
Frek nodded and grabbed a knife of the table. He wasn’t tucking him in for his beauty nap, that was for sure.
“That was the consensus, yes.” He made a few cuts in the blanket and then tore them into long slips. Some five minutes later he was finished.
He wiped the sweat, not sure if it was even his, from his forehead and tapped a glass of water. He gulped it down and admired his work.
“He will be tied up for a while,” he commented with satisfaction.

They decided to leave the same way they came, figuring it was still the more discrete way to get away. With all the doors unlocked, and/or out of their hinges it was easier to get out than in. Soon they were standing in the alley again that brought them to the dress shop.

“What now?” Melain asked. She stared up to sky. In the east the sky was already getting somewhat lighter. On the other end the moon was following the example the sun had set about ten hours earlier. Disappearing behind the horizon. Getting from their initial hiding place to here and into the apartment, getting the things they needed and tie that Omas up took longer than one might have expected. The biggest part of the night was over, and although they might still have an hour or two before dawn it was best not to linger for too long. If they did the streets would be filled with people, probably resulting in them being filled with phaser and disruptor blasts.

“Public transportation will no doubt be watched,” Melain continued.
Stealing a vehicle worked once, but if it worked again was something that would remain to be seen. Last time it was just a short trip to the spaceport where a shuttle had been waiting for them to take them to safety. A luxury they didn’t have here. If they stole something the police would be alarmed and with it the Tammeron Consortium. And as strange as it seemed, theft amongst the locals was not very common. Usually off-worlders, tourist and visiting crews or business people were the victims if they allowed themselves to be imprudent or get to the wrong part of town. They would quickly enough put two and two together and realise that makes a Bajoran and Andorian on the run.
Sometimes honour amongst thieves just sucked.

“What about non-public transportation,” Frek said. Tammeron featured a high-speed maglev train connection between most major cities. It was a cheaper and more energy efficient way of transporting goods compared to the vast amounts of energy required by mass transportation with transporters.
“There’s a transhipment area not far from here,” Melain said.
Frek nodded. “We could make it before it becomes light. If we can crawl in one of the carriages without being spotted…”

Either way they had to do something. Perhaps Melain had managed to doze off a bit when they were hiding, but he didn’t. He could feel the sleep dull his senses, not too mention that he was starting to feel hungry as well. A candlelight dinner was unfortunately something that had not been on the planning. But it was not only the lack of sleep or a good meal; it was also the strain of the situation that was taking its toll. Staying on this planet in a living fashion would be hard enough, let alone staying here in this city where soon everyone would be looking for them. And staying alive was one of the key requirements if they wanted to get off this planet.

Frek glanced through the streets, so far all still quiet, and looked back at Melain again.
“So what do you think?” he asked softly, “We’ll have to decide to what to do.”

(9015/80352)

[hannah]

The embassy had reluctantly sent Hannah a long list of names all the inbound and outbound people in the last month. Hannah set up a search pattern to find the appropriate data, but she knew it would take a several hours to be complete with the large number transports that arrived and departed the planet each day.

Hannah tapped her commbadge.

=/\= Commander Stevenson to Captain Johnson =/\=

=/\= Johnson here =/\= came the response only moments later.

=/\= Get tactical team ready to possibly sent down to the planet =/\= she ordered.

=/\= Understood =/\= Cycle said and closed the channel.

Hannah hoped they wouldn’t need them and the officers that they were waiting for would contact the ship soon.

A few hours passed and there had still been no word from their operatives. Hannah glanced over to Steve, she noticed that he was becoming increasingly worried even though he did his best to hide it.

“There should have been some contact by now,” he finally admitted.

“We could try scanning for Starfleet signals from handheld equipment,” Hannah suggested.

Steve nodded.

Hannah turned to the officer now manning ops, “Try scanning for Starfleet signatures.”

“It could take days to scan the planet,” the officer informed her. Hannah looked towards Steve.

“Could you give us a location to start to looking?” she asked hoping that he would give up this crucial bit of information to help them find the Starfleet agents on the planet.

[gracemitchell]

Grace knew something was up with Steve after he deftly avoided being alone with Grace. . "If he only knew how much his body language is telling me, he would excuse himself from my sight" Grace thought.

Quietly, Grace whispered to Steve, while Harrias was in his ready room and Hannah was preoccupied with her PADD "Steve, I'm not using my telepathy, but I observe people. Every move you make is telling me you are very worried. Why don't we go someplace to talk about it, privately. It's my job, so it's covered under doctor/patient confidentiality."

[gracemitchell]

Before Steve could answer Grace, the Commodore walked out of his ready room. He looked at Grace with a smile but a hint of sadness. Grace did not see him give her this look, however since her senses seemed to heightened, she could feel his combination of happiness/sadness.

The feeling seemed to catch her off guard, Grace was unable to determine where the feeling was coming from. Grace closed her eyes but the feeling was gone or more to the point, masked.

The Commodore had quickly disguised his feeling, as if he knew he had projected it towards Grace.

[Deleted]

Dealing with Oman had taken far longer then Melain expected. In her mind this was partly due to his state, and partly due to Frek's drama-queen behavior. She liked Frek, he was a great guy and a better friend, but sometimes she wished he would just get a grip. After this mission she looked forward to sometime when she could be alone. She was still thinking about this while Frek as contemplating their next move, paying just enough attention to make suitible interjections.

“So what do you think?” he asked softly, “We’ll have to decide to what to do.”


"We can't stay in one place, and he will be better off out of the city. There will be less people watching us, the Consortium is city based and anyone looking for us should be able to pick us out better there. Besides any ship ports would be watched, so there is no point trying to get a ship off the planet." Melain replied.

"The transhipment area will most likely be watched as well." Frek pointed out.

"Yes, but when you think about it, everywhere is watched. We should try to get there before light." Melain looked down at the Map she had downloded from the information booth. "That way, another hike that would be nice anywhere but here."

As they neared the transhipment area ray of light from the rising sun began to light the street, and one by one shopkeepers began to set up their wares. "I'm not sure we are going to make it." Melain worried allowed, trying to keep he face down and hidden.

"How far now?" Frek asked, he was doing the same. Melain realised she had not checked her PaDD in awhile. She glanced down. "Ummm, about another 5 minutes."

"That' not too bad... hey that' us." Frek pointed to a newscast that was showing above a newstand. It featured photo's of both of them and a newscastor warning everyone about their dangerouse nature. Apparently the Consortium had managed to convince the media they where dangrouse murderers sent by the Federation to assasinate the Tammaran leaders. The news agency had lapped the story up and it seemed to be their main feature.

"We'd better go, now everyone is going to be looking for us. What I wold do right now for orange skin." Melain sighed, feeling as though she stood out like a peacock in a hen house.

(4131/69022)

[jasonfarsir]

After getting himself comfertable and used to all of the ships systems, Jason finaly got to get enough free time to read the mission briefing. When he was done reading it he tapped his communicator. "Enginering to bridge"

=^=Bridge here, what is it Mr. Farsir=^=

"I was wondering if there was anything you need me to do to help find the crew members down on the surface,"

<tag bridge>

[Deleted]

=/\= Commander Stevenson to Captain Johnson =/\=

=/\= Johnson here =/\= came the response only moments later.

=/\= Get tactical team ready to possibly sent down to the planet =/\= she ordered.

=/\= Understood =/\= Cycle said and closed the channel.

"Finally, something for me to do" Cyle said

OOC sry, bit busy

[steve]

"There should have been some contact by now." he finally admitted.
"We could try scanning for Starfleet signals from handheld equipment." Hannah suggested.
Steve nodded.
Hannah turned to the officer now manning ops, "Try scanning for Starfleet signatures."
"It could take days to scan the planet" the officer informed her. Hannah looked towards Steve.
"Could you give us a location to start to looking?" she asked hoping that he would give up this crucial bit of information to help them find the Starfleet agents on the planet.
Steve looked at her, thinking for a moment "I don't know where they are, all I was told was to wait for a signal and...." Steve paused "And make sure their mission was complete, other than that I don't know much more, well nothing more I can say."
The XO looked at him, a little annoyed that he wasn't being very helpful
"Commander Stevenson, it might be an idea to start searching the Capital City and moving out from there. After reading the reports on this planet its the busiest city."
Hannah nodded in agreement and turned to Ops "Start scanning the planet, start with the Capital City and move out."
"Understood" the man from Ops replied

Hannah picked up the pad she was working from and continued.
Steve sat their, he was worried, more worried then normal. He had headed up many missions like this and had taken part in quite a few but had never felt like this and he knew it was showing. Maybe not to everyone but to his friends, most of all Grace. Steve loved Grace to bits, a great friend and someone that had helped him alot when he first joined the ship, but he could do with her not looking at him all the time.

The Ops station beeped and the officer spoke up "Commander"
Both Steve and Hannah looked over but Hannah was the one that spoke "Report, do you have something?"
"There is a problem with the sensors, the planet has a toxic atmosphere with electrical discharges. The sensors are going mad."
Hannah sighed "Understood" and picked her padd back up.
=^= Engineering to bridge =^=
=^= Bridge here, what is it Mr. Farsir =^= Steve answered.
=^= I was wondering if there was anything you need me to do to help find the crew members down on the surface. =^=
=^= We are having some problems getting a scan of the planet surface. The atmosphere is in a horrible state, see if there is anything you can do. =^= Steve replied
=^= Understood, Engineering out =^=
Steve turned to Hannah "Hope you don't mind Commander?"
"Not at all" She replied still reading her pad. It must be something very interesting Steve thought to himself.
Quietly, Grace whispered to Steve, while Harrias was in his ready room and Hannah was preoccupied with her pad "Steve, I'm not using my telepathy, but I observe people. Every move you make is telling me you are very worried. Why don't we go someplace to talk about it, privately. It's my job, so it's covered under doctor/patient confidentiality."
Steve looked Grace in the eye 'Bloody woman' he thought to himself and wondered if Grace could tell. Steve was about to answer when Harrias walked out of his Ready Room.

"Report" he called out

[Harrias Jira]

Walking out of his ready room, the whole bridge noise dropped a level.
- “Report.”
- “Hush.” Steve whispered, placing one finger to his lips. His other hand dropped to his waist, unholstered his phaser in seemingly the same movement, and flicked it in his hand. He thumbed the power to full and fired at the trill commodore. The beam, on striking Harrias vaporised him, the hole starting in the middle and soon spreading to erase the whole of his body.

Everyone in the bridge turned in horror towards Steve, who was manically laughing, his head bobbing back and forth as he did so. Security guards appeared from nowhere, dragging away the intelligence officer who never stopped laughing, even as his heels clunked over the gap as he was pulled into the turbolift.

--- *** ---

Harrias awoke in his chair, a cold sweat upon him. He looked around frantically, checking that he was awake, and not in some afterlife. As he walked over to the small sink in the corner of the room, he wondered why he had had such an aggressive dream, especially about someone that he considered a close friend. Grace would probably tell him it was a manifestation of his festering irritation about Steve not giving him more information about this mission, or indeed about Frek and Melain.

After a few minutes, he was ready, and throwing caution to the wind, he stepped out of his ready room.
- “Report.”

No ‘Hush’. No movement for a phaser. No disappearing trill. The signs were good. Harrias let a small smile slip from his lips.

- “The assets are long overdue on their report, even Commander Steve has acknowledged that, we are having trouble scanning the planet due to atmospheric conditions, however Farsir is attempting to solve this as we speak. I have received a list from the embassy, but we have not yet had a chance to study it in any depth. Suffice it to say that nothing obvious has come from it. Cyle is preparing a tactical team should the need arise.” Hannah rattled the list off without sounding boring, bored or even frustrated. Some achievement.

- “Keep working on it. I want a breakthrough people. Also, I think it is time to bring it up. Although we are halfway through this mission, we will soon be losing one of our ships greatest strengths, and a truly massive personality. Grace will be joining Zhuk on the Jefferson, she has accepted his offer of First Officer. I hope you will all join me in offering her congratulations, however we have work to do, so an ideas of drinks will have to wait.”