The Final Goodbye

[Deleted]

The door to the office beeped loudly waking Jack from his light sleep, he rubbed his eyes before yelling out. “Yeah..”

Nurse Williams walked in with a smile on her face as she said. “Sir there is someone waiting to see you.” She walked over and placed a pile of PADDs on Jack’s desk and said. “and these need your approval.”

Jack squinted at her as he swung his legs off the desk and glanced at the PADDs. “You waited until I fell asleep to give me those didn’t you?”

Williams grinned as she cocked her head and said with innocence. “Why of course not Doctor.”

Jack smiled as he said. “I was so close to naming a new a cool new disease after you.” Jack shook his head as he added. “But not now you missed your chance for fame.”

Nurse Williams raised an eyebrow as she said. “Just approve the forms.” She walked out and looked to her left and said to someone out of Jack’s view. “You can go in now.”

Jack looked with interest to see who would walk through the door, as the figure of a man he had not seen in at least half a decade Jack was taken aback by surprise. “Leo what an unexpected pleasure come in.”

Leo a man in his late fifties now was one of Jacks medical professors in Harvard university, though why he was here now Jack couldn’t begin too guess.

Leo smiled as he approached Jack as they shook hands Leo said. “Jack you are a hard man to track down.” Leo sat down in the chair in front of Jacks desk

Jack sat back down in his chair and smiled and asked. “What brings you to me Leo it has been a while.”

Leo nodded his grey hair shining in the light of Jacks office as he did. “I have taken a new job I no longer teach anymore, I am the Chief of Staff at Sydney General Hospital in Australia.... The best hospital in the southern hemisphere.”

Jack smiled as he said. “Well congratulations Leo they do some impressive things there.... but I know you better than that Leo you didn’t come here to show off.”

Leo shook his head and his face lost the happy smile and became serious. “No your right... I need a new Chief of Thoracic surgery ... that’s where you come in.”

Jack was stunned into silence, he thought for a few moments trying to get control of his thoughts before he finally managed to say. “You are joking right there are people outside waiting to jump in here and yell ‘Gotcha’.”

Leo again shook his head, he leaned forward. “No Jack, No joke... You are one of the most gifted surgeons I have met with potential that is wasted here curing space sickness.”

Jack frowned. “Leo I am not qualified for such a position even I know that.” Jack was shaking his head still half expecting Leo to break into laughter and tell him it was all a practical joke.

Leo shook his head more firmly this time before taking a small PADD from his jacket coat looking down at it he began to read. “Harvard medical... Third in your class... Seven months in the Gamma quadrant researching diseases no one had heard of... Two years in the Vulcan Institute of Medicine... Section 47 Academy graduating with the Rank of Lieutenant Junior grade... A posting as Chief Medical Officer rising to the Rank of Commander... Jack you have more Qualifications than some doctors twice your age.”

Jack was thinking about it more seriously now seeing as Leo obviously had. “Leo I will need to discuss this with some people and think it over is there some time limit to the offer?”

Leo smiled now seeing he was getting through to Jack. “I will need your answer in Twenty Four hours, if you are free in three hours I would like you to join me at the hospital so I can give you a tour.”

Jack nodded slowly and said. “I will be there in three hours Leo.”

Leo stood and offered his hand to Jack and said. “I must be going now Jack I have some other people to see.”

After they shook hands and Leo left Jack was left standing alone with a lot to think about...

TBC:

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal was just about to take her drink and go catch up with her mother when the comm badge in her pocket beeped. She pulled it out and stared at it, for a second she debated hurling it into one of the punch bowls but instead tapped it in answer.

=/\=Commander Rose here=/\=

=/\=Commander, This is Utopia Planitia Control. The Olympia has been cleared for her maintainence procedures.=/\= Crystal was impressed that the Luna comm routing had found her so fast but then she hadn't kept it a secret where she was going.

=/\=Thank-you Control, I'll see to it that the Olympia arrives with you shortly. Please co ordinate with our CEO Ensign Martin=/\=

=/\=Confirmed Commander Rose=/\=

The communications channel closed. Crystal tapped her comm badge again, spoke to Luna comm control and got them to route her call up to the Olympia where she got in contact with Ensign Martin.

=/\=Ensign, Utopia Planitia Control just contacted me. The Olympia is cleared for the refits you requested.=/\=

Tag: Ensign Martin

=/\=I won't be back up to the ship for a while, I told control to co ordinate with you. Let me know if there are any problems.=/\=

Tag:

=/\=Don't work too hard Ensign you're supposed to be on leave. Commander Rose out=/\=

Crystal closed the comm link down and looked back at the party becoming aware that several sets of eyes had been watching her closely during the conversation, one of those sets belonged to her mother. Crystal shrugged as her mother walked over to her.

"A first officer's work is never done." Crystal meant it as a joke but there was a ring of truth to her words.

Maria Rose, fussed and tutted picking a small piece of fluff off Crystal's shoulder. "You're looking pale dear, are you sure you're well? Are you eating properly? sleeping properly? I wish you weren't away so much. Morgan asked after you last week. I think he misses you dear. Do you have any idea when you are going to settle down?"

Crystal had almost been waiting for this moment. She took a deep breath and drew on all the calmness she had cultivated facing kidnappers, other threats to her ship or her life, and her Captain.

"It's good to see you too, mum. I'm pretty sure I'm healthy, I had a full medical not to long ago." She forced herself to smile, the expression gradually relaxed. "I am happy in Starfleet and I think I have settled it just isn't on Luna." Crystal swallowed hard and fought to keep her voice level "If Morgan misses me well... it isn't that difficult to send a message to the Olympia. I'll remind him not to bother you." She couldn't help glancing quickly around but she couldn't see Morgan Winter amongst the assembled people. "How's the exhibition going?"

Maria seemed a little flustered by her daughter's response. She wondered what had happened while Crystal had been away, she seemed colder and harder now. Maria wasn't sure she liked those changes. Still she would talk about the exhibition.

Crystal and her mother talked about art and Maria's latest exhibition which was doing really well. Crystal politely introduced Commander Tan and a few minutes later they were able to escape when Jedda waved at them from the barbeque asking for help with several larger trays of drinks.

Once she was well out of her mother's earshot she leaned on a table and sighed. "Sorry to subject you to that David, my mother can be a little 'intense'."

Tag: David

It was then that Crystal's father came over to her and swept his younger/smaller daughter into a hug. Causing her to smile onece more. "Congratulations on your Doctorate and being a First Officer. I know it means a lot to you."He caught the slightly frustrated look on his younger daughter's face. "You've all ready spoken to your mother haven't you?"

Crystal nodded. Jasper Rose sighed, Maria and Crystal were polar opposites in terms of interests but both were driven individuals who knew what they wanted and would do nearly anything to achieve it. There had been somewhat fiery clashes on a fairly regular basis since Crystal at 14 had announced her intentions to study science and then go into Starfleet (not that this announcement has surprised him at all).

"I'm sorry about that. Your mother hadn't slept the two nights before you arrived stressing about the exhibition and now she's stressing about you too."

Crystal hugged her father. "I know she worries, and I know you do your best to keep her calm. Do you know where Heather and Robin are?" In the chaos of the party Crystal hadn't yet spotted her siblings. Her dad pointed them out and Crystal went over to where her generation of the family were gathering.

[Deleted]

An hour had passed since Leo had left Jack’s office and Jack had done nothing but sit and think ever since, He was deep in thought when his office doors slid open to reveal Nurse Williams. Who strolled in and took one look at the PADDs which had not moved since she put them there and sighed jokingly.

“Doctor in the course of the day do you plan on doing anything without being asked five times.”

Her words could have been mistaken for disrespect if not for the fact her tone was light hearted and a grin was splashed her face, she was twenty eight exactly the same age as Jack but unlike Jack her hair did not have the very small streak of grey running through the temples. Her hair was light brown and held back in a loose pony tail. Jack ran his left hand through his own hair and was slightly jealous of Williams and the fact time seemed to be treating her a lot better than him.

He sighed lazily before looking her square in the eyes and saying with a smile on his face.

“Ah but that would ruin my hobby of annoying you... and really what else is there for me to keep myself entertained with other than that.”

Jane Williams laughed for a moment before picking up the PADDs that needed Jack’s approval and holding them in front of him and saying with a raised eyebrow.

“You could try doing some work.”

Jack rolled his head back and let out an even louder lazy sigh before looking back at her and saying.

“Fine give them here.”

As he began attaching his thumb print to the top ones he noticed Jane begin to slowly back out of the room he looked up and said.

“Oh no you don’t if you’re making me work you got to stay here and listen to me whine about it.”

Jane’s head dropped as she said. “Oh goody.” She sat in the chair in front of Jack’s desk.

Jack continued to approve the PADDs as he said. “You want to know why I became a doctor?.” He did not wait for her answer before continuing. “Of course you do... “

~~Thirty Minutes later~~

Jane Williams walked out of Jacks office surprised her ears were not bleeding listening to Jack’s boring story she thought she had escaped him when he quickly came out of the office, she was momentarily afraid he was going to add more to the story but she was relieved when Jack yelled across sickbay.

“Janet I will be gone for a few hours take care of sickbay.. and keep out of my office I finally got the chair at a height and lean I like.”

With that Jack strolled out of sickbay..

[traininghopper]

Oct 7, 2008 10:08:51 GMT Crystal Rose said:

=/\=Commander Rose here=/\=

=/\=Commander, This is Utopia Planitia Control. The Olympia has been cleared for her maintainence procedures.=/\= Crystal was impressed that the Luna comm routing had found her so fast but then she hadn't kept it a secret where she was going.

=/\=Thank-you Control, I'll see to it that the Olympia arrives with you shortly. Please co ordinate with our CEO Ensign Martin=/\=

=/\=Confirmed Commander Rose=/\=

The communications channel closed. Crystal tapped her comm badge again, spoke to Luna comm control and got them to route her call up to the Olympia where she got in contact with Ensign Martin.

=/\=Ensign, Utopia Planitia Control just contacted me. The Olympia is cleared for the refits you requested.=/\=

=/\= Thankyou Commander, the refits are only minor so shouldn't take long to do, unfortunatley it looks like the Utopia mob wil have to help us fix the remaining damage from you little tat detate with the Romulans. Next time please try and minimise the damage? I don't like having alot of green maritains in my engineering. =/\=

=/\=I won't be back up to the ship for a while, I told control to co ordinate with you. Let me know if there are any problems.=/\=

=/\= Don't worry ma'm, nothing can go wrong, touch wood. But if we do lose antimatter containmet you'll be the first one I'll call. after recent discoveries I need to work on things. =/\=

Richard's voice made it obvious he was joking, that and the short chuckle. his mind though was filling of memories of being with his mother at Utopia Plantia, was she really a Romulan? Was she stealing starship plans? He had to find out, there would be evidence there, either way.

=/\=Don't work too hard Ensign you're supposed to be on leave. Commander Rose out=/\=

'Don't worry', easier said then done', Richard thought to himself as he sat himself back down at the master display table.

-Flashback starts-

A tall lady Vulcan is in one of the corridors of a Maritan ship yard facing out onto the shipyard where a Galaxy clas ship was in mid construction. Holding her hand is asmall boy with pointed ears and slight arrow like dent to his head, (a young Richard).

"Mummy look!", Richard said excitedly as a workerbee postioned the deflector dish to the vessel, "Will I ever be on a ship like that mummy?".

T'Pau looked down at her son a mixture of a happyness and concern on her face. "Maybe one day son, but not till your older, it's more logical you should join Starfleet Acadmey first".

She turned her head to look back out at the big ship being assembled, not sure how she felt about her young son's drive to head off into space, he definitly inherited it from both her and her husband but there were many dangers out there as well as exciting discoveries. 'My work collegues for one ', she thought to herself.

Richard paused for a minute trying to understand what his mum had said as he watched the weilders in their eva suits attached the hull peice. "Okay mummy, but look at it, Jennings says it's just as powerful as a Romulan War thingy... Maybe we can now show them who's boss", he said looking up at his mother smilling happily, his eyes gleaming. He had heard stories about he Romulans and the Warbirds that the Enterpise D had encountered. From what he had heard they weren't nice.

T'pau resisted the urge to cry, one because logical vulcan's didn't cry and two shehad to stay strong for her son while his father was away at Starbase 452 helping the dismantling of the USS Phineox, after it had been discovered embeeded in an asteroid.
"Come along", she said trying to smile back at him, your father's due on subspace in 5 minutes, lets get back to our quarters".


-Flashabck end-

[Crystal Rose]

Conversation insert.

=/\= Thankyou Commander, the refits are only minor so shouldn't take long to do, unfortunately it looks like the Utopia mob will have to help us fix the remaining damage from you little tat debate with the Romulans. Next time please try and minimise the damage? I don't like having a lot of green maritains in my engineering. =/\=

Crystal did her best not to laugh at the engineer's words. =/\=Next time the Olympia ends up between two Romulan ships who are shooting each other I'll do my best to make sure she gets hit as little as possible. Still you should have seen her after a transportation mission we had a while back. Secondary module was pretty near destroyed.=/\= Crystal sighed reminiscing a bit not that that mission was one of her favourite reminisces, she had come too close to dying too many times as had a lot of her friends. She shook her head slowly.

=/\=Don't mind me Ensign you just get her in one piece again. I won't be back up to the ship for a while, I told control to co ordinate with you. Let me know if there are any problems.=/\=

[David Tan]

David stood quietly while Crystal spoke to one of the engineers working on the Olympia. Jedda too had noticed his seemingly abandoned state, and wandered over.

"She all work and no play these days ?" she asked, a playful grin forming on her face.

"She's just talking to the ship, nothing serious." Tan said, taking a sip from his empty glass.

"You're going to need a refill, but I'll guess you won't be wanting any more of Mothers' punch What would you like ?"

"Well ......" David said, allowing the young woman to take his empty glass, "A brandy would be nice."

"Make that a large one Jedda, he's going to need it before the nights out. Let's just hope my 'eccentric' family don't cause you to flee the planet." Crystal said, smiling as Tan grinned.

"Trouble ?" David asked, pointing upward.

"No ... Repair and refit issues that's all."

Jedda returned with David's drink .. The glass was so large he wasn't sure if he was expected to drink out of it of take a swim in it ... He took the glass, resisting the urge to use both hands. Jadda and Crystal laughed at the expression on his face.

"You two aren't drinking." Tan said, noticing neither woman had a glass of their own.

"Oh we'll get to it don't you worry." Jedda said, almost seductively brushing against Tans side as she looked into his eyes.

"Jedda !" Crystal warned, "Go get us a drink, you know what I'll have."

"Sorry about that." she said as Jedda headed for the bar, "She can be an incurable flirt at times. It's almost embarrassing."

"She's having fun." Tan said, then took a drink from the fish bowl he was holding while watching Jedda at the bar.

"Hmmmm." Crystal commented ..........

[Deleted]

Steve sat in silence for a while, trying really hard to say something. After what had happened within the last day, he was at a loss for words. Eventually he looked at Carl and began to speak.

"I still can't believe she has gone. I don't WANT to believe she is gone. If you could have seen her there Carl, lying in her bed and not knowing what was going to happen to herself. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. To have to tell her she was goig to die within a matter of minutes was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. And now the next hardest thing is going to be saying goodbye at her funeral."

Suddenly Steve perked up as if he had just remembered something. "The funeral....dammit, I haven't even informed the crew yet. They know I am here, but they don't know that Arya is gone. I guess I should make some sort of announcement regarding that sometime soon."

Steve looked at Carl again. "I would really like it if you would say a few words at the funeral. It would mean a lot to me, and I know Arya would appreciate it as well. Right now, I need all the support I can get."

[Deleted]

Jack left sickbay on the way out he had grabbed a medical tricorder, his ultimate destination was sickbay but he wanted to make a quick stop before leaving.

Jack entered Engineering and looked around, he saw quite a few crewman hurrying around pressing consoles but he didn’t immediately see who he was looking for. It wasn;t until Ensign Martins head rose up from ficing something behind a bulkhead panel that Jack saw him. Walking over to him Jack said.

“Ensign Martin, I need to speak to you for a moment.”

<Tag Martin>

Jack looked to his left to see a young man watching him and his Chief Engineer, raised his eyebrows as he said.


“I assume you have something to do… Get to it.”

The young man nodded his head and rushed off to a console over the other side of the room, Jack turned back towards Ensign Martin and said.

“I am going to be off ship for a little while I just wanted to see how you are doing.”

<Tag Martin>

Jack nodded and said. “Good well Doctor Reilly has been briefed about your condition and will be in sickbay if need be, Please remember not to over do it.. When I am on earth I will stop in at Starfleet medical and get the things I need for you treatment tomorrow.”

Jack turned and left Engineering and headed off towards the transporter room.

[Carl Torek]

" ...... To have to tell her she was going to die within a matter of minutes was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But now the next hardest thing is going to be saying goodbye at her funeral."

Carl could see the hurt on his friends face. Arya really did mean the world to this man, and it was going to almost impossible to get through the day of the funeral. He stood, moving toward the replicator.

"Cappuccino ... Two." he ordered, then taking both hot mugs of coffee, he handed one to Steven, "You need this ...... Take it." Carl insisted quietly, as Steven simply stared at the cup as if it was a million kilometers away.

Both men drank in silence, then Steven suddenly jumped up.

"The funeral ...... Dammit, I haven't even informed the crew yet. They know I am here, but they don't know that Arya is gone. I guess I should make some sort of announcement regarding that sometime soon."

"Yes, but not right now. Your not in the frame of mind to make that announcement. More than anything, you need to get some rest. Why not go back to the ship and get some sleep, you'll feel better for it. I'm sure one of the nurses will look after Renora."

"You're right ... Of course you are Carl. But I think I'll get Renora and spend some time with her. If she nods off I might follow suit."

Both men stood, and as Carl was leaving Steven spoke.

"I would really like it if you would say a few words at the funeral. It would mean a lot to me, and I know Arya would appreciate it as well. Right now, I need all the support I can get."

"I'd be honored to Steven." Carl said, taking the offered hand and shaking it warmly, "I'll get back to the ship for a while, don't forget to get some rest Steven."

Smith nodded as Carl left, then sat back down with an audible sigh ..........

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal had had a chat with her brother and sister, both were well. Robin had given her some recordings of his new songs, Crystal had promised to listen to them even though his music wasn't always to her taste.

She had also finished several drinks including the sugary green concoction Jedda had brought for her. Jedda was still flirting with David, Crystal had given up making comments figuring that they would sort themselves out anyway. Still it unnerved her slightly and she had to keep forcibly reminding herself that her baby cousin was now grown up.

Crystal had also successfully managed to avoid her mother for the rest of the evening. It wasn't that she didn't like her, but she couldn't face another conversation like the previous one.

The party was beginning to wind down and Crystal decided that while her mother was involved in a detailed chat with her sister it was a good time to make an exit. She left the party quickly and it wasn't until she reached the transit station that she paused and sent a message to David.

=/\=David, it's Crystal. I'm heading back to the Olympia=/\=

She got back to the Olympia and headed quickly to her quarters, she saw the comm light flashing at her desk and the list of communications that had been sent to her. Not to mention the pile of PADDs which seemed to have multiplied in her absence. Crystal sighed and then decided that she couldn't face that now and went to bed hoping that no one would disturb her.

[traininghopper]

Oct 14, 2008 8:47:22 GMT @jackcrane said:

Jack left sickbay on the way out he had grabbed a medical tricorder, his ultimate destination was sickbay but he wanted to make a quick stop before leaving.

Jack entered Engineering and looked around, he saw quite a few crewman hurrying around pressing consoles but he didn’t immediately see who he was looking for. It wasn;t until Ensign Martins head rose up from ficing something behind a bulkhead panel that Jack saw him. Walking over to him Jack said.

“Ensign Martin, I need to speak to you for a moment.”

"Can't it wait an hour or so doctor? I'd rather not leave my work, with these ameturs", Ensign Richard replied trying to keep his voice unemotional and failing slightly, a little bitof the anger he felt against himself, and his mother escaping form his mind into his voice. The sight of a Medical tricorder in the Doctor's hands wasn't a welcome sight. 'It's not serious enough to be needing old fashioned work check up's is it? He said it was treatable', he thought to himself panicking a little, 'Mother died after fainting'.

Gently rested his head on the bulkhead in front of him, his body was fighting his mind to rest, but he didn't want to allow himself to do that , he couldn't afford to let himself black out again by closing his eyes and resting. Yes it was paranoia but given the fact he's just learned his mother was a Romulan, paranoia was understanable. Richard saw one of the repair crew to their left look at him amd the doctor.

Jack looked to his left to see a young man watching him and his Chief Engineer, raised his eyebrows as he said.


“I assume you have something to do… Get to it.”

The young man nodded his head and rushed off to a console over the other side of the room, Jack turned back towards Ensign Martin and said.

“I am going to be off ship for a little while I just wanted to see how you are doing.”

"I'm doing fine docotor Crane, just the usual ache's and pains that develop during refit's", he said smilling try to shake off any obvious sign of physical ailments that would arouse he doctor's suspions, "i told commander Rose it owuld be a two day job so I should have the work done within 5 hours". Like every sensible cheif Engineer since Montogomery Scott, Richard always added time to his estimates. Starfleet's galaxy famous engineering corps had to stay looking like mirical workers after all.

Jack nodded and said. “Good well Doctor Reilly has been briefed about your condition and will be in sickbay if need be, Please remember not to over do it.. When I am on earth I will stop in at Starfleet medical and get the things I need for you treatment tomorrow.”

Jack turned and left Engineering and headed off towards the transporter room.

[David Tan]

They had been at the party for almost three hours and David had managed to meet several of Crystal's family and friends. though he got the distinct impression that the friends were Crystal's mothers' rather than hers.

He'd looked for Crystal several times, only to be intercepted by Jedda .. Not that he found her company distasteful or annoying. in fact, she seemed to bring a refreshing look to things, considering the current circumstances.

Tan's Comm suddenly sprung to life.

=^= David .. It's Crystal .. I'm heading back to the Olympia =^=

=^= Acknowledged Commander .. I'll join you at the transit station =^=

"You don't have to leave do you ?" Jedda asked, and almost childish pout on her lips.

=^= Feel free to stay at the party David =^= Crystal said, after listening to Jedda.

"Sorry Jedda." Tan said, placing his glass on a nearby table, "I'm sure we will get the chance to meet again before the Olympia breaks orbit."

"I hope so." Crystal's cousin said, throwing her arms round David's neck in a hug ... Tan self-consciously returned the hug, placing his arms round her waist. Then, both took a step back, and as Tan began to walk away, Jedda spoke.

"I'll hold you to that meeting." she said, laughing .. David waved and headed for the transit station ..

Ten minutes later, he was back aboard the Olympia ..........

[Crystal Rose]

At the transit station

David caught up with her at the transit station. Crystal was pleased to see him. She hoped that her family hadn't caused him too much trouble, certainly Jedda had been very interested in David.

"I should probably warn you," Crystal said as they stepped up on transporter platform. "Uncle Richard has arranged for Jedda to have tour of the Olympia while she's at Earth." Crystal continued without pause as they arrived on the Olympia and walked through the corridors. "And she means it when she says she'll hold you to the meeting. She's as stubborn as I am. Family trait."

Tag: David

[David Tan]

"I should probably warn you ..." Crystal said, as they stepped up on transporter platform, "Uncle Richard has arranged for Jedda to have tour of the Olympia while she's at Earth."

"Oh, and she means it when she says she'll hold you to the meeting. She's as stubborn as I am ... Family trait." Crystal continued without pause as they arrived on the Olympia and walked through the corridors.

David was unsure what to say. He found Jedda nice to talk to, but imagined her being the proverbial 'handful' at times. she had a glint of easy wickedness in her eye's at times, and Tan had to admit that he liked it.

"You listening to me Commander !"

"Wha ......" David said, looking round, and to his utter surprise, found Crystal had stopped walking and was almost ten meters behind him, and grinning ..

"She's a nice girl !" David said, reddening somewhat.

"Woman Mister Tan .. Jedda is a woman." Crystal said, managing to keep the Stern look on her face for less than three seconds, before bursting into laughter.

Tan frowned, then found himself joining in as both Officers continued to walk.

"I'm here." Crystal said, motioning to a door.

"OK. See you later." Tan said as he continued to walk.

"Don't forget !" the Exec' called after him, "She won't forget."

Tan was sure he heard laughter as the door closed on Crystal. He grinned, then wondered briefly what a dinner and drink would be like .. Finding his own quarters, he took a quick shower before heading for the Bridge. He wasn't due on shift for a while, but decided to check up on what was facing him in the morning ..........

[Carl Torek]

Carl beamed back to the Olympia. Crystal Rose had kindly allotted him guest quarters that were normally reserved for visiting dignitaries and such.

Leaving the transporter room he began the walk to his quarters, but almost lost his way, but remembered he needed to be on deck eight.

leaving the turbo-lift, he turned right along the sweeping curve of the main saucer section of the Prometheus Class ship. he must have been distracted because he didn't see the man waiting at another lift, and walked right into him ..

"Sorry ... It was my fau ... David ... Long time no see." Carl said, taking the hand of his friend.

"Carl." Tan said, "Good to see you. I wish it was under better circumstances."

"Yes. me too ... Where are you heading ?"

"Bridge." Tan said, "Just a check before I begin my duty shift. I want to make sure there are no hiccup's during the funeral ... You want to tag along ?"

"No .. No thank you. I need to clean up and get some rest. We'll catch up for a drink later maybe ?"

"I'll hold you to that Carl." Tan replied as the lift doors closed.

Carl continued to his quarters. Throwing his tunic on the settee, he headed for the bedroom, then bathroom and took a sonic shower. Dressed in casual clothes, he ordered a cappuccino from the replicator and sat down. It was then he noticed the Comm light blinking on his screen. He put the coffee down and walked to the desk.

"Computer ... Open Comm message for Commander Carl Torek.

"Message is marked 'private' .. Do you wish to read the contents now ?"

"Yes" Carl said, and watched as the Star fleet insignia appeared, before being replaced by a written message ..

For the attention of: Cmdr Carl Torek
From: Section Admiral Drew
Star fleet Command Headquarters


Commander First Class Carl Torek,

You are hereby requested and required to assume full command of the USS Raven-B. In accordance with this new assignment, it is also my pleasure to inform you that as of SD 94.1021, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Captain and shall enjoy all the privileges of that rank.

Congratulations,

Section Admiral Paul Drew.


Message ends ...

Carl re-read the massage, then almost smiled. 'Funny how things have a way of dropping in' he thought, as he looked at the screen again.

Sitting down, with the message still showing, he considered ignoring it until his return to the Raven. But this was from the Section Admiral, one man that wouldn't take too kindly to his orders being ignored. Carl knew that Steven would be pleased at his friend's promotion, so with a sigh he walked to the replicator ..

He'd brought three duty uniforms and of course his only dress uniform, which he would wear for the funeral itself.

"Four Captain's rank insignia pips."

It was strange that it was his fourth pip and he'd brought only four uniforms with him. Dismissing the comparison as daft, he went into the bedroom and attached his new insignia. Holding up the dress tunic to ensure the pips were aligned, he placed it back on the hanger went back into the living area. Refreshing his cappuccino, he sat down to try to relax.

He wondered how his friend was doing, but decided against contacting him ..

Some things a man needs time to do alone ..........

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal woke from her nap feeling much refreshed. Changed into a new uniform and snagged a mug of coffee and a couple of slices of toast from the replicator. She sighed and started to tend top the pile of PADDs that had accumulated in her absence, most of them were simply things that required an authorisation or they reports that she needed to collate. She updated her records and dumped the last PADD on the done pile. Now there were two more things she needed to do.

"Computer, where is Lieutenant Martin?"
=/\=Lietenant Martin is in Main Engineering=/\= The computer replied.

Crystal nodded, she didn't want to disturb him. =/\=Commander Rose to Lieutenant Martin, how's the repair work going?=/\=

Tag: Lt Martin.

=/\=Do you have an estimate on how much longer we're going to be at Utopia Planetia?=/\=

Tag:

=/\=Right, if any of Utopia control give you hassle just send them to me.=/\=

Tag:

=/\=Rose out=/\=

With that done Crystal had a far less pleasant comm call to make to New Berlin. Irritatingly it was the middle of the local day and Morgan answered the comm almost at once.

=/\=It's good to see you again Cryssy, I heard you were back. Does this mean you're coming home?=/\=

Crystal had been ready for the nickname, she had told him many times that it annoyed her but he thought it 'cute' and kept using it.

=/\=It doesn't,=/\= she said flatly. Then continuing before he could reply. =/\=My mother said you'd been asking after me. Please don't bother my parents, the Olympia isn't that far out by subspace.=/\=

He shrugged =/\=I want you come back to me Cryssy. I can't stand the thought of you being in danger out there.=/\=

Crystal gave a benign smile that though who knew her well would know meant trouble, despite his protests to the contary Morgan Winter was not in that group.

=/\=As I recall you were the one who left me. Something about me being 'more in love with my experiments than you'=/\= Morgan winced

=/\=I just didn't like seeing you working so hard, you were barely sleeping. It wasn't healthy, you know I only want to look after you.=/\=


It had been the final months of Crystal's research time and she had had a lot to do. still Morgan splitting up with her hadn't been what she had needed just then, still she had gotten through her research. =/\=You're not trying to look after me, Morgan, you're trying to smother me and you always were. The thing is you don't see the difference. I like my life in starfleet, yes it can be dangerous at times but this is what I want to do. If you can't except that then you don't know me at all.=/\=

There was silence on the comm line, for a moment Crystal thought Morgan was going to burst into tears then he swallowed, reached forward and cut the comm channel leaving Crystal staring at a blank screen.

Crystal left her quarters and went to the holodeck, she had a lot of frustration to burn and the best way to do that was to pactice her hand to hand self-defence. Yet another thing Morgan wouldn't understand or approve of.

Crystal stepped into the holodeck and stood for second on the yellow and black grid. She took off her tunic and the red undershirt she wore leaving her clad in her uniform sleeveless top. "Activate programme Rose Gamma One. Free Practise." The familiar matted room appeared and Crystal ducked as the holographic form of her predecessor threw a punch in her direction. Crystal smiled and set to her practise. She had only very recently dared try the free practise sessions but things seemed to be going okay. So far.

[Deleted]

When Steve finally returned to the Olympia, he put Renora in her cot to let her sleep and headed up to the Bridge. It was like a ghost ship as he walked around as there wasn't that many personnel still on board due to Shoreleave. That suited him just fine though, as it meant he wouldn't have to interact with as many people as normal...perhaps even none at all.

Steve arrived at the Bridge and stepped out of the turbolift. There was only Engineering crew there working on upgrading the consoles and repairing any damage. 'Let's hope with these upgrades will stop the consoles blowing up in our faces whenever someone fires on us.' Steve thought to himself. Without stopping he headed directly into the Ready Room.

Once the doors behind him closed, Steve breathed a steady sigh. He approached the desk and put his hand over the box on the table that held the pip that was given to him for his promotion to Commodore. He opened the box, took the pip out and walked over to the mirror so that he could make sure he put the pip on correctly. 'I'll make you proud with this Arya.'

Steved looked himself over in the mirror and then headed back towards the Bridge, but stopped before the door and turned to look into the room. "Right, now comes the hard part."

Entering the Bridge again, Steve headed for the centre chair and sat down in it. A moment later he tapped the arm console which open a comm channel to all of the Olympia crew, wherever they all were.

=/\= All crew of the USS Olympia. This is the Captain. I regret that it is my duty to inform you that last night Commander 1st Class Arya Smith passed away. There will be a funeral and memorial service today at 1600 hours and I would appreciate you all attending. Smith out. =/\=

Steve closed the channel and also closed his eyes as he continued to stay seated in his chair.

[Carl Torek]

Carl placed the new pip on his Dress tunic and checked that it was in-line.

He was wondering about Steven, and his Daughter Renora. She was still a baby and had lost her Mother, but of course she wouldn't understand what that meant at her age, and Carl felt so sorry for both her and his friend.

Steven would of course sit Renora down and tell her everything, but not yet, not for some years to come. He knew it would feel like yesterday for Steven, but would hopefully bring much needed comfort and conclusion to his Daughter.

As he stored the tunic, the ship-wide Comm activated ...

=^= All crew of the USS Olympia .. This is the Captain .. I regret that it is my duty to inform you that last night Commander First Class Arya Smith passed away .. There will be a funeral and memorial service today at sixteen hundred hours .. I would appreciate you all attending .. Smith out =^=

The Comm closed ...

Carl sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, knowing how hard that one communication must have been to make, but at least that was over with now, and Carl fully expected every single crew-member to be at the service. Guests too, like himself would be there. Arya was a much respected, and to some, much loved Officer ..

Sighing, Carl rose, he needed a shower and shave, he wasn't going to arrive at the funeral in anything but immaculate condition, the occasion, and respect demanded nothing less ..........



OOC: Best dress uniforms everyone. This is a solemn occasion.

[Crystal Rose]

=/\= All crew of the USS Olympia. This is the Captain. I regret that it is my duty to inform you that last night Commander 1st Class Arya Smith passed away. There will be a funeral and memorial service today at 1600 hours and I would appreciate you all attending. Smith out. =/\=

The words came over the comm in Crystal's holodeck dojo, she knew what they had come back to Earth for but hearing the Captain say those words was still a shock. She missed a block while she pondered them and was sent into a tumbling roll across the mat.

Crystal left the holodeck with several hours to spare before the service and returned to her quarters. She sent a recorded message to the Captain, reasoning that then he could play it when he felt like it rather than have her butting in on him. It was hard to work out what to say, in the end she kept it simple, she had never been that good with words

=/\=Captain, It's Crystal. Everything's running smoothly with the Olympia, let me know if there's anything at all I can do to help.=/\=

Tag: Commodore Smith

The Olympia was returned to Earth orbit and all seemed to have gone well with the repair work. No doubt there was a report in the new stack of PADDs that had appeared on her desk.

OOC: Ensign Martin, feel free to play with the repairs as much as you like so long as we get back to Earth for the funeral.
Crystal took a sonic shower and changed, she fussed for a while over the dress uniform, it didn't feel right. Whether that was because of the occasion or the fact that she hadn't worn it since her graduation Crystal wasn't sure. She stared at herself in the mirror, she hadn't been on the Olympia that long but the reflection looking back at her seemed immeasurably older.

The red colour of her undertunic seemed strange, Crystal still wasn't used to seeing herself in command colours, she wondered how long that feeling would last. She placed the last of her pips in position and double checked that they were straight and then finished scraping her hair back, the bun was more severe than the ponytail she normally wore on duty but it seemed to fit the solemn occasion. She had barely known Arya Smith so most of Crystal's personal feelings were related to how badly this would affect the Captain and Renora.

She sighed and then left for the funeral.

[Deleted]

Jack walked out of the hospital behind Leo, the tour had taken about an hour and he had seen just about every square inch of the wards he would, if he accepted the job be responsible for. As they stood outside Leo turned to Jack and asked.

“So Jack what do you think?”

Jack smiled back as he said.

“Very impressive Leo I….”

=/\= All crew of the USS Olympia. This is the Captain. I regret that it is my duty to inform you that last night Commander 1st Class Arya Smith passed away. There will be a funeral and memorial service today at 1600 hours and I would appreciate you all attending. Smith out. =/\=

Jack’s smile slipped off of his face as he shook his head, he looked back up at Leo and said. “I must be going Leo.”

Jack tapped his comm. Badge and said.

=/\= Crane to shuttlecraft one to beam up… Engergize. =/\=

The trip back to Olympia at Utopia Planitia was very short and before long Jack was standing in his quarters. Jack really didn’t want to go he hated funerals and he had never met Arya, but as Chief Medical Officer he came to the conclusion he had to go, besides he knew going would be a sign of respect.

He had a sonic shower and changed into his dress uniform. Jack looked around his quarters sighed and headed out of the door on the way to the funeral.

[traininghopper]

Oct 24, 2008 17:34:09 GMT Crystal Rose said:

Crystal woke from her nap feeling much refreshed. Changed into a new uniform and snagged a mug of coffee and a couple of slices of toast from the replicator. She sighed and started to tend top the pile of PADDs that had accumulated in her absence, most of them were simply things that required an authorisation or they reports that she needed to collate. She updated her records and dumped the last PADD on the done pile. Now there were two more things she needed to do.

"Computer, where is Lieutenant Martin?"
=/\=Lietenant Martin is in Main Engineering=/\= The computer replied.

Crystal nodded, she didn't want to disturb him. =/\=Commander Rose to Lieutenant Martin, how's the repair work going?=/\=

=/\= Slowly Commander. *Angry sigh* The damage to her is more exstensive then I previously thought, and on top of that because the Bozeman B, and Diligent are also here for refits, we have been given what can only be politley called, *Sigh* Newbies. It's like an academy engineering feild lesson. If you could pull any strings you have to get us some more experienced repair crew members, I would really apprecaite it. =/\=

Having newbies in your occasional starbase repair crews working on your ship, was seen to be a punishment on par with a warp core breach by most Cheif Engineers regardless of their own rank. The mistakes the, shall we say politely, 'inexperienced' repair crews made took weeks to fix afterward. The only thing worse then a damaged starship was a newbie crew repairing it.

=/\=Do you have an estimate on how much longer we're going to be at Utopia Planetia?=/\=

=/\=If you want the ship fully repaired and refitted the best I can do is two days, if I leave out certain repairs like the MVAM, and you don't mind Warp 8 being your top speed, then it would be shortened to one day. Both of those estimates are with continious shifts working continously, burning the midnight petroleum. Either way I will be unfortuantely unable to attend the funeral, Rose please send the captain my regrets and comissiorations on his loss.=/\=

=/\=Right, if any of Utopia control give you hassle just send them to me.=/\=

=/\= Don't worry about that Rose, I have my own way of dealing with them. =/\=

=/\=Rose out=/\=

Richard sighed trying and failing to keep the anger out of his voice. It was unfortunate that he wouldn't be able to go to the Captain's announced funeral. 'But if I did go I'd be leaving Jenkins in charge with the, 'newbie crew' for more then a few hours which wouldn't be advisable',h thought to himself. And he was quite right to think so, mistakes made by repairs crews had lead to everything from embarrasing malfunctions to warp core breaches due to an overloaded warp plasma subsystem algerythm. Then there was the chance of sabotage, if his mother, (a romulan masguerading as a Vulcan) was able to infilrate Utopia Plantia, then they may be others. Though he had only learn't his mother's secret, a couple of hours ago, it stood to reason that she was an agent of the Tal Shair, if she had been a dissident, she would not have pretended to be Vulcan, and, 'happen' to all in love with and marry a Starfleet security officer. 'No... she did love father', Richard told himself.He needed to rest like Doctor Crane had told him, his body was aching. Yes he would rest, but not for long though.

"Lt. Jenkins your in charge of engineering till I get back", Richard told his his immediate subordinate, not giving a reason for his absence, "Keep an eye on the repair crew, detail two of our lot that are repairing the repalicator system to watch tcheck their work for mistakes, accident or diliberal".As he finished Richard turned and walked out of engineering walking quickly to wards his quarters.

As soon as he entered, Richard asked the computer to lock the door and flopped down onto his bed, a content smile forming across his face.He didn't bother to change out of his duty uniform, and why bother taking it off when he was going to be back up and workng within a couple of hours? "God I deserve a rest after today's events", he said to himself out loud, stretching his arms and yawnning.

"You do deserve some, but first we need to talk", came the familiar rough female voice fromt he comm unit by the side of the bed. 'This is all I need', Richard thought to himself and sighing resigningingly as he crawled over half of the bed to get to the comms unit, the unfortunatly all too familair black and silver Starfleet delata symbol on the monitors screen. "Computer encode incoming transimission, Martin S31 Baker-2-Baker", he said quiety as not to be overheard, he waited until he had heard the specail lock built into the door had locked into place before pressing the Accept button on the LCARS display.In the place of the dark delta symbol, a young Klingon women in a black uniform was at the center of the screen, the background behind her of course being completely white. (All Section 31 transimmions routinely blanked out the background for security reasons).

"Kinarra, though it is nice to see you again what is it you want?", Richard said the smile fadding a little on his face, the tone of his voice between caring andanger,"Us humans need to sleep you know".

"We need to you to install something on the Olympia", the Klingon woman said.........

[Crystal Rose]

OOC: Back posting to just after Crystal's comm call to Ensign Martin.

=/\=If you could pull any strings you have to get us some more experienced repair crew members, I would really appreciate it. =/\=

The Chief Engineer's words rang in Crystal's head as she stared at the comm screen, she was grateful for any excuse to delay her comm to Morgan, now, what strings could she pull...

Crystal had been friends with a lot of engineers during her studies and it stood to reason that at least one of them would be at Utopia Planetia. She did a quick search of the crew database and soon found one of them.

She jabbed the comm again, her call was quickly answered the face was just as she remembered. =/\=Hi Paul, good to see you.=/\=

=/\=Crystal, it's been too long.=/\= He squinted at her image on the screen. =/\=Why to I get the feeling that this isn't entirely a social call?=/\=

Crystal laughed =/\=because you know me too well? You are quite right. The Olympia is in the yards at the moment and according to my CEO there are a bunch of newbies working on her=/\=

Paul tapped a few buttons on his control screen, Crystal was quite correct an abnormally high number of junior/trainee workers had been assigned to the Olympia.

=/\=I think I can do something about that... Do you want to have dinner with us later?=/\=

Crystal smiled Paul Mattise was ever the charmer, =/\=Better make it tomorrow. You choose the place.=/\=

=/\=Of course, I've sent the orders through. I'm sure James will look forward to seeing you as well.=/\=

Crystal wagged a finger at the screen although she couldn't maintain a serious tone. =/\=I hope repairs go faster for the Olympia now or I'll be forced to tell James what happened those few days in Zurich...=/\=

Paul reacted with mock horror =/\=You wouldn't....=/\= He paused as if thinking, this was an old conversation, he shrugged. =/\=Never mind you behave yourself or I may have to reveal what happened in Ottawa...=/\=

Crystal laughed and wondered why she had thought to contact Paul when the Olympia first got back to Earth. It seemed good time to catch up with old friends. Still there was one 'friend' she didn't want to talk to. She place a comm call to New Berlin....

[traininghopper]

"Listen very carefuly Kinarra, I have finished with Section 31, when I left two years ago I meant it for good", Richard said assertively, resisiting the urge to shout it out loud. When he had been, 'recruited' into the organization as a brand new ensign out of Starfleet Academy, it all seemed so, 'cool' to be a spy. Dodging phaser shots, sabotaging alein technology tests, and of course Kinarra. His consience wasn't really there back in those days, but as the two years rolled on it began to feel wrong, and however much he tried to soth it with the knowledge he was saving the Federation, his mind couldn't escape the fact that he was betraying the Federation's humane principles, articales, and treaties in the process.

He had hoped that he had left that piece of his life behind him, it was pianfull though for him to forget all that he had done: the murders, the treaty voilations, the meddling. But most of all it was his Kinarra, he found the hardest to forget. Richard had always kept himself to himself not talking to anyone, or going out with his academy mates to the bars and clubs, his nature was shy, assertive, but also cold all rolled into one. 'As cold as the ice of Mertion 3', one of the professors had commented.

Both he and Kinarra were recruited at the same time, but she had just graduated from the Klingon Imperail College on Gron'os, at first they were stand upish against each other but had soon developed a mutal affection for each other. She was the ol person he felt safe talking about his feelings and life with. The safe harbour he needed from time to time, especailly now.

"Look, it's wonderful to see you again, it really is but, I really don't need this right now", he said to her, as politely as he could, though his voice definitly contained an angry tone to it, with that he tapped the power buttonon the comm panel, cutting off the transmission and lyed back on his bed. He knew they would find a way of contacting him again, but he would worry about that later.

[Deleted]

Steve stood facing out the viewport of his quarters taking deep breaths to keep himself calm. He was dressed in his white full white dress uniform. It was almost time for the ceremony for Arya. He had made sure that everything was in order before he went to get ready. The memorial was due to take place in the mess hall in about 15 minutes.

Steve was still unsure of the what to say at the service. All he hoped was that whatever he said would do it justice. He was glad to have both Carl and Crystal there to support him, because right now that is what he needed. But not just from them, from the entire crew. Steve then turned to Renora and saw that she was asleep. He was ready to leave, so he picked Renora up and left his quarters with her and her cradle, and headed to the mess hall.

Steve was the first person to turn up. He placed Renora in her cradle and began pacing the room. Very soon the rest of the crew would be turning up and then the hard part would begin. But for now, he just had to keep it together and not let anyone down, most of all Arya.

For now, all he could do was await the arrivals....

[Carl Torek]

It had been a while since he'd need to wear his dress uniform, and as he put on the white tunic he noticed the four gold pips as they caught the light. He was a Captain now, but the promotion didn't seem to mean much given the circumstances.

Checking his uniform for the last time, he left his quarters and made his way to the mess hall, the memorial ceremony was due to take place there. As he approached, he noticed that the windows in the doors, normally clear glass containing the Federation emblem, had been blacked out as a mark of respect.

Entering, he saw the room was empty, no, Steven was there, bending to comfort his restless daughter. Carl walked to the front quietly, looking at the casket containing his friends wife and the mother of Renora. He stood in silence until Steven turned ..

"Carl ..." Steven said, taking his friends hand, "Thank you for coming .. Congratulations .. Captain." Smith finished with a smile as he noticed the insignia.

"My pleasure ..." Carl replied, a little embarrassed at having the new rank on show, then noticing Steven's added pip, "Though I see we are both sporting new ranks, Commodore. Congratulations Steven"

"Thank you."

"I think Arya would be pleased to see you got promoted." Torek said, glancing again at the coffin.

"She would be pleased for the both of us I'm sure." Smith said, turning to place a hand tenderly on the coffin for a second before turning to the rows of chairs, "Take a seat Carl, we're the first here."

Carl sat next to his friend, and they talked, reminisced quietly while waiting for the other guests ..........


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