Mission 9.1 - "Onward the Light Brigade"

[Deleted]

Tiberian emerged onto the bridge, tugging his tunic down around his waist as he took the centre seat. The viewscreen was focused on the approaching Kasar warship as it loomed larger and larger into view, approaching what now seemed to be the largely inadequate fleet. The vessel looked more like a giant flying fortress, with buttresses and crenelations atop which were mounted the numerous disruptor banks and torpedo launchers that turned the ship into a weapon of mass destruction.

"Bridge, Gheskori. Sir, we may have a problem. The reporters are refusing to leave the ship, citing fears over their safety what with the warship approaching..."

"I could transport them aboard a shuttle if you like sir, or any where else for that matter. I spend some time altering the sensor system for the internal transporters they're more sensitive now."

"No thanks Tiana, tempting although it may be. The last thing we need is to have to deal with is a shuttle of disoriented civilians. Focus on breaching that dampening field. Deal with it as you see appropriate Mr Gheskori, but if they stay then they're your responsibility and not to leave your sight. If not, then get them onto a shuttle at phaser point. Bridge out"

<TAG Gheskori and Tiana>

"Colonel Methos, man tactical, I want a full combat analysis of the enemy vessel. Tell me the second they begin powering weapons or moving to cross the border"

<TAG Methos>

Tiberian watched the vessel loom further and further into view until the ship filled the entirety of the Victory's viewscreen, even at one of the lower magnification settings. The enormity of the vessel was terrifying in it's own right, and that was before you factored in the fact that the ships armaments were equivalent to that of a starbase. He was certain that he could imagine the terrified preparations that were being made on the other ships; weapons distributed, sickbays made ready to receive casualties, emergency power channeled to defense systems, and latrines visited with alarming regularity. The fleet arrayed itself in a single line, the Victory at the extreme left as it made ready to receive the vessel, whilst the remainder of the civilian vessels fled the scene, some even going so far as to jump to warp.

"Sir, the vessel has come to a full stop" The operations officer on duty reported, studying his instruments closely.
"Approximately five kilometres from the border, but they're still inside their territory"

"Their weapons?"

"Not powered sir"

"Well that's damn peculiar. Commander Matthew, I want you to prepare a message for transmission on all known frequencies and wavelengths. State that the our shuttlecraft was damaged whilst still within our area of space, and that it was not intended as an act of aggression. We are not here to provoke any form of conflict, and we do not desire a hostile situation to occur between our two peoples. Repeat transmission along with all linguicode friendship messages"

<TAG Commander Matthew>

"Sir I'm reading strange emmissions directly ahead, it looks like a low level chroniton surge, but it's increasing in intensity"

"Is it on our side of the border or theirs?"

"Unable to say sir, at the moment ours, but at the rate of expansion, it could cross over and straddle both sides of the border"

"Could the Kasar have detonated some kind of delayed charge based on chroniton weaponry?"

"No sir, no movement has been detected along the border, and the Kasar ship hasn't deployed anything since it arrived. It dould be..."

What the ensign thought it might be was never found out, as in a flash of fierce orange light a singularity exploded from the point of the chroniton emanations, expanding rapidly to form a temporal sinkhole over five hundred metres in diameter.

"Analysis" Tiberian called out as the shockwave of explosive force rocked the ship, but it was futile, as the event horizon collapsed inwards, with the entire singularity vanishing in an implosion within seconds. A sudden warning from Methos alerted them all that the Kasar ship was powering it's weapons.

"Matthew, quickly, send on all frequencies that we do not know what has just occured here, and that it was not of our doing. Now. Methos, take our weapons offline, but our shields up, and signal to the rest of the fleet to do the same, hopefully it will show them we're genuine"

<TAG Methos and Matthew>

"Sir, we're being hailed. I'm not quite sure though...I mean, it's impossible"

"What is it ensign?"

"Well sir, they claim to be shuttlepod one...from the NX Challenger. According to records that shuttlepod disappeared without cause over two centuries ago"

"Well, it's not exactly as if anything else can go wrong today. Tiana, do a metallurgical analysis of the shuttle to confirm they are who they say they are. If it checks out, tractor them into transporter range and beam them directly to the emergency sickbay. Have Vin their with a security team just in case"

<TAG Tiana and Vin>

[Gheskori]

Gheskori's eyes widened after Wong had finished his reply. One look at the hysterical group of civilians was enough to vanquish the thought of drawing a phaser on them. "Copy," he signed off curtly to the bridge, then turned back to the group.

"It is your wish to stay here?" he asked. A tumultuous burst of positive response told him all he needed to know. "Very well.. Well, get comfortable. We will remain here for now until we can find a better place for you to stay. The Nebula class is not designed to support civilians and we only have so many guest quarters available."

Gheskori wasn't going to tell them that they would never seek to accommodate them in that manner or for that long anyway. He moved over to Ensign Wolf.. "Let's get them organised, I'll keep them appeased with answers to tiresome questions, then we might think about moving them if the situation is not soon resolved."

* * * *

They used an ante-room to the main shuttlebay to contain the civilians for the time being, for Ghes had no patience to take them back to the mess hall. Wolf's security started guiding them through to the smaller room, which was complete with a few chairs. Ghes trailed at the back where he could keep an eye on things, some of them were acting quite unruly as they were being guided in.

Unfortunately, that was when everything around them, the entire ship in fact, rocked heavily under some unknown force.

Shouts of alarm and some quick movements from the civilians precipitated Ghes's move to try and quell their concerns (although he himself had started to worry). In a flurry of motion an agitated civilian snatched at something around a security officer he'd been moving past.

One or two shocked gasps and the prehensile hand of the civilian told Gheskori what had happened. The civilian had grabbed a phaser. "Don't move!" he was shouting, swinging the weapon wildly at the security guards stepping towards him.

A scuffle broke out. Some of the reporters evidently had a rush of blood to the head and tried to jump the security officers, themselves alarmed and confused at what they perceived as the ship under attack. Ghes knew it wasn't a proper attack; he was well aware of what a weapons' impact felt like. He instinctively held a hand up to the guards as well as the rest of the crowd.

The streak of a phaser shot blasted into the ceiling of the bay, leaving a child-sized hole in the grey roof; bits of wreckage and sparks from fried systems fell floorwards. The armed civilian shrieked as he wrestled with the security guard for the weapon. Gheskori ducked down behind a conveniently placed cargo crate, noticing how the crowd of people did likewise. The phaser discharged again, this time into a wall, and Ghes noticed, the blast mark was shockingly close to a plasma conduit port. "Stop!" he shouted, but was hardly heard above the scuffling officers and reporters and the rest of the cowering civilians.

This was ridiculous, as if there wasn't enough going on above deck...

<Tag Wolf - Reporter>

[jamesmatthew]

Scene : Main Bridge USS VICTRY


“Col. Wong “ Commander Matthew I want you and our new Chief Engineer to focus on scanning the Kasar warship and then attempting to devise a way with penetrating the sensor jamming field.

“Cmdr Matthew “ Lt. Moore Have our new Chief of Engineering join me in the Main Shuttle Hangar Bay 1”

“Bridge officer voice “ Bridge to Engineering “

“Main Engineering Ensign Barr Here “
Bridge Cmdr Matthew wont your Boss to join him in Hanger bay 1 Bridge out.

Scene: Main Shuttle Hangar, USS VICTRY

“Hands on hips, Cmdr Matthew stood surveying the oversized jigsaw puzzle that used to be Federation a Quadros-1 probe With Cargo Bay 2 still closed, he’d had the debris delivered here so he’d have room to study it.

“ The USS Endurance had Launch it at the first in counter with the Kasar Fleet the
Endurance Had mistakenly enter the jamming field. With its shields Down crippled the Endurance Electrical systems , .Cmdr Matthew hope that some where in all of this Mass they could find a little more insight into Kasar Technology.

“Too bad their engine was scrapped,” Lt. Browne commented from Matthew’s side.
He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t noticed the Bolian’s Ensign approach.
“I would love to get a look at that little beauty.”

‘Cmdr Matthew grunted. The probe was a mess indeed, and they would be able to glean
little from it. Unless… “You see anything that looks like a flight
recorder?”

< Tag Samuel >

[Deleted]

OOC: The following posts are made in place of a doctor in the absence of Doctor Davis.

"Dr Abernathy!" Katie looked up from her progress report over the virus containment in sickbay to see a Trill male lying flat on one of the cots brought into what was now the temporary sickbay. The man was covered in radiation burns, and the tricorders of the two nurses showed him to be in a cardiac arrest. Katie ran over, snatching one of the tricorders away and examining the rhythm herself. It was not looking good.

"Cardiopulmonary rescusitation" she ordered, having one of the nurses straddle the patient as they pumped away on the Trill males chest.
"Do we have an identification?"

"Commander First Class Nawar Cet, he's the XO of the Montgomery" an orderly at the computer console announced, as he scrolled down the information.
"He's a joined Trill"

"Damn it" Katie screamed as she turned back to examine the patient, recalibrating her tricorder to analyse the symbiote's biosigns. It was evidently in distress, and was suffering comparably to that of it's host.
"We have got to get his rhythm stabilised. Cordrazine, five milligrams"

The hypospray was applied to his neck, but to no effect as the nurse continued to pound away on his chest. She continued scanning.

"I can't work out why he's not stabilizing. Another five milligrams cordrazine"

Again the hyposrpay was applied, but still the patient continued in his abnormal rhythm.

"Wait, it looks like the force of impact on his chest caused a cardiac contusion. He's in cardiac tamponade. We've got to relieve the pressure, where's Dr Davis?"

"On his way ma'am"

"To hell with this, it can't wait. Laser scalpel"

"Dr Abernathy" a concerned nurse by the name of T'Sev handed her the laser scalpel as she stripped open the Commander's tunic to expose his ribs.
"Have you performed a thoracotomy before?"

"Several times T'Sev, on cadavers"

The Vulcan nodded in her usual stoic manner, before sweeping the sterilisation field wand over the patients ribs as Abernathy began to cut. She was into his thorax now, and incised through the bulging pericardium, releasing the compressed torrent of blood which splattered onto the deck plate as she scrambled around with a cellular regenerator, trying to repair the contusion. Finally the bleeding stopped, but the patient continued to flatline.

"Internal defibrillation" She ordered, but no-one moved.
"Now dammit!"

"Doctor, he has toxic chemical scarring on his lungs. Even if we get his heart back into rhythm, he'll still die of hypoxia"

"I'll be the judge of that. 500 mg of salbutemerol to open his lungs, and internal defibrillator, now!"

The paddles were applied and shock after shock went through the Commander to no avail. Over thirty minutes passed, in which time they briefly stabilised him twice, only for him to deteriorate again. A ventilator, a pacemaker, and a dozen different drugs all failed, and finally so did Katie's hope.

"We're not getting him back" She said resolutely, her arms caked in blood up to her elbows.
"I'm calling it, if we're all agreed. Time of death..."

"Wait" the orderly at the console interrupted her.
"We're receiving orders relayed from the Montgomery. They're telling us to salvage the symbiote"

"Inform them that our sickbay isn't operable, so we have no means of keeping it preserved" Abernathy replied tersely, far mroe distraught over the loss of the patient, rather than the inability to salvage his symbiote.
"And we can't transport him to another medical facility due to everyone having their shields raised. Offer my condolences, but..."

"They're telling us to use Commander Galwyn as a host, since she's the only Trill onboard" The shock of that statement took Katie by surprise as she stared at the orderly.

"She's our science officer, not a bloody incubator!" Katie said angrily, then regretting her words. It really wasn't her place to decide.
"Get Commander's Galwyn and Davis in here, and the Captain too if he's available"

<TAG Tiana, Russ and Me>

Just then, more people were beamed aboard and into the sickbay, a large group of humans, and a pilot in what could only be considered an ancient Starfleet uniform.

"They all appear to be suffering from hypoxia due to an environmental failure aboard they're shuttle. The pilot's DOA. I think the rest only managed to survive because of they're tougher Vulcan physiology, but they're still comatose"

"Alright, let's set me up for intubation, and put all of them on positive airway ventilation. Add high dose steroids to open their lungs, and put them all on cardiac monitors. And someone find their medical histories. From the judge of their uniforms, someone might want to look at fancy dress costumiers first"

<TAG Saryn>

[Deleted]

OFF:
the only Human aboard my shuttlepod was the pilot. Besides Saryn and his family, there were no other passengers aboard. And Saryn isn't Starfleet, he's civillian. He's wearing a healer's robe, actually. His oldest son would be too, though he only just graduated really...

On another note: I'll be completely offline, without hope of responding, between July 23 and August 4. I hope to be back online by then. I'll backpost any tags when I get back. Please do not write for my character and NPC's, I write my own characters.

ON:
Saryn was still kneeling beside the pilot, checking his vitals when suddenly the Vulcan could no longer feel a pulse. Sharing a look with his oldest son, Saryn knew there was nothing more that could be done for the poor ensign. His injuries had been too severe.

Stiffly, Saryn rose to his feet, grabbing hold of the pilot's console to steady himself. His vision turned blurry as he started to feel lightheaded. Blinking furiously, he looked around the shuttle, finding his youngest son unconscious on the deck, while Numike was slumped in Savin's arms. T'Vin had her eyes closed and was trying to conserve her energy; Saryn could sense her struggle to breathe through their bond.

"Control your breathing," he told his oldest son, just as the young man slumped forward over his sister. The air was thin and it was getting more and more difficult to breathe. Gasping for air, Saryn struggled forward, reaching to repeat his distress signal, but he never made it. He was three steps away from the console when he too succumbed to the lack of air.

~later~
Saryn stirred, struggling to breathe and finding something obstructing his airways. As his awareness increased, he realised it wasn't an obstruction; rather it was helping him breathe more clearly. Either way, his mouth was dry and the object was hurting his throat.

When he tried to move, he found himself restrained, and unable to move. He could neither lift nor twist his head to look around, which he found increasingly annoying. Briefly, the face of a woman in a strange uniform hovered at the edge of his vision. He heard a familiar hiss, though it sounded slightly different from what he was used to. The ceiling was a dull white, obviously belonging to a medical bay as the ilumination was quite bright. Then his vision dimmed again, as the injected sedative started to take hold of his taxed system.

The last thing he remembered was thinking about his family, and his precious sword. Were they still alive? Was his precious and prized weapon still in his possession? What happened to the belongings they had with them? Slowly, the Vulcan's eyes closed as he drifted back into unconsciousness.

OFF:
just keep the family unconscious, however feel free to treat their injuries, and find anything wrong with them. Make them ill, if that so pleases the CMO.

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

"Well, it's not exactly as if anything else can go wrong today. Tiana, do a metallurgical analysis of the shuttle to confirm they are who they say they are. If it checks out, tractor them into transporter range and beam them directly to the emergency sickbay. Have Vin their with a security team just in case"

"Aye, sir." Tiana replied her fingers skipping over the science console. As far as she could tell from the data she was receiving the shuttlepod was indeed consistent with one from the USS Challenger (NX-03) which would mean a near 250 year time jump. Of course, stranger things had happened. Right now her concern was that the shuttlepod was damaged and unless the Victory did something shortly then all aboard her were going to die.

She arranged the transporter locks and was reassured when the life-signs disappeared as one with the distinctive flicker to a beam-out. She relaxed knowing that the medical staff would be able to look after whoever was on board.

Tiana was surprised when she received a summons to sickbay but quickly summoning a relief she headed down there. She had no idea why she had been called. Tiana reached sicked and looked around for Russ, she couldn't see him. She looked around and saw a Vulcan family being treated, the shuttle occupants no one was rushing round near them so that was a positive sign as near as the science officer could tell.

She looked around and then saw one of the doctors heading in her direction. "Hi, What was it you wanted me for?"

Tag: Kate(Tiberian)/Tiberian/Russ

[vin]

vin was watching and helping get the mass of reporters into the shuttles but they were not willing to go with the warship in the area. Vin's patience was wearing thin then someone fired a phaser at the ceiling he looked to see his officers try to get to the man with the phaser, Vin thought about pulling his then made a decision and tapped his commbadge.

"Lieutenant Wolf to mafrines I need some assistance in shuttlebay one asap, we have problems with the reporters." Vin said.

"On our way Lieutenant." The voice said.

Vin opened his mouth to speak but there was to much yelling going on and he could not even here himself think then the marines came in and joined him vin held up a hand and turned to the officer in charge.

"May I borrow yoiur pulse rifle please?" Vin asked.

The officer handed him the pulse rifle, Vin took it and aimed up and fired a couple of times, the reporters went silent and the marines aimed their weapons at the man with the phaser.

"I suggest dropping the phaser and the rest of you get on the shuttles before I use this on a higher setting." Vin said.

[Gheskori]

The unceremonious way in which Ensign Wolf delivered his pulse rifle blast to the roof, thankfully set on a low, non-destructive setting this time, caused one of Gheskori's stylish eyebrows to raise. It was a moment of serenity amongst the chaos of the raging civilians.

A moment of serenity that caused everyone to shut up. "You heard the man with the rifle," Gheskori said, standing up slowly from his crouch behind the crates. The weaponless reporters whom had attacked Vin's security backed down, muttering under their breath, clearly now suddenly afraid.

The phaser bearing civilian however, continued to point his weapon forward, the security officer whom had been grappling with him having backed off, fearing for his own safety. The crazed reporter stepped forward, aiming first at the security, then to Vin and finally at the marines.

"You give me access to a secure area, now! Or I shoot someone." he said, voice trembling but still very angry.

"Cool down now," said the lead marine, obviously well accustomed to these situations. Whether he usually kept control, or fired in this situation, Ghes thought, was another matter.

He watched as most of the reporters scampered away in the direction of the shuttle. The CNO got the feeling it was more because of the immediate situation, rather than because the security chief had told them to.. although Vin was very persuasive too. Not all of the civilians boarded the shuttle, some remained behind, not shifting from their tense stances. With instant recognition, Ghes could see one of those was the argumentative female journalist.

"If we go on that shuttle," the civilian was saying, "We're all going to get blown away. We want safety."

"We can give you no more safety than that which the Victory provides," said the marine, "And that is no greater than a shuttle heading away from the battle zone."

Gheskori listened to the continuing exchange. He was amazed at the boldness, yet foolishness, of this man. And certainly if he planned to shoot anyone, then, well... "Crewman, get down!" The civilian fired the phaser at a junior security crewman, whom immediately ducked and rolled away behind a crate. In the window provided by the civilian's moment of distraction, the marines shot him down. Hopefully on stun... Ghes thought.

With the situation diffused, the marines walked over to the not-quite-still-form of the man; he was weeping softly, Ghes realised.
"Damn you!" the man yelled at the marines through his pain, as they attempted to lift him up and take him away.
Ghes saw, behind this unfolding event, the woman reporter shaking her head, a thunderous expression of what he assumed was disgust spread clear on her face.

<Tag Vin, Female Reporter>



=/\=Commander Gheskori, this is Engineering. Commander, are you in shuttlebay one?=/\=

Ghes was surprised at the suddeness of the call, he recognised Lieutenant Mattheson's voice, as well as the tone it was delivered in. =/\=Yes I am, Lieutenant..=/\=

=/\=Commander Gheskori=/\= came the exasperated voice again, =/\=What the hell is going on over there? We've just had a blank-out of power right across that section, and into other decks such as sickbay, nav deflector control and so on. Now we can't get them online again...=/\=

Gheskori's divided attention finally focussed on the assistant CEO, and his eye was caught by something he saw on the far wall. The plasma conduit port that had nearly been hit, had, in the end, been hit. It was a charred black mass, now good for nothing, heating up the room and sucking all the oxygen away. =/\=Commander Gheskori?=/\=

=/\=Yes, Lieutenant..=/\= he said, =/\=We may have a problem.=/\=

He opened a channel to the bridge. =/\=Bridge, this is Gheskori. An incident with the civilian crews in the primary shuttlebay, that has now resolved itself by the way, has caused a power outage across this whole section, including sickbay. Just thought you ought to know...=/\=

<Tag Bridge>

[jamesmatthew]

Scene: Main Shuttle Hangar, USS VICTORY


“Chief Engineer Samuel Johnson strode into the hanger, his Data- Padd at the ready as he approached the group of Officers who were waiting for him.  "Alright folks. .let's do this.." he said as he motioned to Cmdr Matthew to move a little over to the left “

“ Cmdr Matthew Nice of You to join us Mister Johnson “

“CEO, Johnson “ I know am a little Late But I had a little problem that needed of my Attention But am here now and I Have the right tool for this problem as my Engineering Professor use to say the right tool for the right Job ‘


 “ CEO, Johnson Pull out this Special Hand Scanner from his tool Kit and Started Scanning the Probe Debris this is what we are looking for Guy’s right here as he reach into a Area of the Debris and pull out a Chard looking Box .‘


CEO Johnson “This is the Probe flight data recorder of Star fleet Quadros Modal -1 probe 26020065, or the black box, even though it’s that lovely shade of Starfleet gray. Let me get this Back to Engineering Commander and I can tell you every thing you About the Last Minutes before this Probe Died”

“Cmdr Matthew Stud there with his Arms cross ‘Yeah I see it true you Engineers Do keep all of the Cool Equipment Hidden away for your self “

Just at that moment the light in the Hanger Bay start to Flicker

“Cmdr Matthew “ now what Matthew Taps his Comm., Badge Bridge This is Cmdr Matthew What going on we has a lot of power in the main Hanger Bay Chief Engineer Johnson is Heading back to Main Engineering to check in to it ‘

“Bridge officer voice “ sir Commander Gheskori reported An incident with the civilian crews in the primary Shuttle bay, that has now resolved itself by the way, has caused a power outage across this whole section, including sickbay.

“ Cmdr Matthew ‘ right bridge am on my way Have Lt Crane Start a Incident report and Check with Engineering and have Ship security start a Investigation in to the matter the XO am sure will have a lot of Questions Matthew out .


< Tag All >

[Gheskori]

OOC: NPCing someone for Saryn and co. at the request of Saryn's writer.

IC:
He stepped out of a reserve medicines storage closet, now with a case in his hand, and made his way over to the new arrivals' temporary biobeds - that were really just slabs of cushioned metal that'd been dropped on the cargo bay floor. The distant ceiling lights were flickering for some reason, and that was causing those of the Montgomery's shuttle crew - that were conscious - a measure of distress. An unsurprising truth considering the troubles they'd just been through.

Dropping the case on the tray beside the nearest Vulcan-occupied bed, he withdrew a hypospray loaded with the appropriate medicine.

She didn't know what the medicine was because she was too far away. So instead of observing what the male medical officer's injection would do, she returned her attention to the patient she was meant to be attending. This one was clearly the 'leader' of the group of Vulcans, obviously the oldest, she didn't need a medical tricorder to ascertain that, and with Vulcans it could be a little tough sometimes...

"Nurse Adanovic?"

"Yes?" she said, drawing her eyes away from the robed, unconscious Vulcan and facing the man who'd spoken to her.

"We found this on him." The male nurse indicated the inert Vulcan and then raised his hand. In it he had clasped an ancient looking weapon. A blade! she realised. She glanced back at the Vulcan, considering him in a new light. A quick reevaluation of the kind of green-blooded alien he was was needed. And the time in which she had already made her assessment of him already seemed like a lengthy period; it may as well have been forever.

"I'll take it," she said appropriately. As the attendant nurse she'd easily be able to reassure the Vulcan with the sight of his weapon once he awoke again. If he was that kind of Vulcan. The type that liked weapons. Adanovic didn't know of any Vulcan such as that, in her experience they were all pacifist.

She was passed the sword. "How is he?" asked the male nurse, inquiring curiously before heading off to fulfill whatever duties he was assigned.

"Stable, and asleep," Adanovic said. "He was having breathing difficulties. His body struggling to acclimatise to the air after being deprived of it almost to the point of no return. He should be fine." She nodded, a bodily gesture that the man returned before walking away.

She turned back to the Vulcan from another century and sighed. Close to death and now much further away from everything he ever knew.. she thought. Perhaps the slower pace of the Vulcan homeworld, given the long lifespan of the race, would provide him with the things, that, as far as he was aware, were still very much a part of his life.

<Saryn - when you're back!>

---

OOC: Ghes in secondary shuttlebay with Vin etc.

IC:
"Have Lt Crane Start a Incident report and Check with Engineering and have Ship security start a Investigation in to the matter the XO am sure will have a lot of Questions Matthew out"

"Copy," Ghes said, reopening the commline just for a second to deliver confirmation that he'd heard Commander Matthew.

He checked with engineering over the status of the power outages. Sickbay was still in trouble, but given the quarantine over there, he could relax knowing that no patients would be affected. The temporary sickbay in cargo bay one was having intermittent problems... With lighting, mainly, but none of their critical power requirements were being disrupted.

He watched Vin Wolf clearing up the civilians, making sure that the ones who now wanted to leave on the shuttle were all aboard safely. The rest, including the aggravating but fascinating reporter female, Ghes noticed, were hovering about looking decidedly useless and burdensome.

He hoped the power outages wouldn't affect this, the secondary shuttlebay, itself.

<All>

[jamesmatthew]

USS VICTORY ‘BELOW DECKS
Scene: Counseling Suite,

“Ensign Kate Hill strode into the counseling offices, feeling a little
weary and slightly aggravated. She had just come off watch, and had barely
enough time to eat dinner. Standing on Alpha and Charlie watches was
wearing, but Kate was a morning person.

“Normally, she would be relaxing and settling down before she went to sleep,
but Counselor Parker had insisted upon a meeting with her Kate had nothing against counselors, but nether had she sought out their services.

“She supposed her guarded response to new counselors came from spending too much time around Cmdr Karen Taylor a instructor Back at the Academy.

“Who had a long-standing grudge against the profession for some reason she never went
into,

“Kate sighed as she stepped through the door to the main counseling office. She'd had a long day. She was tired, she wasn't in the mood for this, and she had her mental guard up. Unfortunately, there was no-one in the lobby for her to take out some of her pent-up frustrations on. "Hello, is anyone here?"

“Counselor Voice In here ‘
"Come in and have a seat Ensign “
“Counselor “ so how have you been ensign “

“Kate’ Great Doc it been a long Day and I’m looking forward to getting some sleep “
“ Counselor Well ensign I wont keep you to long but your Duty officer fill your Attention has not been on your job and he would like for you to get some Help if you need it Otherwise he will have to re-leave you of Duty ’

“ Kate “ wow Doc I did not know that I will do what ever I have to yes I have a lot on my mind right now we are on a very Dangerous Mission my Personal life is a Mass I have a sick Father back on Star base 209 I have not talk to for at less six weeks now because the ship in a Communication black out “ ok Doc’ I see I do need some help can you help me please ’

“Counselor” Yes I can Ensign ‘ just sit back in the chair so we Can Talk out your problems ‘ and come up with some solution .

Ensign Kate Hill -NPC
Nav Officer , USS VICTORY

[jamesmatthew]

Scene - Main Bridge USS VICTORY
( Joint Post )

“Cmdr Matthew “ Standing behind the Ops officer on duty what our status I got the Captain and Xo on my back I need Answers Now “

‘Ops officer ‘ sir Supplemental report are coming in now from engineering and ship security ‘Chief Engineer Johnson report he has run system checks all over the ship at this time the power lost in Contained to only Deck 4 - Main Shuttle bay, Upper Shuttle Maintenance Bay, Shuttle bay Operations he has repair teams Caring out repairs he expect all repair to be completed within 30 minutes “

“Ship security has completed there first faze of the investigation they fill this incident is very suspicious security Officer Lt jg Robert j walls will requiem to the ship chief of ship security that this investigated continue Looking in to possible Sabotage ?

“Cmdr Matthew “ Well now ‘that come as a surprise on Board Sabotage ‘

“ Cmdr Matthew’ Bridge to Shuttle Bay One Commander Gheskori I have some Good news for you Chief Engineer Johnson report he should all power back on line within 30 minutes or Less he report that most of the power lost was Contained to just Deck 4 - where the Main Shuttle bay’s are and the , Upper Shuttle Maintenance Bay, Shuttle bay Operations “

If Security chief Wolf is close to you let him know that his security teams has found possible evidence of on Board Sabotage he will need to look in to as soon as he can I need to report in to the Xo “

“I will ask him to restrict all Non ship personal to there Quarters for now and Mister Wolfe I would get on that investigation as soon as you can the Xo will have a lot of Questions and you don’t wont to be the Officer saying I Don’t know Bridge out.


Scene-VICTORY Deck 4 - Main Shuttle bay, Upper Shuttle Maintenance Bay, Shuttle bay Operations

“Ensign ,Carrington working up in the Upper Shuttle Maintenance Bay, returned the tool kit to it's home, after Caring out some Miner repairs to a over loaded Power Conductor Conduit and snapped the wall locker shut. ‘

“His arms had Been burned from moving pallets of Equipment someone had left in front of the panel , and a number of tiny blisters and burns spotted his hands and forearms. A layer of grime coated his face, which he quickly lathed with a wet cloth before heading over to the table top display and started running some system Test”

Carrington tapped out a code on the interface. The display shifted to show the ship schematics Carrington taps in Deck-4 pulling up the power grid Carrington all Green light Carrington Taps his Comm. Badge “

“Carrington to Maim Engineering “
“Main Engineering “ Ensign Powell Here “

“ Carrington ‘Powell I finish the repair down on Deck -4 my system lights are showing green Can you Confirm system Back on line from there “

“ Ensign Powell” Confirm Carrington system relays are back on line we can run power thought them at any time I will pass the good new on to Chief Johnson “

“ Ensign Carrington “ Hey ‘Powell let him also know ill be in sickbay surfer some minor burns on my hands and forearms when I had to remove a pallets of Equipment someone had left in front of the panel “

Powell Engineering out’


Ensign Samuel Johnson
Chief Engineering Officer

Cmdr James Matthew
Chief Operations Officer

USS VICTORY
< Tag Anyone >

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

Tiana's stomach knotted. This was the last thing she expected when she had been called down to sickbay. She supposed I was better than it being someone she cared about badly hurt but at the same it it was so much worse. She let out a long slow breath.

"So in essence what you are saying is that with Nawar dead, Cet is unstable and if a new host isn't found soon will die." There were nods all round. "And that Admiral Cain ordered me to undergo the joining." Tiana's voice was brittle. It wasn't as if emergency joinings hadn't been carried out before, Ezri Tigan and Dax being a case in point but that had been under war conditions.... Then again, Tiana reminded herself so was this. It wasn't as if the Admiral had any idea what the order would mean other than Cet's survival, she wasn't a Trill.

Once upon a time Tiana had wanted to be joined but that was years ago, before starfleet, before Makal died before she had come to terms with who she was. Now she was being ordered to give that up. If it had just been an order from someone she respected she might have been able to let herself go long with it but there was something in the doctor's eyes and in Tiberian's that made her remember that starfleet wasn't simply a matter of following orders.

"It's not a legal order is it?" she asked flatly.

Tag: Tiberian / Katie

"How long has Cet got? How long do I have to decide?" Tiana asked knowing that whatever they said it wouldn't be long enough.

Tag:

[Deleted]

Tiberian was heading down to cargobay one at a run, having left Methos the job of staring at the Kasar warship which was presently hanging on the opposite side of the border, staring the largely powerless fleet in the eye. It was like an intergalactic game of chicken, except that if someone blinked, the Alpha Quadrant would become embroiled in a new war the likes of which hadn't been seen since the fall of the Dominion. He entered to see the medical personnel milling around a half dozen or so cots laid out along the floor. At the far side of the room, Katie beckoned him over as she stood beside a prostrate Trill male in a command grade Starfleet uniform. He approached and looked down at the man's now pallid complexion.

"Either he's dead" Tiberian mused "Or he really needs to get out in the sun more often"

"Toxic damage to his lungs" Katie explained "Nothing we could have done, even if we'd gotten to him sooner"

"So I presume that I was called down here for something other than paying my respects?"

"He's joined, and the symbiote is still in him. It's alive for now, but as the body begins to deteriorate, it will die, and soon"

"Why not just put it in stasis until we can head for Trill" Tiberian asked as he lifted up the tunic to inspect the abdominal scar where the symbiote had been implanted.

"We could if we weren't excluded from sickbay" Katie explained with a scowl.
"All our equipment is in their, and the symbiote would be dead by the time we would be able to replicate the parts for a new incubator"

"Then there's nothing we can do. Make it as comfortable as possible, and we just have to let nature take it's course"

"Unfortunately we've received an order from the Montgomery. Apparently Commander Cet is Admiral Cain's first officer, and she wants him back alive"

"Give the Admiral our condolences, and politely inform her that when we can raise the dead, she'll be the first to know"

"I mean, well...She wants us to put the symbiote in Tiana"

Tiberian rounded on Katie, who shifted uncomfortably before his gaze. His back was really up now, and he was spoiling for a fight. The absurdity of the order was staggering, as was the notion that a member of his senior staff was liable to be used as an incubator whenever an injured Trill came onboard.

"There is no way in hell" Tiberian said, in low menacing tones "That one of my crew is being used as a glorified stasis chamber"

"Isn't that for Tiana to decide" Katie responded, nodding over Tiberian's shoulder to indicate the approach of Tiana. Tiberian turned and nodded to her, before Katie explained exactly what was going on.

"So in essence what you are saying is that with Nawar dead, Cet is unstable and if a new host isn't found soon will die." There were nods all round. "And that Admiral Cain ordered me to undergo the joining. It's not a legal order is it?" she asked flatly.

"It could be argued either way from a legal point of view" Tiberian shrugged.
"But I'm ordering you not to proceed with this course of action if you feel in anyway uncertain about it. I promise to back you up in court, if it comes to that"

"How long has Cet got? How long do I have to decide?"

"I'd have to say less than an hour" Katie replied, in spite of a glare from Tiberian.
"It's true, I can't magically extend his life longer than that"

"Alright then. Tiana, it's your decision, and I'm sorry, but you are up against the clock. Whatever your choice, the ship will be right behind you. Dismissed"

<TAG Tiana>

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

"It's not a legal order is it?" she asked flatly.

"It could be argued either way from a legal point of view" Tiberian shrugged.
"But I'm ordering you not to proceed with this course of action if you feel in anyway uncertain about it. I promise to back you up in court, if it comes to that" That answer brought a wry smile to Tiana's lips, she doubted she could live with herself if Cet died but.....

"How long has Cet got? How long do I have to decide?"

"I'd have to say less than an hour" Katie replied, in spite of a glare from Tiberian.
"It's true, I can't magically extend his life longer than that"

"Alright then. Tiana, it's your decision, and I'm sorry, but you are up against the clock. Whatever your choice, the ship will be right behind you. Dismissed"

Tiana nodded feeling somewhat numb. "May I borrow you office?" She asked and Russ nodded in response. Tiana walked in and shut the door behind her. She accessed the Symbiosis Commission's database grateful that she still remembered the access codes and called up information on Cet.

Five hundred and thirty-five years old. Ten hosts so far. The numbers rattled in Tiana's head. Some of those had had traumatic deaths. All of them had been involved in some sort of security work. She was sure the Commission would never have matched her to Cet but there was no option now.

She down loaded all the information to three separate PADDs a bit of personality conflict was normal after joining worse when their wasn't a personality match between host and symbiont, worse when the previous host has died traumatically. She literally did not know who she was going to be. She swallowed hard, determined not to cry.

With twenty minutes remaining of the count-down she exited the office and gave a PADD to Doctor Abernathy, one to Russ and left the other for Tiberian. "I've decided to go though with the joining. You may get to meet these people fairly soon." She said, her voice was flat and she was scared but this was the way it had to be. She hoped no one would question her too closely or she might break down letting her nerves get the better of her.

Instead she followed Doctor Abernathy to a biobed.

OOC: See OCC thread for details of Cet's previous hosts

[Gheskori]

After finally growing tired of listening to the remaining civilian party, Ghes booted them over to the mess hall again. The most part (about sixty, sixty-five percent) of them had already boarded the shuttlecraft, and were being taken back to their ships: the civilian flotilla waiting several thousand kilometres behind the line of Starfleet vessels.

The taskforce itself was still in engaged in its unsteady faceoff with the Kasar flagship. Tension was still obviously high, everyone was unsure as to how the enemy would react to the recent temporal disturbance, the one that had brought refugees from Starfleet's pioneering era, two hundred years into the future and then aboard a Federation vessel.

Gheskori checked in with engineering again over the status of power in and around the secondary shuttlebay. Not good, apparently, he found out, but primary systems in those areas were at least getting some power in all but the most select places.

As long as it didn't affect critical systems, Ghes thought, such as defence, navigation and the nav deflector.. as well as weapons and drive, then they should be alright. At least, they would be if they were not staring down the nose of a Kasar warship the size of a city.

"Ensign Wolf," Gheskori called to the CTSO, once the latter had arrived back from the mess hall after dropping off civilians (<Tag>). "If you would humour me with your presence?" Wolf walked over.

"I've learned that we've had some new arrivals, from over two hundred years ago if my information is correct. They're being treated in the triage sickbay in the cargo bay. As we've been somewhat occupied here, you were not able to be there when they first came aboard, as I've learnt was requested. So see to it that they are secure now and then report to the Colonel."

<Tag Vin Wolf>

Now, with everyone gone from the shuttlebay barring one or two technicians, Gheskori found that was now a useless place to be. He headed out into the corridor, exiting through the large blast door and was then surprised at how easy it was to breathe. The plasma fire from the bay had gradually made getting the oxygen into the body more difficult, so gradual it had been that Ghes had hardly noticed until now.

He headed in the direction of the bridge, unsure what else he was expected to do. He tapped his commbadge, =/\=Gheskori to helm officer, bridge. Begging your pardon helm, but, who are you?=/\=

=/\=Lieutenant Forest, sir,=/\= came the voice. Ghes nodded to himself in satisfaction; a capable pilot, he knew Forest to be, the helmsman would suffice until his chief could resume the post...

---

In the triage sickbay there seemed to be some sort of breakdown in logistics. That's how it seemed to Adanovic at least.. Unless, she thought, the sudden arrival of dozens of people from who knew where was normal and expected. They came quickly, filling up the makeshift beds and straining what medical staff that were present. Some came through the doors of the cargo bay, from elsewhere on the ship; some came in by transporter, mysteriously and alarmingly (but always with security ready on the scene); one thing they had in common though, was that none of them were wearing Starfleet uniform.

After a quick bit of asking around, receiving mumbled, disjointed replies of "Civilian fleet" and "Accidents" and, more perplexingly, "Possible attack", Adanovic came to the conclusion that something was up in the civilian flotilla. She'd always thought that they were going to cause trouble, whether it was on purpose or not.

She turned her attention back to the Leading Vulcan, as she was calling him, again watching him sleep in stable condition. She drew the makeshift white curtain across, breaking the view to the next 'biobed' over. Time would come soon for the Vulcan to be woken, and the nurse was very curious to see how he would behave. His sword, his other humanoid accompaniment, and his very physical appearance were all components that she'd used to construct an idea of his demeanour, but to experience his conscious state - in a form other than when he was brought in struggling for breath and without words - would hopefully prove enlightening.

Adanovic was wondering if her ideas on him would require another reevaluation when a large, gold-collared officer strolled up, with other gold-collared officers in tow. "Hello," she said, nervously glancing at the unconscious Vulcan behind her, "Can I help?"

<Tag Vin Wolf, Saryn> <All>

[Deleted]

Cain paced the bridge of the Montgomery steaming with rage, her pulse could be seen clearly on her neck, this signal was known to all of her crew that now was not a time for her to be trifled with.

The padd she held in her hand flew across the bridge and hit the plexiglass console, normally built to be resistant to damage but never the less a crack had clearly appeared from the sheer force of the Admirals throw.

She looked out to the view screen and at the black openness of space, her face crumpled in a permanent glare, her eyes which normally looked passive and unfeeling now filled with rage. They were a very light blue which made her pupils look ominously evil like.

“Why is that brat taking so long.. it’s a damn no brainer save the damn life spoiled little cow.” This was bellowed so loud the Vulcan at the back of her bridge squinted slightly the Vulcan’s having a higher sense of hearing already didn’t take well to the loud outburst.

They all of course were grieving from the loss of the ships first officer and hoped like Cain the symbiote would manage to survive, even if it was in what Cain deemed an unworthy host for the lowest of trill symbiots.

“Hail them again.” Came another scream of anger.

It was an audio hail only so the Colonel was sparred staring into her glassy eyes.

“COLONEL… what the hell is taking so long… when I give an order it is to be carried out… you and your crew are already on thin ice mister.”

<Tag>

After the tense conversation the comm. Channel closed, and Cain once again screamed.

“Damn fool… I am going to have him shot then drawn and quartered.. and his remains displayed on my bulkhead.. NO drawn and quartered then shot.”

She turned and yelled. “Found out what dumb absent minded fool captain is in command of his task force.. I will have him shot for green lighting such an idiot for command.’

An ensign spoke up nervously. “Umm Commodore Savot Ma’am.. El Salvador.”

Cain let out a humph before retorting. “So I was half right.’

<Tag Victory>

[jamesmatthew]

Scene: USS VICTORY CEO's Office Main Engineering Deck

"Sir, I have no idea how we could have possibly missed this in the yard," Ensign Mitchell tapped on the console already beginning to feel the eyes of the Chief Engineer Johnson boring holes into his back.

“CEO Johnson A Leaky plasma conduit port wasn't easy to overlook; in fact it was nearly impossible considering how tight Asst, CEO Lt, Masterson ran engineering before Johnson Came on board . Lt, Walter, being the 'only' member of the Engineering team Now on board the victory who had recently been a part of the yard team members who carried out the ship repairs while the ship was in Space dock for the repairs to the Victory Lt, Walter couldn't help but feel responsible.

“The Ship schematic on the PADD rotated as he slid his thumb over the screen. Zooming in, he showed the details of the plasma conduit ports installation...it's original
installation at the yard. No cracks or leaks were visible anywhere on the schematic, nor was there any sign of anything in the visual records of
its installation.

"I'm telling you Chief , it's impossible that leak could have developed since it was installed," .

“CEO Johnson placed a hand on the young officer's shoulder. "Calm down
son," he began looking intently at the visual installation notes for the plasma conduit . "It was fine when it was installed. Something else is amiss here."

“Mattel simply nodded his head. "At least, I know its not you or me,"
a lopsided barely there smile caused Mattel’s face to break out into
age lines. "I would have already killed you had I even suspected it
were you. My instincts are pretty good about those kinds of things."

Micah could never tell when or if the CEO was kidding.

“As soon as Micah left his office, Mattel dropped into his chair,
bringing up the installation logs for several other 'components' in
engineering. Knowing as much as he did about engineering, he knew
exactly where to look in order to ensure there weren't any other
surprises awaiting them in engineering.


Scene: USS Victory Main Engineering Briefing Room

Striding into the conference room a bit early, Mattel grabbed a chair next to the observation window. The meeting was due to begin in just a few minutes, and judging from the rumor mill already at work, it was very likely that the Victory would be seeing some more action relatively soon.


Ensign Samuel Johnson
Chief Engineering Officer
USS VICTORY

[Deleted]

In the cargobay (which now served as sickbay), Saryn stirred. The sedatives he was given were finally wearing off and the injured Vulcan was regaining consciousness. Stiffly, he sat up in bed, marveling at the strange sights that assaulted his eyes. A little bewildered, he looked around and found his family lying motionless on beds nearby. Ignoring the security guard, as well as the attending nurse, he slipped from the bed and walked over to T'Vin. Quietly, he examined her without the use of present medical equipment. Firstly, because he knew how to do so, and secondly because this equipment was wholly alien to him.

When he found T'Vin was merely sleeping, he moved over to his sons. Both were physically unhurt, and also in an induced sleep. His daughter seemed bloodless on first appearance but he knew that was normal for her. The little girl was lying limply on her bed, her breathing shallow. Her eyes were moving rapidly under her closed eyelids, and he knew she was dreaming. A brief touch confirmed his suspicion and he allowed for a very brief and very faint smile.

The sound of footfall had him remember he wasn't alone, and he whirled around, reaching for his sword. Only to find it was missing from it's sheath. He stood poised to strike, training taking over. He was on an alien vessel, with equipment and uniforms that were unknown to him. Yet some of the people he was facing were clearly Human. "Where am I," he demanded icily, "what are you going to do with us! What did you do to Ensign Raines? Where is my pilot, Ensign Matthew Raines?"

Then he noticed the many wounded, and the lack of proper care they were receiving. "Where are your medics," he continued, his tone demanding and questioning at the same time. He drew himself up to his full height. "I am a doctor, I can help." He hoped anyway, as nothing he was seeing was familiar. Even the uniforms were strange.

[Gheskori]

OOC: Nurse Adanovic NPC again.

Adanovic stepped back in shock, unable to do anything but numbly watch as the Vulcan moved past her. The robed male, with very little sound, walked to and checked each of his accompanying Vulcans in turn. It was hard for the nurse to tell, as Vulcans were by nature quite unreadable, but the way in which the Vulcan treated them betrayed some familial relationship.

=/\=Nurse Adanovic to Doctor Kapoor,=/\= she quietly said upon tapping her commbadge. She didn't want to alarm the Vulcan whom she knew was from over two hundred years in the past... but really, she didn't want to attract attention to herself. =/\=Doctor, one of the Vulcans from the Challenger shuttlepod is awake.=/\=

She saw Kapoor's head perk up, the assistant medical officer was on the other side of the cargo bay, obviously busy with other patients and likely trying to fill in for missing staff (the ones stuck in the quarantine zone of sickbay).

The security guards under Ensign Wolf were walking towards the Vulcan. "Excuse me, sir," one of them said as Wolf nodded for two of his guards to move forward.

"Where am I," the Vulcan demanded upon spinning to face them, "what are you going to do with us! What did you do to Ensign Raines? Where is my pilot, Ensign Matthew Raines?" Adanovic saw that he was looking around for something, something he'd expected to be with him?

She noticed the old sword on a medical tray, off to the side of the Vulcan's temporary biobed. She quickly hid it away, nervously checking for Doctor Kapoor's approach at the same time. She saw the assistant CMO patiently traversing the distance across the bay.

"Where are your medics, I am a doctor, I can help." The Vulcan was saying.

"That is none of your concern right now," said a voice, it was Kapoor, whom had obviously picked up the pace once the standing Vulcan had come within sight. "Shall we start with your name?"

Saryn straightened a little, a defiant look on his face, as his eyes sparkled with held-back fury. "I am Doctor Saryn, of Vulcan, chief medical officer of NX Challenger, and you have not answered my questions!"

"Well, Doctor Saryn, why don't we back down from that confrontational stance and then we'll see if you can be any help. You're lucky; I recognise the robes of a Vulcan healer," Kapoor was saying. Adanovic watched on, growing increasingly jaded with the exchange. "Afterward," Kapoor said, "Someone on this ship might want to discuss something with you. And it's quite important I'm afraid."

"He wanted to know about the shuttle's pilot," Adanovic told Kapoor quietly, indicating the Vulcan. They both looked at Saryn. The Vulcan was still unreadable, perhaps he was busy analysing what was being said; after all, anyone's thoughts would be racing in this situation.

"The ensign piloting your shuttle is alive, Doctor." Kapoor said, and knowing a Vulcan would not shy from the truth but would in fact request it added, "His recovery is not a hundred percent certain but he is at least stable. He suffered severe hypoxia and brain death, then had to be revived, using... an experimental technique."

Adanovic grimaced. It was of course a lie. As far as Saryn knew, the technique used to revive Ensign Raines had not been invented yet.

<Saryn>


ooc: tan line modded in with author permission

[Deleted]

Tiberian departed the cargobay and returned to the bridge, his hand rubbing furiously through his hair as he considered what was happening in the present moment. He knew the events that would come to pass in the next few hours would determine the lives of millions across the Federation, but he was still preoccupied with what was happening to Tiana. No matter what his orders were, he should have emphatically refused to allow her to undergo a joining under duress, but he hadn't. And he knew he should focus on the slightly larger issue of a Kasar warship hovering across from them.

=/\=This is an urgent request, Captain to the bridge. I say again, Captain to the bridge=/\=

Methos' voice resounded over the comm, and Tiberian took off at a run into the nearest turbolift. If this crisis did nothing else for him, it was going to make him fit. He emerged onto the bridge with a nod to Methos and took his place in the Captain's chair.

"The Kasar vessel began transmitting this message on all bands and frequencies about a minute and a half ago. We have visual, but it's also an audio message, compressed data stream and numerical sequence. Evidently they want us to know what they've got to say"

"Well if they're that insistent" Tiberian raised his eyebrows sarcastically and leaned back in his chair.
"Let's see it, on screen"

The viewscreen changed from a view of the hovering Kasar warship changed to the darkly lit interior of the ship's command deck, illuminated by the scuttling forms of the Kasar. A central raised throne housed the great hulking form of the senior officer, who leaned his imposing presence forward in order to address the viewers. His voice was crackling, monotone and disjointed as his clicking and writhing were translated through a translation matrix.

=/\=I am Gro Tak Dral, Fleet Lord of the Third Encounter Force of the Kasar Sovereignty, addressing the beings that claim dominion over this region of space. We have come, we have assessed your tactical capabilities, and we have deemed you as being unable to resist us. You harbour the cattle, those to whom you refer as Tholians. They will submit to the Kasar Sovereignty or be brought into submission. You have among your number a group known as the Federation, the murderers of the Divine Light, they will be penalised for their blasphemy. Your space holds many lesser races, they will learn to submit their bounty, or they will feel our wrath. Resistance will be punished, assaults will be crushed, your fleets broken as the oncoming tide against the bulwark of the earth. This is the only warning you will receive. These are the words of the Sovereignty. End transmission=/\=

"Well that was pretty unequivocal" Tiberian stated as the view returned to the hovering Kasar warship.
"Ensign Wolf, what is your tactical analysis of the ship? How long could we last against them?"

<TAG Ensign Wolf>

Tiberian sighed, not having needed to analysis to tell him what was blindingly obvious. Even ten reasonably well armed starships would be pulverised before they even made a dent in this one ship, completely ignoring the stolen Tholian fleet that was hovering around Jolmar IV. They had two choices, withdraw and hope that they could stall until the Federation could send more ships, or fight and hope to do enough damage to slow them down. Neither choice was that appealing, but Tiberian knew which one was the better long term decision.

"Commander Matthew, it looks like they're hacking into the Starfleet Relay Buoys in the sector to transmit their message across the entire Quadrant. Use the emergency override codes and shut them down. It might not be such a good idea, but if that threat gets out the Romulans will probably switch sides, the Klingons will plan an invasion and the Ferengi will try and open up trade negotiations. Let's try and do damage limitation for the moment. Oh, and transmit our tactical findings to the Montgomery, let's hope we can talk the Admiral out of doing anything stupid"

<TAG Commander Matthew and Admiral Cain>

[Deleted]

JP between Saryn and Gheskori

Saryn openly stared at the other doctor, who was wearing the oddly blue-ish coloured uniform. That is, his collar had that colour while the rest of his attire was black and grey. "He survived?" he asked, clearly confused. "How? He was dead when we were recovered from our shuttle. Before passing out myself, I examined him and had declared him dead. How is this possible?"

Doctor Kapoor flickered a smile. "Like I said before, that is none of your concern right now. All your questions will eventually be answered, once you are out of our care, but not before.

Again, Adanovic tried to figure out what the Vulcan was thinking; other than his slight distress. "Perhaps we can take Saryn to the pilot, so he can at least see that he's alive?" she asked Kapoor.

*Kapoor agreed, nodding to Adanovic and then looking back to the Vulcan, "If you'll come with me, Doctor."

Finally someone who was talking sense. A little anxious, towards his strange surroundings, Saryn followed the doctor. He froze as he saw Ensign Raines lying pale and motionless on a bed. Even though the monitor was of unfamiliar design, Saryn could clearly see that the young pilot was alive. He stepped forward, examining Matthew. “He was dead,” he insisted, “what mockery is this? Why are you doing this to me. If it is an emotional reaction you are after, you have it.”

Kapoor was watching Saryn silently, thinking that perhaps this had been a mistake. Contrary to what the Vulcan believed, the last thing that they wanted to do was invoke an emotional reaction. "He    was     dead, Doctor. Brain dead. But with the technologies at our disposal..."

He was raising his voice, clearly distressed. He was out of time, and out of place, and his emotional control was currently in shatters. It was overwhelming, and it showed. Again, he reached for a sword that wasn't there. Eyes sparkling more furiously, he stepped up to the nurse. “Where is my sword,” he demanded, “who has taken it from me! No-one touches it, but me.”

Adanovic yelped, suddenly afraid of this Vulcan, eyes ablaze and lurching towards her. She cringed backwards, instinctively raising her hands in defence, the demanding voice of the Vulcan belied no more emotion. She knew full well how strong Vulcans could be, and one whose emotional control was not at standard was even more dangerous. With a rigid and petrified hand she did her best to point to where Saryn's sword was, but she could see clearly that it was now in possession of Wolf's security.

All restraint lost, due to being completely overwhelmed, Saryn leapt at the nurse. However he wasn't at top strength and his leap was misjudged, thus he had to grab her arms to keep himself balanced. “What happened to my family,” he roared at her, “what did you do to us.”

Adanovic was terrified. She could feel the force, despite his weakened state, that Saryn was exerting downwards on her arms - the only thing keeping him partially balanced. While the impact had caused her a small amount of physical pain, that was not the thing causing her most distress. "We did nothing," she mumbled uselessly. "We're helping." She saw over Saryn's shoulder Kapoor scrambling towards them.

Before the assistant CMO could reach them, though, a phaser beam lashed out, striking Saryn in the ribcage from side on. Kapoor turned on the security officer who fired in near fury. Adanovic didn't blame him, as she let the Vulcan sag to the ground in front of her, the phaser beam had been less than a foot away from striking her herself.

“Stun, don't worry," the security officer said, holding up his phaser in innocence.

[Tiana Galwyn Cet]

Tiana's eyes flicked open, the joining had gone smoothly but Doctor Abernathy had given her a light sedative to allow her to rest for a while without becoming overwhelmed so their respective nervous systems could come to terms with their new situation with stressing Cet any further. Now though she was awake and raring to go, the Montgomery needed her. Tiana hopped off the biobed and headed for the door. She paused a second and looked around her, she wasn't on the Montgomery, where was she?

She was on the Victory. She was the Victory's science officer. There was no reason for her to go back to the Montgomery. Yet she did...

Tiana continued on her way out of sickbay, she barely noticed the nurse approaching her he reached out an arm to block her passage. "You can't leave yet, Doctor... errrrk" his words were cut off as Tiana firmly grasped his arm and spun him round. She refrained from slamming her elbow into his nose but finished the move pinning his wrist to his back between his shoulder blades. She had her other arm across his throat. It wasn't a particularly secure hold but it would do for a second or two. "If the doctor wants me I shall be on the bridge." With that she shoved the nurse away from her, not hard enough to injure but hard enough to indicate she could have done it hard enough to injure.

She strolled out of sickbay and strode into a turbolift. She patted her hip and was disappointed to find that there was no weapon there. That would have to be remedied before she could in good conscience report for duty. She stopped on her way long enough to pick up a phaser, with the type-I weapon resting against her hip and feeling much better in consequence, Tiana made her way to the bridge.

She noticed that things were a little chaotic. She gave a cock-eye grin to Colonel Wong. "Reporting back to duty sir, ready willing and able." She nearly saluted but managed to stop herself.

Tag: Tiberian / bridge

[Deleted]

=/\=I am Gro Tak Dral, Fleet Lord of the Third Encounter Force of the Kasar Sovereignty, addressing the beings that claim dominion over this region of space. We have come, we have assessed your tactical capabilities, and we have deemed you as being unable to resist us. You harbour the cattle, those to whom you refer as Tholians. They will submit to the Kasar Sovereignty or be brought into submission. You have among your number a group known as the Federation, the murderers of the Divine Light, they will be penalised for their blasphemy. Your space holds many lesser races, they will learn to submit their bounty, or they will feel our wrath. Resistance will be punished, assaults will be crushed, your fleets broken as the oncoming tide against the bulwark of the earth. This is the only warning you will receive. These are the words of the Sovereignty. End transmission=/\=

the voice resounded around the bridge and Cain listned silently, her eyes locked onto the blank view screen as if she could see her opponent. The voice stopped and a science officer in the back reported.

“They hacked our communication buoys and transmitted the message across the Federation, we stopped it before it reached any further but we can’t be sure who heard it.. umm Ma’am the Victory is trying to shut down he buoys.”

She turned as she pointed. “Stop them use my authorisation.. the Kasar are trying to scare away our support.. a victory without fighting is the greatest victory of all.. we lose our support and they win.. without one shot… Open a channel to the Kasar and route it through the buoys…nobody pushes around the Federation.”

The science officer nodded and Cain Straightened up as she said. “Gro Tak Dral.. This is Admiral Patrizia Cain of the Federation task Force… the Federation will not turn over anybody under our protection.. nor will we allow you wage your war within out borders.. your ship is impressive.. but the Federation has been against and won against bigger threats than you.. so you take this as your only warning.. you come anywhere near a federation ship, a federation citizen or a federation world. and the full might of our fleets will be brought against you in a storm the likes of which you could never imagine.. Cain out.”

She turned. “Now shut down the comm. Buoys.. send out an order to the task force.. non of them are to move one metre.. no moves of aggression and no moves of retreat… and tell the Victory I want my first officer back NOW!”

<Tag Victory>

[Gheskori]

"I'll take it from here, Lieutenant Forest. Thank you for your patience." Gheskori slid into the helm seat, grinning widely at Forest who promptly got out and walked away nervously. He was hardly to be blamed for that; having to stare at that fortress of an enemy flagship plastered on the viewscreen was excuse enough.

Gheskori quickly analysed the helm station, finding quickly that there was little for him to do at the moment, other than to maintain readiness for any suddenly required manoevures. All he had to do currently was keep the Victory in formation with the rest of the task force - to present as staunch a visage as possible to the Kasar warship, he liked to think.

"Hmm, curious," Ghes said suddenly. He could see that Commander Matthew was having problems with it.. the Montgomery was blocking efforts to shut down the comm buoys, the reasons for which quickly became apparent. Admiral Cain sent out her own transmission, replying defiantly to the Kasar.

The whole bridge heard it once it was patched through, and a lot of the quadrant would eventually hear it too, Ghes imagined. First the Kasar's message of threat, then Cain's following retort. It was a battle of words. They could only hope it stayed at just that, and that no more of the verbal threats were broadcast across the Federation.

Excusing himself from the helm a second and, unfortunately leaving Forest to retake the seat temporarily, Ghes headed to the back of the bridge to one of the Mission Ops consoles. Only then he realised that Commander Galwyn had returned to the bridge. She was standing on the upper part, not far from him.

"Commander Galwyn," he nodded, "It's good to see you, how are you faring?" It was perhaps an odd way to speak to her, but the fact was that Gheskori had seen little of the science officer on this mission.

<Tag Tiana>

It struck Ghes that there was something odd about her, slightly different. He just now realised that he'd also detected before he'd spoken to her, but only after Tiana herself had spoken had it become a consciously realisable thing. "Is there something wrong?" he asked. Little did he know that everything had gone wrong; that the Trill had had to undergo a joining was completely unknown to him.

<Tag Tiana>

At that moment, there was a communication from the Montgomery, the alert sound of which evoked an oddly dreadful feeling of impending doom.

<Tag Tiberian - Tiana>

---

OOC: Adanovic NPC

"How are you feeling now?" he asked her.

"Better," Adanovic decided. She was sitting on a low chair, still recuperating from the mental shock of a near-physical attack. Vulcans were strong, if he'd been at full health psychologically and physically, she had no doubt that Saryn could have done her some serious harm.

The Vulcan healer himself was again unconscious, resting on his biobed. Funny how he'd finally woken, only to be knocked out again by a phaser on stun. It wouldn't take long for him to come around, but Adanovic had no intention of being near when he did. She was going to request a different patient to work with.

"I'll be alright, thank you," she whispered to the male nurse, bidding him with a soft smile to leave her presence. He left and she turned back to Saryn. Just a little longer, she thought, before she moved away with regained resolve.

She watched how his thorax rose and fell, having got back a stable level of respiration, then looked again to his face. Again she tried to imagine what was circling in that mind, beneath the conscious layers hidden to all but the telepaths. So many turbulent emotions, and she knew he was at least capable of hurting her again. She sighed, no longer wanting to delve into that psyche, not if it were to rebound back to her with such horrible consequences again.