Olympia's Obituary

[Deleted]

Steve got out of his chair and began pacing behind his desk, as he customarily did when he was unsure of his options.

"With Arya being left on the Starbase in care, and Mr Wong leaving, that is going to leave a big gap in the command structure. I know Arya wasn't actually part of the full Senior Staff this time round, but she was still one of the highest ranked officers on the ship. As it stands right now, we are still on shore-leave, so it shouldn't pose too much of a problem, but once we get given new orders from Starfleet, then things could get a lot more difficult. I need to know that I can count on you when the going gets though." At the exact moment he finished talking, Steve was standing behind his chair. It was like he had practiced the speech and had been working out the pacing. Steve looked to David, awaiting a response...

<Tag David>

"I knew I could count on you. Your support means a lot...in fact, it means a lot more in this circumstance. This ship, this crew....we will continue to work well together."

As Steve was talking, there didn't seem to be any sadness in his voice, which was odd considering what was going on with his wife, and now his XO leaving. He seemed to be taking things well....perhaps TOO well.

"So....any suggestions on our new First Officer?" He added, with a smile, finishing off the last of his drink.

[David Tan]

David listened as the Captain explained things ..

"...... so it shouldn't pose too much of a problem .. But once we get given new orders from Star-fleet things could get a lot more difficult .. I need to know that I can count on you when the going gets tough."

Tan was a little surprised that the Captain even needed to ask, but simply put it down to the pressures of the last few day's ..

"Of course you can count on me Captain." David began, "I'm your Second Officer and I consider myself a friend .. I will of course do all I can to help .. Obviously I will cover the Executive Officer's duties until you are able to secure a replacement for Colonel Wong."

"I knew I could count on you David." Steven said, rounding the table and offering his hand, "Your support means a lot .. In fact .. It means a lot more in this circumstances .. This ship .. This crew .. We will continue to work well together."

"Yes Captain," Tan replied, taking the offered hand to shake, "She's a good ship .. With a good Commander .. I've no doubt she's only going to get better."

Steven nodded, though David thought he saw, albeit for only a split-second, the slightest 'doubt' cross the Captain's face ... But as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared ...

"So .. Any suggestions on our new First Officer ?" Smith said with a smile, finishing off the last of his drink.

"Well ......" David said after a few seconds of contemplation, "It couldn't hurt to consider ......"



The Olympia's two Senior Officers began to bring the names of possible replacements for Colonel Wong to the table ..........

[timokvar]

Timok decided that while the unforeseen meeting between Tan and Smith took precedent over the Captains session. He decided to go to the Olympia and check into his quarters. He beamed aboard the Olympia shortly after Commander Tan had left his presence and walked out of the transporter room and to the Turbo lift. When he stepped of the turbo lift he walked down the corridor and into his newly assigned quarters.

He place his bag on his bunk as he began to unpack. Taking out Vulcan shrines and meditation stuff he would need in order to keep him following the traditions of his people, he placed them on desks and sides that were available.

=/\= Computer lights setting dim=/\= Timok requested

The lights went dim and he started to light some candles. Then he sat down on the sofa he had in the quarters and took a pad he had left on the coffee table while unpacking. He began to flip through more of the psychological reports of the crew.

=/\= Computer set reminder for crew assessments 10:00=/\= Timok said and the computer complied.

He went back to the reports flipping through the pages and making mental notes about certain crew members that would come in handy during the assessments.

[David Tan]

David left the Captain over an hour later ..

The two had gone through several names that the Captain would consider for the Executive Officers' position. Until he was assigned, Tan, as the ships' Second Officer, would take on the XO's workload.

The one saving grace was that the ship was still in space-dock, so those duties would be lighter than normal. Ensuring repairs, upgrades to equipment, ship's armaments replacements etc, were all going as planned ..

He was intending to go straight to his quarters, but decided on a drink in the mess beforehand .. At this time of night, the mess was pretty empty, with only a few of the Olympia crew, and one or two technicians from Bellicose.

He went to the replicator and requested a brandy, then moved to a quiet table in the corner .. Tapping his Comm badge he spoke ..

=^= Commander Tan to Ensign Var =^=

=^= Var Commander .. What can I do for you ? =^=

=^= I'm just informing you that my meeting with the Captain is over .. I'm not sure he will be available at this hour .. You may want to schedule a meeting sometime tomorrow =^=

=^= Thank you Commander Tan .. I'll do that .. In fact I'm looking through the crews personal files as we speak =^=

=^= Good .. You will need to get up to speed on everyone as soon as possible .. I'll leave you to it then Ensign .. Tan out =^=

As he closed the Comm he downed the last of his brandy and got up for a refill ..........

[Crystal Rose]

Olympia Main Science Lab

Crystal and her volunteer team of V'Sel, Tonja and Mark K'Ther were hard at work. Even though the power outage on Bellicose had cause them a lot of trouble it was now saving them a lot of work as it meant there were less logs to go through. Still it was going to be a lot of work, analysing all the data that there was.

=/\= Wong to Rose. Crystal, get yourself and your team over to Bellicose Ops, you'll be able to co-ordinate better from up here =/\=

=/\=On my way=/\= Crystal responded. Bits of the Olympia were still being repaired, it was home but it wasn't the easiest place to work. They finished downloading all the data from the ship and made their way to the station.

Commander Kaplin was the only member of Bellicose's crew present when Crystal arrived, aside from muttering about Tiberian he was surprisingly helpful.

They set up quickly and got to work, they soon had a few irregularities to look at. The PADD at Crystal's elbow beeped indicating that she had a message. She picked up the PADD to read the message only to find that it had a visual component. She walked over to the isolated station in the corner of Ops and downloaded the message.

"Dear Crystal,

You've been one of my longest standing friends on the Oly, and I'm glad to have known you. Please don't take the fact that I haven't said goodbye in person personally, but I'd end up crying like a baby. You're a good scientist, a good person, and an even better Starfleet officer. Don't ever let anyone tell you different. Take care of the Oly for me, and keep in touch. By the way, I never got round to giving you those self defence classes, so I included a program in this message that covers all the types of martial arts that I know. I even made a holographic representation of myself to tutor you, so there's no excuse for you forgetting to write. Stay safe, and do everything that I wouldn't do, life's more fun that way.

Wong out" You could have knocked Crystal down with a feather in that moment. She swallowed hard. The Olympia wouldn't be the same without Tiberian.

=/\=Commander Rose to Colonel Wong=/\= There was a slight buzzing and then the computer responded
=/\=Colonel Wong has disembarked the Olympia=/\= Crystal swallowed and then checked to see if his new assignment was accessible, she then smiled. 'You don't get away that easily Tiberian'.

Computer record, visual and audio.

"Tiberian,
I'm sorry that I didn't get to say goodbye to you. I hope you enjoy your next assignment. I will write that is a promise. Thank-you for the holoprogram. I've attatched the schematic for the most recent phaser rifle modification. It's now stable up to 139% standard power with the same better range and focus as before. Hope you enjoy it, I have no doubt you'll find a use for it."

Crystal paused and smiled slightly "I'll miss you Tiberian, the Olympia won't be the same now you've gone. See ya around the galaxy.

Crystal out"

"Computer transmit to the USS Victory-C" A beep confirmed the message had been sent.

Crystal got back to her research.

[David Tan]

Next morning, David got to work .. It wouldn't be long before Star Fleet Command found a mission for the Olympia, and he wanted to ensure the ship was ready to leave on the proverbial 'moments notice' ..

Entering Wong's, now the vacant Executive Officers' Office, he sat at the desk and brought up the list of jobs that would need to be completed before the ship left space-dock ..

The list, aptly named the 'TO DO' list, was pretty long, but to Tan's surprise, it was all but complete. He'd give the Colonel one thing, for all his 'gung-ho' approach to his role, his organizational skills were second to none.

Almost ninety five percent of repairs and refits were already completed, with only minor upgrades to some systems to be done. One thing he noticed was the requisition of replacement photon torpedo's. Tiberian had arranged for the Olympia's armaments to be replaced with upgraded versions ..

David went to the Armory ..

As he entered, he noticed how neat everything was, almost pristine in fact, again testament to Colonel Wong's Marine background .. He noticed a young Officer checking status boards ..

"Lieutenant." Tan said.

"Commander .. What can I do for you ?"

"I'm just checking up on this requisition order for replacement torpedo's."

"Yes Sir." the Lieutenant said, nodding, "Colonel Wong wanted the whole lot replaced .. The new one's will be loaded at twenty one thirty tonight .. Is there a problem Commander ?"

"No .. I'm just following up on the Colonel's schedule."

"Are you taking over as Exec' Sir ?" the Lieutenant asked.

"No .. No I'm not." Tan said, laughing briefly, "We'll be getting a new XO as soon as the Captain has gone over his short-list."

"Aye Sir .. Was there anything else ?"

"No Lieutenant .. Carry on .. Let me know if there's any problems OK." Tan said, heading out of the armory.

In the corridor, he checked the PADD for the next item on the list still to be completed. Shield upgrades was the next item. He knew they were underway but decided to go look for himself .. He headed for Engineering ..........

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal had put in a solid six hours in the lab and more cups of coffee than she had bothered to count. They had some possibilities for what had happened to Arya Smith but nothing solid so far. She had sent what info they had to Ensign Sloan and he in turn had sent her the changes he had made to the biofilters so far.

In the end Crystal sent her team back to their quarters with 'orders'[ to get some rest and reconvene in the morning, in the late morning given that it was all ready very late. She made her way back to her quarters believing that she'd be unable to get a good night's sleep, given that she had details of parasites, databases and transporter schematics running round and round in her head she expected that she was be laying awake for hours pondering the current problem. However, for once, she feel quickly into a deep and fairly untroubled sleep. In retrospect she blamed her exhaustion.

As if her body was somehow making up for letting her go to sleep Crystal work up feeling very alert and with several hours to go before she had arranged to restart her work. She could have gone up to Ops and set to work, but she knew she was pushing herself very hard anyway. She sighed and munched her way through a reasonable breakfast while deciding what to do as there was no way she would be going back to sleep now. She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a second or two, the bruises were still healing but that was only because she'd refused to go to sickbay and get them treated. It wasn't as if the bruises themselves were particularly bad ones it was what went with them that had scared her so much. The moments of utter helplessness that had flooded through her when she had first been grabbed were what scared her.

Crystal dressed quickly in work-out clothes and headed for the holodeck. She stood in the empty room staring at the grid of yellow lines for a moment before speaking to the computer. "activate programme Rose Gamma One, First Lesson." Around her the room changed into a suitably matted room for the practice of self-defense.

"You'd better turn round, petal." Crystal turned to face the holographic Tiberian who smiled at her and then started the lesson.

[David Tan]

He spent the rest of his shift going through Colonel Wong's preparations to have the Olympia ready for departure ..

David had been more and more impressed with the former Executive Officers' skills .. Everything was done apart from the minor issues, some system updates, and stock replenishments ..

Checking the chronometer, he saw it was already twenty thirty hours. Well after the time he should have gone off-shift. But he decided to go back to the Armory ..

The loading of the new torpedo's had already begun, early. it was being overseen by a Master Chief Petty Officer ..

"...... Over that side please ! .. Then the next ones here and here." the Commander said, motioning to the area's he wanted the armaments placed, "Can I help you Sir ?" he said, noticing Tan.

"No .. I was just making sure everything was on schedule .. Thank you Chief."

He wasn't needed down here, so he decided to finish the day off with a drink. But he wasn't in the mood for his quarters .. He contacted the Bridge and handed over to the duty Officer, then left the Olympia in search of a quiet bar .. And a brandy ..........

[David Tan]

"So much for a quiet drink ...." he said to the steward as he requested yet another brandy ..

The bar had filled up rapidly, and was now in full swing. It didn't matter to David, he was drunk and content to sit sipping his drink ..

The fight had broken out only seconds ago, but Tan had already been jostled from his stool, and wasn't in the mood to be pushed again .. So as a Klingon slammed into him, he instinctively spun, slamming his elbow into the man's mouth in a classic karate move .. The blow relieved the man of several teeth as he rocked backward into the melee ..

As Security rushed into the bar, attempting the bring the fight to a close, Tan hardly felt the blow that knocked him unconscious and sent him flying off his stool to the floor ..

As Security gained control, they noticed an Officer. He was face down against the bar .. They also noticed the blood .. Lots of it .. Feeling for a pulse, he hit his Comms badge ..

=^= Security .. Medical Emergency .. The Tavern =^=

=^= We're on our way =^= came the reply.

The Security Officer stood over Tan while he waited for the Medic's .. He hoped they didn't take too much time, he was worried about the blood, but even more worried about the knife .. It was buried to the hilt in the small of Tan's back ..

Failing to find a pulse on his first try, he checked again, and this time he found it. Very weak, but there ..

He looked at the doorway, hoping someone from Medical would arrive soon, because if they didn't, there would be no need to rush, as Tan would be dead ..........

[timokvar]

Timok decided to follow the Commanders suggestion for scheduling a session for the next day. He decided to go and enjoy some of the sights and sounds of the station again. He was just walking round the corner when some medical officers barged past him in a hurry. What was the hurry?

He followed them running just a few feet behind, but when he arrived he saw blood. Following the trail, it led him to the face of Commander David Tan. He moved in quickly but calmly to the body laying unconscious on the floor.

“What happened?” He asked his voice Impassive.

“We don’t know we just got a call from security” One of the medical staff said adrenalin clear in his voice. “Could we have some space?”

Timok observed in what could only be described as horror. But being Vulcan he controlled the feeling and took a distant perspective on the situation again. He looked at the knife and at the Security Officer.

“Has anyone touched the knife?” He asked and the Security officer shook his head “Good When they have stabilized the Commander can you check for finger prints and DNA?”

“I know my job Ensign” The Security man of a higher rank was starting to rant his superiority when Timok Cut him off by tapping his comm badge.

=/\= Ensign Var to Captain Smith=/\=

=/\= Ensign it’s very late what do you want=/\= The captains voice chirped.

=/\= Sir Commander Tan Has been involved in an incident sir, I think you should be here, It doesn’t look good=/\=

=/\= What sort of an incident?=/\=

=/\= Sir he has been stabbed =/\= Timok finished and he spotted the knife again.

=/\= On my way=/\= The captain replied urgency in his voice.

He recognised it, on earth he had studied numerous cultures and it looked familiar. The shape was almost the same as a………………

“Were there any klingons in the bar” Timok asked the security man.

“Yes but we’ll have to investigate, question witnesses……” The security officer asked.

“Can you put an impound on any Klingon vessel’s leaving the Bellicose?” Timok asked more of an order than a request, but he asked as he was only an ensign.

The Security guy looked at Timok. “Well procedure says we have to impound all vessels until we question people”

“Ok, do it”

“Now just a minute Ensign………………”
“We are ready to move him now” One of the medical officers said and tapped his comm badge.

“I’m coming with you” Timok said “ I assume you can handle this lieutenant”

“Yes” The security guy snarled and began work.

=/\= Medical team to sickbay four to beam directly to sickbay=/\= The senior medical guy said and they dissipated into thin air as they were beamed to sick bay.

Timok knew the Lieutenant would launch a complaint about Timok’s insubordination but at the moment they didn’t have time a man’s life was at risk.

Tag <Tan, Smith, Any>

[David Tan]

He could see the bar .. But it was at a weird angle .. Why was he on the floor, he couldn't seem to remember the reason. Something about a fight, or too much to drink, or both .. His vision blurred and he slipped from consciousness ..

But somehow could still hear the people close-by talking ..

=^= Sir he has been stabbed =^=

=^= On my way =^=

"Were there any Klingon's in the bar ?" Tan heard someone saying.

"Yes but we’ll have to investigate .. Question witnesses ...."

=^= Medical team to sickbay .. Four to beam directly to sickbay =^= The Senior Medic said, and Tan felt the transporter beam take hold and they re-appeared in Sick-bay.

~~~~~~~~~~

David was laying face-down on the bio-bed as the Doctor ran his tricorder over his body ..

"The blade has severed the abdominal aorta at the junction of the superior mesenteric artery .. If we take the blade out he will bleed to death in seconds."

"Vital sign are fluctuating Sir." said a nurse.

The blade was less than a centimeter from David's spinal column, and could cause untold injuries, even paralysis .. But that was suddenly a secondary concern ..

"He's flat-lined Doctor !" the nurse shouted, "No vital signs !"

"Cardio-vascular stimulator .. NOW ! ..........

[timokvar]

Timok watched as the Bio beds Cardio vascular simulator, pulsed blasts of power into Commander Tans body and with each one his body jerked in reaction. He couldn’t help but feel something for the man. Vulcan’s not normally noted for their show of emotion, quite often experienced some form of emotion during their long lives, but they were able to control it.

As a second Pulse went through Tans body the Doc shook his head. He was still trying but the shake of the head was just to say nothing yet. Timok observed the doctor and nurse as they continued to work on stabilizing their patient. So it was looking like the end For the officer.

He stepped back as the doctor and nurse worked on reviving their patient and heard the shushing sound of the doors opening.

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal had a few more bruises in her collection by the time she made it to Ops. She was changed, showered and buzzing. The others arrived very shortly after her and although customary greetings were exchanged the amount of background noise in the lab was unusually low, they all knew how serious this could be.

Hours passed and they were seemingly no closer to discovering the cause of Doctor Smith's illness, they had however determined that the cause was not anyone of twenty-seven things. Which was progress, Crystal supposed. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose as she tried to think. With Tiberian gone, Commander Tan was the one to report this too, he was also the one who knew the Captain best. Crystal summarised what they had found so far and down loaded it to a PADD, she wanted to speak to David personally.

Her volunteers trooped out of Ops, they were still on leave after all and Crystal did not want they to forget that they had lives outside the research lab. "Computer, where is Commander Tan?"

"Commander Tan is in sickbay." Crystal sighed, guessing that he was keeping and eye on the Captain who was in sickbay checking up on his wife. Gathering the PADD Crystal walked down to sickbay. The door whooshed open, she saw the Olympia's new councellor but not the Captain or Commander Tan, she was starting to think that she had missed him when a doctor moved away from around a biobed and she caught a glimpse of a face she recognised. She shivered and the PADD slipped from her hand she turned to Timok.

"What happened?" She asked her voice quiet.

[timokvar]

Timok regarded the young women who he had met briefly, during a celebration with the Crew of the USS Versuvius. He looked at her for a moment seeing the confusion on her face. Then he stared back at the Doctor running a third pulse through the Cardio vascular simulator and into David Tans body. Then he turned back to Commander Rose.

“He was stabbed.” Ensign Var replied with sense of guilt at the lack of emotion his species shared. “He has stopped breathing but the doctor is doing all he can to revive him.”

They both stood there in a kind of silent anxiety, not knowing weather Commander Tan would make it or not. The doctor and nurse continued to work with their patient, but who knew how long it would be before they gave up hope. Timok hoped it would not come to that point. He hoped the Commander would make it, in the few brief encounters they had had Timok come to liked the man.

“Come on Damn it breath” The Doctor said to himself as prepared for another try at reviving the Commander.


<Rose, tan, smith>

[David Tan]

Reviving Tan took the Doctor fifteen minutes .. His heart stopped several times, but he finally stabilized ..

"We need to get this knife out .. It's Klingon .. A d'k tahg I think ....." the Doctor said quietly.

"Yes Doctor .. It is." Timok said from the rear of the room.

"..... Thank you Ensign." the doctor said, "It's too close to his spinal column to just pull out .. We'll need to go carefully here." he finished, gathering his staff round him to discuss their next move ..

~~~~~~~~~~

Two hours later, an exhausted Doctor took off his surgical gloves, throwing them in a container for disposal, he noticed that the Olympia's Councellor was still in the theater. He walked over to him as nurses made sure Tan was comfortable ..

"He's going to be alright Ensign." the Doctor said.

Timok sighed deeply, relieved the Second Officer was going to live.

"We will keep him in intensive care for twenty four hours .. Then he will be able to move to a side room."

"Will he recover fully ?" Var asked, watching the nurses.

"He should do yes .. There was no permanent damage .. The Aorta was repaired satisfactorily and there was no damage to his spine .. I'd say he should be up and on light duties in forty eight hours .. He'll be a little stiff for a while but that's to be expected."

Thank you Doctor .. I'll report to Captain Smith on the Commanders' condition." Var said, then left the Medical Center ..

In a deep sleep, David began to recover from his attack ..........



< tag: Var / Cptn >

[timokvar]

Timok was exhausted after spending Two hours in the operating theatre, but also relieved to know that Tan was going to be ok. Timok decided that now was the time to go and speak to the Captain, and report on Tan’s condition being as he had not arrived at the theatre. He decided to go check the captains ready room on the Olympia. The captain had been there last after his meeting with commander Tan. But then he decided to Tap his com badge instead.

=/\= Var To captain smith=/\= He waited a moment but there was no reply to his communication, Something must be wrong.

=/\= Var To captain Smith=/\=

<Tag Smith>

<OOC: I decided to leave it hanging there Steve so if you want to make the story a bit more exciting, if not I’m just calling to report on Commander Tans Condition..>

[Deleted]

Steve had just managed to get off the Olympia and back onto the Starbase. He would have been across earlier, but a couple of his junior crew had taken it upon themselves to get into a fight over a card game. Normally Steve wouldn't get himself involved in sorting them out, but they happened to break out in to the fight when he was in the room, so he had to choice but to step in and control things.

Steve moved rapidly along the corridors of the Base to head to the Sickbay....last he heard was that David was in a very critical condition, and he cursed himself for not being there sooner. As he was approaching his destination, his combadge chirped:

=/\= Var to Captain Smith =/\=

Just as Steve was about to reply, he was stopped by a civilian who wished to know directions to the nearest bar. 'Since when am I a walking map?' he thought to himself. He gave the directions as best he could, and as soon as he started moving, his combadge chirped again.

=/\= Var to Captain Smith =/\=

Annoyed at the lack of patience, Steve sighed and then tapped his badge, still en route to Sickbay

=/\= I heard you the first time, Ensign. I am just on my way to Base Sickbay right now....=/\= Steve walked through the doors and saw Var standing there over David. Figuring he didn't need to talk over the comms anymore, Steve tapped his combadge to sever the connection. He looked to David and approached.

"How is he?" He asked, catching a glimpse of Arya over on a nearby biobed. He tried to keep her out of his mind for the moment...David was the priority now.

<Tag Var>

[timokvar]

Timok heard the question, but he also noticed a side ways glance that the Captain had made towards his wife’s Bio bed. Being as he was the ships new councillor he had to take advantage of the situation. But first he had to tell the Captain on Tans condition.

“The doctor says he should make a full recovery, but he will be a bit… stiff. Were the words he used, Also he should remain on light duty for forty eight hours. Sir.” Timok replied to the question, his tone as if he were reporting on the shortage of fresh uniforms.

“Good” The captain replied relieved a bit.

“How are you doing Captain?” The comment was a bit blunt and out of the blue but he had to try. “I mean with the whole situation”

There was a long moment when he was unsure the captain knew what he was talking about. And true this was not the correct place to have a session, but every time he had tried, something more important ha come up.

<Smith>

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal heard the news about David's condition and swallowed hard. SHe picked up her PADD and sat in silence in the corner of sickbay. Ensign Var was standing next to her, he didn't say anything but then Vulcans (with one or two exceptions) generally weren't chatty. Crystal didn't say anything either. She didn't quite know what she could say.

It seemed that an age passed before the Doctor spoke again talking about the knife. It seemed that David was stable. Crystal breathed a sigh of relief and a knot of tension fell out of her neck. She looked at the counselor, he seemed to be taking the attack almost personally. Crystal wonder what had happened, Commander Tan being stabbed in a bar was a stretch to the imagination, if it had been Tiberian here she would have had no trouble believing it, but... She shivered.

In the end Crystal turned to Ensign Var, "could you please tell me when there's any change." He nodded silently and Crystal left the room. She was still clutching the PADD that had caused her to come down here, the report on it would probably never be read now, not that it mattered. Crystal retreated to her quarters and settled at her desk with some reading material. She scrolled through it but it didn't really make much sense. She wondered idly if there was anything she could do to help.

Some time later, Crystal was still sitting at her desk when Ensign Var called her to say that David had come through surgery all right. Crystal thought for a moment and then decided that she would go and see him. The Olympia senior staff were almost family. She walked into sickbay to see Ensign Var and the Captain talking.

"How are you doing Captain?" Crystal hears the Vulcan say, she was wondering that too, David and the Captain are friends and this has to be affecting him. Crystal swallows hard and wonders if she should leave but then they see her and beckon her over.

Ensign Var / Captain Smith

[David Tan]

David opened his eyes .. He was a little surprised to see the a bio-bed next to him. Then he realized where he was .. Sick-bay ..

"Doc ....." he tried to speak, but his throat was dry, "..... Doctor." he said again, after swallowing.

A nurse approached him ..

"Ah .. You're awake Commander." she said, scanning him from head to foot and back again with a medical tricorder, "Good .. Hold still and I'll get you a glass of water." she said.

Tan looked round the room, and only then noticed just how stiff he was. Grimacing, he tried to sit up, but the nurse got there first and placed a restraining hand on his shoulder ..

"How long have I been here ?"

"Drink this first." she ordered, " ... You have been 'asleep' for just under forty hours .. But the operation combined with your obvious need for rest at the time ..." she finished, shrugging ..

Doctor King approached as David was sipping the water ..

"Commander .. How are you feeling ?" he asked, checking the tricorder reading's.

"Stiff .. Stiff may be the best way to put it Doctor .. Am I going to be OK ?"

"Yes .. The surgery went well .. Internally all's well .. You have a scar on your back but now that you are recovering .. I'm sure we can remove that whenever your ready."

"No .. Thank you Doctor .. But I think I'll leave that where it is .. Souvenir." Tan said, finishing his water, "How soon before I can get out of here ?"

"Well ..." the Doctor said, thoughtfully, "Rest here for the remainder of tonight .. Then you can leave in the morning .. But nothing too strenuous .. Light duties for the next forty eight hours .. Agreed ?"

"Agreed Doctor." David replied, "And .. Thank you for all you d ......"

"My pleasure Commander .. Now .. Get some rest and the nurse will draw up your discharge papers ready to be signed in the morning .. Goodnight Commander." King said, moving away ..

"Lye back .. Try to get some sleep .. I'll see you in the morning." the nurse said, taking the empty glass from Tan.

He lay back, and was in a deep sleep within seconds ..........

[Deleted]

Steve was still standing near the entrance to Sickbay, keeping an eye on both Arya and David, although right now, David was his priority. He was deep in thought when Ensign Var said something to him,

"How are you doing Captain?"

It took a few moments for the question to register. Steve blinked a few times, wondering why the question was being posed to HIM. He turned to face Var.

"I am fine thank you. We have both my wife and our Second Officer here in Sickbay. Both were close to death, and one still is." Steve nodded towards Arya. "On top of that, Starfleet are taking their time with giving as a mission, so you could say that's getting to me. But other than that, no, I am fine."

Steve walked over to Arya, and gazed down at her. He picked up her hand and gave it a kiss, and set it back down again. He then turned and walked over to David who was sleeping. The doctors have said he could leave in the morning, and that made Steve feel a whole lot better. Steve walked back to Var and stood with him for a moment.

"Seeing as you are relatively new to the crew, I assume you will want to make appointments with us all, so you may as well get mine out of the way. I'll be available whenever you are ready."

Before Var could reply, the Sickbay doors opened and Crystal walked in. At the same time a searing pain went through Steve's head. He made sure not to show that he was in pain, but it was excruciating. Shaking his head as the pain wore off, Steve made a point to get it looked into later.

"Ah, Miss Rose." Steve said. "Seeing as you are here, could you meet me in my Ready Room at your earliest convenience please? Or even come with me when we are finished here." Steve asked, taking another glance back at his two crew on the bio beds.

<tag Var/Rose>

[David Tan]

He woke early, or at least early given the current circumstances ..

Turning to look at the chronometer set into the far wall, he winced slightly as a mild pain ran the length of his back. The wince, it seemed, was loud enough to attract the attention of one of the duty nurses,and she came toward him ..

"Morning Commander .. I'm nurse K'del .. I believe you are to be released this morning."

"Yes .. Though I'd love a cup of coffee first if that's OK."

"No .. Commander .. It is certainly not OK .. You will have breakfast with orange juice and vitamin supplement's .. Then you will be given your uniform .. The tunic has been replaced."

David made a mock bow to the nurse and waited for his breakfast ...

~~~~~~~~~~

One hour later, dressed and clean shaven, he stood, albeit a little stiffly, in the Doctors office ready to have his discharge from the Med-Center confirmed ....

This done, His thumb-print, confirming the release, he finally left .. Heading back to the dock containing the USS Olympia, he tapped his Comms badge ..

=^= Tan to Captain Smith =^=

=^= Go ahead David =^=

=^= Just informing you that I'm out of the Medical Center and on my way back to the ship Sir =^=

=^= OK David .. Thank you .. I received confirmation of your discharge moments ago .. Rest up for today if you feel the need .. We should be getting orders soon so I'll need you fit and well by then =^=

=^= I'll be fine Captain .. I'll just call in at my quarters then come up to the Bridge =^=

=^= Just don't over-do it .. You'll be sore for a day or two I'd expect .. Smith out =^=

The Comm closed as Tan neared the ship. It as good to be back, though in reality he'd only been away two day's but still, It could have been worse ... 'A LOT worse' Tan thought as he entered the walk-way to the Olympia ..........

[Crystal Rose]

The Captain looked at Crystal as she joined him and Ensign Var. He seemed distracted for a second, hardly surprising under the circumstances he had just mentioned, but a little out of character for him all the same. Then the moment passed and it seemed that all was well again.

"Ah, Miss Rose." He said. "Seeing as you are here, could you meet me in my Ready Room at your earliest convenience please? Or even come with me when we are finished here." Steve asked, taking another glance back at his two crew on the bio beds.


"Of course." Crystal responded. She followed his line of sight and fell silent again. It was good to know that Commander Tan was going to be okay but so far there had been no further developments on Arya Smith.

Crystal and Captain Smith ended up leaving sickbay together and headed back to the Olympia. It was a quiet walk, Crystal didn't quite know what to say. It was always so quiet when the Olympia was in dock, the ship just wasn't meant to be confined, it seemed rather like putting a large wild animal in a cage.

The turbolift door hissed open and they walked out on the the bridge. It was empty although one of the consoles was open suggesting that work was still being done. They proceeded into the Captain's ready room.

[David Tan]

Sat in the Captain's seat, David idly watched worker-bee shuttles moving in their own ballet .. The Olympia was ready for departure once the Captain received orders ..

The previous evening, the Captain had spoken to Commander Rose .. David wasn't present at the meeting, but nor did he need to be. Steven had already discussed the choices for First Officer of the Olympia with him, before his 'accident' .. Tan, as Second Officer, would be the logical choice for XO, but it was agreed that he wanted to stay in his current position. So names were discussed ..

Crystal's was top of the list ...

David was pleased, he'd welcomed the Science Officer on board, and was more than pleased she was being given the opportunity to advance. She deserved it in David's opinion ..

The Captain had still to announce the appointment, and David was certain that it would meet with approval from everyone ..

While waiting for Steven and Crystal to appear, he re-checked the crew roster for positions still to be filled. Several of the crew had been re-assigned when the Olympia returned to Bellicose, they would need replacing at some point. But, he knew, everyone was capable of doubling up on roles, it was a 'given' that everyone knew, to some extent, everyone else's roles on the Bridge ..

'One thing is certain' he thought to himself as he watched the shuttles, 'The Olympia will have a successful mission despite awaiting new Senior Staff' ..........



< tag : All >

[Deleted]

Steve and Crystal entered the Olympia's Ready Room, and Steve headed towards his desk gesturing for Crystal to take a seat on the opposite side. Before he sat down he walked over to his wall replicator.

"I am going to get myself a tea, would you like anything to drink?" He asked Crystal

<Tag Crystal>

Steve nodded and ordered the drinks from the replicator. He placed them on the desk and then sat in his chair. He waited for a few moments, trying to collect his thoughts so he could begin.

"As I am sure you are now aware, our XO, Mr Wong has decided to leave us to return to his old post upon the USS Victory. I saw no reason to stand in his way, so I let him go. Now that does leave us with a problem. The Oly is under-manned enough as it is, and now we need a new XO as well. Myself and Commander Tan have been over the members of the crew that we feel are suitable for the position."

Steve took a sip of his tea and then rose from his chair. Almost immediately he began pacing, which was becoming so common of him lately that if he wasn't careful, someone would surely say something,

"You see, there wasn't that many choices to go through and it was a tough decision to make. However, after many of the choices were ultimately rejected, one stood out from across all sides." Steve stopped behind his chair at the same moment that he finished the sentence. That also was becoming very common of him as well....like there is a gadget inside him that always gets him to stop in that place at the right time.

He leant forward on the chair....."The person that I have decided to have as the new XO of the USS Olympia is you, Commander.....that is if you will accept the position?

<Tag Crystal>